And The Winner Is...

Donna Smith

Yes, I was the main judge. The head honcho. The big cheese. After narrowing the entries down to three, I let the other judges take over and make the final decision.

Ashlee Smith

Nine-year-old Ashlee got her culinary expertise from watching her mom in the kitchen. She enjoys rollerblading, reading, talking on the phone, playing with her friends, and playing with her bunnies.

Michael Smith

Five-year-old Michael enjoys cooking with his mom. He also enjoys playing Nintendo, rollerblading, swimming, eating snacks, and playing with his friends.

Katie Smith

One-year-old Katie enjoys making a mess in the kitchen while her mom cooks. She also enjoys her bottle, dancing, playing hide-and-seek, playing in the pool, and singing.

Now on to the winner. The winner of the first annual Five Ingredients or Less Recipe Contest is...

Cheese Strata submitted by Jeanne Athalia Shanahan of Yonkers, New York!

Jeanne's Cheese Strata recipe has been around her family for a long time. "My grandmother Edith taught my mother, Starr, who taught me and I will teach my son William," says Jeanne. "I remember helping my mother in the kitchen-grating the cheese, trimming the crusts and beating the eggs then assembling the strata. It gave us a chance to talk while we worked."

When I made the strata for my family, we made it a vegetarian meal. I served it along with a few vegetables, and believe it or not, my family never asked where the meat was. Jeanne likes to serve it with a mixed green salad and fruit, like grapes, berries, apples, and pear slices. "You can also serve it with a clear soup," she says, "and some white wine or spice it up with a bowl of gazpacho on the side."

Jeanne grew up in Bridgewater,Connecticut, but currently lives in Yonkers, New York with her husband David and soon-to-be 7 year-old son William. She's a stay-at-home mom and is active in the PTA.

Cheese Strata

8 slices white bread (trimmed of crusts)

1/4 - 1/2 LB of shredded cheddar cheese

3 eggs