Monica Bennett, Lucia Yandell and Alberta Dunbar!
Monica won the blue ribbon and $150 cash prize for her delicious SPAMMY Cristo Minis, a delightful new twist on Monte Cristo sandwiches using Belgian Waffles instead of bread. Her recipe now moves on to national judging where she has a shot to win the coveted grand prize, a trip for two to Hawaii to attend the 2014 SPAM Jam Food Festival.
Runner-up awards went to Lucia Yandell for her Pulled "SPORK" Sandwiches and Alberta Dunbar for her Sir SPAMALOT's Club SPAMWICH.
Check out Monica's award-winning recipe below.
SPAMMY Cristo Minis
Belgian Waffles:
2 cups pancake baking mix
1/3 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg
Cream Cheese Filling:
3 ounces chopped sweet pickled ginger
3 rings canned unsweetened pineapple, chopped
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon Chinese five spice
SPAM Filling: 1 (12 ounce) can SPAM Classic
Seasoned pepper
Batter Coating:
1 egg
1-1/4 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons sugar
1-1/2 cups flour
Remaining Ingredients/Garnishes:
Vegetable oil, for frying
Powdered sugar
Raspberry jelly
Tools:
1 (3-inch deep) sauce pan
Tooth picks
Tongs
1. For Belgian Waffles: Thoroughly combine 2 cups pancake baking mix, buttermilk, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and 1 egg in a mixing bowl. Add approximately 1/4 cup of the waffle mix into a pre-heated waffle maker. Cook waffles until golden brown. Place waffles on a serving plate to cool. Yields approximately 4 waffles.
2. For Cream Cheese Mixture: Chop 3 ounces of sweet pickled ginger and 3 rings of unsweetened pineapple. In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped pineapple and ginger with the two packages of softened cream cheese. Mix one teaspoon of Chinese five spice into the cream cheese mixture.
3. Prepare SPAM: Thinly slice one can of SPAM Classic. Place the SPAM in a frying pan and cook over a low flame until SPAM is crispy on the surface. Sprinkle the SPAM with seasoned pepper. Place SPAM on a serving plate to cool.
4. For Batter Coating: Place 1 egg, water, salt, sugar and flour in a mixing bowl. Thoroughly blend the ingredients.
5. To Assemble: Starting with 1 waffle, spread the waffle with the cream cheese mixture. Place 1 slice of SPAM on each waffle quarter. Place a second waffle, with the cream cheese side facing inward, on top of the first waffle. Slice the waffle into quarters. Slice the quarter pieces in half. Secure each corner of the SPAMMY Cristo mini with a long tooth pick. Continue the process until all of the waffles have been prepared.
6. Fill a small sauce pan with at least 3-inches of vegetable oil. Make sure the oil line is at least 3-inches away from the rim of the pan. Heat the oil with a low to medium flame until the oil temperature is approximately 350 degrees F. Prepare a tray with several layers of paper towels. Using your tongs, dip one cristo mini in the batter coating and then lower the cristo mini into the oil. Allow the cristo mini to cook until the coating is golden brown. Using your tongs, remove the mini from the pan and allow it to cool on the prepared tray. Sprinkle the cristo mini with powdered sugar. Continue with this process until all of the minis have been cooked. Serve with a raspberry jelly side garnish. Yields: 8 SPAMMY Cristo Minis.
Great American SPAM Championship
Monica Bennett of San Diego, 1st Place, 2013 San Diego County Fair
