A co-worker and I were talking the other day about a hamburger cook off. It got me thinking about what kind of cookoffs there are in the world.

Of course there is the Chili cook off. I love chili! There seems to be chili cook-offs in almost every state. A lot of them are for charity fundraisers. But for the devout chili makers that want even more competition there are organizations like the Chili Appreciation Society International, Inc. or the International Chili Society that hold competitions around the US and have Grand Finale cook-offs. Yummy!

Hamburger Cookoffs seem to be fewer between, but they are included in many of the BBQ cook offs around. A huge list can be found at bbq-festivals.com and a national competion is held in Texas every year with the National Championship Barbeque Cook-off. I’ll keep waiting for a Hamburger cook off here in my town. My husband makes some awesome red bell pepper hamburgers! And just for a little nostalgia Athens, TX claims to be the home of the original hamburger.

Global chili and bbq cookoffs occur too, but culinary art cookoffs seem to be bigger. The Iron Chef and Iron Chef America TV show just how in depth some of these cookoffs go. Someday I’ll try some of the delicacies they make, but for now I think I just stick with chili and BBQ!

Well right off the bat, I have to say…I LOVE food!!! For me, food is fabulous.  So when it comes to ordering, I have a style all my own.  I have been on a Qdoba kick for about a year now, and as I love the same things, I have not been afraid to try some new and different things. 

On a ‘normal’ day I tend to go for the old stand-by, the chicken burrito.  I start out with the flour tortilla, extra lime-cilantro rice and no beans.  I personally just don’t care for beans, although you do have the black or pinto option. 

Along with the chicken I decide on, there is also steak, seasoned shredded beef, or ground sirloin, and again I’m just a chicken kinda person. But don’t fret if you’re a vegetarian, they have that option as well. 

As I head over to the selection of salsas, I tend to gravitate towards the corn salsa.  It is advertised as medium, but I find it is more on the mild side.  For those who can’t decide, they offer a range of sauces and salsas for any range of tastes.  From mild to hot they are all great.  NOW, if you really wanna make your burrito special, add some of that 3-cheese queso to your order and you can see a small glimpse into happiness!!

Now, to my burrito I also add sour cream and lettuce, no reason other than I just want them in there. Now as far as cheese goes, if I’m getting the 3-cheese queso, I pass on any additional cheese, but if not, sure slap some in there.

As we come to the end of the line, you can also add some chips and salsa to your order, or the famed chips and 3- cheese queso. They also carry a small selection of bottled drinks, including a few types of beers, but as I’m always there for lunch, I don’t partake.     

All there’s left to do is sit back and enjoy the Qdoba experience.

The best times I have in the kitchen are when the whole family gets involved in the cooking.

I love when my husband barbeques, while I get some veggies ready. Or when we are both in the kitchen helping each other out, because we find time to talk about life while we are doing it. I think cooking together in a marriage, may be a good marriage builder.

I have found a number of ways to get the kids involved too. I’ll sometimes have them run to and fro to get different ingredients (this is best for wearing them down a little). I also like to have them help measure and pour in the ingredients. If the meal being made doesn’t have a lot of opportunity to help I’ll have them help to get sanck baggies packed for the following days. Their favorite meal to help get ready is desert.