Fall Cook-Off 2025

All friends and families of Living Hope are invited to our Fall Cook-Off! In place of our after church fellowship meal for November we’re hosting a big church potluck with Chili and Pie Baking competitions. Whether you’re competing or not, bring a dish to share and join us for this time of food and fellowship.

Sat, November 15th

Beginning at 4:30 pM
The Apodaca home in Los Alamitos

Potluck Details

Not Competing? Prepare a main dish or side to share with everyone. You’ll still be able to participate in the tasting and judging of our Chili and Pie Competitions.

Cook-Off Details

Chili Competition

All participants of the Red Chili competition will be entered into two categories.

  1. Contestants’ Choice – Participants in the competition will judge each other’s chili in a blind taste test for bragging rights.
  2. People’s Choice – Everyone in attendance will taste and judge all contestants’ chili and rank their favorites.

Cook-Off Rules

  • Red Chili ONLY (not green, white, or other)
  • All contestants must compete in both categories and should bring a minimum of 2 quarts of chili for tasting.
  • All contestants should bring their chili in a slow cooker or crock pot. 
  • Contestants should arrive at 4:00 PM with their chili so it can be prepared for the competition.
  • Chili must be home made by the contestant (no assistance from a can, restaurant, or your spouse).
  • No garnishes are allowed for the taste testing.
  • Each entry will be judged on Color, Aroma, Consistency, Taste, and Aftertaste.
    Rating Scale for each category: 1 – poor, 2 – below average, 3 – average, 4 – good, 5 – great
  • This is designed to be a traditional Texas Red Chili Con Carne competition.

Pie Baking Competition

The Pie Baking competition will follow rules similar to the Chili competition with the same two categories.

  1. Contestants’ Choice – Participants will judge each other’s pies in a blind taste test.
  2. People’s Choice – Everyone in attendance will taste and judge all contestant’s pies and rank their favorite.

Bake-Off Rules

  • Pies only. No cookies, brownies, cakes or puddings.
  • All contestants must compete in both categories and should bring two pies, prepared the same way and as similar as possible.
  • Contestants should arrive at 4:00 PM with their pies so they can be staged for the competition.
  • Pies should be made from scratch and not require refrigeration.
  • Do not pre-cut your pies
  • Pies must have a pastry crust bottom and a fruit filling.
  • Each entry will be judged on Overall Appearance, Crust, Topping, Filling, Overall Flavor.
    Rating Scale for each category: 1 – poor, 2 – below average, 3 – average, 4 – good, 5 – great
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