Kids Q

There has been so much happening this last month and I have forgotten to post.  I also have been so busy at work that I have not had time to write CJ’s blog.

The beginning of May started out with Birthday parties, Girl Scout scavenger hunts, and fun making cakes at Hebrew school.  But on May 10 we went to Rome, GA.  I thought that I would just let Jay tell you about her contest, so I copied and pasted his account of Roast on the River Kids Q competition.

If you will recall, she was to cook drumsticks. Practice, practice, practice. Well I'm pretty tired of having drumsticks on the menu, but sweet baby girl has them mastered now by golly.

So 11 days before the event it dawned on me that I didn't know what time the cooks meeting was and went to the website where I noticed the following,,,, "Entry: $15 ( Includes t-shirt, ground beef, buns & charcoal for the competition)" OH NO,,, THEY'VE CHANGED THE MEAT!!!!!! I immediately get on the phone with the event rep and she insists that I was e-mailed with the change right after signing up,,,,,,,,,,, not. But it is what it is, right. This is the sort of thing you have to be ready for,,, bend or break. Only trouble is that she's never cooked hamburgers and we've got about a week to decide what recipe to use and teach her,,,

So we quickly commit to a mushroom/swiss burger, using Paymasters steak marinade for additional flavor.

Shrooms first


Then the stuffed patties



We quickly found out two things. Stuffed patties are too much for the motor skills of an 8 year old,,,, and Paymasters marinade doesn't have the same effect on burger that it does on ribeyes. But we adjust and finally succumb to just showing up and doing our best. 

Next I begin planning and packing. I've gleaned everything I can from photos of past events. Kettle grill, instant light charcoal, meat and a prep table is all that's provided,,, everything else is on us. Check, check and recheck,,, I think I've got us covered for anything.

Then the big day arrives,,,, and it's raining,,,, all day,,, perfect! At the cooks meeting we meet a young, very talkative young man who is obviously quite experienced in these event and who's parents have a cook team. He begins to explain that he is cooking doughnut burgers, using Krispy Kreme's for the bun. Oh Lawd this is not gonna be pretty. We brought a knife to a gunfight. But again,,, were going to do our best!! But on a positive note, turns out there are only 4 competitors signed up,,, so she has pretty good odds of placing.
On a positive note we meet Myron Mixon. I explained to my daughter that he is a championship pitmaster, and she is not impressed. All she knows is to be shy among strangers, and clings to her Momma. Myron was cool though. He came right over with a smile and genuine happiness to meet an up and coming young pitmaster. My daughter was too scared to shake his hand and take a pic with him,,,, so Dad filled in.



Now up to this point I've always assumed we'd have about an hour and a half from start to turn in. It turns out that we have almost 4 hours til turn in time. This is good! Maybe if we prep the burger and let the marinade work it's magic for a couple of hours, it'll help.

All the other kids went back to their parents cook team sites. It felt odd being the only folks prepping at the designated area. But then sweet baby girl says,,, " I think this is gonna be cool" and I begin to relax knowing she's feeling positive about it all.

Note the charcoal is not instant light,,, also note the surrounding moisture



Pays pre-made goodness is in the jar,,



So now it's time to get the grills fired up. Turns out only one team has thought to bring some starter fluid,,, us. Karma is a fickle beast though. We know better than be underhanded and happily share with everyone. 







And we're done. Burnt patties, smooshed buns and all.



At the awards, sweet baby girl placed third (ahead of the doughnut burgers). The two ahead of her truly had a superior product. She was pleased and made a new friend. I was tickled that we didn't come in last. Everyone went home happy with the experience.

The next day I noticed one of my Myron Mixon cookbooks was on the counter in her bathroom,,,,,,,,,,,,

CJ had so much fun playing after the contest that I think she does not remember the contest and fighting with her dad at all.  She was so wet from playing in the bouncy houses in the rain with her new friend. I did not think that I was ever going to get all the mud off of her.

I will write about the rest of May later.