Judy Castranova moved to New Bern from Long Valley, New Jersey, with her husband in 1993. After working full time as the director of Interfaith Refugee Ministry from 1996 to 2006, she continued with the ministry part time until 2007, when she retired.
Judy writes the food column for her neighborhood newspaper, The Greenbrier Gazette. When she isn’t reading food magazines or watching TV food shows, she’s creating and testing recipes for her food blogs, Judy’s Kitchen (http://judyskitchen.blogspot.com) and The Bear Cupboard (http://bearcupboard.blogspot.com). Judy, a lifelong food enthusiast, started entering recipe contests in 2008. Her wins to date include:
2008 Betty Crocker Bake Life Sweeter (Pumpkin Streusel Cheesecake Squares, $500 Finalist)
Better Homes & Gardens Prize Tested Recipes (Blueberry Pepper Sauce with Chipotle Chile Chicken, $50 Honorable Mention)
2009 Taste of Home/Branson Great American Pie Contest (Marshmallow Cream Almond Topped Key Lime Pie, all-expense-paid trip to Branson, MO, Finalist)
Better Homes & Gardens Prize Tested Recipes (Avocado-Pesto-Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes, $400 First Prize)
Carlson Labs Fish Oil Contest (Baked Honey Lime Trout with Cilantro-Mint Pesto, $100 Third Place)
