Are you familiar with the Food Network program, Chopped?

Let's play it, here.

(You are each a chef. You have a basket containing 4 ingredients. You must use all four ingredients. You have a set amount of time to complete prep, execution and presentation:
[Appetizer round: 20 mins., Entree round: 30 mins., Dessert round: 30 mins.]

You are judged on:
Presentation, Taste, and Creativity.

Unlike the TV version, you have all sorts of time to think it over, after you've seen the basket's contents, but still only the allotted time to execute, to serve 3 judges.

Special Forum Game Addenda:
1. You may submit a second, totally different entry, after at least one other person has submitted an entry since your last one. Likewise a third, etc., entry.
2. I am the first producer; I must present an Appetizer Basket, an Entrée Basket, and then a Dessert Basket to all of you contestants, here. When my whole 3-basket "program" is over, and there have been some sort of "Judging Critique" sessions (I'll figure this out!  ), then it'll be someone else's turn to produce a program, OK?

I'm so inspired by some ingredients, sometimes, I think we could have a great time with it. Here goes:

Program One:

Appetizer Round (20 minutes):

Basket Contains:

- A dozen eggs
- A large jar of prepared white horseradish
- A few dozen walnuts, in their shells
- 3 Texas ruby grapefruits

Go.

Why do I think this is what you have in your cupboard? Okay I'll bite. First a fritata with:eggs, cream, horseradish, some nice mushrooms and herbs. Second a fruit salad with toasted walnuts, grapefruit supremes, mint, orange supremes, and a touch of agave.

Quoted from gulfcoastguy

Why do I think this is what you have in your cupboard? Okay I'll bite. First a fritata with:eggs, cream, horseradish, some nice mushrooms and herbs. Second a fruit salad with toasted walnuts, grapefruit supremes, mint, orange supremes, and a touch of agave.

They're favorites, yes: You know me, gcg. But I'm down to only a half grapefruit in there.

Let's see if anyone else wants to play, so there's some competition here.  
Meanwhile, you can be dreaming up baskets for Program #2, if you like, and you can include some of your favorites.

PS: Edit: Please name the mushrooms and herbs emphasized in bold.
Also: How did you use/add the horseradish?
Remember - the producer has to judge without tasting, so be specific.  

Okay baby portabellas and basil, fresh of course. We need 3 other entrants before we move on to the entree.

Quoted from gulfcoastguy

Okay baby portabellas and basil, fresh of course. We need 3 other entrants before we move on to the entree.

I know.
Maybe people don't want to be chopped.
But we've got some talented folks around here, and people who love this show.

Okay - How's this?
If you want to produce your own program, devising your own baskets, the prerequisite is that you've been a contestant!
(Obviously, the first producer cannot have met that requirement).
...

scrambled eggs supreme are divine!
you need to shell those grapefruits for that......no skins whatsoever, just the juicy chunks of fruit......it is like  a soufflée

make a horseradish pesto with the walnuts added.....a type relish to go with the beaten eggs

I dislike the idea that anybody should judge me in whatever.... sorry.. nada para me  

Quoted from Amazone I.

I dislike the idea that anybody should judge me in whatever.... sorry.. nada para me  

My first laugh for the day! Those cooking contests with all the hoopla make me a nervous wreck! And that is when it is someone else!!

oops *someone else ..

Quoted from Amazone I.

oops *someone else ..

On a show, Amazone. All that frenetic activity blows my mind when people are shredding, chopping, slicing, boiling, baking, broiling, stirring, dicing, stir-frying....... I would die before I started at the thought of such mind-blowing rivalry based on how I cooked and presented a food or foods.

As someone who has been under terrific pressure in both the restaurant and private kitchen setting, I can say it is intense but also exhilarating.
The TV shows are different from that, being artificial, and Chopped is very much so, too. BUT:
There's a thread for talking about cooking shows. Do find it and participate with us there!  

This one is a Game.
If you do not want to play, that's okay, but it's in progress.
If you do not want to have your submission judged, then state that when you submit your creative ideas, and we will simply enjoy what you have to offer. Judge not us, and we will judge not you!  Fair?  

The idea is Play, not anyone's discomfort. I'm flexible.
Now:
What would folks do with those 4 ingredients?

I haven't seen the show so I'm a bit confused but it sounds interesting and fun.  
Hope you all keep going with this.


(maybe I should learn to use the TV again - DH kept changing cable providers - I got tired of learning new systems and just gave up TV)

Quoted from purlgirl

I haven't seen the show so I'm a bit confused but it sounds interesting and fun.  
Hope you all keep going with this.


(maybe I should learn to use the TV again - DH kept changing cable providers - I got tired of learning new systems and just gave up TV)

All you have to do is "prepare" - in this case - an Appetizer dish, in 20 minutes or less, to serve 3.
It must include:
Eggs
Prepared Horseradish
Walnuts
Ruby Grapefruit.
That's all. Let us know when you're done so we can "taste" it!  
(Just a structured Creativity Exercise, is all. Some feel intimidated, but it's the sort of question posed on dadamo.com every day "What can I make with..."?
But if that's not your thang, that's okay, too.   )

I think I feel pretty "chopped" right now with all this mess in the Northeast. Even the idea of doing some "real" cooking is a little off-putting. I just feel completely out of ideas.... Grapefruit makes my stomach hurt. Walnuts are making my stomach hurt right now. Eggs sound all right but not for an appetizer. Sorry, san j, I think I just feel too sad which is unusual for me, but not when so many people are suffering. Maybe I will come alive later.....

gcg: I'm wondering if the B-Imagination is required to play.

People on these boards have no trouble chiming in with food prep ideas and recipes - with many restrictions per SWAMI, etc. - when someone is seeking RL advice, but can't do so "for fun" with no such restrictions and only time constraints.
Interesting.

Well I have my opinions about that but I try to keep at least one forum where I haven't stomped on too many toes. Been arguing politic on Yahoo lately.

Maybe the ingredients are too challenging.

Quoted from gulfcoastguy

Been arguing politic on Yahoo lately.

Me too! And a whole lot of others! I grew up learning about politics.
San J, I mentioned why the thought of trying to deal with something like this got to me. You may have read my post about even listing foods I eat every day. It is something that I abhor almost! Seems even worse than trying to stick to a "diet" and having to measure, write down and sweat over every little bite. UGH! I LOVE my SWAMI!!

Quoted from Spring

I grew up learning about politics.

I don't see how playing a food game is political.
People exchange recipe ideas here all the time.
Is that political, too, Spring?

Mystifying.
I guess people can only handle One-Single-Ingredient questions, such as "What can I do with Sweet Potatoes?"
I supposed that since you're all so good at sticking to Diamond and Super and Benny foods, you enjoy the challenge of combining ingredients differently and would like to up the ante a little, for fun.
Also, "Chopped" apparently has a dadamo forum following.
But that's Spectatorship. Folks prefer watching others play, I guess, while they sit on the sidelines. And that's okay.

EDIT:
Hey, here's something funny.
gcg: I just checked onto the forum and went to a thread on Hurricane Sandy, and your post of an hour ago was the first (only) one I saw: It was political: About workers who aren't union members being turned down for (cleanup?) jobs in NJ.

But "Chopped" is political?
Yeah. Grapefruit and walnuts - Too hot to handle, in comparison.  

Quoted from san j

I don't see how playing a food game is political.

I was replying to GCG and added a note to you following the one I made to him. As for his post about the union mess ---- unions are political? Of course, they are, but that didn't mean GCG was being political.

I would love to play but have company so I need to entertain.

Quick thought is:

Section the grapefuit, glaze walnuts in a little ghee and molasis, cool and serve glazed walnuts on grapefruit

scrabled eggs with sauted scallions sauce of horseradish, avocado and feta (blended)

as a Warrior this all works for me    Sauce would need to be modified for my Hunter DH..something creamy other than avocado...

Quoted from JillP

I would love to play but have company so I need to entertain.

Quick thought is:

Section the grapefuit, glaze walnuts in a little ghee and molasis, cool and serve glazed walnuts on grapefruit

scrabled eggs with sauted scallions sauce of horseradish, avocado and feta (blended)

as a Warrior this all works for me    Sauce would need to be modified for my Hunter DH..something creamy other than avocado...

Very creative, JillP!
And I loved your Bonus of D'Adamo-izing your entry's explanation. That "scored you mega-points" in this evolving version of the game.
Not sure this works as a Dinner Appetizer, but right now - it being Saturday 12:05pm on a sunny California day - it looks mighty "appetizing" for Brunch!  

OOPS in my haste I did breakfast...

How about we change the omlet to avocado deviled eggs, grapefruit would still work  

Quoted from JillP

OOPS in my haste I did breakfast...

How about we change the omlet to avocado deviled eggs, grapefruit would still work  

The judges have decided in your favor   , but you must supply more information about your deviled egg recipe, please.  

Appreciate the chance to redeem myslef  

Ingredients

12 hard-boiled eggs
2 avocados (ripe, halved and pitted)
1 garlic clove (crushed)  or some powder to taste
horseradish to taste (or tabasco something to kick it up)
1 tbsp olive oil
optional sea salt and pepper to taste

Cut eggs in half, take out yolks, moosh yolks with other ingredients and fill up the white.  Chill and enjoy