[Viola]

<p>So a few weeks ago, my kids and I started watching Chopped.  We were in a hotel and bored, so we turned on the Food Network.  Anyone else watch this show?  I find myself actually annoyed now at some of the decisions the judges make.</p>
<p> <img alt="lol.gif" id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1373426239514_937" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/lol.gif"></p>

 

[Viola]

<p>OK, Cupcake Wars, then?</p>

 

[beckybird]

<p>I haven't seen either, but I will check them out. We are Chef Ramsay fans, but it would be nice to branch out and give something else a try </p>

 

[Viola]

<p>We've been watching Chopped episodes, but have somewhat given up on Cupcake Wars.  My younger daughter is sick of them all, so then I have to turn and watch the house hunting and rehab shows. </p>

 

[HappyHappyMommy]

<p>We like Chopped and Cupcake Wars. We're thinking it might be fun to do some chopped baskets at home with my DP, DD, and I eat having a basket and making something. Any suggestions for fun and simple things that we could put in the basket?</p>

 

[Viola]

<p>Fun and simple things?  Or tricky Chopped things?</p>

 

[Viola]

<p>Ummmm, OK, black licorice candy, chicken livers, arugula and granny smith apples.</p>

 

[newmamalizzy]

I LOVE that stupid show. Sometimes I feel like I live in a version if that show, staring into the fridge, trying to plan meals to use up what's in there. I've always been a really resourceful cook, so I find the show pretty inspiring. Did you see that there's a MasterChef Junior thus fall? The kids are super weird and adorable.

 

[Viola]

<p>Beet greens, sweet potatoes, turkey breast cutlets, umeboshi plum vinegar</p>

 

[Viola]

<p>OK, stuff from Trader Joe's for the dessert round: mascarpone cheese, dried crispy jeju mandarin orange slices, maple sandwich cookies, roasted seaweed snack.</p>

 

[dbsam]

<p>We watch Chopped.  My kids have always liked to cook and make 'inventions', so they really love this show.  (They like most cooking, home improvement, or antiquing shows.)</p>
<p>We've never seen Cupcake Wars.</p>
<p>Another favorite in our house is American Pickers.</p>

 

[Viola]

<p>Other random ideas: sunflower seed butter, campanelle pasta, coriander seeds, fresh oregano, plain greek yogurt, quinoa, chocolate non-pareils, frozen tater tots, tilapia, grass fed ground beef or buffalo, kiwi berries, balsamic vinegar, fiddlehead greens, chocolate sea salt caramels, frozen french toast, queso iberico, enoki mushrooms. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>They always come up with lots of weird meats, but I can't really think of any.  I love liver, however, so I guess I'm odd in that way.</p>

 

[HappyHappyMommy]

<p>I love all of these ideas!!!!!</p>

 

[Viola]

<p>Any kind of interesting cheese.  I'm not sure how useful iberico would be, but I became addicted to it last year.  I saw a pesto cheese last month at Trader Joe's, but I didn't try it, but now they have a ton of pumpkin things.  You could do a basket of everything pumpkin.</p>

 

[newmamalizzy]

You've got to get something with a jiggly, gross-out factor in there. Like gummy worms or squid.

 

[dbsam]

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>newmamalizzy</strong> <a href="/community/t/1386419/chopped/0_100#post_17480309"><img alt="View Post" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Like gummy worms or squid.</div>
</div>
<p>There was a gummy skull in tonight's episode.</p>
<p>There were a lot of gross ingredients in tonight's episodes - yuck!</p>

 

[ollyoxenfree]

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>newmamalizzy</strong> <a href="/community/t/1386419/chopped#post_17478482"><img alt="View Post" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Did you see that there's a MasterChef Junior thus fall? The kids are super weird and adorable.</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p>I have only seen one episode of Chopped so can't really comment on it. I am not a fan of Gordon Ramsey but DD wanted to watch MasterChef Junior last week so I watched it with her. I am impressed by the kids. They are very accomplished cooks considering how young they are. I am a little skeptical about how much help they are getting. I think there was some evidence that survived the tight editing that makes it look like they are doing it completely unsupervised. I also think that some of the "conflicts" are obviously scripted too. Having said that, I've only watched one epsiode so maybe I'm being too critical. </p>