From front, Mrs. Joseph C. Snyder, Mara Mendenhall, Kiki Angelos and Christina Myer judged the finalists’ recipes during the Parkersburg News and Sentinel and Marietta Times Cookbook Contest tasting party Wednesday. (Photo by Candice Black)

ROCKPORT — A Parkersburg News and Sentinel and Marietta Times tradition took place Wednesday with the 67th annual Cookbook Contest tasting party at Rockport Church of Christ.

Five judges sampled the dishes in three categories: party snacks, main dish and desserts.

This year, two new judges joined the panel as Mara and Cordelia Mendenhall lent their tasting abilities to the event after years of volunteering for the tasting party.

Other judges were Kiki Angelos, who has been a judge for about 29 years, Mrs. Joseph C. Snyder who has participated as a judge for the past few years and Christina Myer, executive editor.

Mrs. Joseph C. Snyder said this year’s recipes were interesting and some were very good.

Kiki Angelos, Mrs. Joseph C. Snyder, Mara Mendenhall and Christina Myer judged the 67th annual Parkersburg News and Sentinel and Marietta Times Cookbook Contest at Rockport Church of Christ on Wednesday. Cordelia Mendenhall, not pictured, also judged recipes. (Photo by Candice Black)

She entered her first recipe in 1980 and won the grand prize in 1982.

“That made me happy because my mother was still living and not long after that she passed away,” she said. “She was really proud that I had won.”

Angelos praised the overall community for its cooking and baking abilities and said she enjoys getting to experience all different types of food.

“Every one was unique from each other but there were some that stood out. There were several judges, I think we were fair judging after we read the recipe and we saw how it was presented,” Angelos said. “We encourage everybody to do that again next year. We love to have all ages, men and women.”

Depending on the COVID situation next year, newspaper staff is considering adding a young chef category which would allow children between the ages of 8 to 18 to submit recipes. Angelos said she hopes more people will participate to make the cookbook contest bigger and better every year.

From front, Mara Mendenhall, Kiki Angelos and Christina Myer took notes while tasting recipes at the Parkersburg News and Sentinel and Marietta Times Cookbook Contest tasting party. (Photo by Candice Black)

In the party snacks category, Linda Pierson Dally of Vienna won the hearts of the judges with her Brie-Cranberry-Pecan Puff Pastry Swirls as she was awarded first place. The Mini Kahlua Cheesecakes made by Debby Carouthers of Ohio earned second place and Ryan Fought of Parkersburg came in third place for his Sweet Potato and Sausage Bites.

A Shrimp Cilantro dish made by Midge Simpers of Vienna was the first place winner for the main dish category. The Peanut Butter and Jelly Pork Sandwiches made by Vickie Davis, a previous grand prize winner, received second place and Jeannette Flowers of Williamstown won third place with her Sunday Ham Loaf.

Richard Alexander Johns of Parkersburg prepared a Simply Sinful Chocolate Cake which earned first place in the dessert category. This was his first year entering the contest and the cake recipe was his only entry.

Tammy Morrison of Newport received second place for her Brownie Cookie Dough Cheesecake and Sherry Noland of Washington earned third place for her Banana Blackberry Zucchini Cupcake Delights with Almond Drizzle; it was her only recipe entry for the contest.

Finalists for the party snacks category were Brenda Rhodes of Harrisville with Spicy Mexican Cheeseball and Anna McQuaid of Williamstown with Mini Pork Pies.

For main dishes, Loretta Howell of Vienna was a finalist with her Paprika Chicken with Sour Cream Gravy along with Sheila Dye of Leroy with Garlic Parmesan Chicken lasagna bake.

In the dessert category, the finalists were Anna Dean of St. Marys with her Caramel Apple Bites and Rhonda Millron of Parkersburg with Pumpkin Mousse.

With over 30 years combined of judging the cookbook contest, Angelos and Mrs. Joseph C. Snyder expressed their gratitude for the opportunity.

“I just fell in love with it because I felt (it was) a good way to taste what all these cooks in the Mid-Ohio Valley (prepare),” Angelos said. “It’s always been exciting every year, honestly, and I look forward to doing something like this.”

Mrs. Joseph C. Snyder enjoys the company of the fellow judges and volunteers for the event.

“It seems like a reunion,” she said.

The grand prize winner will be announced in the cookbook in the Nov. 19 edition of the Parkersburg News and Sentinel and Marietta Times.

Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.