Playing along with MasterChef Goes Large

MasterChef Goes Large [2] is a revamped version of a long running food competition show on the BBC. The old MasterChef used to be a straightforward, one hour long, in-studio cookoff where the contestants cooked their best menu, which was tasted by the judges. (The host was the guy with the oddest English-American accent ever, Lloyd Grossman.) The new MasterChef which was inaugurated last year, is much snappier and faster-paced. The 2006 edition just started on Monday.

In the first part of the preliminary rounds which are aired Monday to Thursday, the contestants much make a dish from a set list of ingredients within 40 minutes. This is called the Invention Test. The contestants can use all or just some of the items, and can add other ingredients of their choosing. I've decided to follow along with the show and try to create my own dish from the same ingredients, just to challenge myself a bit. For people who missed the show on TV (it's on BBC2 at 18:30 GMT / 19:30 CET) or who can't get the show where they live, I will be listing the ingredients in this post and updating the list daily.

Here is the list so far:

Week 1

• Day 1, Monday: Chicken (a chicken leg was used on the show, although the narrator didn't specify it had to be just the leg), potatoes, radishes, tarragon, onions, blue cheese, black pudding. What I made... [3]
• Day 2, Tuesday: Monkfish, pea aubergines or regular aubergines (eggplant), bok choy, parma ham (proscuitto), jasmine rice, coconut milk. What I made... [4]
• Day 3, Wednesday: Red chili powder, ketchup, Manchego cheese (a hard cheese from Spain), prawns (largish shrimp), avocado, couscous. What I made... [5]
• Day 4, Thursday: Kumquats, ground lamb, coriander, beets, long grain rice, red chili peppers, red onions. What I made... [6]

Week 2

• Day 5, Monday: Lamb chops, dried apricots, potatoes, tomatoes, basil, mozzarella cheese. What I made... [7]
• Day 6, Tuesday: Sea bream, smoked fish (haddock?) potatoes, Tallegio cheese, purple sprouting broccoli. What I made... [8]
• Day 7, Wednesday: Portobello mushrooms, potato (again!), savoy cabbage, blue cheese, frozen peas, minced (ground) beef, bacon.What I made... [9]
• Day 8, Thursday: Tuna steak, basil, linguine, potato (again??), olives, Parmesan cheese.What I made... [10]

Week 3

• Day 9, Monday: Blackberries, pears, potatoes, sage, cider, green beans, gammon, pork. What I made... [11]
• Day 10, Tuesday: Arborio rice, fennel, large potatoes, saffron, mussels, haddock.What I made... [12]
• Day 11, Wednesday: Chicken breast, squid, bok choy, leeks, peppers, pancetta, noodles. What I made... [13]
• Day 12, Thursday: Guinea fowl, sweet potatoes, parsnips, Gorgonzola cheese, bacon, penne pasta. What I made... [14]

Week 4

• Day 13, Monday: Mango, endive, avocado, bread, tomato, goats cheese, short crust pastry, chorizo, sardines. What I made... [15]
• Day 14, Tuesday: Feta cheese, tomato, thyme, broad beans, red wine, caballo nero (a sort of cabbage?), lamb chops. What I made... [16]
• Day 15, Wednesday: Onion, fennel, basil, horseradish, tomato, Mozzarella, celeriac, mackerel. What I made... [17]
• Day 16, Thursday: Calf's liver, pheasant, cooked chestnuts, cabbage, leeks, red currant jelly, cauliflower. What I made... [18]

Week 5

• Day 17, Monday: Mature Cheddar cheese, spinach, chili peppers, sweet corn, potatoes, smoked haddock. What I made... [19]
• Day 18, Tuesday: Wild mushrooms, lemons, ciabatta, anchovies, Tallegio cheese, turnips, vin santo, steak. What I made... [20]
• Day 19, Wednesday: Aubergines (eggplant), zucchini (courgettes), kale, vine leaves, tomatoes, brown rice, goats cheese. What I made... [21]
• Day 20, Thursday: Chicken, chicken livers, bread, walnuts, raisins, brandy, bacon, pears. What I made... [22]

Week 6

• Day 21, Monday: Anchovies, savoy cabbage, rainbow chard (Swiss chard with colorful stems), honey, bananas, chocolate, brioche bread, lamb filet. What I made... [23]
• Day 22, Tuesday: Banana leaves, pak choy, sticky rice, wonton skins, spring onions, plums, duck. This one stumped me so I skipped... [24]
• Day 23, Wednesday: Puff pastry, spinach, brie cheese, leeks, wild mushrooms, pear, chicken breast. What I made... [25]
• Day 24, Thursday: Red cabbage, apples, swede, cream cheese, cider, prunes, pork chop. What I made... [26]