The Family Cooking Throwdown: Try This at Home!

Winning Entry: Halloween Throwdown

About two or three times a year, our family comes together and competes in a cooking Throwdown.  The winner from the previous throwdown chooses a theme, and we all bring our food entries together and judge them on categories such as creativity, taste, presentation, and originality. Some of the themes we've had over the years include pasta, macaroni and cheese, tomato sauce, potatoes, cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and cheesecake. We've even had holiday themes, such as the one pictured above from last Halloween. I'm pretty sure each family member has won at least one cooking throwdown, or at least been runner-up. Prizes are awarded for first place through third place and might be anything from a kitchen gadget to an actual trophy. While the throwdowns can become quite competitive (and pricey!), it's a great way for the family to get together and make memories doing something we all love—cooking. 

Pasta Throwdown Entry

If your family loves to cook, I would highly recommend trying a throwdown. You could use some of the judging categories listed above, or you might want to make up your own categories. As far as theme, my family is very accommodating of the fact that my daughter and I are vegetarians. Every throwdown dish over the years has been meat-free, and while I know it's probably difficult for my family to compose recipes without meat, they are always awesome about doing our throwdowns this way. Sweets and pastries are a bit easier for vegetarians, of course, but not every family member enjoys baking, so we do try to vary the themes. It might be different for your family!

If you try a cooking throwdown with your family, let me know below in the comments! Questions are welcome, too!