7th time is the charm for ‘ecstatic’ champion

Judges of the Hidden Valley recipe contest looked for dishes with a lot of flavor and fresh ingredients.

By Elise Franco

CANFIELD — It took the judges an hour and a half to taste and critique 22 original recipes, but when they declared Charlotte Ditman the winner of the Hidden Valley “Fresh Tastes for the Family” recipe contest, she couldn’t have been more surprised.

Ditman, of Youngstown, said she’s entered the contest every year since it began at the Canfield Fair seven years ago but had not won until Wednesday night.

“I’ve been trying for as long as they’ve had it,” she said. “I’m honestly just ecstatic.”

Ditman’s winning recipe was a bite-sized roll-up that incorporated fresh vegetables along with the required Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning. She called them pinwheels. She said her inspiration for the dish was its effortless preparation.

“I wanted something very easy,” she said. “I’m entered in 19 fair contests, so I just didn’t have a lot of time.”

Ditman said she spent less than $10 on the groceries required to make her dish, which seemed like pocket change when she received her top prize of $200.

“That’s a lot of money,” she said. “I said I would have been happy with just the $50.”

Judge Brenda Johnson said this year’s entries were among some of the best ever.

“This has been one of the most creative years we’ve had,” she said.

Second place of $100 was awarded to Amy Russo of New Castle, Pa., and third place of $50 went to Loretta Liguore of Poland.

Liguore’s three-cheese garden-fresh ranch pizza was inspired by her children and her garden.

“My kids love pizza, and the tomatoes and basil I used are from my own garden,” she said. “It feels good, and I’m surprised.”

Kathy Bennett, Arts and Crafts Building director, said, this is the seventh year for this contest, which draws in about 40 entries each year.

“Hidden Valley likes us here because we draw in a lot of entries,” she said, “We had 40 people signed up this year.”

Of those 40, Bennett said 22 actually brought in dishes to be judged.

She said the judges are certified home economists who know exactly what to look for in the perfect Hidden Valley recipe, but besides the required packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix as an ingredient, contestants are free to use their imaginations.

“One thing the judges look at is a recipe that uses fresh vegetables and ingredients,” she said.

Johnson said it’s important that the recipes are easy to prepare but still creative.

“A potato soup and a stuffed pepper are two of my favorites from other contests,” she said. “People bring in appetizers, side dishes — you never know what they’re going to do.”

Johnson said in her five years as a judge she’s noticed that Mexican-inspired dishes are among some of the most popular.

“It’s just such an easy way to get in all that color and texture,” she said.

Bennett said the winner’s recipe is entered in Hidden Valley’s national competition for the chance to win a $2,000 prize.

Wednesday’s contest was one of three recipe contests that allow the public to openly watch the judging process. Today at 11 a.m. in the Arts and Crafts Building, judges will pick the best recipes in the “Make it With Malt-O-Meal” recipe contest. Friday at 1:15 p.m., judging for the White House Fruit Farm “Spotlight on Spinach” will begin in the Fruit, Hay and Grain Building.

Bennett said these types of recipe contests are some of her favorite.

“We like these ones because people enjoy coming to watch the judges,” she said. “They don’t know what goes into being a judge until they see it.”

efranco@vindy.com