MCPL Chopped Challenge winning dish: kidney bean and spelt toast with paprika whipped feta and rosemary pickled beets.

‘Tis the season for cooking and creativity! In November, we held the first MCPL Chopped Challenge! Participants received a take-home kit with three mystery ingredients and three cookbooks to borrow. They were tasked with preparing a dish using all three ingredients, plus their choice of additional ingredients.

We received many amazing, inspired entries. Thank you to all of the participants and congratulations to the winner, Emmi! They were so creative with the mystery ingredients, making a kidney bean and spelt toast with paprika whipped feta and rosemary pickled beets. Browse this photo album to view all of the submitted dishes!

Now that the official prize challenge is over, we’re revealing the mystery ingredients for anyone to try their hand! The mystery ingredients are…

  • Canned kidney beans
  • Canned whole beets
  • Paprika

Want to play along? We would love to see what you dish up! Tag @MCPLIndiana and use the hashtag #MCPLChopped on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter to share your creations.

Looking for culinary inspiration? Join us virtually on Monday, December 27 for Books on Tap, our book club with a twist! Bring any fiction or nonfiction food- or cooking-themed book to share with the group. Make your own drink and try to relate it to your book choice in some way! Sign up here.