My very own Iron Chef Competition

I know, can you believe I am finally 30!!! Wahoooo!!! I have been looking froward to turning 30 for most of my 20's. I feel like when you are in your 30's you can finally be taken more seriously.

Anyway, what a surprise my family and friends had planned for me. I of course, had no clue they were up to anything. When I arrived - I was confronted with a Challenge - and not just any challenge!!


My mom went to great lengths to create a Food Network party for me - complete with Paula Deen's Red Velvet Cake! They gave me no details but said I was going to be part of an Iron Chef Competition and I must pick a Challenger. You can imagine my excitement but also it was so hard being put on the spot. I wanted to pick someone who I knew would give me a fair fight! I didn't want to pick someone who wasn't comfortable in a kitchen. So, I chose my brother, Matt. I knew he would be a good sport, he liked competition, and he can cook!!! It was a great match!

Matt and I also got to pick 2 others to be in our kitchen to help us out. After that, the secret ingredient was revealed. PASTRY. Phyllo and Puff to be exact. Being the birthday girl, I got to choose first. Of course, knowing how finicky Phyllo is I quickly grabbed the Puff Pastry. Also, I had just watched French Food at Home with Laura Calder who had done an entire episode on Puff Pastry! With that and the fact it was my birthday - how could I loose? We were given 15 min to collaborate with our team, and then 1 hour to complete 1 dish! The dish would then be judged by 3 toddlers. If they ate it - you won!

The above photo is of our Mushroom a la King. Started with bacon and onions, added mushrooms, wine, seasoning and parsley. Please don't ask me to write the recipe - I don't have a clue!!!!

I had a very good team with me in the kitchen and my sister, Myriah kept pushing us to make a second dish! Unheard of in the Iron Chef Kitchen of my Mother's house! She was convinced we could do something with the block of cream cheese in the fridge.....

Well, Honey Almond Cheesecake Turnovers came out of the oven!!! Yummo! Cream cheese, almonds, honey, and an egg were blended and then baked in the pastry. We served this with a strawberry coulis.

And as I knew he would be, Matt was a great Challenger. His very inexperienced team (including my husband) and him whipped up Vegetable Samosas, served with a spicy tomato reduction (Ketchup).

But, I think as all of you can imagine - being it my birthday and all - I WON!!!!

So much fun. I was given a personalized recipe book with many contributions from family and friends. It was a great way to turn 30!

CC.