Rich wrote:
> "Sheldon" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >
> > Rich wrote:
> >> I have a question about the rules for chili cook-off's. I've found
> > the
> >> published rules of the sactioning cook-off organizations, and they
> > all agree
> >> that the chili must be prepared "from scratch" on site. They go on
to
> >
> >> clarify this rule, stating that contestants must begin with raw
meat,
> >
> >
> >>and
> >> that while premixed spice combinations may be used, no commercial
> > "chili
> >> mix" [just ad meat] is permitted.
> >
> > That's dumb... there is no difference.
> >
> >>My question is this...many published
> >> winning recipes call for beef broth or chicken broth, usually
> > specifying a
> >> can size. I'm not a fan of canned broths, and always cook my own
beef
> > and
> >> chicken stock at home, and keep a supply of each in the freezer.
> > Would I be
> >> permitted to bring a jar of either or both to a chili cookoff, or
> > would that
> >> violate the "from scratch" rule?
> >
> > You'd do best to query the powers that be of the particular contest
you
> > plan to enter; "what constitutes from scratch?" Ask if you need to
> > raise your own beef. Cooking contests (cooking for prizes) are
pretty
> > dumb regardless, they're totally subjective... I give no
credibility
> > whatsoever to any cooking competitions, they're as indicative of
ones
> > cooking prowess as ability to pick a winning lottery numbers.
> >
> > Sheldon (knows when he has a winner by the clean plates)
> >
>
>
>
> I agree that cooking contests, up to and including Iron Chef and
> international chef team competitions prove nothing more than the
> preferrences of that day's judges. But the one cook-off I have
participated
> in was a lot of fun . . . several hundred people together on a
weekend
> having a good time. That's what it's really all about.
>
> --Rich

Rich, I agree. The cookoffs are a blast. Just a bunch of chili
loonies doing what they enjoy.
The broth thing? Check with the rules meister about bringing canned
broth to be sure. They'll know the rulez for their event.
If it were me, I'd pass on any recipe containing broth, or substitute
something which contains a better flavor benefit(like tomato juice, or
tomato puree). I like a thicker chili. . . Even if you simmer the
water from the broth out, whats left is something that could be added
with the inclusion of a bullion cube, or some soup base.

Have a good time.
Pierre