Ok... from what it looks like, No one is notified if they are accepted into the contest until September 1st. So its a long wait. I think it is WELL worth it though.
Here's the blurb on the website for Judging criteria and how they select recipes:
"HOW WILL RECIPES BE JUDGED?
All entries must meet the requirements of the Recipe Category entered. Recipes not meeting contest entry criteria will be disqualified. Entries must be the original recipe of the entrant. Initial judging will be done by an independent judging agency and food professionals for appropriate use of two or more different eligible products in addition to the criteria outlined below for the finalist recipes:
* Taste
* Appearance
* Creativity
* Consumer Appeal
Judges will disqualify previously published recipes, such as but not limited to those in cookbooks, in magazines, from food companies, on food blogs or recipe websites and winners in cooking contests, unless the recipe features changes considered significant by the judges. Finalists will be required to certify, on information or belief, that their recipes are their original creation and have not been published or publicized and have not won a cooking contest. Judges reserve the right to assign entries to the Recipe Category they deem appropriate. Final judging will be done by a panel of food experts. Decisions of the judges are final in all matters relating to this Contest.
HOW WILL FINALISTS BE SELECTED?
Judges will select 20 recipes to be placed online at
www.bakeoff.com during the summer of 2011 in pairs for a period of two weeks for each pair. During each two-week period, consumers 18 years of age or older as of May 1, 2011 will be able to vote for their favorite of the two recipes. Consumers will be able to vote only once per each pair of recipes. The entrant from each of the ten pairs whose recipe receives the most votes will become a finalist. In the event that entrant is unable to compete, the other entrant from that pair will become a finalist. If that entrant is unable to compete, General Mills may choose to select an alternate(s) as provided below. If your recipe is one of the 20 recipes selected to compete online, you will be notified on a rolling basis between May and August of 2011 and prior to the two-week period during which your recipe will be online. Entrants whose recipes are selected to compete online but do not participate will not be eligible to be finalists.
Judges will select the remaining 90 recipes and the entrants whose recipes are selected by the Judges will become finalists. General Mills will begin notifying finalists on or about September 1, 2011. General Mills may also select alternates. Alternates will not be notified of their selection as alternates."
I then let the beans cool, put them in a zip lock baggie and use them again the next time. Works great
