Cutthroat Kitchen / Chopped Birthday Party - Suggestions?

[DianaCox]

I still feel that one of the ingredients in my meals must be my blood - I am pretty much guaranteed to cut myself at least 1/3 of the time I cook. I have paring knives, the big serrated bread knife - and about 15 other ones I rarely if ever use, although you can bet your last nickel that if I'm in the kitchen cooking, Charles (who NEVER cooked before he met me) will come in and tell me I'm using the wrong knife, no matter what.

I'm envious watching cooking shows and they do the knuckle thing with the knives while rapidly cutting veggies - I'd much rather cut the end of my finger than risk dismembering myself, and can't bring myself to try that. And now I have an amazing Breville food processor, which chops, slices and shreds most things pretty well, and I try to use that as much as possible: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/shop...dDlwCDhlhhsWM3RDmK-xYuI2ekrzDron7QhoCgI3w_wcB (you can find it cheaper than at Williams Sonoma)

 

[brooklyngirl]

@hilary1617 I really love the idea of you and Hannah taking a cooking class together! I'm trying to move away from physical gifts for all the kids in our families to "experience" gifts like this. They all own so much STUFF that the idea of buying more for every birthday and holiday makes me nauseous. I'd so much rather have an experience, either for them to enjoy, or for us to enjoy together, that will provide memories to last wayyyy longer than the memories of the Xbox game or queen Elsa doll

 

[hilary1617]

@Lauren, I love the cooking class idea for just that reason. While we chat in the car on the way to and fro, I'm a spectator rather than participant in most of my kids' active pursuits (riding, swimming, sailing). I'd love to join them in these activities as well, but my abdominal muscles are a train wreck after being cut through five times and I have a massive recurring hernia which *cannot come undone again* as I am not willing to go for another repair. I may take a class with Liam as well as Hannah. Probably best to give each a bit of one-on-one attention.

Experiences are the best gifts - for children of all ages! There is a father and recent college grad daughter that live apart, but meet up to riding lessons at our barn at the same time as Hannah - I love seeing them together.

 

[Elizabeth N.]

I'm unfamiliar with the palates of ones so young, so I don't have much to suggest for ingredients. I think of soup, salad or some kind of bruschetta type thing when I think of first courses. The "experience" type party, with none of the hanging around watching the birthday kid open a gazillion presents, sounds AWESOME!

Will you need to take care about food allergies?

 

[brooklyngirl]

Oh, and btw, @hilary1617 I assume you would have given more details if you wanted to, but thinking about what you mentioned about the coming months and hoping it all works out for the best!

 

[hilary1617]

@EN I hope it will be fun. We usually have a blast. Last year, we "stormed a castle" i.e.. ascended the climbing wall at our gym, followed by a soft foam Lego armor mock sword fight in the basketball court.

Food allergies are a big deal, more so, which for some reason affects a large number of students in Liam's class (guessing 15%!) where one child has an allergy to so many unobvious foods (sweet potatoes) and other substances, she isn't even allowed to step foot in the dining hall. Of Hannah's classmates, we are fortunate to just have childe with a peanut and tree nut allergy and one child allergic to soy (apparently this is challenging as soy flour is becoming common in baked goods).

@Lauren, thanks for the positive wishes.

 

[Munchkin]

You have got to post the outcome! Hope it turns out well!

 

[hilary1617]

Thanks for the positive thoughts! Invitations are out for Dec 20. We finally found a solution outside of our house at the recreation center "Retro Café" run by the park district one town over:

Pizza Making and Cup Cake Decorating Party
A fun-filled party that will have guests creating and then eating their own personal pizza along with a six pack of cupcakes. We provide everything you need. Each guest will start with a par-baked pizza crust that they can fix up any way they choose with sauce and cheese (meat and veggies additional). The pizza’s then go into the oven. Next, each guest will get (6) pre-made chocolate or vanilla cupcakes that they can decorate with a variety of icings and toppings. One of the cupcakes will be themed and chosen by the birthday girl or boy. Try this new party option for your next birthday!
​

To add our personal touch, as party favors I found pink aprons for each of the kids ( for only $3.35 each! http://www.kng.com/wholesale-restaurant/kids-supplies/childrens-aprons.html ). Time permitting, we will fancy them up a bit in advance with ruffles and/or let them embellish with fabric markers and pins during the party. In honor of the kitschy location, and so they can each take all 6 of their cupcake creations home rather than eating one on the spot, we will bring a cake and serve it after the pizza in paper pink classic cruisers (http://www.retroplanet.com/PROD/34479 and http://www.retroplanet.com/PROD/34479 ). For added fun, their fountain drinks will be served out of light-up/LED cola glasses, which we have left over from another party ( http://www.amazon.com/LED-Cube®-Glasses-Flashing-Blinking-Barware/dp/B00HSE7GM6/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1417300836&sr=1-1 ).

Hoping it works out and glad we found someone else's kitchen to use!!!

 

[Elizabeth N.]

AWESOME!!! I wanna be your kid .

 

[newanatomy]

Looks like a ton of fun!