Do you have a beef recipe that you love? Enter it in the contest! You could win $25,000! Read on for the full details:

Healthy.  Easy. Worldly. These are a few words to describe this year’s recipe categories for the checkoff-funded National Beef Cook-Off (NBCO) and the Iowa Beef Industry Council is looking for your winning creation.                                                                

The Cook-Off seeks recipes that meet the tastes and techniques of the home cook while demonstrating the benefits and versatility of cooking with beef.

This year’s contest theme is “Making the Most of MyPlate,” which will encourage delicious, healthy recipes from a variety of food groups. Entrants are asked to develop original and tasty beef-focused recipes that include broadly appealing ingredients from the fruit and vegetable, grain products and dairy products groups. (The MyPlate initiative is led by the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion and is designed to help consumers make better food choices.)

Recipes can be submitted in the following categories:

• Belt-Tightening Beef Recipes: Healthy and affordable beef recipes that are great values to prepare.
• Semi-Homemade Beef Recipes: Recipes that combine beef and fresh ingredients with prepackaged food products.
• Real Worldly, Real Simple Beef & Potato Recipes: Easy and healthy lean beef and fresh potato recipes that feature international flavors.
• Craveable Fresh Beef & California Avocado Recipes: Easy, fresh beef and avocado recipes that highlight California cuisine and cooking trends.

Whether it’s a healthy twist on grandma’s favorite recipe or a dish with international flavor, the Iowa Beef Industry Council is encouraging home cooks to get their creative juices flowing. 

Enter the contest at www.beefcookoff.org through April 15, 2013 for a chance to win $25,000. Official contest rules, online entry form, recipe guidelines and other resources also can be found there. All participants must be 18 years or older to enter.