Good cookoff contest foods?

[Callisto]

So a few friends and I had a chili cookoff recently (SO and I actually won

) and we were trying to think of another food we could do a cookoff with. It just has to be something that isn''t terribly difficult (as only 1 of us is an experienced cook... and it''s not me)and has variability while still remaining relatively the same dish.

If it has too much variability, I think you end up judging the ingredients rather than the cooking. For example, one of our friends suggested doing pie. But I would like an apple pie over a blueberry pie no matter what the apple pie tasted like because I''m not particularly fond of blueberries. See what I mean? Chili was such a good option because there are a lot of different ways to make it, but its still the same general dish.

Suggestions?


Also if anyone is looking for a fun activity, we had a blast with the cookoff. We had teams of two and everyone brought their pot of chili and we made scorecards and all that jazz. And if you need a blue ribbon chili recipe let me know and I get get the link of the one we used. Beer and bacon in chili... can''t go wrong with that.

 

[Haven]

I thought "CHILI!" the minute I read your topic title.

What about pasta sauce? Yes, I mean plain old marinara sauce. Depending on your friends'' families, you may get to taste some really amazing old family recipes.

Chocolate chip cookies would work, too.

I know I''ve spent the last year trying to perfect both my marinara sauce and my chocolate chip cookie recipes.

Have you ever seen Throwdown with Bobby Flay? Check out that site, maybe you''ll get some ideas from there. The BBQ throwdown show was awesome!

Congrats on winning the chili cookoff!

 

[Callisto]

Mmmm chocolate chip cookies sound good. Oh and I know just the recipe I would use. One of my best friend''s mom makes the most AMAZING chocolate chip cookies I''ve ever had... I wouldn''t mind winning two cookoffs in a row

Marinara sauce might cause a fuss cause one of our friends doesn''t eat anything red... don''t even get me started... But if everyone else liked that idea we could probably override her whining.

Thanks for the ideas!

 

[charbie]

i wrote a nice response that got an error message.

i second looking up what "throwdown w/ bobby flay" might have to offer.

otherwise, my suggestion would be brownies- lots of different ways to make those!

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Congrats on winning your Chili Cookoff!!!

I partake in a few Iron Chef type of challenges among some cooking blog (online only) members and these are the battles we've had so far:

Battle Tomato

Battle Risotto (as far as preparation - didn't need to use arborio rice)

Battle Chicken

Battle Soup/Stew

Battle Pizza

They're lots of fun, and people come up with some amazingly creative entries. Someone made a faux pate chicken dessert for battle chicken, and all of the cool pizza variations were a lot of fun. Battle soup is going on right now.

I won Battle Risotto with a dessert risotto using vanilla bean "stock" and caramelized bananas and walnuts.

 

[kas baby]

ribs.

I''m a big fan, and there are so many different ways you can season them and prepare them. We have an entire folder of recipes dedicated to ribs. yum.

I also second looking at Foodnetwork. Go through "Throwdown," which is a fantastic show, as well as "Foodnetwork Challenge." Usually they do cakes, but they''ve also had some other neat competitions.


A cook-off with friends sounds like soooo much fun! Too bad FI and I are the only ones of our friends who know how to cook things that don''t come prepackaged, lol.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 11/16/2009 12:28:51 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier
Congrats on winning your Chili Cookoff!!!

I partake in a few Iron Chef type of challenges among some cooking blog (online only) members and these are the battles we''ve had so far:

Battle Tomato

Battle Risotto (as far as preparation - didn''t need to use arborio rice)

Battle Chicken

Battle Soup/Stew

Battle Pizza

They''re lots of fun, and people come up with some amazingly creative entries. Someone made a faux pate chicken dessert for battle chicken, and all of the cool pizza variations were a lot of fun. Battle soup is going on right now.

I won Battle Risotto with a dessert risotto using vanilla bean ''stock'' and caramelized bananas and walnuts.

That one is a fun one!!! I did this w/my BIL!

 

[neatfreak]

Pizza, sauce, cookies, brownies, chicken noodle soup, chocolate cake, vanilla cake, etc.

You could do pies too and just specify apple pie or blueberry pie KWIM?

 

[SapphireLover]

There is a show in the UK called "Come Dine With Me".

There are 5 contestants, and each night they take it in turns cooking a 3 course dinner for each other. They then rate each others food out of 10, and after all the nights, the winner is the one with the highest score.

I know people who have done it at home, say with 4 couples, and gone to each others houses every Saturday and then voted one a winner. They all put £20 each in, and the winning meal wins the money.

Come Dine With Me

 

[pinkstars]

Oh that sounds like so much fun(and really tasty!)

Waffles
Pancakes
Cornbread

Lasagna?
Taco meat? I love homemade tacos.

Burgers
Meatballs

Scones?
Mashed Potatoes?

I''m trying to think of things, but man it''s tough. I agree with you on the pie though, Apple all of the way!

 

[zoebartlett]

How about lasagna? I also like the other suggestions too. It sounds like a good time!

 

[monarch64]

If there are any vegetarians/vegans in your circle (well heck, even if there aren''t) you could do a vegetarian entree challenge.

 

[Elmorton]

DH and I do dueling marinades every summer with chicken kebobs. It''s fun and there''s a LOT of directions you can go with a simple marinade.

 

[Callisto]

Hmm thanks for all the ideas guys. You''re making me hungry!

I''ll definitely throw out some of these ideas when I''m with my friends next and hopefully we can schedule another cookoff...

Hopefully they won''t be too upset when SO and I kick their butts again