For anyone who regularly cooks with bulk food items -- or those wanting to experiment -- Whole Foods Market, 2305 N. Prospect Ave., announced an interesting recipe contest for Milwaukee families and individuals.

The "Bulk to School" recipe contest encourages cooks to submit their favorite recipe that includes at least one of Whole Foods' bulk ingredients. The deadline to enter the contest in Monday, Sept. 7, and potential entrants should visit the Whole Foods' Web site to download an entry form. Recipes can be submitted via e-mail or in person.

"We designed the contest to be friendly for families and foodies of all ages. Getting kids in the kitchen at an early age can help set a lifetime of healthy eating habits, especially when you start with ingredients found in our bulk bins: grains, granola, whole wheat flours, rice, soup mixes and nuts. There's lots of great ingredients to build a killer dish with," says Autumn Faughn, Whole Foods' marketing and communications specialist.

The First Place winner receives a $250 gift card from Whole Foods, and a healthy lunch provided to the school classroom of their choice. Five semi-finalists will be selected to face off in a head-to-head tasting party on Sept. 12 from noon to 3 p.m. This event coincides with the East Side's Tomato Romp which will take place on North Avenue, outside of Whole Foods.

The judges include Faughn, along with Whole Foods' Michael Durr, Chef Jordan Short, food coach Suzanne Moore and two TBA store team members. They will rate the recipe on the inclusion of bulk foods (the more bulk food included the better), the innovation of the recipe, the simplicity of the recipe and the value and affordability.

"Team Members at this store are passionate about good food and the fun of sharing it with others. The inspiration for the recipe contest stemmed from there," says Faughn.

Recipes should be family friendly, meaning relatively easy to prepare, have broad appeal, suitable for lunch boxes or left-overs and low-cost per serving.

"Everybody's level of experience will differ, but even in my family where my partner is the chef, I have some recipes that are incredible enough to stand up against his," says Faughn.

Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market is a leader in the natural and organic foods industry. Milwaukee's Whole Foods opened in September of 2006.