MNP Week 17: A Slow Cooking Affair

When a serious group of crockpots get together, a delicious potluck is on hand.

That was the case at this week's Monday Night Potluck, which featured a whopping eight slow cooking dishes, nearly half of the 17 dishes supplied on the evening. In the end, both crockpot and non-crock dishes became champions on this potluck evening, with Claudia Olea's Creole Chili and Dirty Rice claiming a victory in the Cajun category while JT and Lucy Beth's Mini King Cake Rollups took first in the general potluck. 

King Cake Rollups stole the narrow victory from Tomato Pie, which also managed to podium over many delightful slow cooked foods, while a certain Mystery Guest took third with Creole Greek Okra. 

But on Mardi Gras week, nothing could dim the Cajunness of Creole Chili and Dirty Rice, which combined the scrumptious heartiness of a chili with the spicy zestiness of Cajun cooking to run away from the rest of the Louisiana-based dishes. 

Join us next week for our Valentine's/President's Day themed potluck this coming Monday! And as always, here's our awesome chefs from this past MNP: 

Jackie and Kim and Sam and Justin and Matt - The Best King Super Cookies Ever
Trish Streicher - Mac & Cheese
Megan Matza - Goat Cheese Bruschetta
Greta Shackelford - Spinach Salad
Chelsea Vendegna - Veggie Enchilads
JT and Lucy Beth - Mini King Cake Rollups (1st Place)
JT and Lucy Beth - Cranberry Orange Bundtcake
Super Bowl Leftovers - Pizza Dip
Russ Schissler - Quinoa Enchilada Casserole
Richard and Jess - Tomato Pie (2nd Place)
Kate, Jessie, Kathy - Hotter Than Yo Mama's Hummus
Mike Spies - Chicken Marsala
Claudia Olea - Creole Chili and Dirty Rice (Cajun Champion)
Mystery Regular - Creole Greek Okra (3rd Place)
J. Haggerty - Gumbo
Seth Cohen - Turkey Meatballs w/ Chocolate Coffee Stout Mushroom Bacon Cream Sauce
Jamie Machowicz - Cheese Dip and Pretzel Chip Cookies
 

MNP Week 15: Asian Cabbage Salad Brings Home Title For Healthiness

As many potluckers nursed Broncos hangovers, a few elite chefs plied their trade yet again at Broken Compass for Monday Night Potluck. 

And in a result that was eerily similar to the Broncos AFC Championship victory, Asian Cabbage Salad narrowly clipped Full Loaded Baked Potato Soup 20-18 to secure Tommy Peters's first MNP victory. It was unclear which competition was more exciting (we're trying to be impartial. Obviously potluck was way more exciting than a damn football game).

It was a tight match from the kickoff, as both Cabbage Salad and Potato Soup showed the qualities that got them to this elite level of cooking and eating. Potato Soup edged ahead to an early lead, receiving crucial contributions from bacon, cheese and scallions off the bench. Not to be outdone however, Cabbage Salad gamely hung with the soupy juggernaut and finally inched into the lead late in the fourth quarter with help from a touch of soy sauce and a missed extra point, staking claim to what is likely the healthiest victory in the history of MNP.

Three dishes finished in a tie for third, as Cinnamon Apple Cookies!, Broken Compass Chili Pepper Pale Ale Five Cheese Spinach Artichoke Dip and Feta, Red Onion, Hot Pepper Jam Sliders w/ Pepper Jack pleased palates and stomachs alike.

Thanks to all who brought food and good fun! As always, here's the chefs and their creations:

Lauren P. - Cinnamon Apple Cookies! (T-3rd Place)
Sarah S. - Fully Loaded Baked Potato Soup (2nd Place)
Seth Cohen - Broken Compass Chili Pepper Pale Ale Five Cheese Spinach Artichoke Dip (T-3rd Place)
Jack Yeaton - Feta, Red Onion, Hot Pepper Jam Sliders w/ Pepper Jack (T-3rd Place)
Tommy Peters - Asian Cabbage Salad (1st Place)
Krisen Kellogg - Kale Parmesan Salad

MNP Week 12: 2016 Starts Off With A Delicious Bang

We apologize for the lack of a Monday Night Potluck recap this week, Buckets' computer decided to take an extended siesta. However, it was another delicious potluck to kick off the new year, with many incredible dishes. Two new faces podiumed, but it was an old hand that took home first place, as Seth Cohen's Turkey Enchiladas With Chocolate Coffee Stout took home first place! Thanks to everyone who brought food, we're doing it again tonight at 7! As always, here's the chefs and their dishes: 

Melissa/Chris - Cabbage - Chorizo White Bean Stew
Nicholas Castella - Ham And Cheese Bread (3rd Place)
Jake and Erin - Homemade Pepperoni And Parmesan Pretzels With Broken Compass Chili Pepper Pale Ale Cheese Dip (Congratulations on the longest name in the history of MNP!)
Ken and Liz - Pulled Pork With Onion And Rolls
Wickstrom? I can read this handwriting at all - Cream Cheese With Cranberry Relish
Megan Drew - Maple Juniper Berry Cookies
Warren and Samantha - Cheesy Meatballs
Abbe Gold - Parmesan Pasta Salad
Seth Cohen - Turkey Enchiladas With Chocolate Coffee Stout Sauce (1st Place)
Maria - Unknown
Alli and Dylan - Aladdin's Wet Dream
Sarah and Jack - Curried Butternut Squash Soup (2nd Place)
Marc Ward - Pulled Pork Rolls
Sea. Griffin - Cookie Monstars
Erin S. - Brownie Boos

MNP Week 8

The Miller-McLemores - White Bean Chicken Chili
Jam and Jose and Sam and Carla - Cheesy Potatoes
Marina Knell - Brisket Rolls
Megan Lee - Butternut Squash Mac N Cheese
Kathryn Sabanos - Ruben Dip (1st Place)
James Young - Oreo Cheesecake Cupcake (2nd Place)
Claudia Richardson - Claudia's Bean Salad
Colleen Hoffman - G-ma Hoffman's German Chocolate Cake
Genia O'Dell - White Spinach Lasagna
Seth Cohen - Broken Compass IPA Sriracha Mac N Cheese
Jack Yeaton - Blood Orange Apple Jalapeño Chicken and Brie Sandwich (3rd Place)
Team Lovely - Breck Bourbon, Chocolate, Pecan Pie
Maria - Cheezy Toasty Brussels Sprouts
Amy - Brussel Sliders
The Hoe Chefs - Butt Nut Soup
The Bro Chefs - Tom Kha
Megan Drew - Lemon Hazelnut Tart

MNP Week 7: Desserts Can't Stop A Victory For Healthy Foods

Monday Night Potluck history tells us that meats (and particularly bacon) get the job done when in matters most. 

In the fourth quarter, when the chips are all on the table, throw some bacon on the table (thick cut, hickory-smoked bacon please) and you're all but guaranteed a victory. 

Well, the times, they are a-changin.

Three non-meat dishes took home hardware this week, included what is believed to be the first ever podium finish for a vegan dish. Even nine desserts couldn't stop the health food craze.

Grandma Fannie's Butternut Squash Lasagna led the health charge, tallying 39 points en route to a first place finish for potluck rookie Robyn Canton. The Bro Chefs' vegan dish, Ullrs Undeniable Potatoes, took home second place with 32 points. And sugary, unhealthy dishes could not totally be shut out, as Debbie's Chocolate Eclair Cake finished third with 30 points. 

As always here are our phenomenal chefs and their phenomenal dishes:

Abbe - Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins
Debbie - Chocolate Eclair Cake (3rd Place)
Brodie and Diana - Cheesy Pesto Bread With Roasted Garlic
Sharon and Randy Huebner - Deviled Eggs
Chelsea Barco - Fluffberry Kebabs
Tommy Peters - Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
Jack Yeaton - Orea Stuffed Cookies (yes, you read that correctly)
Isaac Marobla - Loco Pumpkin Dip
Claudia Richardson - Caramelized Onion Rolls
Liz - French Vanilla Cake With Chocolate Frosting
Sydney Schwab - Butternut Squash Bacon Mac N Cheese
Brian Munger - Kitchen Sink Pulled Pork
Maria Galgas - Wild Rice Salad With Currants And Almonds
Robyn Canton - Grandma Fannies Butternut Squash Lasagna (1st Place)
Maria Mattera - Tears Of Joy Bacon Onion Tart
Steven Stoker - Rocket Man Salad
Mike Spies - Venison Meatloaf
Bro Chefs - Ullrs Undeniable Potatoes (2nd Place)
The Lovelys - Holy Stromboli!
Brittany Lindsey - Pineapple Casserole
Becky Walter - Mostly Organic Chocolate Peanut Chip Banana Bread

MNP Week 3: Beer Pumpkin Ginger Soup Wins Over Taste Buds, Hearts, Votes

October may not be a successful month for the Chicago Cubs (RIP), but Monday Night Potluck continues to thrive as the days grow shorter and the snow flies (and as we're still mourning the Cubs here at Broken Compass, expect this to be baseball themed). 

This week brought another excellent array of dishes to the table, as eight foods battled it out for potluck supremacy. Piggy Poutine, Beer Cheese Bread and BBQ Pork With Peach Jalapeño Sauce all took cracks at the plate but came up empty (really though, what does mankind want in food that Piggy Poutine doesn't provide? Fries, cheese curds and pork, covered with a hefty dose of gravy? That wins this humble potluck blogger's vote).

In the end, it came down to three dishes - Beer Pumpkin Ginger Soup, Braised Pork With Apple and Chipotle Apple Cake - battling for the top spot. Braised Pork With Apple put together some strong at bats and Chipotle Apple Cake even put runners in scoring position on multiple occasions, but neither could come up with the clutch hits necessary to keep them in the game, as Beer Pumpkin Ginger Soup raked home run after home run to take home the top spot, finishing the night with a whopping 49 points. 

It was another MNP victory for acclaimed potluck chef Seth Cohen, and a victory for the taste buds and stomachs of all potluckers in attendance on the evening. 

We would also be remiss if we didn't offer a huge thank you to Maria and Rick Galgas, who didn't enter the actual potluck proceedings, but made a beautiful and delicious birthday cake for your regular MNP bartender, emcee and blogger Daniel (Dr. Buckets) Miller-McLemore. You guys are totally awesome.

As always, our phenomenal MNP chefs and their delicious dishes:

Seth Cohen - Beer Pumpkin Ginger Soup (1st Place)
Abbe and Mike - BBQ Pork With Peach Jalapeno Sauce
BJ - Beer Cheese Bread
Jay - Guinness Beef Stew
Eric, Steph, Ellen, Warren - Piggy Poutine
Ronda Westoff - Chipotle Apple Cake (3rd)
Megan Drew - Tabbouleh
Mike Spies - Braised Pork With Apples (2nd)

The MNP champions

Maria and Buckets with the birthday cake

Potluck will continue next Monday night (Oct. 26) with eating commencing at or around 7 p.m., but we recommend showing up early to get a table. It will be our Halloween-themed potluck, so we're giving away an extra first place prize to the most creative use of pumpkin in a dish. We can't wait to see what you bring next!

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting around 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint. See you there!)

MNP Week 2

It was only fitting that on Columbus Day, Monday Night Potluck boasted exotic dishes from all over the world and full stomachs all over the Broken Compass taproom. 

In what was one of the tightest finishes in MNP history between 18 dishes, Doug Polanski's Korean Beef Tacos were finally able to pull away in the second half for the victory. Korean Beef Tacos were aided by a gutsy veteran effort from Flour Tortillas, who came off the bench to chip in during some crucial moments down the stretch, as well as an excellent showing from up and comer Lime Sauce. The trio's chemistry elevated KBT to 32 points and a narrow victory for Polanski (although reports are coming in that it was actually Doug's lovely companion Janette that contributed both the brains and brawn to the dish).

Sticking with the Asian theme, Jennifer Anderson's Oriental Slaw pulled in enough points (28) to snag second place, while Maria Galgas (a repeat winner from the season's first potluck) snared the final podium spot with delectable Columbus Day Cannoli Cups. Cannoli Cups beat out a phenomenal assembly of desserts that very nearly satisfied this writer's sweet tooth (not possible). 

But on this Monday night, no dessert could outshine the deliciousness that was Korean Beef Tacos.

"I'm not entirely sure why (Janette) put my name down on the sign in sheet, but I'm thrilled to be a champion," Polanksi said.*

*All quotes not word for word and possibly partially fabricated

As always, thanks to all our wonderful MNP chefs that made delicious grub this week. Here's the chefs and their dishes:

Nathan Claus - Bangin' Chile
Chris Runyon - Veggie Chile
BJ Cassidy - Blue Cheese/Caramelized Onions Squares
Annika Ledbetter - Cheesecake Nutella Bites
Anna Whitehurst - 3 Cheesy Bread
Cody Medina - Nutella & Raspberry Crepes
Mark Montgomery - Chile Rellenos
Doug Polanski - Korean Beef Tacos
Lucy Greene - 4-Layer Pie With Pecans
Claudia Richardson - Chilean Empenadas
Chelsie Givan - Oreo Salad
Mike Spies - Apple Blossom
Jerry and Ronda Westhoff - Roasted Vegetable Pasta
Jennifer Anderson - Oriental Slaw (2nd)
Maria Galgas - Columbus Day Cannoli Cups (3rd)
Alex Beach/Mia Tavduno - Apple Curry Soup
Kelci Gutierrez - Pasta Bites
Becky Walter - Crab Bruschetta

Potluck will continue next Monday night (Oct. 19, which, by the way, happens to be the day after Buckets' birthday, and any cake will be much appreciated. See sweet tooth note above) with eating commencing at or around 7 p.m., but we recommend showing up early to get a table. We can't wait to see what you bring next!

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting around 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint. See you there!)

Monday Night Potluck Returns!

The first Monday Night Potluck of the 2015-2016 season brought fireworks, sublime sweetness and a strong coconut presence to the refined palates of Breckenridge.

On the heels of the Broken Compass Coconut Porter's bronze medal at Great American Beer Fest (woohoo!) it was only fitting that a coconut-themed potluck be held in celebration. And so, taking up spatulas and ladles and forks and knives, the MNP chefs once again returned to the kitchen to wage food wars against each other (wars that everyone, ultimately, would win). 

But on this momentous Monday night, it was also fitting that potluck veterans Maria and Rick Galgas would steal the spotlight with their Heirloom BLT Salad With Coconut Bacon (wait, hold on, am I reading that right? A salad stole the spotlight? Yes, yes I am). 

Facing off against a strong 12-dish field, Heirloom BLT Salad With Coconut Bacon (which we'll just shorten to HBLTSWCB from here on out) raced out to an early lead on the back of balanced performance from both lettuce and bacon. 

HBLTSWCB continued to build on an early lead, but the other dishes would not go down without a fight. Kendal Oakleaf's Thai Coconut Peanut Noodles put in a strong performance for Southeast Asia, ultimately settling for second place, while Mike Spiel's Venison Stroganoff used a combination of heartiness and deliciousness to finish third. Chantal Wener's delectable Chococonut Cookies (which I challenge you to pronounce correctly) and Alex Beach's Coconut Sweet Potato Balls With Honey Coconut Sauce scrapped their way to tie for a podium finish against an exceptionally deep and competitive field.

The Galgas's, despite owning a closetful of potluck hardware, were thrilled to pick up the first gold medal of the potluck season, and will look to build on that success at next week's edition.

Thanks so much to all of you who helped make the return of MNP a success! As always, here are the talented chefs and their delectable dishes:

Mike Spiel - Venison Stroganoff (2nd)
Seth Cohen - Coconut Porter Ice Cream
Maria and Rick Galgas - Heirloom BLT Salad With Coconut Bacon (1st and Most Creative and Awesome use of Coconut)
Jerry and Ronda Westoff - Chicken Mushroom Coconut Hot Pot
Chantal Wener - Chococonut Cookies (T-3rd)
Kendal Oakleaf - Thai Coconut Peanut Noodles (1st)
Alex Beach - Coconut Sweet Potato Balls With Honey Coconut Sauce (T-3rd)
Mia Tarduno - Coconut Lime Rice
Megan Drew - Potato Bulgar Wheat Porridge
Kerry and Nick - Spicy Coconut Sweet Potato Cor...(?something illegible)
Trenton - Coconut Cookies
Kristen - Love You S'mores

Potluck will continue next Monday night (Oct. 12) with eating commencing at or around 7 p.m., but we recommend showing up early to get a table. We can't wait to see what you bring next!

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting around 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint. See you there!)

The winners!