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Hi Everyone!

Apologies for the delay! It seems the holiday (and HUGE number of submissions) meant the judges have been furiously tasting and preparing up until the last minute! And since we were dark on the site yesterday, today I have the great pleasure of announcing not one, but TWO "International" Side Dish winners today!

First up, I am so so excited to announce this amazing girl's name. I had the extreme good fortune of meeting her in Savannah back in June (wow, that seems like a lifetime ago!) and I am so proud and honored to call her my friend - on the site, and off! So for our first International Side Dish winner, it's my dear friend...Jacqui Nicholson!

That's right! She was a finalist a few months ago, and now she's wowed the Kraft panel of experts...to the tune of $500! I couldn't be prouder, Kiwi! Your Chai Tea Rice looks and sounds like more! I'm sure like all of you, I can never have enough rice recipes, and any time I see a new, fun way to prepare it, I get all silly and excited. In fact, I might have to whip this up tonight, and switch out what I was going to make. It's a bit late here, but this looks easy and delicious and I bet it will be easy as pie to make! (ok, easy as rice... :)

And, after all that love, I'm so excited to announce our second winner for International Side Dish week. It's Kimberly Campbell for her scrumptious Yam Tarts! This is such a great example of how to take flavors we all know (and love) and create something a little bit new and interesting from them. Kimberly, I've never met a tart I didn't like, and I'm definitely going to try this this week. Oh, and help us RWOPers get to know you a bit better by filling out your profile. We love that you are now an active member of extended Philly family, so start filling out and posting some photos!

Whew. I really was on pins and needles, waiting to hear who our winners are. I've been thinking about it all weekend! Check back right here tomorrow to find out another International Side Dish winner.

Thanks, everyone, for making this so much fun. I love being a part of your daily lives on the site - we have something so special, don't we?

See you all tomorrow!

Hugs,

Mandy