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Snack recipe in the race for grand prize

Lorie Hutson Food editor

Kae O’Brien experimented on her husband and co-workers to come up with her winning recipe in the recent NASCAR Cooks! competition.

Her Speedway Cheese Balls combine the ease of food on a stick with batter-fried goodness. O’Brien said she wanted to create something easy to eat that featured a product from one of the contest sponsors, Birchwood foods.

The recipe was the winner in the semifinal round along with Hot Lap Jalapeños, Big Daddy’s Grilled Hawaiian Chicken, Cecchini Checkered Flag Chili, Caution Wrap Burgers, Tubbs Tailgater’s Fruit Kebobs, The Ultimate Inside Out Burger and Melt-in-Your-Mouth-Like- Cheap-Tennis-Shoes-to- a-Road-in-Summertime- in-Talladega Grilled Salmon.

The grand prize winner will be chosen by fans voting online. The winner gets a trip for eight to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race in Talladega on Oct. 7, including VIP Access passes to the pre-race, including a possible meet-and-greet with Rusty Wallace.

Look for a profile of Kae O’Brien in Thursday’s Your Voice, or online at www.spokesmanreview. com/voices.

Speedway Cheese Balls

6 (8-inch) skewers or corn dog sticks

18 Birchwood Italian meatballs (see note)

36 (1-inch) cubes mozzarella cheese

4 cups marinara sauce

6 cups prepared pancake mix

Preheat deep fryer to 350 degrees.

Cut meatballs in half. Assemble skewers or corn dog sticks as follows: 1/2 meatball, 1 cube mozzarella, repeating pattern for a total of six times. You can also add 1-inch pieces of green pepper and onion to skewer or stick.

Dip finished skewers or corn dog sticks into prepared pancake mix of your choice. Continue to check the consistency of your mix as you fry.

Dip skewer into fryer and turn slowly until all the pancake mix starts to turn golden brown, then drop completely in oil for approximately 3 to 4 minutes.

Take cheese balls out of fryer and set on plate.

Heat marinara and put in a Styrofoam or other container of your choice with approximate 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup marinara sauce, and dip your Speedway Cheese Balls in the marinara sauce.

Delicious! Perfect snack while you enjoying the race.

Note: Birchwood Italian Meatballs can be purchased online. Any Italian meatballs can be substituted.

Yield: 6 skewers

Approximate nutrition per serving: Unable to calculate.