Chopped: Secret Basket #3 (My Week!)

Finally my week has come... The last few weeks I have been stressing/using my thinking cap for every possible ingredient they could ever pack in my basket... well guess what didn't think of these 4 things!

My Basket:

• Root beer
• Fish sticks
• Crescent Rolls
• Bell Peppers

We had 24 hours to brainstorm to come up with the best way to combine these ingredients in a decent meal.  Honestly, how do those chefs do it in 20 minutes? This is what we did!

Mini-Puff Pastries filled with Brie and Pancetta

Grapefruit, Basil, Pepper, Vanilla Rum Martini (My Favorite Part of dinner)

Fish Stick Pot Pie with Root beer Gravy and Fish Cake (like a crab cake) with Root beer Habanero Sauce

I have to say, it was kinda good, kinda weird, and kinda worked! I wonder what Geoffrey, Amanda, and Aarón would think?   

Chopped: Secret Basket #2

Week 2 of the Chopped challenges brings the mystery ingredients to the next level. 

This week, Scott and Jessica take on the basket.  What's in it?

• Coconut oil
• Jolly Ranchers 
• Asparagus
• Pepper Jack cheese

Oh my, oh my this is a hard one, I am worried for my basket next week!

So the final product from the basket was an entire 3 course meal.  We started out with a duo of asparagus appetizers, panko crusted asparagus and procuitto, brie, & coconut oil sautéed asparagus on a crustini.

Next was a herb marinated wild duck, killed by the cook himself, with bbq'd broccoli topped with a pepper jack cheese sauce.

Finally we closed out the night with grilled peaches and pears, topped with crushed jolly ranchers and licqurer which caramelized on the top of the fruit.

Scott mentioned many times he loved how this challenge has taken him out of his comfort zone and him and Jessica created some delicious treats.  While the appetizers were tasty, the duck cooked perfectly and tender, my favorite of the night was the grilled peaches.  The jolly ranchers added a playful aspect as each of the different flavors triggered throughout each bite and complemented the juicy peach.

BBQ on Fire!

David to the rescue!

Sorry it took so long to post this... next post... Andrew and My Basket! 

Chopped: Secret Basket #1

Now that summer has arrived, we decided our weekly dinners needed an extra special twist: a Secret Basket.  I call this Chopped!

Now, there is no competition other than pleasing the mouths and bellies of those who are being fed, but the reason we call it Chopped is because of the secret ingredient basket. The weekly host must have their pantry filled to accompany any surprise in the basket. Then the night before, the basket will be delivered, and the thinking begins.  They have 24 hours to come up with a great dish using all of the secret ingredients.

Henwood, Kelley, Pilato, and Clark Household kicks off our Chopped Series of weekly dinners.

Surprise! Here are your secret ingredients:

• Bourbon
• Strawberries
• Pork Chops
• Puff Rice Cereal

The Judges Panel: 

After a whole day of thinking, planning and cooking, the household of David, Jojo, Jack, Sudds, and Kyndal delivered a beautifully creative and tasty dish.

As fierce competitors they wanted to do something different, out of the box, and unexpected and that they did.

Sudds will share what they have made. 

The plate: A bourbon marinated grilled pork chop sandwich in Rice Crispy toast topped with an strawberry, bourbon apple sauce.  Sides with a mixed green salad and roasted potatoes. 

Another look into the Strawberry, bourbon apple sauce.  Very creative.