BBB Cook Off

The day of the contest started bright and early as all the contestants met for group pictures before the grilling began. We got to hang out on the fabulous rooftop while we waited for our turns to enter the kitchens. At about 9:30am I heard the first cork being popped and glasses of wine were being poured.

Believe me, having a winery put on an event like this is so much fun and I was loving every minute of it!

When it got closer to my time I waited right outside the sliding glass doors that led to the kitchens. this is definitely where the butterflies in my stomach started picking up!

Here was my outdoor grilling station. It was funny to look over at the office building across from us at all the people going through their normal workdays.

My time started and after a brief run through of how the appliances worked form the fabulous Chef Starr I started making the burger I had cooked 1 million times before

I don't know about you, but for me, I don't handle chaos well. It took me a little while to get comfortable and get in my groove. Even thought that prize money was in the back of my mind and the people and reporters were all around me I tried to block that out of my mind and just concentrate.

This usually doesn't happen when I'm making dinner on a Tuesday night

And these guys usually don't pop up when I'm at home making a sandwich

My kids don't ask me what my inspiration was for making my burger while packing school lunches for the week.

But I wish it did!

It was so much fun I think my face hurt the rest of the day form smiling so much

After all my prep inside I headed outside to grill

Getting ready to go inside and serve the judges my hands started shaking a little

And once I was in front of them my hands started shaking a lot

Luckily they were all so nice and I was honored to listen to the compliments they had for what I made for them.

I was so relieved that I finished without falling, dropping anything or causing a fire on my grill!

After presenting to the judges we each took a picture with our burger and wine pairing

Early in the morning I was too overcome with nerves to eat. Louis had left our hotel room and got me breakfast and coffee at Starbucks and I couldn't even touch it. Once I was done cooking and presenting I got to taste the other contestant's burgers.

Louis has an amazing ability to get pictures of me when I look my worst!

In the end I got the "First Runner Up" prize. It wasn't the grand prize but I had such an amazing time that I was ok with that. And I already have 9 ideas for burger recipes to turn in next year!

Prep Day for BBB

Upon arriving to Chicago for the cook off we were spoiled immediately. Staying at the gorgeous Hotel Palomar was such a treat and the  bottle of wine and beautiful set of salt and pepper grinders made such a lovely welcome gift!

I was so excited to see where we would be cooking the day of the event, and the World of Whirlpool Building didn't disappoint. Below is a picture of the kitchen I got to prep in and I was really sad I didn't get to take it home with me. Although I'm not sure how long it would stay all white with my kids! I got to review all the ingredients that were bought for me and set up all of the tools I had taken with me. I'm sure airport security thought I was a little strange to have chili powder, knives, a food scale and a cookie sheet in my luggage.

The night before the cook off we were treated to a beautiful dinner at Fulton's on the River

put on by the Trinchero Family Vineyards  with a wide selection of their wines to try. The restaurant is located directly downstairs from the rooftop that we would be grilling on the next day.

The building itself is stunning and it was so nice to sit by the water as the sun set.

Nothing like seeing your name on the TV screens to make you feel special!

The set up in front of my cook-station where people were able to sample my burger and vote for their "fan favorite"

Burgers on the Brain

I have burgers on the brain 

and not much else for that matter

I went for a jog the other day and instead of thinking healthy thoughts of how good the exercise is for me, or how pretty the day was or how glad I was that the weather is no longer 8,000 degrees I went through the steps of cooking my burger to practice for the big day.

That big day is a week from today and I will be cooking my burger every night until I leave

Practice makes perfect right?!

 They posted the recipes and pictures of all the finalists and their burgers here

they made it look amazing, didn't they?!

Another big day is also on the horizon,

two beautiful friends that I love dearly are getting married and Louis and I hosted an engagement party to celebrate. It was an awesome night and I hope the happy couple enjoyed being surrounded by the friends that love them. Since I will be cooking nothing but my burger for the next week I thought I'd take this time to share with you what I served for their party

 Every party needs a cake and I wanted a fun way to be able to display what I baked so I made a cake tower to put everything on. I covered three cardboard cake plates with silver grease proof wrap and then attached ribbon to the edges of each one

 I covered two cans, one regular sized and one large with scrapbook paper that matched the rest of the decorations I was using

And I hot glued it all together

I was really happy with how it came out

The groom loves coconut so the cake at the top was a chocolate cake with coconut icing

The mini cupcakes were lemon and almond

Come back tomorrow and I'll tell you what's in the shot glasses!

B is my favorite letter

It seems to be a winning month for me, and I could really get used to this!

I am very excited to say that I have won one cooking contest and am now a finalist for another

My Blueberry Citrus Quinoa Salad won me first place in the Blueberry blogger recipe contest!

 $1,000 was the first place prize and I know exactly where I will be spending my loot

In Chicago!!

I am a finalist for the Build A Better Burger Contest and for me to say that I am excited has got to be the understatement of the century. 

I am about to jump out of my skin people!

I have tried to get into this burger bash for three years and I am so excited to have been chosen to compete for a win!

This will be my first time at BBB, first time in Chicago and a week of adult time with no children......I feel like a winner already!

My "alternative category" burger Peppered Pineapple Al Pastor Burger might just be the winning one

I think you know what's for dinner for the next two weeks at my house

Practice makes perfect, right?!

Please let me know any and all Chicago recommendations that you have.....anything I need to see, do or more importantly eat while I'm there??