Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000

Quarter-Finalist

Jody Wooden

I absolutely love to cook! People have told me for years I should open a restaurant! I love seeing the joy on faces with my creations!

Currently 10

in the Quarter-Finals

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You decide who will appear in Taste of Home magazine, and win $25,000!

Voting for Semi-Finalists ends Thursday the 23rd of July at 7PM PDT

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What is your signature dish?

My signature dish is Eggplant Manicotti. I make my own ricotta cheese to fill thinly sliced eggplant, along with mozzarella, parmesan, and asiago. Every fall I can tomatoes for sauce, and the homemade flavor shines through. Meat can be added to the stuffing or sauce, but it's delightful without as well. I usually make French bread and a side salad to accompany this rich dish.

Who is your culinary inspiration?

The entire cast of food network and the cooking channel! I have learned more as a self-taught cook from those channels and chefs than I could have from any book or class!

What would you do with the $25,000?

My boys and I always wanted to open a restaurant named 'Jojalo's' the first syllables of all our names - Jody, Jacob, and Logan. We share a passion for cooking and creativity!

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