You are invited to our annual church-wide Chili Cook-off & Fellowship on Wednesday, October 9 at 6:30 pm in the Gym! We will also be adding a Pie Bake-off category this year!

• Sign up to enter the competition no later than Monday, October 7. 
• Don’t want to enter chili or a pie? Sign up to bring chili, side item, or dessert just for our dinner! 
• There are limited slots open in the competition. See the rules and information on entering the contest below!
• The Fellowship will take the place of Community Groups that night.

Rules for the Chili Cook-Off:

The International Chili Society defines Homestyle Chili as “the cook’s favorite combination of ingredients resulting in a dish seasoned with chili peppers and spices.” 

You may use any type or cut of meat with any color or type of sauce. Chili will be judged on the following five categories: Flavor, Texture, Consistency, Blend of Spices, and Aroma.

• Flavor: Chili should have a good flavor with a chili pepper taste that is neither too hot nor too mild.
• Texture: The texture of the meat should not be too tough or too mushy.
• Consistency: Chili’s consistency should neither be too thick nor too thin.
• Blend of Spices: The spices should permeate the meat and work together and not be overpowering.
• Aroma: The smell should be pleasing.

All persons who enter the contest should bring at least two to four cups of chili for the judges and one container for the Fellowship Dinner. The chili for the contest may be brought in a crockpot and plugged in, while the chili for the fellowship dinner should be brought hot and ready to serve. No garnishes are allowed in the contest. 

You will be assigned a number prior to dropping off your chili, and judges will not be made aware who brought each chili. 

Rules for the Pie Bake-Off

The pie bake-off is for any sweet pie made with a homemade crust and filling. The filling can be made of anything sweet – fruits, nuts, chocolate, cream, meringue etc. Contact the office if you have any questions!

The crust should be homemade. It is your choice to do a top crust, crumb topping, or no top crust! Pies will be judged on the five following categories:

• Appearance: Basic eye appeal and the extent to which the whole pie entices you to want to try it, as well as the consistency of the filling and crust.
• Crust: Pastry crusts should be flaky and delicate, but not fall apart too easily. They should melt in your mouth with a mild, pleasant taste that complements the filling. They should be a light golden color, baked throughout and an even thickness across the side and bottom. Generally, crust has a pleasant, mild flavor that complements the filling. However, in some specialty pies, the crust may be used to help create flavor accents.
• Filling: Fillings should have a nice aroma with pleasant, uniform flavors. Ingredients taste fresh and are well balanced with a complimentary use of spices and seasonings that is not overpowering.
• Overall Flavor: This is the judges’ final chance to rate the pie overall based on two primary components of a good pie: crust and filling.
• Creativity: This can either be a creativity in flavors or in the overall decoration of the pie. What makes your pie stand out?

All persons who enter the pie contest should bring their pie in a 8-9 inch pie pan. You can only enter one pie for the bake-off. However, you are welcome to make a second pie for the fellowship.

You will be assigned a number prior to dropping off your pie, and judges will not be made aware who brought each pie. 

We had a blast at our last Chili Cook-Off! Here are some pictures from the event: