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Jason, I didnt quite know what you wanted so I wrote this up. Use what you want. I had a blast! I even photographed my food in case they wanted to see the creations! lol
Well I must say I am very impressed for the most part and my tummy is extremely satisfied. I want to tell you that I felt I owed it to a couple submissions to actually taste the recipes because just looking at them, I had formed opinions. I must say that after making them and tasting them, my initial impressions were way off.
The employees at my local supermarket thought someone had invaded my body, finding it very odd of me to buy so many healthy foods (veggies)! broccoli, green beans, onions, green peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, and my usual lettuce and grapes and artichokes!
I tried to use the criteria of 1)ease of making, 2)truly an appetizer, and most importantly, 3)taste! I went out and bought the main ingredients, not counting spices nor garlic in the total cost...just to see how close to $3 you all would have been. Of course, name brands vs generic make a world of difference as well as where I shop.
I will list my opinions on each and then tell you my 3 favorite and my #1 pick!
Submission 1 - Corned Beef Ball
I initially thought, yuck, Corned Beef. This cost me $4.35.
I had no clue even where to find corned beef NOT in a can so I had to ask. I bought deli slices tore it up with my hands and heated it in a skillet. Had no clue how to cook corned beef either. Very easy to make, tasted good even before chilling. Tasted much better hours later! Fun in the stickiness factor while mixing and forming into a ball. lol Considering I dont like corned beef I was pleasantly surprised!
Submission 2 - Beef Stir Fry
Initial thought was way too much work, seems like a main dish, yuck to onions and green peppers. This cost me $6.71.
I had no clue how much of the broccoli or beans to use so I guessed.
I followed the recipe to the end and because I do "not like crunchy" foods, that was my hint to you of no raw/nearly raw veggies. I did taste it after what should have been enough time to turn it golden brown (my skillets dont allow browning, I guess I dont have the right kind.) I thought it was too crunchy. I cooked it much longer, and gave up. It is still slightly crunchy, which I didnt like, besides the fact that I dont like green pepper and onions. (Used Vidalia though, so not too bad.) Overall I think there needed to be way less veggies, and/or more pork. Seems its a main meal to me, not an appetizer.
Submisson 3- Sweet Tomato Pasta with Broccoli
Originally I thought the idea of broccoli in tomato sauce was strange so I needed to taste it. This cost me $3.16.
I had no clue how much salt to use nor how big a can of tomato sauce to use. I used an extra half can (so the cost would actually be a bit higher) due to the amount of broccoli. I found the tomato sauce to be too sweet for me to use as a pasta gravy/sauce. I give props though for this person providing a recipe where the broccoli is "soft!" I didnt really like the overall taste though because I dont think broccoli goes well in the gravy/sauce and it was too sweet for my liking. Maybe a pasta sauce instead of a tomato sauce would have been better though more expensive. More of a main meal rather than an appetizer.
Submission 4 - Mini Tuna Puffs
First impression was yummy and seems simple enough. Cost me $2.74.
Very easy to prepare IF you form into 8 equal portions and not follow the premade notched lines in the dough...(I followed the lines! lol) I had to stretch the dough a bunch to make it exact triangles. I put way too much tuna in the 1st few, causing me to reopen them up to use the tuna in the last few. Had the recipe said 1 tbs in each would have been easier. Smelled great cooking. Fast and easy to make. Tasted great after the 5 minute wait time. Reheating it later, it gets dried out and doesnt taste as good. Definitely a make it and eat it appetizer. If it has to sit for awhile, like at a home party where people stagger eatting, wont be as good for the later eaters as the ealier eaters.
Submission 5 - Potato Chips w/spicy Ranch Sauce
Original thought was Oh ya, greasy, salty chips, this will be my favorite! Uh oh, jalepenos will make it too spicy though. Cost me $2.44.
This was fun to make. I actually made it with FOUR potatoes, not 1.(Didnt count that in the cost though.) Super easy to make. Great blend of flavors in both the chips as well as the dip, even WITH the jalepeno. Overall, great appetizer to eat just after making. Later, thinking its a great snack too, I found the chips to have softened up and tasted like fried potatoes I'd have with dinner, not as a snack or appetizer.
Submission 6 - Cheese & Tomato Bites
My first impression is that this would be lacking because it needed to be on top of crackers and I'm not a big fan of tomatoes.. I used medium cheddar and this cost me $1.99 total.
By far, the easiest to make. Took no time at all. I used the olive oil. It did not need crackers. It tasted good immediately after assembling. It tasted even better later, after that oil had time to sit on the cheese and get soaked up by the tomato. I could see myself making this again for parties.
My three favorites has got to be the Corned Beef Balls, the Mini Tuna Puffs, and the Cheese & Tomato Bites. Its a hard decision. I really enjoyed all three and it came down to which could I see myself ordering at a restaurant as well as which would I grab first at a party. That would be THE MINI TUNA PUFFS! Congratulations!
(For what its worth, this provided my family with both lunch as well as dinner tonight. My husband liked the stir fry most, fuzzy liked the linguine most and kkid liked the cheese and tomato bites!) Well done everyone!
So Congrats to...
DONNA[/size]
Donna you will be immune from the next elimination and be our guest judge.
Congrats.
And kudos to Bettina for actually MAKING all the stuff! I am amazed by this!
Elimination Challenge up soon.
Padma
Took me all day, my belly is full, Im happy and I have a sink and counter full of dishes.
