Lewisburg, WV (WVDN) – The 2nd Annual All Things Pumpkin Culinary Contest will take place at Experience Greenbrier Valley (formerly the Greenbrier Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau) during Taste Of Our Towns (TOOT) on Saturday, October 12, at 2 p.m.
Enter your best sweet or savory pumpkin recipe and be the second winner in the annual Carnegie Hall All Things Pumpkin Contest. The best recipe winner will receive a $200 cash prize, bragging rights for the whole year, and the Golden Pumpkin Award, a custom-made one-of-a-kind art piece created by a different Carnegie Hall Teaching Artist each year. This year’s award is a beautiful stained-glass window hanging created by Glasswerks artist Lynda Weischowsky.
Entries must allow for 12 tastings, be pre-registered by Thursday, October 10th, and delivered to Experience Greenbrier Valley by 1:30 p.m. on Saturday October 12. Judging will occur at 2 p.m. and conclude with a live awards presentation.
Kasadi Shock was the 2023 Golden Pumpkin Award Winner. Her following winning submission was adapted from a recipe by Carrie Walder, Md.
Whipped Pumpkin Feta Dip
- Approx. 8 oz block of feta cheese, drained from brine
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (unsweetened)
- 1-2 Tbsp honey
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Black pepper
- Fresh thyme
- Chopped walnuts
- Extra honey drizzle
- Crusty, toasted bread (like sourdough or baguette)
Instructions
Make whipped feta by adding the feta cheese and Greek yogurt to a food processor. Blend ingredients together for a few minutes until smooth, scraping down with a spatula as needed.
Add pumpkin puree, 1 or 2 Tbsps. of honey (depending on desired sweetness), thyme, and a few cracks of black pepper to the food processor. Blend again until all ingredients are combined. Transfer whipped feta to the fridge and chill (covered) for 30-60 minutes. This is necessary to harden and chill the dip.
When you’re ready to serve this recipe, transfer the whipped feta to a large bowl. Garnish with a handful of chopped walnuts (optional), a generous sprinkle of fresh thyme, an extra drizzle of honey, and more pepper. Serve with crusty/toasted bread or crackers for dipping.
Entry fee is $13. To register or for more information visit carnegiehallwv.org/all-things-pumpkin-culinary-contest.
For more information on Carnegie Hall-O-Ween or for a complete list of classes and workshops and to enroll visit carnegiehallwv.org/classes-and-workshops or pick up a Classes & Workshops brochure at 611 Church Street, Lewisburg, West Virginia.
Carnegie Hall is a nonprofit organization supported by individual contributions, grants, and fundraising efforts such as TOOT and The Carnegie Hall Gala. The Hall is located at 611 Church Street, Lewisburg, WV. For more information, please call 304.645.7917 or visit www.carnegiehallwv.org.
