Food Fiesta

This year, the big kid competed in his first ever Food Fiesta competition in 4-H.  I would like to say that this event has been around forever, since it was going on when I was in 4-H.  But I don't want to make myself sound old.  That being said, I never went to Food Fiesta.  We didn't have a foods/cooking/cake decorating project in my club.  I was more into being a club officer and showing my dog and horse anyways.   But the kiddo's club, we have a lot of projects.  In fact, he's currently doing 13 projects and an emerald star service project this year.

Anyways, back to Food Fiesta.  It usually falls on the same day as his martial arts's studio tournament and the school fall festival.  But this year they all landed on different days.  So we went to all three.  So Food Fiesta has place setting competition, menu planning, cooking, baking, and food art competitions.  However the last couple years, they've added food jeopardy, blind taste test, cupcake wars, and chopped.

He went easy this year since it was his first year going.  And easy still took a car load of stuff to get the job done.  He entered chicken and wild rice soup and got 3rd place.  They said that it needed more seasonings.  But he likes bland food.  So he thought it was perfect.  And it was more edible than some of the other soups kids made.  I was just proud that he did a whole crock pot full of soup by himself.
He also entered the family famous pumpkin bread recipe.  However, he didn't do that one very well.  If he walked away with anything, it was that cooking is hard and long and tedious and there is no half effort work.  He got 3rd place for his bread too.  And finally he made pumpkin butter.  He got 1st place for that one.  And it does taste pretty good.  We've already gone through 2 jars of it at home.

And then he and another friend from our club joined up and did the food jeopardy and blind taste test.  I will say that I was a little nervous when he signed up.  The kid has so many allergies and triggers that I like to know what goes in his mouth.  Our club had a group for chopped.  They are a little easier on the judging than the show is.  Every stays for all the rounds.  They placed 1st for presentation.  And the prize was Barnes and Nobles gift cards.  Which my kid loved because he's a reader.

And then there was cupcake wars.  Rionn and I love the show.  He's been asking when we're going to be on there ourselves.  I doubt we will ever.  I love to bake.  But I definitely don't want to do it for a living.  Anyways, it's not quite like the show either.  They decorate 4 cupcakes that are already baked.  And each cupcake has a different theme.  This year the themes were: favorite book, favorite movie, 4-H, and Mother's day.  So we planned and practiced.   And he did well.  He placed first and was in the running for county winner.  I didn't get many pictures.  I make Rionn nervous.  And I'm nervous enough for him myself.  HAHA.  Curse of a mother I suppose.  

So here are some pictures of cupcake wars.  He is so jazzed about how the day went, he is looking forward to next year.