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Category Archives: FOOD!

The Only Time It’s Okay to Be “Judgy”

13 Nov

This past weekend, I had the honor to be among the list of 35 local judges at the 11th Annual Pensacola EggFest.

Mike and me with yummies in our tummies and smiles on our faces.

For those who aren’t familiar, this is a charity cooking contest where teams sign up to wow judges with dishes cooked on a Big Green Egg. The rules are flexible. Entries do not have to be traditional backyard barbecue fare, in fact, thinking outside the box is encouraged. But at least a good portion of the entry must be prepared using a Big Green Egg.

You’d be surprised how creative teams have gotten over the years. So much so, in 2020, during the pandemic, the coordinators of the event culled recipes for a cookbook which also serves as a beautiful encapsulation of the history of the event which to-date has raised over $650,000 for local non-profits.

This is my (stained) copy of the cookbook.

My husband, a professional chef and culinary instructor, tagged along with me and my judging group. He didn’t sway my judging in any way, which I thought was sweet of him. Even when I asked his opinion, he said, “This is your day, honey!”

There were 38 teams competing this year. The judges were divided into five groups and each group judged only a handful of dishes. I was pleased that this was the plan, because honestly, I don’t think my taste buds or tummy could handle sampling all 38 dishes! Of the six entrants we nibbled, our group had to decide on the Top Two to send to the Finals. We all agreed on our #1 choice, but our second place was a toss up between several. They were all that good. In the end, the second runner-up was a well-deserved team that had obviously put a lot of thought and effort into the day, what they would serve, how it was prepared, and the manner in which it was presented.

The weather had looked to be iffy, but turned out to be pretty perfect. The VIP crowd showed up at 11:00 and the General Admission began at Noon. The crowd was thick, but jovial. We saw people dressed up, dressed down, some with kids in tow, others walking pups. Most everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and at this venue, it just made sense. The Pensacola EggFest has been held at the Blue Wahoo Stadium in beautiful downtown Pensacola since the very first year (2013), when the event AND the stadium were both brand new. The stadium is gorgeous and was built to take advantage of the view of Pensacola Bay.

This is just before the doors opened and the judging began… photos don’t do this view any justice, you have to experience it.

So, yesterday, I was a little judgy—it was #GoodFood for a #GoodCause. It was also a great deal of fun and I hope to be asked again. Let’s plan to meet up there next year, okay?

 
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Posted by on November 13, 2023 in FOOD!

 

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Amazing One-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse

23 Apr

Yes.

You read that right. One. Ingredient.

Well, you say, that is impossible.

And you’d be right… there really are TWO ingredients, but one is water, so technically, they can get away with it, right? And we’re talking about chocolate mousse, so we are willing to bend the rules. Aren’t we?

Tried it.

Loved it.

Will make it and AMAZE people every chance I get.

Try it.

ASAP

Click the link and thank me later!

The view from Great Island: Amazing One-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse.

 
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Posted by on April 23, 2013 in FOOD!

 

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Proprietary SECRETS: What’s A Mama To Do?

25 Jan

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The ingredient list reads: sugar, stevia, natural flavor.

Okay. It’s packets of a sugar/stevia blend that I’m attempting to use in my coffee each morning to save some calories while still ENJOYING my coffee. What the heck is this natural flavor and why is it in there?

My thinking: Isn’t it sugar (which is sweet) and stevia (which is also sweet) and aren’t I adding it to stuff like coffee and tea? Why is there an additional natural flavor involved?

Of course, I have 1,238 other things I NEED to be doing while the littles are at school, but I can’t stop thinking about this mysterious natural flavor.

So, I called the 800 number.

Trish was vibrant and pleasant and sounded like a real woman I would probably be friends with if we met in a social setting. She proceeds to search for the answer to my query. As she digs deeper and deeper into her database, I joke, “Well, it must be some super secret if you’re having trouble finding it!” Her reply, “Right?!”

Finally she finds it, buried far, far below where no one has ever searched before… Because let’s face it, most people don’t even bother to READ the dag-gum label, much less question a mystery ingredient and if they do, they NEVER take the time to call and ask, “What the heck are you people putting in my food?!?!?!?”

The answer?

It’s a BIG FAT SECRET!

I was right. OMG!

It read something like this:

“The natural flavoring is a proprietary blend which meets all FDA approval.”

Huh?!

So Trish and I had a good laugh over the fact that I was RIGHT and that they really don’t want us to know what’s in the stuff, then she says, “May I send you some coupons for more of this product?”

I said, “Sure! And let’s hope the proprietary blend doesn’t kill us!”

And don’t get me started on that label’s last line which explains that they LIED about the calorie content! It’s rounded down to the nearest 5? What?! Can I do that when people ask me my age? Or my weight? Sheesh!

 
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Posted by on January 25, 2013 in FOOD!, Waxing Philosophical

 

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