Presenting the Winners from Our Make & Take Recipe Contest

Grand Prize: Chicken & Green Chile Stuffed Shells

For a family potluck, I was told to bring a pasta casserole. For these events, I usually make a lasagna. To switch things up, I modified my family’s favorite chicken chile lasagna into a stuffed shells dish. The creamy, cheesy recipe is now the new favorite! —Donna Gribbins, Shelbyville, Kentucky

1st Place: Curry Chicken Salad Sandwiches

These creamy sandwiches are a step up from your usual chicken salad. The sweet, savory and spicy dish is made with mango chutney, honey and curry powder. —Francine Lizotte, Langley, British Columbia

2nd Place: Chocolate Caramel Crunch Bark

I made these decadent chocolate caramel crunch bars and took them to a reunion with my sorority sisters last fall. We all gathered in a cabin in the woods and shared desserts around the fire. These were the perfect easy-to-eat bars. —Theresa Ravencraft, Marysville, Ohio

3rd Place: Pulled Pork Sandwiches with White Barbecue Sauce

This is my favorite summer recipe to make for a barbecue. You can set it and forget it, until it’s time to shred it! My son hates traditional barbecue sauce, so I’ve made this white sauce with mayonnaise for many years. —Linsey Bruce-Lefkowitz, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Runner-Up: Banana Cream Shortcake

Similar to banana pudding, this banana cream dessert lays on a few extra fixings. It’s sweet, creamy and riddled with chocolate chips! —Jen Pahl, West Allis, Wisconsin

Runner-Up: Chicken Alfredo Twice Baked Potatoes

I developed this recipe in response to a challenge from my boss and friend, Sue Stetzel. The challenge was to make an original potato-based dish. I had fettuccine Alfredo on the brain at the time, and from that, this creation was born. —Cyndy Gerken, Naples, Florida

Runner-Up: Gremolata Pasta Salad

Straying from heavier, mayonnaise-based pasta salads, I created this lighter olive oil-based salad. Lemon juice, feta cheese, garlic and tomatoes brighten up this colorful and bright dish. —Laurie Sisco, Kingsley, Michigan

Runner-Up: Moist Lemon Coconut Cake

I am a devout from scratch baker, but I make an exception when it comes to this perfectly moist and lemony cake. I dressed up cake mixes with my own touches and ended up with delightfully flavored cake squares that are perfect for a party. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

Runner-Up: Lemon Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

These Sweet Hawaiian rolls filled with a citrusy lemon filling can be served for breakfast, brunch or dessert. They are drizzled with a confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice and milk frosting. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

Runner-Up: Strawberry & Basil Galettes

Shaped to resemble strawberries with pointed tips and pleated edges, these galettes are delicious and charmingly rustic, making them perfect for picnics and farmers’ markets. Their individual portions make them easy to enjoy on the go. —Niv Menon-Saberi, Port Elgin, Ontario

Runner-Up: Sweet & Spicy Party Meatballs

A friend served this at a party years ago and I modified the recipe. With apple, peach and apricot preserves these meatballs are sweet and fruity. The addition of Sriracha chili sauce and red pepper flakes adds a spicy heat that makes them irresistible. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Runner-Up: Vegetable Beef Shepherd’s Pie

Shepard’s pie has been a family favorite for as long as I can remember. It bakes in just 30 minutes and is packed with veggies like carrots, zucchini, onion and green pepper. —Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington