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

Our Urban Dare

Barbara: They say “a change is as good as a rest”. After my most recent adventure, I would have to agree.

My friend Charlotte and I have started to give each other experiential birthday presents instead of “stuff” (ie, we go places/do things). I wrote here before about this—it’s how I celebrate my nieces and nephew for their birthdays, and it’s the same theme that got me kayaking last year—and I just have to share with you my latest amazing experience.

For my birthday this year, Charlotte discovered the “Urban Dare” tour. It’s a fundraiser for breast cancer research and happens in cities all across North America. Without me knowing anything but the date, Charlotte registered us as a team in the July 21^st Toronto Dare.

Pre game!

Charlotte picked me up on Saturday morning and took me for a big pre-challenge brunch and then, properly stuffed and caffeinated, we went to the downtown meeting spot to get our official garb—the Urban Dare t-shirt with number—and our official clues.

As I am such a game-lover at heart, when I found out what we were doing, I got very very excited. Many people “accuse” me of being competitive—I think it’s because I revel in game-playing so much—but the truth is, as much as I like to win, I don’t care about it. I can honestly say, it’s the act of playing that gives me that adrenalin high. What I discovered I like about it is that really primal feeling that courses through me when I play: I must have every synapse on alert, I must reason and plan, I must be aware of my surroundings, I must be quick and physical, I must survive. I am alive! Not that anything I do (or want to do) involves the threat of imminent death (like a primitive ancestor on the hunt), but it’s invigorating to reenact that kind of fundamental experience.

Okay, so the basic scoop on the Dare is that you all get your clues at (more or less) the same time. There are 10 clues that, once solved, direct you to various locations around the city (they say the parameter is about 7 miles). You and your team member must figure out where you need to go and then either take a picture of yourselves at the site or complete a “dare” designed by the tour. In our case, these were a 3-legged course (my first!), a wheelbarrow course (also my first!), a candid photo of a random couple recreating the famous Eisenstadt photo (of the WW11 soldier kissing the nurse), and a number/word challenge that Char and I were shocked to fumble our way through (strike out for cocky over-confidence. Um, yeah, that would be me…).

You aren’t allowed to use cars, bikes, or taxis, but you can hop on the bus or subway. We ended up walking most of the course. Or speed-walking. My hips have never been so sore! And the first team back with all the correct answers, photos, and courses wins the dare. Charlotte and I were surprised to find ourselves pretty much twice the age of the average competitor (hats off to those enterprising and benevolent young people who came in droves!), and in the end, we finished a respectable (to us) 60^th out of 192 teams. That said, we also committed 3 very costly mistakes (again, thanks to over-confidence when it came to our supposed destinations) that probably added a good ½ hour to our race.

It was an absolutely wonderful day! It was beautiful and sunny out—we sweated buckets—but that concerted 2 ½ hours of running, laughing, problem-solving, and discovering our city was absolutely an invigorating and wonderful rest from the everyday.

After game!

Deb: This is what I am talking about! These are the adventures that make us love life and love living! Charlotte, you rock in the gift department and you picked the right gal to bestow this gift upon. So happy for you guys and the fun you had! Barb, I cannot wait to meet you on the three-legged and wheelbarrow course. I am all over that. I am the wheelbarrow race, my friend! Yes, the challenge has been declared!