Monday, September 3, 2012

Chopped: The Home Version


Deb: We went up to a beach house on Lake Huron with our dear friends, Sandy and Greg. (Beach House story: part one; and Beach House: part two). They are big fans of a TV show called Chopped on the Food Network and asked us if we wanted to play the “home version”. For those of you who don’t know Chopped, the basic idea is that each team gives the other team three edible items for each course and they must come up with an appetizer, main course, and dessert. They do have the use of a pantry to help, but the three items must be featured in each dish.

So we set out in teams to try and live up to the standard. Sandy and Greg were one team and Colin and I the other. We loved it so much that we did one final challenge featuring girls versus boys. The fun part of our home version was that we were not judging, just enjoying the challenge. So here is how we played:

We put our three items in a box and presented them to the other team. They had a few minutes to talk through their dish while preparing the cocktail of the day. They could, if they wanted, use one of the three ingredients in the cocktail, but it also had to be used prominently in the dish.

First challenge was to Colin and I. Here are the ingredients that Sandy and Greg gave us:

113gram can of hot and spicy Vienna Sausage
I can whole chestnuts
I mango

Second challenge we gave Greg and Sandy. Here are the ingredients we gave to them:

Cranberries
Patty pan squash
Onion soup mix

For the last challenge, the boys gave the girls:

Bok choy
Small bag of potato chips (half eaten I might add)
1 small pepperoni

And the girls gave the boys:

Bag of Cheesies
Canned corn
Some kind of nut. (I do not remember exactly what kind of nut and neither does my husband. But it was in fact, some kind of nut.)

This was the most fun game. Not only did we enjoy the creativity of all the challenges, but despite some wonky ingredients, they all tasted fantastic. Did I mention that one of the cocktails had bok choy in it and one of them had Cheesies?

As many of you know, I am not with the cookery-okery, but I am with the presentation. I rock the plate but not the pot. So that was what I brought to the party. That, and lots of chopping. I am on my way to mastering the bull cook. Kind of. Not really. Trying though. The others brought real culinary skill. The only request I made of my husband for the next time was that he at least pretend to tell me what we are making. He agreed.

















Barbara: Deb, you didn't give yourself full credit here: you also took every one of these stunning photos! Look at you getting all pro on us! 

You told me about this fantastic game after your trip to the beach house together. Sandra and I also spoke about it. I have to say, the idea absolutely galvanized me. It sounded like an eater’s delight. And the way you guys described the delicious foods you produced with this eclectic mix really blew me away. I looooooove food and almost every variation thereof, when it’s inventive and delicious, all the better. That said, I also—despite my comfort and relative ease in the kitchen—told Sandra of my insecurity when it came to the thought of a challenge like this one. She assured me that it was easier than it sounded and that I would be fine—and that it would be exciting and fun to try. You guys have planted a seed: we definitely entertain enough here (not to mention our fabulous BabyFest get-together) that this might have to make our “menu” one day!!

Oh, and Happy Labour Day, everyone!! xo


42 comments:

  1. Hey!!! Not bad food choices! Looks great! Hope everyone has a smashing labor day. I still have classes...boo. Ah well. I'll get my for-real labor day off soon enough! :]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kelly! Have a great Labour Day yourself, classes and all!

      Delete
    2. Aww! I feel for ya Kelly! I attended lectures too....But I went to shop later...and went crazy looking at the beautiful nail-paint colors....!
      Have an AWESOME day!

      Delete
    3. Hey Sha, Have you seen that crackle polish? You paint your nails one color then apply the crackle stuff and when it dries the polish is two toned and looks antiqued, and I tried to make this sentence really really long and run-on, and I believe I've succeeded. ha. Okay then, no more coffee for ME. ;) I'll post a picture on your FB page if you like.
      hugs,
      Karen

      Delete
    4. Re-scanning all these food pics is making me hungry! Day's good so far but still not over! Class from 6-8.

      Delete
    5. Karen, I know the nail stuff you are talking about. I LOVE it! It works well and looks amazing!

      Delete
  2. Happy Labor Day! What a fun thing to do Deb. I am going to try this with my boys and their girlfriends. They will love it. It looks like you made some amazing, colorful and delicious appetizers and cocktails to boot! That gorgeous beach and all that wonderful food and friendship. It looks like you had an amazing beach holiday this year. Your sense of fun is delightful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jo the boys would love it! It is really fun and as you all know I AM NO COOK! But everyone can take a role they are comfortable in. I chopped and did the presentation.

      Delete
  3. What a wonderful game! The food looks delicious. The pictures of the food are also very good ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Kasku! the food was delicious and I was besotted with my new camera and loved taking the shots!

    ReplyDelete
  5. OOOHHHH GOOOOODIEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE THIS...Like you know, I'm not MUCH of a cook....Well unless its a chai-latte challenge..THEN I'M..--- nope! still not much of a cook. (In a challenge like this I'm always the one holding a pan in one hand and yelling "WHERES THE PAN....WHERES THE PAN ????? I NEED IT NOW....HELLLLPPPPP MEEEE!!!! I DUNN---Oh here it is!")

    Anyway..I swear the whole time I kept thinking "Deb must be in charge of the presentation and photos". I'm GUESSING I was right!

    Oh and... I loooooooooooooooove these games. So inventive and Creative and the dishes are YUMMMMILICCIIOUS!!! God those dishes look mouthwatering...I think the way youve clicked the pics make them more delicious! And oh you were at the beach......COULD IT GET ANY BETTER????????

    P.S. Its Labour day???? Ah damn it I attended classes today (I know Kelly I feel for ya .....A BIG booooooooo from me too!)!!! Damn it. I was snoring the whole time..BUT WHY DID I ATTEND...THATS WORK TOO...lol I did shop though....That eases the pain...A BIT.
    Anyway HAPPY LABOUR DAY to everyone!!!! HAVE FUN FUN FUN!!!! LOL like we need a reason for that! (We do if we have my mom!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Shalaka, another beautiful day here!

      Delete
  6. Aww yeah Deb Wish Luke a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY....All of my best wishes and I hope he has an AWESOME DAY! xoxoxo

    Just read Colin's post and remembered. I knew missed someone's birthday today... Tried to remember all day!!! (Ok....its not as weird as it seems.. I SWEAR I'm really good at remembering birthdays and anniversarys, sometimes of the randomest folks..! Speaking of anniversarys 10 September is 7 days away Barb! Ohk yeah thats weird)a

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Shalaka! Already we are having a wonderful birthday with him!!! Thanks for your lovely wishes!

      Delete
  7. Wow, all those dishes look great! I wish I could whip up a fantastic dish with just a handful of ingredients but, alas, my skills in the kitchen are severely limited... almost non-existant in fact. Looks like you all had a fun game, though. :D

    Oh, and a very happy birthday to Luke. Hope he has a fantastic day. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We did have fun Roz. I cannot take credit for the taste, just the look! Thanks for the boy's birthday wishes Roz!

      Delete
  8. The photos show all the creativity and it sounded like fun. I would be in Barbara's camp with such anxiety and I think mine would be a glob of nothing but mixing everything together. I am so uncreative in the kitchen but not in my painting studio. Go figure. Happy Labor Day to both of you and your families.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Madge we can't all be creative everywhere! Your gift is in your studio. WE did have fun though and I was bull cook. Just tell me what to do and I will do it if I can but don't ask me to come up with a dish!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That would so be me Deb as well. Good thing Colin then could come up with a dish. I could decorate with the best of them but no cooking ideas. :)

      Delete
    2. LOL thats me too! and I add "AND STOP PATRONIZING ME WHEN I'M TRYING TO DO IT RIGHT"
      I always wanted to decorate cakes ya know! I mean its a very curious form of Art I think. I love watching the show "fabulous cakes" for that ONE THING!

      Delete
    3. It's true Madge or we could have been literally chopped! I have never seen fabulous cakes Shalaka!

      Delete
  10. These were your friends and they gave you...spicy vienna sausages? Wow. Don't make 'em mad. ;)
    Everything looked like it came from a 5 star, Zagat blessed restaurant, photographed by National Geographic. Great job. Not sure I'd drink the green stuff though, unless I had lots of booze to go with/in it. ;)
    Hugs
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Karen. In all fairness though, we kinda gave them cheesies!

      Delete
  11. WOW ...comming from a very picky eater, I must say that it all looks so yummy and refreshing!
    I love this idea it sounds so fun and creative. I love to cook and this just sound like a ton of fun. : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really makes cooking a fun game Kelly. Maybe if I had discovered it, I would have loved cooking years ago.

      Delete
  12. I watch "Chopped" all the time and it fascinates me what these cooks/chefs can come up with. Your little group certainly did yourselves proud. And, might I add, you guys sure had one well-stocked beach house! Wow!\

    The pictures are beautiful, just enough to convince me cheetos (cheezies?) are better off in the bag they come in. :)

    I'd take up the challenge. I just can't promise I'd be able to produce something tasty. It'd all wind up tasting like it did at the beginning. I've got to take a spice course someday. I'm SURE there are more spices than just cinnamon and garlic salt, and that a tablespoon probably isn't the correct amount to use of any spice. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dawn I have never heard of a spice course. Is there such a thing? just learning to use different spices? I love it!

      Delete
    2. I don't actually know of a specific one. I just figured there are cooking classes all over the place. Since they have classes focused on regions, holidays, desserts, wine/meal matching, I can't imagine that a spice class doesn't exist SOMEWHERE. I'll have a google hour or two and see what I can come up with.

      Delete
  13. Yep....I'd still eat that! lol

    Here's to hoping everyone had a happy and lovely Labor Day (like I did!!!)
    :D <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How great Holly, so glad it was lovely for you. WE also had a great one, especially being the boy's birthday!

      Delete
  14. i have one word for all that food ....... yummy ! i don't cook at all (well apart from grilling bacon , scrambling and poaching eggs and making French toast) i love the creativity in cooking . normally on TV shows they have home economists to make the food look nice , instead you got a handful of ingredients and made scrumptious looking food out of them . how cool .

    belated happy labour day to my american and Canadian fellow comment posters !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much LInda for the labour day wishes. Gorgeous weekend here, perfect weather really as summer winds down. Glad you enjoyed the game.

      Delete
  15. What fun! And, it almost all looked yummy! Sorry, the cheesies (cheetos?) in the cocktail made me cringe. lol

    Deb -

    When we lived on the edge of Los Angeles (the time I refer to as The Exile), we only had one vehicle so I was home during the day with baby Eddie A LOT. (Too much.) And, I got totally hooked on a daytime cooking show with a nutty British man named Ainsley Harriott who, besides being a TV chef, was, most importantly, in the cast of Red Dwarf. ;) And, to this day, I still do something I learned from watching that show. It's the best, best, best kitchen tip I've ever picked up: Curl your fingertips in while chopping. You'd think this would be a no brainer, but almost no one I know does it. Hang on, lemme find a pic or diagram:

    http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/kitchen/2008_03_04-onionswithouttears.jpg

    http://www.cookincanuck.com/2011/01/how-to-hold-cut-with-chefs-knife-knife/

    BTW, because of VeggieTales, any mention of bok choy (yummy though it is) makes me giggle because I always think of this: (start at 8:29) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ3W5uT8F6w Remember, Bok Choy prefers hugtime over a light spritzing of olive oil. LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for these Rigel. So great!!!!! Actually you would be shocked at how tasty those bits of crispy cheese goodness were on the drink!

      Delete
  16. Sounds like you had fun. The photos are great and the food looks amazing as well. YUM!!! I may have to try this game...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steph if you play it with good friends who are into it too, it is a blast!

      Delete
  17. Those are really great photos, Deb! I am so impressed with the end results, because as I was reading I was thinking "Ew. They must be drinking some strong drinks with that," (even though I knew the ingredients weren't mixed together, it was seeing them listed next to each other).

    Maybe it was a Brazil nut?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Eileen we were also allowed to use anything in the pantry/fridge and they did not have to be in the daily cocktail, only the first course. So some of the drinks had very little if any of the three ingredients. So the drinks were actually delicious. Try it!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Seem like you guys had alot of fun ^-^
    In fact, this sounds like a fun game to play with my friends. :) So you might have just given me a fun game to play w/ my friends.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm back home! :)
    And I'm tired...therefore...only a short comment:

    That looks so awesome and delicious (although I'm not sure, if I would like everything *g*), and the idea is wonderful! :) Sounds like a lot of fun!

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.