A chili cook-off contest was held in our community the other day.
The Boy Scouts, in an effort to increase visibility in the neighborhood and to do something fun together, decided to participate. Instead of cleaning up or just helping out they wanted to be in the contest, showing mad skills.
A few points that had to be pondered:
My oldest daughter suggested a cold chili. More specifically, a dessert chili. With cake and candy, that looked like chili.
It:
We scoured the grocery store aisles looking for ideas for a sweet dessert that would look like chili. After a few test samples and a bit of trail and error a recipe was chosen. The troop sampled the recipe and agreed that it was "the" recipe.
"Chilly Chili" was born.
And it won! Won the whole chili cook off. Woo hoo and congratulations to the troop!
Recipe:
Chilly Chili
1 package instant chocolate pudding
1 package instant vanilla or butterscotch pudding
4 cups cold milk
1/4 tsp. red food coloring gel
1 package brownie mix, made according to package instructions, then chopped into bits with knife or food processor (makes about 8 cups)
1/4 cup diced maraschino cherries and juice (again, use the food processor to make quick work of this step)
1 box Boston Baked Beans candy
shredded coconut
red and yellow food coloring gels
whipped topping
Mix milk, 1/4 t. red food coloring, and instant pudding packages according to package directions.
When pudding has set add 3 cups brownie crumbles (to look like ground beef), Boston Baked Bean candy (for beans), and cherries (faux tomatoes). Mix with spoon.
Pour into serving cup.
Top with shredded coconut (cheddar cheese), colored lightly with red and yellow food coloring to a good cheddar color.
Top with a dollop of whipped topping (sour cream).
Serve immediately.
The Boy Scouts, in an effort to increase visibility in the neighborhood and to do something fun together, decided to participate. Instead of cleaning up or just helping out they wanted to be in the contest, showing mad skills.
A few points that had to be pondered:
- They didn't have a recipe and they aren't yet great cooks.
- The event organizers asked that cooks be over 18 (they were willing to waive this for the scouts).
- It's in the 90's every single day. It'd be awfully hot to cook in and it'd be awfully hot to eat hot chili in.
My oldest daughter suggested a cold chili. More specifically, a dessert chili. With cake and candy, that looked like chili.It:
- Wouldn't have to be cooked at the event
- Required little prep work
- Would be cool and refreshing
- Was unique (so unique that we couldn't find any recipes to borrow from)
We scoured the grocery store aisles looking for ideas for a sweet dessert that would look like chili. After a few test samples and a bit of trail and error a recipe was chosen. The troop sampled the recipe and agreed that it was "the" recipe.
"Chilly Chili" was born.
And it won! Won the whole chili cook off. Woo hoo and congratulations to the troop!
Recipe:
 |
| (as served by the scouts) |
Chilly Chili
1 package instant chocolate pudding
1 package instant vanilla or butterscotch pudding
4 cups cold milk
1/4 tsp. red food coloring gel
1 package brownie mix, made according to package instructions, then chopped into bits with knife or food processor (makes about 8 cups)
1/4 cup diced maraschino cherries and juice (again, use the food processor to make quick work of this step)
1 box Boston Baked Beans candy
shredded coconut
red and yellow food coloring gels
whipped topping
Mix milk, 1/4 t. red food coloring, and instant pudding packages according to package directions.
When pudding has set add 3 cups brownie crumbles (to look like ground beef), Boston Baked Bean candy (for beans), and cherries (faux tomatoes). Mix with spoon.
Pour into serving cup.
Top with shredded coconut (cheddar cheese), colored lightly with red and yellow food coloring to a good cheddar color.
Top with a dollop of whipped topping (sour cream).
Serve immediately.