minestroni soup | Mommy Adventures

Tag Archives: minestroni soup

The Masterchef

Eagerly, I thrust my hand in the air. Despite there being over 300 people in the room, only a few of us had our hands up, volunteering to be in the next Masterchef challenge. Two challenges had already played out. This was my last opportunity to be chosen as a challenge participant.

My church was packed out for The Masterchef event with Kate Bracks

The first challenge was won by the mother of one of the night’s comedic hosts, for her stellar efforts in the art of mashed potato.

“It’s a good thing you’re in politics.” Kate Bracks, winner of Masterchef Australia 2011, told contestant number two, a local politician and wife of this area’s mayor, after tasting her pitiful rendition of mashed potato.

With a giant grin plastered on my face, I walked up to the stage.

“The last challenge is…. A taste test!” The other comedic host told everyone as I was on my way up to the stage.

Part of me wanted to run back to my seat, just in case the taste test involved red meat. Or beans. Or brussel sprouts. Or brains. Or many things really. I’m picky, remember?

But the other part didn’t care. I love being on stage no matter what horrible challenge I’d be faced with, and no matter how much my legs shake with nerves.

“You’ll be tasting minestroni.” In true Masterchef style, three contestants, me, the youth minister of the church I attend, and Kate Bracks herself, took it in turns to name the ingredients of the soup, with elimination for an incorrect answer, until there was just one person left.

Uh-oh, I don’t even like soup. Or beans. Or whatever questionable meat lurks in that soup.

I walked over to the giant bowl of soup, eyeing it off whilst stirring.

Not tasting the minestroni soup

I could clearly see some of the ingredients of the soup without the need to use taste to discern everything the soup contained.

The three of us took turns a few times until Craig said basil.

“Nope, that’s not on the ingredients list.” One of the hosts said.

“Hmmm…I can definitely taste basil in there.” Kate Bracks told everyone.

“The correct answer was pesto.”

There is definitely basil in pesto, but if pesto as a whole was put in the soup, rather than all the parts, then basil would be incorrect, right? I mean if you put chocolate chips in a desert, you wouldn’t say you put cocoa solids and whatever else is in chocolate chips, you’d just say chocolate chips. It was definitely a controversial elimination, but that just left Kate Bracks, and little old me. Did I mention she won Masterchef?

Back and forth we went. Still, I didn’t taste. I’ve watched enough Masterchef to know what sort of cheeky ingredients not to forget about. Salt for example. And stock. And pepper.

We got down to the last 4 ingredients. The hosts gave me a hint. They gave Kate a hint. Then back to me. I had no idea what to say.

Trying to figure out what’s in the soup

“A patch where it’s said babies grow.” One of the hosts said for my hint. Or something to that effect. I can’t remember the exact phrase.

I didn’t even think. Immediately, I blurted out “PUMPKIN!” excitedly. After my verbal diarrhoea, I knew I was wrong. I should have known better, Cabbage Patch Dolls were my favourite toys growing up. Why did I say pumpkin? Oh, that’s right, because every time I go to the plaza, I walk past a shop full of beautiful kids clothes that would look fantastic on my little monkeys. If I could justify spending $50 on one piece of kids clothing. Needless to say, we don’t own any of the cute clothes from Pumpkin Patch. Seems Pumpkin Patch is ingrained in my brain though. Stupid expensive clothing store!

Kate Bracks was absolutely lovely. She is such a funny, nice, down to earth, inspiring person, and I’m so glad I had the chance to do a challenge with her. It was so much fun.

XDqzrV1stbenGLc9OS85bQ46pUg9J2-SAWQAvGKajJA

Despite what it may look like, Kate Bracks was not trying to grab my butt

She also gave a cooking demonstration using camp stove on the church stage where she almost lost her eyebrows to a fireball.

I got my Sweet Life cookbook signed, and Kate said she liked my hot pink running shoes. They are pretty awesome.

Kate Bracks and me

Not only was The Masterchef a fantastic, fun night, but the proceeds are benefitting local charities that feed the needy, and attendees brought grocery items for the needy as well.

A special thank you to Garden Gourmet, who answered my email and supplied recipe cards to the goody bags (Unlike all of the other companies I’ve worked with and emailed, who didn’t bother emailing me back) Oh yes, attendees got goody bags. I do like me a goody bag.

If you enjoyed reading this, please vote for my blog. All you have to do is click the link below. That’s it… Clicking the link brings you to the Top Mommy Blogs home page. You don’t have to do anything else. Any clicks from my site to theirs is a vote. THANKS!