This past weekend our church held their annual Mardi Gras Chili/Soup Cook-Off. I know that technically Mardi Gras isn’t until next week so we were a week early. It doesn’t matter, though, because it’s an excuse for people to come in and have a free lunch. The various teams make either soup or chili and everybody then votes for the best one. I think that there were thirteen teams this year, so that means there were 6 different soups and 7 different chili’s. At the end of the event the winners are crowned for Best Soup, Best Chili and Best Decorations.

Karen and I entered this year so we decided to go with my cheesy ham and potato soup that I make.

This was my table. I know what you’re thinking… that doesn’t look like it has anything to do with Mardi Gras. You’re half right. It’s not technically themed with Mardi Gras in mind, but Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday. I used a Fat Chester and did a cat theme. Would you really expect anything less of me??

In my own opinion, I had the BEST poster. Every time I walked by it I had to chuckle. I think that I did pretty good putting Chester in a soup pot.

Isn’t she cute??

Jay was the one who decided that I had to use Chester. I was just going to call it Cheesy Cat Chowder. I was just going for a reaction.

And it worked! Not due to my poster, though. Apparently word got around that people had to check out the table with the cat litter dessert. It was complete with ‘turd’sie rolls… on top and uncovered, just as Chester always leaves them.

One little girl made her parents vote for my decorations because she loved the cat napkins on my table. They are cute!

I had Jay make up some 3D printed key chains for me to give away to the kids. I had this one little girl who was very polite and soft spoken. She asked if they were decorations or did they cost money? I told her that they were free if she would like a key chain or one of the mama cat with kitten figurines. She looked at them and softly asked, “Am I allowed to have one of each?” She was so sweet that I couldn’t resist. “If you can tell me what the magic word is then yes you may.” She smiled real big and said, “Please!” I smiled and told her to pick out whichever ones she wanted. She did so and then said, “Thank you! Have a nice day!”

There was another little boy, probably seven years old, with big bright eyes. He kept coming over to look at the 3D printed items. When he had first spotted them he came running over and said, “These are 3D printed!” I can’t recall if he took a key chain or a cat figurine, but when everything was said and done he told me that I had the best decorations there. I definitely did not need a trophy to feel like I had done a great job!

Ignore me (I really don’t like this picture), but I had some great help in the form of my friend Patty (on the right) and Karen (not pictured). I left with only half of a crockpot of soup and zero cat litter cake.

I won 2nd place in the soup category and 3rd place for decorations. Not bad considering the soup only took me about 40 minutes to make (that’s for both batches) and I gathered most of my decorations up from around my house.

Our music ministry had a table, too. They won 2nd place for their chili and first place for decorations. Their theme was the Phantom of the Opera Masquerade.

This is my newest choir friend, Chrissy, in mid-whoop-it-up. Or she’s decorating… your choice.

Chester was concerned that I would actually put her in the soup, but not to worry… she’s safe and sound (asleep).