Kenya Shake It — Winner of the 2004 McCormick Spice Blend–To–Win Challenge

In 2002 the McCormick spice company introduced its "Blend–To–Win" contest, in which anyone could take the company's spices and create a signature mix to compete against all the other entries for a $10,000 grand prize and the privilege of having McCormick make and market the spice for a year.

I tried the 2003 winner, Ginger Berryhill's Rattlesnake Shake, and loved it.

So much so that I purchased four jars to insure a supply for a few years after it's been discontinued.

It's a blend of black pepper, chipotle chili pepper, mustard, thyme, paprika, garlic and onion and it's simply sensational on popcorn.

Kenya Shake It, which should be in grocery stores by now, was created by Valerie Szlatenyi of Wakefield, Rhode Island.

It's inspired by the sweet and savory flavors of East African cuisine, combining coriander, cumin, orange and lemon peel, cloves, brown sugar, salt and pepper.

Yum.

The 2005 competition is underway; call 800–632–5847 (800–MEAL–TIP) to get information and an entry blank.

I've just spent a half hour searching online for either an entry blank or a place to order Kenya Shake It, without success.

And that's after my crack research team spent hours fruitlessly pursuing the same quarry.

If we happen on either an entry site or a place to order, you'll be the second to know, as I'll add it here and note the addition in a contemporaneous post.

Addendum June 17, 2005

Kenya Shake It is available from McCormick by calling 800-632-5847.

[via SS]