Buffarolls a tailgating touchdown

It was a difficult job, but when the judges finished their tough but tasty task, Jennifer Domines was declared the winner of the 27th annual Times News Cookbook and Recipe Contest.

Her Buffarolls, a Tailgating treat that combines the spicy tang of Buffalo chicken wings with cheese, which is then deep fried in an egg roll wrapper, were a huge hit with both the judges, and the other contestants as well.

"It's something that my family loved," says Domines, "and as our friends tried it, they loved it."

Domines was initially declared first-place winner in the Tailgating category. On Oct. 13 she and her recipe faced off against the other five category winners at the Times News office in Mahoning Township, in a taste test where she was declared the grand prize winner.

Domines says she entered this year's contest because she was pretty sure that if others tried it, they would have the same reaction.

"My family is Italian," says Domines, "and we eat Stromboli. We have friends who are Spanish and we make empanadas, but we never had anything in an egg roll wrapper, other than an egg roll. So I suggested a wing egg roll, but without the bones. We shredded chicken, put in cheese and buffalo sauce."

The Buffarolls were an instant hit. The secret just may be the cheese.

"Everything is better with cheese," says Domines.

Her creation is also versatile. While the winning recipe includes sharp cheddar and mozzarella cheese, those making them can switch it up and use a different cheese, such as cream cheese, which she says is also good, or combination of cheeses.

You can also serve them with the blue cheese or ranch dressing on the side, or just eat them plain, which is how Domines prefers them.

Domines, her partner and their son enjoy spending time together in the kitchen and trying new things.

Her Buffarolls recipe is the perfect example of that ingenuity. She's quick to admit, however, that everything that comes out of the kitchen isn't always a big winner.

"To use a sports metaphor, some things are a touchdown and some things are a fumble when it comes to other things," she jokes. "The Buffarolls, those I've got down pat."

Domines has some great role models to look up to in the kitchen.

She says her grandmother is a terrific cook who makes old Italian recipes, such as rice balls, Strombolis and cornstarch pudding, and her mother makes the best chicken pot pie soup.

Her family is the reason she entered the contest in the first place.

"I hope I made my family proud," she says. "Whatever I do, I hope I make them proud."

Other winners this year include Vicky Unitis in the Beverages & Smoothies category, for her recipe for Non-alcoholic Eggnog; and Jennifer Price in the Main Dishes & Sides category, with her recipe for Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta.

Also winning was Pauline Dotter in the Edible Gifts category, with her Fruitcake recipe; Kathy Getz in the Holiday Cookies & Candies category with her Caramel Truffels; and Genevieve Laubach in the Desserts category, with her recipe for Pumpkin Pie Edibles.

This year's judges were Chef Yvonne Sidella from Vonz Restaurant in Tamaqua, sugar artist Candy Repsher Knappenberger and Lori LaRizzio, wife of last year's grand prize winner, Teddy LaRizzio, who was unable to make it.

The Times News 27th annual cookbook, Recipes From Our Readers, will be included in Thursday's edition of the Times News, so make sure to pick up your copy.

Additional copies will be available for purchase at our office in Mahoning Township, as well as our satellite offices in Palmerton and Tamaqua.