Darlene Superville: Michelle Obama says 54 kids who earned a trip to the White House by winning a nationwide recipe contest are showing how talented, creative and brilliant young people can be. It’s the second year the first lady has hosted the kids’ "state dinner.”
The contest for 8- to 12-year-olds is sponsored by the Epicurious food website and the departments of Agriculture and Education. It drew a batch of more than 1,300 entries that were whittled to 54 winners — one from each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia.
Mrs. Obama singled out a few of the champion culinary creations during Tuesday’s meal, including Confetti Peanut Ginger Party Pasta from Missouri, Pan-seared Mississippi Catfish on a Bed of River Rice and Slam Dunk Veggie Burger from Texas.
President Barack Obama also made an unannounced appearance at the dinner in the White House East Room. He told the junior chefs they are showing that food can be both healthy and fun.
President Barack Obama smiles with Makenna Hurd of Mascot, Tennessee, and Noah Koch of Waterville, Maine,
during the second annual ‘Kids’ State Dinner’, in the East Room of the White House July 9, 2013 in Washington DC.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama kiss each other at the second annual "Kids’ State Dinner”, to honor the winners
of a nationwide recipe challenge to promote healthy lunches, at the White House.
First Lady Michelle Obama joins in a wave during the Kids’ State Dinner
Eun Kyung Kim: The White House hosted a "state dinner” on Tuesday for 54 junior chefs whose culinary creations earned them a spot as a guest of honor at the executive mansion. First lady Michelle Obama hosted the gathering, which was actually a luncheon featuring winning dishes submitted for the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge.
More than 1,300 entries were submitted in the contest. Winning creations included salmon fried rice, from 10-year-old Audrey Russell of Oregon, and hidden veggie lasagna from Owen Kerkvliet. The 9-year-old from South Dakota said he and his mom came up with the dish based on his aversion to vegetables he can see on his plate.
All of the items will be featured in a cookbook released by Epicurious.com, whose editor in chief, Tanya Steel, came up with the idea for the challenge and pitched it to the White House.
Pres. Obama gets a hug from Makenna Hurd, age 9, from Mascot, Tennessee.
WLBR: A Knox Couny student with a penchant for baking used her talents to get a ticket to the White House and a special hug from President Obama! Tuesday was the second annual Kids’ State Dinner at the White House. This year, the First Lady invited 54 winners of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, along with their parent or guardian to the East Room for a special meal, music, remarks from the First Lady, and a surprise visit from the Commander in Chief!
Among those kids Makenna Anne Hurd, a second grader at East Knox Elementary School. She won for her all-bran muffin recipe called "Makenna’s Bodacious Banana Muffins.”
