Plate, point and shoot

To promote its new online recipe center, Lakewinds Natural Foods Co-ops (in Minnetonka, Chanhassen and Richfield) are sponsoring a recipe photo contest. Choose any recipe from lakewinds.coop that doesn't have an existing photo (look for the gray table setting icon), make the dish, plate it, then take a photo. In addition to an online photo credit, winners will get Lakewinds gift cards (up to $200). Entries accepted through May 31, with winners announced June 7. For tips, guidelines and info on uploading your photos, visit www.lakewinds.com.

Cooking contest coach

With cooking contests carrying huge cash prizes these days, winning isn't just about bragging rights. So any advantage helps. CookingContest Central.com is a website that says it can help home cooks navigate contests by providing detailed entry information, offering winning strategies and recipe advice. A yearly membership is $25 for the website, which has been around since 1997. If your competitive juices are flowing, check it out at http://cookingcontestcentral.com/join-us/.

Rain? Sleet? Pickles?

Well, this couldn't be easier. On Saturday, participate in the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive by placing nonperishable food items next to your mailbox before the time of regular mail delivery. Your letter carrier will pick up the donated items and bring them to the local food bank. The drive is a joint effort of Campbell Soup Co. and the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Pies on the road

Congrats to Wisconsin's Norske Nook Restaurant and Bakery, for its usual fine showing at this year's American Pie Council/Crisco National Pie Championships in Orlando, Fla. Its bakers, competing in the independent bakery category, won first-place ribbons for chocolate mousse pie, kaffee mocha pie and pecan fudge pie. As the lake cabin contingent knows too well, the Norske Nook has locations in Eau Claire, Osseo, Rice Lake and Hayward.

Roundy's pays forward

Congrats to Joni Whiting of Jordan, who won Roundy's Foundation Recipe Face-Off using five kid-friendly ingredients commonly found at food shelves. That enabled her to designate a donation to Scott Carver Dakota Cap Agency's Food Shelf, where she once received services. Her recipe for Kid Sushi: Roll two slices of bread flat with a jar, can, or roller. Smear peanut butter, then jelly on each piece of flat bread. Slice lengthwise a half banana and place long slice into the middle of the bread. Roll up and cut into four to six pieces. Any fresh fruit can be used.

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