Local spouse wins Exchange cooking contest

Rachel Banks, left, explains the preparation of her “Chicken Thingys” dish to Angela Spruill in the Exchange at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 14, 2012. The award winning dish is chicken rolled in a crescent roll with cream cheese and chives, topped with stuffing, and placed first in the Holiday Family Favorite Contest. Banks, wife of Senior Airman Joshua Banks, 916th Air Refueling Wing command post controller, is from Charlotte, N.C. Spruill, Exchange military clothing manager, is from Jamesville, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho/Released)

Local spouse wins Exchange cooking contest

Harriet Britt, left, presents Rachel Banks a $500 Exchange gift card in the Exchange at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 14, 2012. Banks placed first in the Holiday Family Favorite Contest, winning $500 gift cards from the Exchange and commissary. Banks, wife of Senior Airman Joshua Banks, 916th Air Refueling Wing command post controller, is from Charlotte, N.C. Britt, Exchange softline manager, hails from Sumter, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho/Released)

Local spouse wins Exchange cooking contest

Published March 20, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Nieves Camacho
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- A 916th Air Refueling Wing spouse with a homemade recipe called "Chicken Thingys" took first place in the Exchange Holiday Family Favorite Contest and received $1,000 in gift cards here March 14, 2012.

Rachel Banks' main dish, which she described as chicken rolled in a crescent roll with cream cheese and chives topped with stuffing, won the main dish category of the contest.

"It blows my mind to win at this level," said Banks, wife of Senior Airman Joshua Banks, 916th Air Refueling Wing command post controller. "In this rough economy anything and everything helps out. It's nice to see (companies) support the troops and their families."

The holiday recipe contest had 187 main dish, side dish and dessert entries sent from around the world. Banks was the only entrant from here. She took home a $500 gift card from the Exchange, as well as a $500 commissary gift card.

Harriet Britt, Exchange softline manager, said it was great to see a winner from Seymour Johnson and she hopes to see more local winners in future contests.

AAFES is geared toward giving back to the customer, so Banks' win was a great chance for customers to see the opportunities to win, Britt said.

For information about the latest Exchange contest and a chance to win $1,000 in gift cards, visit http://www.shopmyexchange.com/AboutExchange/PublicAffairs/pressreleases.htm.

Chicken Thingys
Ingredients:
· Boneless chicken breast
· Cream cheese and chives
· Crescent rolls
· Bread crumbs
· Butter

Instructions:
1) Set oven to 350 degrees.
2) Boil the chicken.
3) Once boiled peel the chicken into small pieces.
4) With your hands mix the chicken, and cream cheese and chives together.
5) Roll the crescent rolls out so they are flat pieces.
6) Put the chicken mixture in each roll.
7) Roll the crescent around the chicken so it is covered by the crescent.
8) Top with butter.
9) Sprinkle bread crumbs on top and bake for 45 minutes.
Note, you can also use gravy, ketchup or your choosing to top the Chicken Thingy off.