Gorton class catches $1,500 tuna
Gorton's Great Tuna Noodle Casserole was a prize winning entry in the Newman's Own, Inc. and Stop & Shop recipe contest. The tuna noodle casserole was the brainchild of Gorton Jr. Highs School students, Krystal Brooks, Janice Boisvert, Alex Arabian, and Jessica Bauer. The students took part in the recipe contest in June of 1996. Their Human Science and Services teacher, Mrs. Donna Murgo, challenged the class to come up with original recipes to submit to Newman's Own Inc. Thirty-four students participated in the contest by entering 11 recipes after taste-testing the Newman products. Fourteen dollars was invested in the purchase of salad dressing. Pasta sauces, salsa, and popcorn. Mrs. Murgo encouraged the students to use their imagination with the knowledge they obtained in her food class. The recipe contest was a lesson in teamwork, cooperation, basic math and writing skills.
In October, Linda Rohr, director of marketing and communications for the Newman's Own Company, notified Mrs. Murgo that one of her class entries had won a $1,500 prize award in the runner-up division. The contest is highly competitive, with only 18 awards given in the Stop & Shop district of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York. Since 1982, Newman's Own has given out over $75 million to a wide variety of charitable and educational causes. The company gives 100 percent of after-tax profits to these organizations.
The $1,500 prize award was used to buy four new electric ranges, which replaced those
that were over 30 years old. Mrs. Murgo said her students are as pleases and excited by
the new ranges as she is. Her students have already entered another contest this year for
original oatmeal recipes. Although Christmas only comes once a year, don't tell that to
Mrs. Murgo and her food classes at Gorton Jr. High School. As she said, "Santa likes
hot chocolate and oatmeal cookies!" When asked what she hoped for next, Mrs. Murgo
said, "We need new tables and chairs to complement the new stoves."
Gorton's Great Tuna Noodle Casserole
Preheat oven to 350 degrees;
Cook pasta according to package directions and drain.
Mix tuna, green pepper and mozzarella cheese. Add cooked pasta and Newman's Own Ranch Dressing, and mix thoroughly.
Place mixture in a 9" x 13" glass baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.
Serves 8.
1/16/97