How about a C&B Bake-Off and/or Cook-Off?

[kentauros]

You know how the Photography group has their monthly and annual contests, we could do something similar. I don't know how it would be judged, since we can't readily taste each other's creations.

However, it could be used as incentive for more of us to get baking or cooking and show off our skills and recipes. Sure, many of us do that already. This could just be a form of fun we all try. And like any cook-off or bake-off, it could be done according to a certain cuisine or type of food, to add to the challenge.

I probably wouldn't participate in the cooking half, but certainly would in the baking portion. I think I can compete at most kinds of baking, save candy-making

And we could break it down further for such things as candy-making, decorative work, and so forth.

Many here absolutely love to cook and bake, and it shows in the threads y'all post. This could also bring more attention to the forum, and thus, more members participating

So, how do we set up something like this?

[Phentex]

1. We didn't compete, but we did have a challenge of sorts...

we'd pick a food or idea and then take about a week for everybody to post what they made.

It was fun to see what people would come up with. We also did an infrequent version of Chopped where someone would give the ingredients and others would tell what they could make with it. THAT was helpful when you wanted to come up with something using just what you had on hand in your pantry.

[kentauros]

4. I'm not a watcher of the Food network,

so I don't know what happens on the show "Chopped". But, the idea of a challenge would work just as well

As others weigh in, we can gauge how popular this could be and then develop it further.

[Phentex]

10. Here's an old thread...

don't know if this will work. This is not about the Chopped Challenge. This is a thread where we voted on a food for the challenge. I'm pretty sure we did potatoes and bread but my memory isn't all that great.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=236&topic_id=59529&mesg_id=59529

[kentauros]

14. I guess if we had the poll function here,

then we could gauge what people would be interested in specifically. However, since we still don't have that function (that I'm aware of), we'll have to go about this differently, if we do it at all.

I still suggest that it be separated into categories, such as Baking, Cooking, Candy, Desserts, and whatever else for large categories. We could have challenges within each one, for those of us that feel more at ease with certain fields over others. For example, I'm more of a baker than a cook. I can cook, though it's mainly just for me, and not something I generally share with others. Whereas I share my baking often. I'm confident in people liking it

Now, as others have pointed out, there are things they might not have tried without the incentive of the challenge. I'm good with that, and am also willing to try things I've never done (so long as I have the equipment for it.) It would be a learning experience no matter what

[blue neen]

8. I like that idea!

It sounds like a lot of fun!

I don't post much in this Group but do check in everyday just to see what everyone is cooking...have made some wonderful dishes from recipes posted here.

[Lucinda]

11. I always loved both of those!

Fun and so many good ideas came from them...

[OffWithTheirHeads]

2. I'm game.

[eridani]

3. I remember trying savory crepes

Wouldn't have done that without the C&B initiative.

[Phentex]

9. I remember crepes, too. Did we also do cauliflower?

Somehow I remember a pizza crust made from cauliflower.

[EFerrari]

5. Just please not the last week of the month

because that week, we're working with seeds and stem here. lol

[kentauros]

6. If I'm interpreting that right,

you could always show off your latest "brownies"

[pinto]

7. I'm not into cooking contests, cook-offs, fwiw. But might be fun for some of our group's members.

I tend to go with kitchen dancing!

[Lucinda]

12. Me tooo!

chair dances

[Lucinda]

13. Could be a lot of fun!