PVMS Triple Threat Chefs rise to top of national recipe contest

Posted: Feb. 7, 2012

When the Park View Middle School Fuel Up to Play 60 team heard the official word that their recipe video won the national Fuel Up to Play 60 Cooking Show Challenge, they did what many middle school girls might do: They screamed.

Being selected as one of the top four videos nationwide, the Triple Threat Chefs won the national challenge with their nutritious breakfast recipe Fruit French Toast with Yogurt, after receiving 1,992 Internet votes. While word filtered through the school early on Tuesday that the video was in the lead, and some assumed Park View had won, official word came about midmorning to District Food Service Director Pam Harris from the National Dairy Council confirming the win, which will bring the school a visit from an active or alumni Fuel Up to Play 60 athlete.

"I knew there was the possibility with all the votes. I guess I'm a little dazed," said Harris. "Their video was really good - to think about being up against so many videos in the country, that ours came out on top."

The PVMS Fuel Up to Play 60 team won the regional recipe video contest early last week and earned a visit from Green Bay Packers chef Nick Klug, who will prepare his a recipe for students and staff on Thursday, March 8. Votes for the recipe videos could be cast from Jan. 30-Feb. 3. As word spread, students had friends from as far away as Switzerland watching their video debut and casting votes to put the school in the lead.

Triple threat

Eighth-graders Amanda Brisk, Krissy Knerler, Macie Brahm and Jenna Watkins joined the PVMS Fuel Up team for various reasons, but all had fun creating the video, from finding the recipe to writing the script and finally recording the video.

The recipe, which can be found on the food service link on the district website, www.mukwonago.k12.wi.us, consists of whole-grain bread, peaches and yogurt. It will be featured in all school lunches March 7.

When the group found the recipe, Watkins' grandmother made it, suggested a modification and made a sample for the group to taste. As they wrote the video script, fitting everything into a two-minute span became a challenge without losing meaning and humor.

Recording the video in the Park View kitchen required the cooperation of a cafeteria full of wrestlers who had to remain quiet during recording, since only a narrow aluminum screen separated the two groups. After four takes and editing from high school media students, the video was completed before Christmas break.

Since Jenna and her mom like to bake together, she found this project something she "could actually contribute to." Krissy had to step in at the last minute when Amanda lost her voice and couldn't take part in the video. Macie conquered her nerves while on camera to narrate most of the video and gained confidence in the group after seeing the success of the video.

Fueling up

The foursome has found that being part of the Fuel Up program has shown them the benefits of being active instead of watching television or sitting in front of the computer.

"You can fit 60 minutes of exercise in anywhere," said Brisk.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is a partnership between the National Dairy Council and the National Football League that allows student to decide how to make the school a healthier place through fun challenges where students have a chance to win prizes. Currently Park View students are working on challenges to earn a hike on the Lake Country Recreation Trail and a visit to the Country Springs waterpark.

While Macie loves exercise anyhow, Jenna and Krissy are enjoying dance as a result of their Fuel Up to Play 60 involvement. The group has inspired Becky Daniels, who didn't take part in any sports, to get more active by joining a lacrosse team.

"That's what this program is supposed to do," said Harris.

Along with creating a healthier school with walking Fridays, PVMS teacher Nancy Movrich saw the school and community come together during the video challenge.

"This program has really rallied our school together and got the community behind us," said Movrich, who received a number of emails from people regarding the contest. "It was great to see the unity, which was unexpected on my part."

"We aren't the biggest school district, but we came together to win the national contest," said Brisk.