Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rod Gardner
Publication Specialist
501.622.4513 office 501.622.2077 fax
Or: Nikki Thornton
Director of Community Relations
501.622.4010 office 501.622.2077 fax
Today's Date: February 18, 2008
St. Joseph’s announces heart healthy contest winners at cooking demonstration
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – In celebration of National Heart Month and the spirit of heart healthy cooking in the Hot Springs area, the Mercy Heart & Vascular Center at St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center held a heart healthy recipe contest.
Contestants were asked to turn in prepared heart healthy dishes, along with recipe cards and contact information. The heart healthy dishes were judged on taste, appearance and nutritional value, and the four winning recipes and their chefs were then featured at a live cooking demonstration on February 15 in the Mercy Room of the Mercy Heart & Vascular Center.
Cindy Hughes and Dr. Robert Kleinhenz, a registered dietitian and the medical director of the Mercy Diabetes & Wound Center, served as chef and master of ceremonies, respectively, for the live cooking demonstration. Both Hughes and Dr. Kleinhenz provided the attendees with numerous heart healthy tips throughout the event.
The winning chefs and their dishes were Cynthia Purnell for her no-guilt cream of tomato soup (appetizer), Nancy Goines for her morning glory muffins (breakfast entrée), Sarah Southall for her low-fat blueberry pound cake (dessert) and Linda Bright for her roasted parmasean vegetable medley (side dish). Purnell, Goines and Bright were all awarded $25 gift certificates for their winning dishes. Southall was presented a $100 gift certificate because her delicious, low-fat, heart-healthy blueberry pound cake was selected as the contest’s overall winner.
Local judges for the heart healthy recipe contest included Melinda Gassaway (Hot Springs Sentinel-Record Executive Editor), Craig Farrow (Hot Springs Village Voice Publisher), Phil O’Brien (KYDL Star 96.7 FM Radio personality), Dr. Greg St. John (Central Arkansas Cardiovascular Institute cardiologist) and Tim Johnsen (St. Joseph’s President-Chief Executive Officer).
For copies of the winning recipes, please stop by the Mercy Heart & Vascular Center. For information on the comprehensive services offered by the Mercy Heart & Vascular Center, please call (501) 622-4000.
A member of the Sisters of Mercy Health System, St. Joseph’s is a not-for-profit Catholic hospital and two-time recipient of the large-company Gold Award at the Governor’s Family Friendly Employer Awards ceremony in the spring of 2006 and 2007. For further information on the Arkansas Governor’s Family Friendly Employer awards, as well as services and employment opportunities offered by St. Joseph’s, please visit saintjosephs.com.
