Mama Mia Pasta Sauce Challenge - Penny Lane Blog at Allrecipes.com - 251504
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Penny Lane

Mama Mia Pasta Sauce Challenge 
 
Sep. 25, 2011 1:15 pm 
Updated: Oct. 1, 2011 10:50 am
Are you looking for a fun and creative excuse to gather with your friends and enjoy some great food?  You might want to consider organizing a "Challenge" of your own.
 
This fun and creative group gathers for various cooking challenges - a fun excuse for a party.
 
Having done a Chili Challenge, a Salsa Challenge & a Mac and Cheese Challenge it was time for another gathering of friends for the Pasta Sauce Challenge. 



There were 11 entries.
 
Each entry is given a number.









This is my plate - a little sample of each entry.
Delicious goodness.
 


The creative host, Andrew with his able assistants -
set to annouce the winners. 
 
Here is custom label 2nd and 3rd place prize.
 
 
The winner of the previous Mac & Cheese competion hands over the Championship apron to the grand champion of the Pasta Sauce Challenge.   





Harvest - with the Championship apron and trophy.



Spinach Basil Pesto with Sun Dried Tomatoes.
Inspired by an AllRecipes.com recipe.
 
 
We had a wonderful time. 
I can't wait to see what the next challenge will be.
Do you have any good ideas?
 
 
 
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Comments
Marianne 
Sep. 25, 2011 1:33 pm
How about spice rubs? Of course, one is never tired of the chili cookoffs. Or bread.
 
Wyattdogster 
Sep. 25, 2011 1:40 pm
How fun! What's in those little plastic tubs at the front of the table? For the next challenge...barbecue is the obvious choice but with winter just around the corner how about stews?
 
luv2cook 
Sep. 25, 2011 1:43 pm
ooooohhhhh - - - great idea! We have a group that gets together to play cards - I think we need to incorporate a food challenge into the festivities.
 
luv2cook 
Sep. 25, 2011 1:44 pm
How about a single item challenge - like - - - banana. Then everyone brings something that has banana as an ingredient in the dish.
 
Wyattdogster 
Sep. 25, 2011 1:49 pm
Soup!
 
Baking Nana 
Sep. 25, 2011 1:54 pm
Great ideas! The little tubs are parmesan cheese etc...
 
Baking Nana 
Sep. 25, 2011 2:13 pm
Soup would be a good one for winter time. luv2cook - I like the idea of the single ingredient challenge.
 
Baking Nana 
Sep. 25, 2011 2:14 pm
Marianne - if I did bread I might be the only entry. :) That is one way to ensure a win!
 
Marianne 
Sep. 25, 2011 3:09 pm
LOL.....
 
chris k 
Sep. 25, 2011 3:27 pm
Looks like such fun! At work we used to do a Soup challenge every January and charged $4.00 for all you could eat. The $$ went to our Relay For Life team. With some good bread and some crackers, it was always a great success. What was your entry, BN?
 
Baking Nana 
Sep. 25, 2011 3:35 pm
Chris K - I did a Butternut Squash with sage sauce. It was just OK and couldn't hold a candle to the meaty sauces or that Pesto. I like your idea for the donation to Relay For Life. Great idea!
 
mauigirl.. Intermediate not a 
Sep. 25, 2011 5:07 pm
How fun!
 
Boysenberry 
Sep. 25, 2011 5:50 pm
We had great fun at a rib challenge last summer.
 
Baking Nana 
Sep. 25, 2011 5:59 pm
Iron maiden - A Rib Challenge would be awesome. :)
 
Baking Nana 
Sep. 25, 2011 6:07 pm
Mauigirl - one of these challenges would be great for one of the AR gatherings. :)
 
Marianne 
Sep. 25, 2011 7:15 pm
You could do turkey side dishes--like something with cranberry--or stuffing--or (gasp) molded salads! :)
 
Baking Nana 
Sep. 25, 2011 7:51 pm
Marianne - shame on you! NO molded salads - I remember the lime / broccoli salad from a pot luck all too well - I think it had a layer of Miracle Whip - sorry folks - GAG! I though about Turkey leftover dishes - but that would mean trying to organize one of these the weekend after Thanksgiving. Maybe 2012 - not this year - at least not for me.
 
covergirl 
Sep. 26, 2011 11:16 am
dessert bar seems an obvious possibility.
 
Baking Nana 
Sep. 26, 2011 3:15 pm
Someone at the party suggested a pie challenge. There is a fair amount of drinking at these events so we need to feed them real food too. Maybe two catagories - savory and sweet.
 
Cat Hill-Want2B Gardening 
Sep. 27, 2011 6:54 am
That looks like soooo much fun! I would do that but I'd be hard pressed to find anyone else to join me in cooking for the challenge. I do get food challenges frequently here, not quite the same though.
 
wisweetp 
Sep. 29, 2011 7:35 am
How fun! When I'm back among my food-loving and cooking friends, I'm going to try this, too. As others have suggested, soup is always a good choice, but the one-ingredient idea is a great one, too. Sandwiches, casseroles, pizza, dips or appetizers....really, I guess the possibilities are endless. Good luck with the next one, and let us know how it turns out, too!
 
Baking Nana 
Sep. 29, 2011 7:46 am
Cat - you do certainly have your own special challenges!
 
Baking Nana 
Sep. 29, 2011 7:47 am
wisweetp - thanks for stopping in. If you do one of these please let us know how it goes. :) We had a lot of fun. We had about 40 taste testers.
 
redneck gramma 
Sep. 29, 2011 8:32 am
we have chili cook offs and pie tasting (all part of a fundraiser day), pasta with sauces sounds great, I will recommend for the time:)
 
Baking Nana 
Sep. 29, 2011 3:37 pm
Doing one of these as a fundraiser is a great idea. :)
 
Debbo 
Sep. 30, 2011 7:10 am
Appetizers served on spoons.
 
Baking Nana 
Oct. 1, 2011 10:50 am
Debbo - Thanks that is a neat idea!
 
 
 
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Baking Nana

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Corona, California, USA

Member Since
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Baking, Grilling & BBQ, Frying, Stir Frying, Slow Cooking, Asian, Mexican, Italian, Healthy, Quick & Easy

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About Me
Every morning my granddaughter calls and says, "Good morning Nana. Whatcha doing? Are you baking Nana?" Hence my name, Baking Nana. I love to bake bread and never get tired of it. Yeast is additive! I am an Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador (a voluntary position) and I’m not compensated for my work with Allrecipes.com. Products received from advertiser are only used for experienced-based reviews on my blog Penny Lane. The reviews, content and opinions expressed in this blog are purely the sole opinions of Penny aka Baking Nana.
My favorite things to cook
I go through phases, Asian for a while then Italian then on to something else. I love experimenting with new flavors and different spices. Some times my husband will ask if we will ever have "ordinary" food again. Once in a while I have to toss him a burger just to keep quite! Actually, he is a good sport and my favorite taste tester.
My favorite family cooking traditions
In our family if it is your birthday you get to choose the menu. We have had some really interesting meals. In March we have 5 birthdays so we do one big party - what a crazy menu that is! Christmas dinner is very traditional. Sausage rolls, Prime Rib, Yorkshire Pudding, gravy, Green beans with bacon, Mashed Potatoes (the really fattening kind) and trifle for dessert. If I were to dare to omit any of those items I would be lynched.
My cooking triumphs
Mastering really great bread is probably my biggest triumph. I am always so pleased when I create a perfect Asian dish.
My cooking tragedies
There have been a few. Having 8 people for dinner and over cooking a leg of lamb. YUCK.
 
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