April 2022

Individuals and staff were excited to compete in another Chopped Challenge this month! It has been quite a while since we hosted a round of this Mystery Box Cooking Challenge and the creative minds at all three houses did not disappoint!

Each house received their Mystery Box containing ground pork, eggs, a whole pineapple, cinnamon sticks, crescent rolls, and couscous. They used these ingredients to make lunch for their housemates and our judges. At each house, the individuals and staff opened their boxes and worked together to plan how they would use all the items to make something delicious!

Group Home 1 used their ingredients to create pork and vegetable egg rolls with five spice and cinnamon, a cinnamon couscous power bowl and a pineapple sweet and sour dipping sauce.

Group Home 2 whipped up cinnamon and pineapple meatballs with couscous and a pineapple pie and Danish for dessert.

Group Home 3 worked as a team to make Asian pork roll ups with fried vegetable couscous and a pineapple blueberry pie for dessert. All the dishes looked and smelled soooo good!!

We were very excited to welcome Mallory Fries, a former employee, her friend, Chelsey Zacharias, Leanne Boychuck, Office Administrator and last-minute participant, Alyssa Weber, Program Staff as our judges for this event! Alyssa was excited to be able to judge as she had been in training for the morning so had not helped at any of the houses to prepare the meal. Thank you for sharing your time with us and for being brave enough to volunteer when the ingredients were a mystery to you as well!

Shortly after noon the meals were delivered in unmarked boxes and judges tasted each meal and rated them 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd in the categories presentation, creativity, and taste. Group Home Three’s Dish came out the winner and all four judges rated it as having the best taste! They also received the WOW Award for using the pineapple in a pie with blueberries! The Judges were surprised by this decision and enjoyed the texture it brought to the pie! Comments for this dish also raved about the couscous and the flavour of the pork roll ups!

Group Home One came in in 2^nd place and the award for Most Beautiful Presentation. Judges’ comments included “best tasting dessert. 10/10 I would eat the whole thing.” As well as many comments about the effort made in presenting the dish.

In 3^rd place, Group Home Two was recognized for Most Creative Use of Ingredients. The cinnamon in the meatballs was unexpected.

Congratulations to everyone who participated! We hope that you enjoyed taking part in this edition of the West Central Abilities Chopped Mystery Box Challenge! Thank you to Buy-Low Foods Kindersley for sponsoring our Mystery Baskets!!

If you are interested in being a judge for a future Chopped Challenge or have suggestions for basket ingredients, we would LOVE to hear from you! Contact Regan at westcentralpa@hotmail.com