JAKE DE PAUL: NATIONAL BEEF COOK-OFF >>>

The 28th Annual National Beef Cook-Off â€" a national contest that collects recipes from amateur home cooks â€" includes Morgan Hanrahan of Olympia competing in the Teens Cooking with Beef category with her Southeast Asian Steak Salad recipe. On Sept. 23 she'll head to Sonoma, Calif., to compete with 14 other competitors.

“I had an epiphany moment when I came up with this recipe, says Hanrahan in a press release.  “I love pasta, salad and Asian flavors â€" combing them together in a unique and delicious way was truly an aha moment for me.” 

Hanrahan will prepare her recipe for a panel of discerning beef enthusiasts. Judging will be based on taste, appearance, convenient preparation and cooking, healthfulness and nutritional balance. 

This year’s contest, funded in part by the Beef Checkoff Program, features a $25,000 “Best of Beef” grand prize and other cash prizes totaling more than $70,000.