FAVORITE BEEF RECIPE COULD BE WORTH $25,000

What's fast, flavorful and worth up to $25,000? Your family's favorite beef recipe -- if it wins the National Beef Cook-Off.

Amateur cooks from Missouri have a chance to win more than $50,000 in cash and Frigidaire appliances at the 1997 National Beef Cook-Off in Tampa, Fla., Sept. 18 through 20, 1997. The grand prize "Best of Beef" winner will take home $25,000 and a complete suite of matching Frigidaire Gallery Professional SeriesTM appliances, including a commercial-style refrigerator, range and dishwasher.

Although the competition will not be held until 1997, the deadline for entries -- June 1 -- is fast approaching. To qualify, entrants must be non-professional cooks who are at least 18 years old. Successful recipes are easy-to-prepare, flavorful main dishes that show off the versatility of beef and meet several criteria, including:

-- Preparation and cooking time of 60 minutes or less, including marinating time;

-- Use at least 1 pound and no more than 2 pounds of beef;

-- Use of no more than eight ingredients, excluding salt, ground black pepper and water; and

-- Be an original, unpublished recipe.

To receive the complete contest rules, call 800-848-9088 or contact the Missouri Beef Industry Council at 2015 MO Blvd., Jefferson City, MO 65109, (573) 636-6033.

Recipe entries should be sent to National Beef Cook-Off Entries, P.O. Box 3240, Dept. S, Chicago, Ill. 60654. They must be postmarked no later than June 1 and received by June 7. Recipes also can be sent by e-mail to: BeefCkOff@aol.com no later than 11:59 p.m. June 1.