Dairy recipe contest winners selected More than 50 people from throughout La Crosse County attended the 2009 Dairy Recipe Contest sponsored by the La Crosse County Association for Home and Community Education on June 5. The annual contest was held at the senior center in West Salem. Judges for the Dairy Bars contest included Gretchen Skoloda, Scott Rada, and Sue Ross. Kathy Robinson won the contest with her recipe for Banana Bars. The rest of the top six recipes came from Ruth Clarkin, Evelyn Miller, Wanda Rogers, Eileen Hanson and Ruth Monski, in order of placement. Prizes for the contestants were provided by the June Dairy Days Board, La Crosse County Dairy Promotions Board, Badgerland Financial, Don Weber and Dairy Farmers of America. Here are the winning recipes: First place: Banana Bars By KATHY ROBINSON 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup butter 2 eggs 1/2 dairy sour cream 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt 3 ripe bananas mashed 1 tsp salt 2 tsp vanilla 1 tsp soda 2 cups flour Mix in above order. Grease and flour a 12x18 bar pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Frost with cream cheese frosting Cream Cheese Frosting: 3 oz. softened cream cheese 1 tsp vanilla 3/4 stick butter 1 tablespoon milk 2 cups powdered sugar Mix together and spread on cooled bars. Second place: Sour Cream Apple Squares By RUTH CLARKIN 2 cups flour 2 cups packed brown sugar 1/2 cup butter (softened) 1 cup chopped nuts 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg (beaten) 2 cup chopped peeled apples Whipped cream (optional) In a mixing bowl combine flour, brown sugar, and butter; blend at low speed until crumbly. Stir in the nuts. Press about 2 3/4 cups into the bottom of an ungreased 13x9x2 inch baking pan. To the remaining crumb mixture add cinnamon, baking soda, salt, sour cream, vanilla, and egg. Beat until thoroughly combined. Stir in apples. Spoon evenly over bottom layer. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes until done. Cool. Cut in squares. Garnish with whipped cream if desired. Yield 12-15 servings. Third place: Cream Cheese Bars By EVELYN MILLER Crust 1 1/2 cups flour 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup oatmeal 5/8 cup butter Mix until crumbly. Press into 9x13 pan. Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees Topping 8 oz. cream cheese 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs Beat together and pour over crust. Bake 15 minutes or until set. Melt six Hershey candy bars with 1 tablespoon peanut butter and 1 1/2 tablespoons butter. Spread over top. Fourth place: Mocha Bars By WANDA ROGERS 1/2 cup butter 1 cup all purpose flour 1 cup chopped nuts 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened 1 cup powdered sugar 1 carton (4 oz.) Cool Whip 3 cups milk 1 four-serving size package instant chocolate pudding 1 four-serving size package instant vanilla pudding 1 tablespoon instant coffee Cut butter into flour until crumbly, stir in the nuts. Press into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Fold in the cool whip. Spread this mixture over the baked crust. Dissolve the instant coffee in the three cups milk. Combine the pudding mixes with the milk and beat for two minutes. Spread over the cream cheese layer. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate curls if desired. Serves 12-16. Keep refrigerated. Fifth place: Sour Cream Raisin Bars By EILEEN HANSON 1 3/4 cups oatmeal 1 3/4 cups flour 1 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup melted butter Filling 4 egg yolks, beaten 1 1/2 cup sugar 3 tablespoons cornstarch 2 cups sour cream 2 cups raisin Mix well oatmeal, flour, sugar, baking soda, and melted butter. Reserve 1/3 for top. Pat remainder in 12x14 inch pan. Bake 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Cool. Filling: Mix egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, sour cream, and raisins. Bring mixture to boil, reduce heat and boil 5 to 10 minutes until thick. Pour over crust. Sprinkle with the 1/3 reserved topping. Bake again 20 minutes. Sixth place: Cranberry Cheese Bars By RUTH MONSKI 2 cups flour 1 1/2 cups oatmeal 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar 1 cup butter, softened 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, low fat or fat free* 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk) 1/4 cup lemon juice 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 can (16 oz.) whole berry cranberry sauce Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine flour, oatmeal, 3/4 cup brown sugar, and butter; mix until crumbly. Reserving 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture, press remaining firmly on bottom of greased 9x13 baking pan. Bake 15 minutes. In a small bowl beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in condensed milk until smooth; stir in lemon juice. Spread evenly over prepared crust. In small bowl, combine remaining 1 tablespoon brown sugar and cornstarch; stir in cranberry sauce. Spoon evenly over cream cheese layer. Top with reserved crumb mixture. Bake for 40 minutes or until golden. Cool. Chill. Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers. * I use fat free. |