The Kitchen Glindas--Food for Thought!

Introducing the First Ever Glinda Cupcake Contest Challenge!
This is the Glinda's first cooking challenge.  If we like this contest, we will run more contests in the future!

Please join in on the fun!

Contest rules & Requirements
This contest is a CUPCAKE contest.  Entries MUST be cupcakes.

Time Limit:  2 weeks.
Recipe Requirements:  You must submit a CUPCAKE.  A cupcake must consist of cake and icing--this is the minimum. 

HOWEVER, what "cake" is defined as and what "icing" is defined as (ie:  brownie base?  Ganache?  Or small cheesecake bases with a fruit topping?) are pretty loose.  Creativity is going to play a big role in this contest, so any new ideas are not only welcome--they are encouraged!

There are two categories of cupcakes that will be considered for the main prizes:  the Great Recipe Cupcake and the Great Concept Cupcake.  Keep this in mind as you bake!

Since most cupcakes will require some form of BAKING, and since baking is an exact science (moreso than most other types of cooking are, anyway), you are NOT required to submit your own, brand new, fresh and special recipe.  You are allowed to:

Use a recipe you have altered (The BEST option for the Great Recipe Cupcake)
Use a flat-out recipe from a book or online (Though your own decoration modifications are encouraged to make up for the lack of altering.  This is an OK option for the Great Recipe Cupcake but the BEST option for the Great Concept Cupcake)
Use a box mix.  BUT KEEP IN MIND:  Use of a box mix will keep you in the running for our various consolation prizes.  It will NOT keep you in the running for either of the TWO Main Prizes **UNLESS** you have a **VERY compelling reason*** (ie: you use 3 box mixes and make layered cupcakes, you make some really fancy icing, you have a special decoration plan and turn all your cupcakes into miniature boats, I don't know) for it to be considered.  (This option will ONLY be considered for the Concept Cupcake)

Submission Guidelines
To take part in the contest, your bimbo must submit:
A recipe (plus the original source of the original recipe--hey, if its a fantastic cupcake, we want to know where to get more like it!)
A picture.  It is impractical for all of us to make everyone's cupcakes and taste them.  So, we will have to go with a picture of your cuppy to judge its deliciousness!

You do not have to specify whether you are going for the Concept Cupcake or the Recipe Cupcake; there is some overlap!

After the contest is over, submitters are encouraged to vote (see below) to determine the winners!

Voting and Awards
Every entrant in this contest gets a prize!  Yay!

BUT, there are TWO BIG Prizes, for the two major categories:
--Best Overall Cupcake:  Great Recipe Cupcake  (We will be voting for overall deliciousness!)
--Best Overall Cupcake:  Great Concept Cupcake (Voting on gorgeousness of decoration, interesting theme, etc)

The BIG PRIZE is bragging rights, the chance to run (or decide the theme of, or both!) the next contest, and probably a fancy-pants BLINGEE "MY CUPCAKE IS THE BEST" banner.    Hooray!

So down to the nitty-gritty:

To Win The Big Prize, the cuppy MUST:
--look AND
--Sound appetizing!
(Obviously it is impractical to ask everyone to make everyone else's cupcake to test for flavor, so this will have to do).
The cupcake also...
--MUST be creative.  For example, if you have a chocolate/chocolate cuppy, give it a great name or come up with a fantastic theme (eg: all dark chocolate, an all-chocolate sampler, a cupcake with a gooey chocolate center, a cupcake with cute shavings of chocolate on top).  Or, make a Miss Bimbo themed cuppy that's all pink!

Voters should keep in mind that RECIPE CUPCAKES should be judged more on the first two (how appetizing it is), while CONCEPT CUPCAKES should be judged more on creativity & beauty.

Any and all entries eligible for the grand big one MUST MUST MUST follow the app rules (ie: must come with a photo (so we know you aren't just b.s.'ing) and recipe).


Consolation prizes! 
EVERYONE gets one, decided by the kinds of stuff people say about other entries.  Awards may include:  girliest cupcake, cutest cupcake, fanciest cupcake, cupcake most worthy of a $50 price tag at a fancy restaurant, most (chocolatey, pink, creamy looking etc) cupcake.  This list will be developed once all entries are in and will be decided by the contest host (that's me this round!) based on what has been said about other entries in the forum.  So please, talk about the cakes!!!

VOTING!
The BIG prizes will be decided by votes.  All eligible-for-grand-prize cuppies will be listed as they are submitted at the bottom of this post.  At the end of 2 weeks, there will be a period of time during which everyone can vote, via PM, for their favorite cuppy.  The cuppies that meet the requirements and that are the most popular will win!

Voters (you don't have to have submitted a cupcake to vote, though we encourage it!) should judge on the following:
--The Recipe (does it sound good?  Would you actually do it?)
--How Good the Cupcake Looks (Does it look moist?  Can you tell it is a cupcake and not, say, a steak?)
--The Creativity & Thought behind the Recipe AND Appearance of the Cupcake

Remember, Great Recipe Cupcakes should be judged more on the recipe used and how good the cake looks, while Creative Cupcakes should be judged primarily on the thought behind the cake and how it looks.

Finally, since I am the host, I can not win (I don't think its appropriate for me to do that since I'm setting this up!)  However, I will be submitting, prolly this weekend, and hopefully someone will suggest a good consolation award for me!

Entrants, you can win whether or not you are a Kitchen Glinda (though we encourage you to join us if you aren't!), and if we like the contest enough and can come up with an alternate solution, hopefully the next host can be eligible for the Big Award(s).

GET GOING & GOOD LUCK!

Last edited by Nemaine (09-20-2008 03:54)

If I joined you guys, between you and the ni'njas with their constant talk of pastries I would be morbidly obese by the end of the month! lol

Mmmmmm, I love food....

Nemaine wrote:

Lol.

Dahly--wow, is luck coming at all bimbo users in spades or what?

Forum starter question:  what are everyone's favorite foods?
least favorite food?
favorite thing to make?
favorite cuisine to eat out?

I guess I'll go first! ;D

--favorite food: swordfish, NY strip steak, potatoes & pecan pie
--least favorite:  soda, pizza, white chocolate (dark chocolate is heaven though!), spinach
--favorite thing to make:  right now, green bean salad.  But cookies and quick breads are extra fun!
--favorite thing to eat out:  Japanese food!  :3  Not sushi, but I like teryaki and tempura <3

Good questions Nemmy!

1. Favorite Foods: Tacos, pizza, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, Lindt chocolate, almost anything really...
2.  Least favorite: My mother-in-law's cooking *ducks as frying pan is thrown at my head*
3.  Favorite Thing to Make:  Curry Chicken, BBQ Meatloaf, Chicken Enchiladas (to die for), Jerk Chicken Nachos, cookies
4.  Favorite Cuisine to Eat Out:  GOOD Chinese food, Mexican, Indian

Last edited by snakpak (09-11-2008 01:46)

This thread is making me hunnnnngrrrry!

Think I'll go have some ice cream! Nomnomnom!

MmmMMmmm Ice cream

Mint Choc chip for me 

Hooray!  We've lured you, hook line & sinker!  ;p

but now you'll have to start posting recipes on our other thread (lemon risotto sounds yummy...) :3

Really?  And here I thought it had to be complicated!!!

I have been trying to get my butt around to experimenting with jasmine tea rice.  There is never a good opportunity for it though... *sigh*  and I prefer sushi rice to the rice I need to use for tea-infused rice...

Oh oh!  What is your favorite grocery store?

Mine is a tie between H-Mart and our Bloom.  H-Mart is a local asian store that's got all kinds of delicious food for cheap prices (the sushi rice is like.... $14 for 20 lbs... a bargain where I am... and you can get pounds and pounds and pounds of fresh vegetables for a handful of bucks.  Also a fantastic value in this area).  and Bloom is ludicrously fancy expensive for having almost nothing but when it has sales they are amazing.  Today I bought so much meat....... *sigh* meat.....

O_________________O I want to go there.  It sounds... aoiugpoiuapoisugh.  I can't even put that in to words!!!    What cuisines do you typically cook?

I see we have been having a more cerebral discussion on another thread lol jk (I tend to get cranky this late at night so I hope I don't offend over thar :X).

Where is my Mini?  Grrr.... :3

I enjoy cooking a lot. Some new neighbors just moved in next door and I'm trying to think of something to bake for them. BF suggested I make some ice cream, my ice cream rocks, but it's not exactly something to take to someone. It would be like giving soup or sushi. I can't even explain why I feel this way but to me it's just not right.

A dessert seems most appropriate but so many people are off sweets. I was thinking of making spanakopita. Do any of you have ideas?

Last edited by BinkyC (09-11-2008 04:48)

My mom always makes some sort of bread for new neighbors.  Something like pumpkin bread, cranberry bread or banana bread.  You could make some fun pastries too.  I like these types of sweet because they aren't what most people bake/eat on a normal basis but are always enjoyed.

Hi everyone!

Favorite Foods:  dark chocolate; bratwurst; pizza; my mom-in-law's italian sausage; mexican food; oatmeal
Least Favorite Foods:  broccoli, cabbage
Favorite Thing to Make: basically any dessert/baked goods.  I love the smell of baking bread!
Favorite Cuisine to Eat Out: really depends on my mood.

I collect dessert recipes.  Between my sister and the internet, I've quite the stash.
Grew up with the majority of my family knowing how to cook.  Married into a family full of cooks.  Work in the restaurant business; done just about everything in the last 18 years or so in the industry.  Prefer being in the kitchen.  Currently work in a chain restaurant.  My last job, I was the head baker/dessert maker/assistent to the head chef.  Miss the dessert making like crazy, don't miss the drama.
Don't bake a lot these days.  But still love food!