You guys know that I’m an experimental cook. However, I’m not good at cooking (Or thinking) under pressure. So when I was at the Kenmore Blogger Summit in Chicago this weekend, I had to chuckle when they announced an “Iron Chef” style cooking competition where bloggers would be asked to create and prepare a dish in 30 minutes flat. But there’s a Cooking Catastrophe twist: The key ingredients in our dish were “Horrible Hostess Gifts” – things that everyone supposedly hates getting when they host a party, such as cheese trays, boxed wine, fruitcake and Royal Dansk butter cookies. Me? I’d love some cheap boxed wine, but I understand why most don’t! I was assigned to a team with several other bloggers, and we were dreading the fruitcake, as everyone does. I mean, what can you cook out of fruitcake? And of course, we got the fruitcake as our secret ingredient. And as an added twist, we were required to use a mystery Kenmore appliance in our meal prep – and our assigned appliance was a grill. So we had to figure out a way to incorporate both fruitcake and grills into something edible!
Master planner Kimberly had asked me what kind of savory dish could we possibly make from fruitcake. In a flash of twisted inspiration, I said, “We could use it to make stuffing,” and everyone else liked my insane idea. So off we went, grilling fruitcake to make a stuffing!
As I mentioned in my recap on MomStart, my group was the most amazing example of teamwork. Once I threw out the stuffing idea, they all ran with it and suggested genius additions, ingredients, and morphed it into a full blown Christmas dinner with a side of chicken and veggies. I couldn’t believe the creativity, quick hands, clean-up skills – yes, we were judged on that too! – and cooking mastery that came out! The team took an idea that could have been gross and created something fabulous. So fabulous, in fact, that it was actually crowned the winning dish by a panel of judges, including chef Kari Karch! I couldn’t believe it!
This is the kind of challenge that seemed custom-made to stress me out – I thought I’d be a hot mess running around in circles, and I WAS, but it was actually productive! I had so much fun and have much love for Team 2 and their incredible culinary skills!
Beeb Ashcroft
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I’m somewhat of an experimental chef myself and this recipe sounds like something I could wow our holiday dinner guests with. Thanks for sharing.
I was always that weirdo who loved fruitcake, so I would have loved to have been a part of this. To be able to make something really good out of a holiday food I already like would have been so fun.
Not sure how tasty it seems to me, but I love how you all worked together for such a great treat.
First of all, what an awesome opportunity. Second…fruitcake?! hahahaha I would’ve been a deer in headlights so good for you to be able to think on the fly like you did. How cool that you guys were able to work so well together to pull off something so crazy! Congrats on your win! Fun for you and your team!
This was pure genius! Your team really rocked out the bad hostess gift and turned it into something unique. So great to meet you and I’ll definitely look you up when we come to the west coast!
Fruitcake has definitely ALWAYS been on my most hated list of foods…
Holy cow it actually sounds like it might be a palatable dish! How did it taste? I mean, obviously good enough to win, but was it actually good? If so, I want the recipe. 😉
This looks delicious! You always make great foods!
That cooking competition sounds like a lot of fun. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to come up with a fabulous recipe with fruitcake and a grill though! The dish looks delicious! You guys are definitely talented!
Fruitcake… wow. Amazing creative thinking there, and then the team coming together to make it happen! I’m glad you had such a great experience on the team and probably the whole summit? Though how many can come home boasting they are a winner… in making a dish with a grill and fruitcake no less! Besides, as I know myself, just because the kitchen is a disaster area and I have to clean random food out of my hair at the end doesn’t mean the food isn’t great!
I think most of us are experimental cooks. Lol. Fruitcake stuffing, now this sounds interesting. But I like the stuffing with the cranberries so I can see how this would work. Great idea! Did you know our best ideas come when under pressure? Congrats on winning!
I don’t know but I sure love fruit cake, it is one of my favorite items to receive at Xmas. 🙂 Looks Yummy thanks for sharing.
I admit that I’m not a huge fan of fruit cake and intentionally gift it to my less than favorite people, but honestly? The stuffing idea doesn’t sound bad at all….perhaps I’ve been over gifting? Darn it! Now I want to try it ;0)
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Top 3 Tips From an Expert Tattoo Artist If you are looking for custom tattoo designs, a good tattoo artist would advise you to exert yourself and make an effort to do some research. With traditional styles and designs available in catalogs and online galleries, you might find that the design you like is not as unique as you think. Tattoos serve as an extension of your character and can make you look good, so it is right to choose a design that is trendy, appealing and more importantly, shows the real you. With tattoos, you will want to avoid any mistakes. Cover ups are a messy option and removal is expensive and difficult; neither sounds appealing. To avoid this from happening, here are some tips from an expert tattoo artist that you might want to consider. Tattoos are for the Skin Remember your body provides the canvas for the drawing, so what may look good on paper would not necessarily be good on you. Consider your skin color when opting for a tattoo design with a color. The color should match the color and texture of your skin. Try to print or draw the design onto paper that as far as possible, matches your skin color. This way, you may get an idea of what should be and what should not. If your design has a lot of intricate detail, try a color that will bring out the details of your design, otherwise you will end up with a tattoo where everyone will end up wondering what it is all about. The Part of the Body to be Inked Just because you have the perfect design, it doesn’t mean that you can get it etched anywhere on your body. Some tattoos are only meant for certain places, like your back, legs, wrist, shoulder or even your heel. A good tattoo artist knows how to take advantage of body curves to highlight every intricate detail of a tattoo design. Also, some people, although they wear tattoos, do not want it placed on exposed parts of the body because of professional and ethical reasons. A tattoo artist can provide you with some suggestions of where to put these designs that would not cause you any trouble. Tattoos are artwork, and are not meant to be vulgar. The Price Tattoos vary in cost depending on the size, complexity of the design or where the tattoo will be placed. Custom tattoo designs are more expensive than traditional ones, since they are oneofakind. One way to have a more affordable personalized design is by hosting your own custom tattoo design contest. Find sites on the internet that provide a platform for this contest. All you need to do is to sign up, provide details of the design you require, set up a prize, and choose from among the designers who you think provided you with the best custom tattoo design based on your preferences. This contest will provide you with a series of designs to choose from and give you the opportunity to find a perfect tattoo designer from anywhere in the world. To conclude, tattoos are part of your body, so it is proper that you take care of them. A good tattoo artist provides aftercare advice for your tattoo. That includes using antibacterial soaps and moisturizers. Aftercare is important to make your tattoo last your whole lifetime, always looking brand new, attractive and not faded. After all, it is part of who you are as a person, and not just an accessory. Kristen Dunn is a tattoo enthusiast and professional tattoo designer who has created thousands of thought provoking, elegant, and funky tattoos for her clients. She has a vast collection of custom designs to her credit. Winner of several awards and accolades, Kristen is now a founding member of the world’s largest custom tattoo design community at CreateMyTattoo. View her tattoo collection or read more on her blog here.
How Does The Tattoo Marketplace at a Tattoo Design Contest Work Wearing a tattoo has become the latest ‘inthing’. With the industry becoming popular among today’s younger generation and the business of tattooing being widespread in every corner of the world, finding a firstrate tattoo artist is a struggle. However, with the emergence of online tattoo design contests, a platform was created for tattoo enthusiasts and artists alike. Advantages Having a single stage gives you access to the best tattoo artists and designers around. It also gives you the opportunity to discover a whole new variety of oneofakind tattoo designs. The development of these contests has allowed access to newer, innovative designs, and has turned them into social events, with them becoming a bit of a craze among tattoo buffs. How does this online tattoo designing work? Does it help tattoo artists alone, or does it also bring about benefits to both artist and client? Here is an overview of how the tattoo design contest works online. Just like any event on the web, it will be posted and announced on specific websites, such as social networks and any official online tattoo galleries. The post requests a specific kind of tattoo and if you would like to take up the challenge, you fill in a form, if provided. The design will be in freestyle form, meaning that the artist will have a free hand on the subject, colors and size of the tattoo. In this event, independent tattoo artists as well as those associated with other sites join these contests, showcasing their unique artistic style of body art tattooing. Not only that, the artists can get commission on each design that is sold online, without worrying about any membership or annual fees on websites which have these tattoo marketplaces. Moreover, tattoo enthusiasts can get ideas and custom design tattoos first hand, while the artist which created the custom pieces will benefit from exposure and the profits earned. When all is set regarding rules and regulations, the site will then post the client’s reward for the winning artist. Some sites generally set a minimum prize; all you need to do is to follow the guidelines set by a particular website and you are ready to launch your own tattoo design contest. If you are on the hunt for the most unique design then this will cost you less than having a custom design in a tattoo parlor. With so many different artists creating pieces that are diverse and powerful designs, you would have a selection of different inspirational tattoos that could literally blow your mind. Each design, however, would be given comments to allow interaction and discussion of what the client is seeking in the specific design heshe wants. To find the winner, the host of the contest will choose the winning design and award the prize to the tattoo designer. The internet proves to be the best place to research and find the best unique tattoo for you. With contests such as those for tattoo designing, you could choose one that focuses on your individuality. Kristen Dunn is a tattoo enthusiast and professional tattoo designer who has created thousands of thought provoking, elegant, and funky tattoos for her clients. She has a vast collection of custom designs to her credit. Winner of several awards and accolades, Kristen is now a founding member of the world’s largest custom tattoo design community at CreateMyTattoo. View her tattoo collection or read more on her blog here.
Top Three Tips For Avoiding Tattoo Disasters If to an artist a tattoo is their artistic creation using a body as a canvas, to an enthusiast it is an extension of their personality, which is why custom tattoo designs are in vogue for many individuals. With the popularity of the use of the internet, online tattoo design contests have achieved unprecedented recognition in the tattoo arena. Tattoos are regarded as personal wear by any person who has one. Unlike before, when not many people wore one, today tattoos serve many purposes for the younger generation. Tattoos are not just symbols of race, culture or social status in a community, as most enthusiasts wear one to show their individuality as a person, serve as their personal statement to the world, or perhaps because it has a deeper meaning in their lives. Thus, it does not only become a part of fashion or a means of accessorizing; it becomes more personal than that. Tattoo designs are limitless, with variations on themes and styles, so choosing a tattoo design is not easy. What may look good to another may not work well on you. That is why custom tattoo designs have become a trend; they are more of a personal choice. However, before you decide on anything or getting inked for that matter, here are three tips to avoid any tattoo disasters. Take Your Time As with any major decision in your life, take some time to think it over. Do not get inked just as an adventure. The most common disaster happens if you have a tattoo done on a whim. You may end up dissatisfied and full of regret if you do this. Avoid this situation; cover ups are messy and removals are painful and expensive, so you do not want to suffer either of these. Your Tattoo Design is Personal Tattoos are lasting and are an extension of you. Although there are traditional tattoos to choose from, custom tattoo designs give more scope for your own personal taste. You may create your own design for yourself or with the help of a tattoo designer. You may also take a traditional design and add some personal twist of your own to make it more you. Online galleries and marketplaces are some of the best places to select from an array of custom design tattoos. You can also hire their tattoo designers to come up with your own personal tattoo design. Another way is to host your very own custom tattoo design contest, where you provide details for your design, set up a price and open it to all artists. In this way, you will be provided with a number of variations of your idea. It is just a matter of who gives the best custom tattoo design based on your needs. Find the Perfect Artist As with your design, you must also find the perfect artist who will do a quality job in inking your skin. Do not base your search on the price alone. There are ways to find the perfect tattoo artist. First of all, a tattoo artist practices good sanitation and hygiene not only on himself but in his work area. He or she must follow regulations regarding health practices provided by law to avoid any spread of disease. Use of new needles, sterilized equipment, and fresh inks are just some of these practices. The best tattoo artist is open to communication. In this way, he or she can provide the technical aspects of your design such as size, color or part of the body which is most suitable to be inked. More often than not, tattoo artists provide advice to their clients and also learn about their personal needs. This important information is given to you by those who give the best quality service. Moreover, a good tattoo artist will have a great reputation in the tattoo arena. Word of mouth is essential in this business, so ask friends or acquaintances who have a tattoo who they recommend. Plus, when you meet the artist, ask for his or her portfolio so that you may have an insight into the quality of work he or she has done. Kristen Dunn is a tattoo enthusiast and professional tattoo designer who has created thousands of thought provoking, elegant, and funky tattoos for her clients. She has a vast collection of custom designs to her credit. Winner of several awards and accolades, Kristen is now a founding member of the world’s largest custom tattoo design community at CreateMyTattoo. View her tattoo collection or read more on her blog here.
Types of Nail Art Getting Gel Nails is the perfect way to dress up your hands. Whether you work with your hands each day where everyone can see them, have a special occasion coming up, or you just want to pamper yourself. Your hands are an extension of yourself and your style and for many women it is necessary to make sure that their nails are in top condition. A lot of young and fashion conscious women are taking on to nails art as the best way to get rid of dull looking plain nails. From just wearing a color on your nails, nail art enhances the beauty of nails with its innovation in the form of small motifs, danglers, stones, glitters, ceramic flowers, etc which will make your nails stand out for any occasion. This look may be the easiest to achieve because of its abstract nature. To do, apply one coat of colored nail polish to your nails. My suggestion is red. If you are giving yourself a pedicure, you only have to apply the nail design to each of your big toes. Nail art brushes that you find at any beauty store are the easiest to use when doing nail designs. A nail stylist uses various techniques in order to attain the preferred effect. Acrylic nails are stuck on the nails in order to extended them. This works best for people who do not have long nails or chipped nails. The nails can then be polished with any color and smoothened to give it a natural look. Using multitude of designs and patterns, one can jazz up their outfit and add spice to their look. There are many recognized nail technicians who produce the most attractive and glamorous nail designs ranging from nail polish and acrylic nail art to French manicure and toe nail art. If you already take care of your hands and feet, you may only need to apply lotion before doing your nails. At a minimum, wash your hands or feet and apply lotion. After applying a moisturizing lotion, take a towel and rub it well across each nail. Also use the towel on your hands. The best way to beautify your nails with dangles is through piercing which allows you to drill a hole in your nail and place the ring. For this you need to first drill a hole through the underside of the nail so that you know only the nail part is being drilled. Using whole host of designs and patterns, one can easily jazz up their outfit and add excitement to their look. Many people also use assorted nail decorations to add glamour and extra appeal to the nails. These include colored acrylic, glitter nails, gels, airbrushed, 3d nails, water marbling, nail stickers, nail jewelry, crushed shells, stencils and rhinestones. You can buy some great acrylic or ceramic flowers and use them on your nails to create exclusive designs. Your nails will look beautiful and pretty and everyone would just keep looking at the amazing piece of art you created on your own. Your next decision will be to decide if you want to add any 3D elements to your nails. Fun accessories include gems, diamonds, stickers, and other nail decals. You can use one or several decals on each finger. Decals enhance designs like shoes enhance your feet! Read About Health Magazine Also Read About Animal Print Clothing and Nail Art Designs
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