Enter your recipe in Sugar Grove Corn Boil Challenge

Corn may not be a common ingredient in your everyday meal, but at the Sugar Grove Corn Boil's annual Cooking Challenge, using corn can give competitors an edge.

At 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, dishes made by local chefs and foodies will be judged by three judges at this year's Corn Boil, said volunteer Pat Graceffa, who is on the Cooking Challenge committee.

Participants can enter one dish in each of the three judging categories: light affairs, or appetizers; main affairs, or entrees and main course dishes; and baked affairs, or desserts.

"I love to cook, and I love this event," Graceffa said. "We ask people to bring their favorite recipes, and they can be any age provided they can cook safely. It's a lot of fun."

The food must be prepared off-site and brought to the judges' booth prior to when the judging begins. Using corn in your recipe is optional but using it might give you an edge with the judges.

"You have to time it so that you have enough time to bring it to the judges," Graceffa said. "It's part of the challenge."

The judges will award first, second and third place ribbons to the winners of each category. After the ribbons are handed out, participants can try each other's food.

Graceffa said she is involved in the Sugar Grove Farmers Market, and the event is one way of promoting a healthy lifestyle.

In past years, the event has had about a dozen participants, but Graceffa said she hopes to raise that number this year.

"Anyone, even people from outside of Sugar Grove, can come and participate," she said. "And if you use corn, there might be a few extra points sent your way."