Leading supplier of animal fat shortenings Coast Packing Company has announced the winners of its sixth #LardLovers Recipe Contest, bestowing the top honors and prizes on a trio of enterprising home cooks. Teresa Cardin of Pyatt, Arkansas secured the top spot with her Gluten-Free Triple Berry Crostatas.

Other winners include Sarah Meuser of Connecticut for her Spiced Chocolate Orange Snickerdoodles and Jacqueline W. Riekena of West Des Moines, Iowa for her Butter Pecan Stars.

The company’s #LardLovers Contest draws its inspiration from the annual December 8 observance of #NationalLardDay, organized by the Healthy Fats Coalition. The company called for any unique, unpublished recipe that uses lard.

Setting this year’s competition apart is Coast Packing’s Centennial Edition ”Share the Flavor” tribute. Complementing the recipe and a photograph, entries included an essay of 50-200 words on the following: “What do animal fats mean to you: a rich tradition, a fond memory, or a sweet recipe?”

Winners were selected based on flavor, creativity/originality and visual appeal. Leading the small group of culinary professional who judged the contest was Coast Packing’s corporate chef Greg Hozingsky. First prize was a Family Traditions Bundle (MSRP $425) 5-Piece Ruffled Bakeware Set, Storyworth Standard Package and Drippings Jar. Second prize was a Family Dinners Bundle ($380) GreenPan Slow Cooker, Vintage Blacksmith Lazy Susan and Vintage Blacksmith Flatware Caddy. Third prize was a Heirloom Recipes Bundle ($145) Personalized Recipe Box, Personalized Family Recipe Cutting Board and The Settlement Cookbook. The total approximate retail value of all prizes combined is $950.

“In a world that is increasingly defined by artificial everything—artificial fats, artificial sweeteners, artificial Christmas trees, and now even art, music, and literature created by AI — it’s important to find ways to live authentically,” Teresa Cardin wrote in her winning essay. “When I use lard in my recipes, I’m tapped into a tradition of culinary authenticity that connects me with my mother and grandmothers, who taught me traditional cooking as I was growing up in the Missouri Ozarks. There is also the simple fact that lard makes for truly delicious foods.”

“Our Sixth Annual #LardLovers Contest was timed with the conclusion of Coast’s centennial celebration, and the results couldn’t have been more gratifying -- or more delicious,” says Eric R. Gustafson, Coast Packing chief executive officer. “The Centennial Edition essays added a dimension to this year’s competition and served to remind us why animal fats have been so popular for so long. It’s also why our mantra really is, ‘Praise the Lard.’”