Coarsegold teen competes in Uncle Ben's Beginners Cooking Contest

COARSEGOLD, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Valley teen is turning up the heat and smoking out her competition by making it to the finals in a nationwide cooking contest.

Meagan Rich of Coarsegold is among the top 25 finalists fighting to win the Uncle Ben's Beginners Cooking Contest. Five grand prize winners will each get $15,000 for themselves and $30,000 for their school.

The Rivergold Elementary eighth grader already has a lot of the foothill community rooting for her. You can pitch in too by voting for her now famous chicken and rice ravioli recipe.

Click here to cast your vote.

Dough Ingredients

Dough

2 cups flour

3 eggs

Pinch salt

Sprinkle olive oil

Fillings

1 cup Ben's Rice

2 cup water

1 heaping spoonful Bouillon

1 to 2 pound finely chopped cooked chicken

3 cup cheese -- (mozzarella, provolone, or Colby Jack)

1 egg for egg wash

Spices

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Making the Dough

Dump the flour in a pile on a work surface. Make a deep, wide well like a volcano in the center and crack in the eggs. Begin mixing the eggs with a fork, staying in the center and being careful that the eggs don't break the flour wall. Add olive oil, and salt. Little by little, mix in flour from the sides until the dough starts to move as a unit and is too stiff to mix with a fork. Continue kneading by hand. When it doesn.t easily absorb more flour wrap in cellophane and put in the refrigerator for about an hour.

Making the Rice

Put in 2 cups water and one spoonful Bouillon in small pot. Turn to high and when it comes to a boil add one cup Ben's rice. Turn to low and cover for about thirty to forty minutes.

Making the Filling

Add Rice, pre-cooked finely chopped chicken, cheese, and spices to a large frying pan. Cook until cheese is melted. Take out and put into a flat dish.

Making Raviolis

Roll out the dough on a hand roller or machine to 5 or 6. With half the dough, place one teaspoon of filling and use egg wash to paint around teaspoon. Take other half of dough and fold over and press and cut out raviolis. Boil and cook for 6 to 10 min.