Sunday, March 28, 2010

The Next Generation of "Chopped"

I watch Chopped on the Food Network.  If you aren't familiar with it, the program goes like this:  there are 4 contestants that go through three rounds to become the Chopped champion and win $10,000.  With each round they are presented with a basket of "mystery" ingredients that they must use in their dish.  At the end of each round, the dishes are evaluated by three judges and then one contestant is eliminated, or "chopped". 

Our two older girls have gotten used to me watching Chopped while prepping lunch on weekends.  Now, they get excited to catch glimpses of who gets 'chopped', and they cheer for certain contestants (usually any "girls")!  So, yesterday they started digging through the pantry taking out items.  I asked what they were doing and they said they were making up their own Chopped show.  Later in the morning, the girls presented me with this Chopped recipe (written exactly this way):
Ingredients for Pasta Fun
2 spoonfuls of tomato sauce
1 handful of Dandies air puffed marshmallows
1 squeeze of ketchup (organic)
a little drizzle of tamari
half a handful of organic capers
two handfuls of kelp noodles
This is a keepsake for sure, I just love it to bits.  But... then... they announced that they want to test the recipe "for real life".  Oh dear.  Give me strength grinning through that taste-test!

Maybe I can convince them to use the tomato theme to make this lasagna.  It is layered with a new recipe, a Artichoke Spinach Spread.  When I created this recipe, I had the idea of those party spinach dips in mind (you know, the ones that are served inside a large crusty bread?).  Anyhow, I wanted something like this dip, but with a thicker consistency that could be spread for a pizza base or layered in lasagnas, as well as eating as a cold or heated dip.  It's delicious, but, hmmm, might it be better with a handful of Dandies marshmallows?  ;)

(Source: The China Study, T. Colin Campbell)
The solution to losing weight is a whole foods, plant-based diet, coupled with a reasonable amount of exercise. It is a long-term lifestyle change, rather than a quick-fix fad, and it can provide sustained weight loss while minimizing the risk of chronic disease.

11 comments:

Susan Cava Ruimy said...

Damn that looks good!

Anonymous said...

That lasagna looks incredible, I can not wait for your new cookbook to come out!

Recently I asked my oldest (she's 6) what she wanted to be when she grows up.

My daughter - "I want to be you mom!"

Me - Really?! Thats so nice!

My daughter - " Yeah I'm just gonna cook, cook, cook!"

Well alright then....I guess I really do spend a lot of time in the kitchen! I have a feeling when your new cookbook comes out I'll be spending even more time in the kitchen - maybe with a new little helper!

Allison, The Busy (Happy!) Vegan said...

I love Chopped too! And "the girls" sound adorable. Enjoy!

Everyday Superhero said...

Growing up did you ever watch Just Like Mom? Your kids' recipe reminds me of that show.

Soyager said...

Oh my. I was reading this post on my blog reader instead of the site and all I saw was the girls' recipe. I thought, "Has Dreena gone crazy?! Ew!" Cute story, though!

Yum for the "real" recipe! It might have to be my "celebration meal" following giving birth in a few weeks! =D

Dreena said...

borntobevegan - ha, that's cute, and revealing, huh? I've heard similar things, like "mom's always in the kitchen", and also "mom's always home". oh well, they could be saying much worse about what we're doing!

Stefania, I'm not familiar with that one, I'm gonna have to google it, now I'm curious.

Soyager, heh, that's pretty funny. I imagine there are others that thought the same thing at a glimpse! Congrats to you!! Just a couple of weeks? How exciting. Do you have soups and muffins and such in the freezer? If not, have someone do some cooking/baking for you! Or, maybe they'll do it for you after baby arrives. Good luck to you and wishing you a good (and swift) delivery. :) :)

Morgan@LittleHouseofVeggies said...

Too funny! My girls do things like that all the time (I have a video on my blog of them playing food network and making fruit faces)
Sometimes its actually edible! The lasagna does look fab!

Danielle said...

Looks like there are many creative cooks at your house! And who knows, marshmallows-and-capers might be the new chili-and-chocolate!

The dip recipe sounds out of this world, and that lasagna pic is mouthwatering!

Amy said...

I want to hear how the recipe test works out! Did the girls like their creation?

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robiewankenobie said...

i swear i would give my eye tooth, heck, i'd give you both of them, to become a test tester for YOUR recipes. maybe i can get the kids to test the chopped version.

i went out and bought eat drink and be vegan again since my old copy bit the dust. i'm cheap as hell, and for me to buy a brand new cookbook? that never happens. for me to buy a new cookbook twice? laws.