THE WHAT ABOUT WATERMELON RECIPE CONTEST IS HERE!

Regular readers of this blog know that I like to encourage people to think “beyond the wedge” when it comes to eating watermelon. Not only is watermelon one of the most delicious food items nature ever created, it’s also one of the most versatile, which is why I try to inspire people to use watermelon in recipes such as watermelon breakfast lasagna and pulled pork and watermelon barbeque sauce.

That’s also why I’ve created the What About Watermelon Recipe Contest. Starting today, I’m asking readers to submit a recipe in one of three categories: Desserts, Beverages, and Everything Else. It doesn’t matter where the recipe comes from – it can be an old family favorite or just something you discovered yesterday – as long as it doesn’t already exist in the National Watermelon Promotion Board’s online collection.

I, along with the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), will choose the three or four best recipes in each category to be featured here on What About Watermelon in May. At that time, we’ll also open up a poll to determine the top recipe in each category. The winner of each category will receive a choice of ANY of the monthly watermelon-themed prizes given out here on What About Watermelon over the years, and the winner’s recipe will be added to the recipes section of the NWPB website. (Prizes subject to availability. For a listing of past monthly prizes, search “prize” using the search function in the top right of this page.)

Sound good? I thought so, too. Below are the official rules and instructions. Good luck!

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RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS

1. All recipes should be e-mailed to watermelonexperts@gmail.com by May 9, 2011 to be considered.

2. Recipes in each of the three categories – Desserts, Beverages and Everything Else – must not already exist on the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) website.

3. Photos are not required to be submitted with recipes.

4. All recipes, once submitted, become the property of the NWPB. The NWPB reserves the right to modify and use recipes for various reasons, including those beyond the What About Watermelon Recipe Contest.

5. The NWPB reserves the right to combine the previously mentioned categories, extend the submission deadline or postpone the contest indefinitely if not enough entries are submitted in each category. If categories are combined, only one winner will be chosen from each of the newly created categories.