Cooks and aspiring chefs can put their skills to the test in a new Iowa State Fair competition, “Food Bank of Iowa Chopped — Hot Dish Edition.” The Food Bank of Iowa is partnering with the State Fair for the competition, which is sponsored by Nationwide Insurance. According to a news release, participants are required to create simple and affordable recipes using ingredients commonly available from the Food Bank of Iowa or other food pantries. Entries will be judged on flavor, ease of preparation and appearance. Blue-ribbon award-winning recipes will be published in an electronic cookbook to be distributed to Food Bank of Iowa pantry partners and available at www.FoodBankIowa.org. Today (July 1) is the deadline to enter. The Food Bank of Iowa Chopped — Hot Dish Edition competition will be judged on Aug, 22. The first-place winner will receive $1,000, second place gets $150 and third place gets $50.