Crock Pot Challenge – 2012 Style – Who’s In?

So when I first started blogging last year, I wanted to put together a Crock Pot Challenge where you all cook the same dishes and compare, comment, etc etc. Well one, I didn’t have an audience at this time last year (that wasn’t family), two, I didn’t have foodie friends and know even a quarter of what I know now since blogging, and three, it’s close to impossible to all make the same dish, we all have different tastes, styles, and a lot our families have food allergies that we should think of. So where does that leave us for this year?? Hmmmmmmmm…well I’ve been thinking. I want to make it fun so let me know what your thoughts are and we can tweak it a bit if need be.

1.) 5 Crock Pot dishes for 5 Days in a row. Monday-Friday. I thought this would work best because we all know as bloggers that the weekends can be slower, audience wise. Plus some of us have prior commitments for Sunday Supper 🙂

2.) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner or Dessert – Who cares as long it’s in the Crock Pot right!!?? Part of this being a Challenge, and trust me, I made it a challenge last year by making it 10 days! You have to actually make the meal the night before to post it the next day. So Sunday – Thursday night. That’s how I did it and I wrote up my post that night after my daughter went to bed. I also didn’t do pictures so it was easier, this year I’ll try to commit to doing 2-3 pictures for each meal. (that’s up to you)  I’ll give a time of posting at 11am EST that way if someone can’t get it done that night you have some time in the morning to do it.

I could change it to making the meals whenever and then just posting them 5 days in a row on your blog, during the week specified, but I wouldn’t think that would be much of a challenge. I guess I see the whole challenge as using your Crock 5 days in a row! If this would cause you to pull out let me know because I’d like to do it, even if we have to change the rules (You can vote below).

3.) I’m not even sure how making everyone do at least one dish the same would turn out with everyone’s likes and dislikes, Sooooooooooo since I’m running this awesome challenge, how about one day during those 5 we choose, you have to pick one of my Crock Pot Dishes and on that same day I will choose one of yours. Sorry I can only do one 🙂 I can pick one from a hat.

4.) I’ve had a few friends, that do not have blogs, express interest in joining as well. I think it’s a great idea seeing as my aunt did it with me last year and we both had a lot of fun comparing, and if it wasn’t for her I would have been doing it alone! I think I will leave it up to you all if you’d like to get your friends, family or followers involved on your own side, but I think at the end of the challenge I will collect pics from anyone that may have participated that does not blog, and post them on a separate day to share other people’s recipes and results. Kind of like a results of the Crock Pot Challenge Post.

5.) We will go over our stats at the end of the Challenge and post which recipe was viewed the most on our last post of the Challenge-that Saturday.

***For those of you who would like to join (my lovely friends and family) all you have to do is cook within that week, take a pic (if you want to) email me the recipe and reviews and I will include it on my follow up Crock Pot Challenge post when it is over.  Share some new recipes with me, your families favorites but you must pick at least one of mine to make throughout that week.

So all we have to do is figure out a week. I know we will never choose a week that works well for everyone so unfortunately I have to choose one that works for me since I’m running it. I do Featured Friday’s on Friday and I’m already booked through November so it’s not fair to take that away from someone I’m Co-Hosting with so the only weeks that would work for me are these, so I’ll take a vote at least and I’ll just hope and pray that you can join us!!

So here are the rules to sum it up, and I am flexible so please do let me know if you have any idea’s!!

-I’ll send an event invite via FB so we can all chat there. I’ll ask you what your dishes are the weed before so I can let others partaking know what your dish is so they can have your link ready. I can do up a list and you can copy directly from me.
-The week before the challenge (or whenever you’d like) you announce that you’ll be joining the Crock Pot Challenge of 2012 Hosted by Momma’s Meals. Mention the rules and whatever else you’d like, you don’t have to reveal what dishes you’ll be making, I think I’ll be keeping mine a secret 🙂
-Post your meal each day, linking back to me as your host and including a list of those participating.
-On the Saturday after the challenge, do a wrap up, talk about the challenge, how it was talking and exchanging questions and idea’s, include friends, family and followers if decided on that route, and also the top recipe that was viewed on your blog.

Please let me know if you have any other idea’s or questions and we can start spreading the word. Once we decide on all the rules and the time I’ll do up another post that you can use to ask people if they’d like to join. 🙂

Thanks guys, I look forward to a fun and funky challenge with you all!