This is it. The moment we’ve been waiting for all summer long. This Sunday is the final showdown between Jeffrey and Melissa in their toughest challenge yet. The winner will be headlining their own show on Food Network next weekend. Jeffrey or Melissa? See ya Sunday at 9pm/8c.
And, if you have missed any episodes, you can catch our all-day Star marathon starting Sunday at 1pm/12c.
Mama C, the breakdown does seem fairly evenly split.
However, if there was a vote, I would want to add a third selection of: How many people want BOTH, because I think THAT is truly the largest group on here.
Can’t wait, Bob!!!! Go Jeffrey!
I shall be happy no matter who wins. Both Jeffrey and Melissa have shown the cooking chops and their abilities as entertainers. Good luch to each of them.
I love both of them. At the very first Jeffrey was the winner in my mind, but as I watched Melissa, I changed my mind. Either way I’m okay. I just hope that whoever wins is able to fulfill the commitment of the “next foodnetwork” star. I would hate to have someone win the ttitle and not have a show.
Bob…cut out 90% of the re-runs of your Challenge shows…remove 50% of “Unwrapped” and please get rid of “Ace of Cakes.”
Then you will have plenty of room for both Jeffrey and Melissa to have two brand new wonderful shows for all of us to enjoy!!!!
Please, pretty please…with sugar on top!!!!
But I like Ace of Cakes!!! Geoff cracks me up.
Hello Bob!! I’ve been wondering if your website staff would give us an opportunity to vote for the finalist we would like BEFORE Sunday’s finale. I know you could set it up so that each email address gets only ONE vote; not like it is now where I can vote ad infinitum. The viewers posting here appear to be split 50-50 between Melissa and Jeffrey. Please see if you can work this out…it’d be fun. Thanks
Okay, just for Thorneapple, we’ll leave in “Ace of Cakes” but not back-to-back episodes…please!
ok deal!
I am so happy with these final two. And I am thrilled that Debbie is gone! We don’t need anymore reality shows that reward people for their lack of integrity and self serving mean spiritedness. It’s what makes the foodnetwork standout – the only other reality show to reward fairness and integrity is HGTV – no surpise is it! Anyway, the final two are excellent. I would like to see them both get their own show because they are so good. I will say, while I appreciate Jeffrey’s low key personality I’m not a fan of his flavor combos. I personally relate more to Melissa and appreciate her enthusiasm
Good luck it’s going to be a hard choice – is it also an unnecessary one? Make history create two new shows!
Y’all crack me up.
DocLynn–I agree. The Challenges and Unwrapped get repetitive. There are plenty of shows that could be cut and/or moved around to make room for Melissa and Jeffery. Just seeing the picture of the two of them makes me think of how great it would be to see both of them on FN–don’t let this opportunity slip away!
I am so anxious for the showdown! Love ya, Jeffrey but I want Melissa to win. OK, I won’t be TOO upset if she doesn’t but either way, I hope you both end up with shows. You are both SO good!
Linda
Cyndi….
Regardless of what others of our friends think…and, you know what I am talking about….I aim to have fun and hope that others do too! So I am very glad that we “crack you up!”
I wouldn’t mind seeing the end of Unwrapped myself. And one episode of Ace of Cakes would be fine as well. Maybe there might be room for Kelsey to have a show as well. . .
Yes I do know who you mean Lynn. My email is bunnyrabbit1966@hotmail.com. There is much I need to tell you but this isn’t the place.
Two winners, two shows! And fewer reruns and Ace of Cakes episodes…YES! DocLynn – you should be the FN programmer! Genius!
Bob, Bob, Bob No matter who wins, because I love both of them, please don’t bury their show(s) in some obscure place where no one can find them. We have followed them through the challenges and deserve to see them. Put them in prime time – your evening hours suck- and then give a lead to where they will appear regularly. You deserve to give cooking back to cooking fans.
Why did they discontinue the online viewer vote for the finale? Has anyone heard anything about that? I think our opinions count for a lot.
Doris, LOL, yeah, that’s even better! It would be so great if Kelsey got a show, too!
Love them both. They are both ultra competetive, yet mature about it. And they seem to be great friends. I would watch either show, but I’m pulling for Melissa.
For John re: youngsters cooking. Getting children to learn a few culinary skills SHOULD BE part of normal, everyday parenting. Both my sons married BEAUTIFUL LOVELY girls…neither one could boil water. I WAS SHOCKED!!! I thought, “How do you live for 20 – 23 years and NEVER attempt to fix yourself a meal??” Anyway, both my sons could cook before they were married, so each has coached his wife through this adventure. Both sons have been married in excess of seven years and NEITHER one seems to have lost any signifcant weight – so must be okay in the kitchen. Involving children in the kitchen? ABSOLUTELY.
wyrickeg, the voting is more of a prize wining contest, than simply looking for our feedback.
PutterUP: I am sorry you’ve had such problems getting an email to me. I don’t have another email address to use. Maybe I could ask all the FELLOW BLOGGERS here if it would be okay that you submit your French Pork Pie recipe here on this site. Honestly, guys, we’ve tried to go underground, but can’t seem to make it happen. If PutterUP is able to send me this ALL-IMPORTANT recipe through this site, please accept my apology for loading down the area with my personal stuff. Thank you, in advance, for your kind consideration.
Charrise: you’re right about including a tab which allows us to vote for CO-WINNERS. That would make EVERYONE HAPPY!!! Does that ever happen??
No, I mean voting for the winner on the finale. Like when Guy won against Reggie? Viewers could go online and vote for their favorite. Am I remembering this wrong?
Mama C. People don’t generally lose weight because they can’t cook. They generally gain weight, because they eat a lot of fast food and restaurant food and things like that.
Forget about teaching kids to actually cook, several of the people I interact with on a daily basis have kids who haven’t even eaten a home-cooked meal more than one a month or so in their whole lives.
Yes, obesity is a problem, directly related to not cooking.
I would like to see Melissa win this competition. I agree with other comments, less repeats of challenges and unwrapped and Ace of Cakes. Especially on week day evenings, let us see Paula, Sandra Lee, Giada, Aaron (Big Daddy’s House), Ina and the new shows. Us working people don’t get to see these during the day. Less of the Nealy’s also. Too mushy and I don’t mean the food.
Oh, I’m sorry wyrickeg, I was understanding you wrong.
I think they are both equally talented and up to the task. It will not be an easy decision for the judges to make. I will not be unhappy with either choice.
Jeffrey or Melissa will make a welcome addition to the FN family, so I won’t be unhappy with whoever wins this.
I am guessing they removed the voting, because they wanted more control over the process.
I don’t blame them.
The public generally votes based on things like who they like personality-wise or who is more attractive and charming.
The producers are considering other things like marketing, who the target audience is, which POV’s have gaps, etc.
Voting by the viewers was discontinued after the Rory / JAG / Amy fiasco two years ago.
Thanks Cyndi!
That was a mess. I figured it was because they had already picked a winner a long time before hand and didn’t want to fool with dealing with the viewers anyway.
Go for it Putter! I really wish they still had your demo on the web site. We all enjoyed watching you cook. I would also like to have your recipe in print. I had good intentions to make your recipe, but haven’t had the chance.
I can’t wait for the finale! I agree that either Jeffrey or Melissa has what it takes. I’d love to see a bit more personality from Jeffrey; I don’t really get what he’s about, though he has a quirky energy and good looks, which help. Melissa, I understand completely, and like her a lot, too. My husband walked in while I was watching the show the first week, looked at the contestants, and said “Jeffrey’s going to win the whole thing.”
its a toss up of who well win Jeffrey or Melissa i pick Melissa Jeffrey i dont kinow where he going or what type ok show hes doing . Melissa seems to know where she going .BUT its stell a toss up on both of them
I agree, Putter!!! Post the recipe…
Oh, wow. Had to go out for a while and my how things have changed. Just how many pages did the other blog end up with?
52 and still going
Dana
Thank you. I wish it were still up also. Will post the recipe next to Mama C and anyone interested.
O yeah, post the recipe. Who knows…maybe it will appear on a future FN show.
What was that about Putter and a video demo?
“Bob…cut out 90% of the re-runs of your Challenge shows…remove 50% of “Unwrapped” and please get rid of “Ace of Cakes.”
Ditto! Ditto!
Bob,I too think both these guys should win. They both bring something special to the table and it has been many years since you have had such compelling candidates. Bring them both on and add Kelsey into the mix. Can Ace of Cakes and some of unwrapped, how many hours, upon hours do we need to keep unwrapping?
Keep them both, add Kelsey to the mis.DOn’t need more unwrapped,hate Ace of Cakes.
Putter, we can have our own contest to see who can make your Canadian Pork Pie? We’ll all send you frozen (with dry ice of course) samples and you can judge?
In any case, I would love to have the recipe to know for sure how to do it…I tried to remember from your video but it would be better to actually have it written.
Mama C
Tourtiere (Canadian Pork Pie)
Filling:
1 1/2# lean coarsely ground pork (cook with just enough water to cover long enough to render the lard out of the meat (boiling for about 45 – 60 min.) Watch it so it does not burn. (DO NOT FRY THE PORK)
Pour through a sieve or a strainer with very small holes so the meat doesn’t fall through) Let liquid cool. Take lard off the top(before the days of coarsely ground lean pork, used the lard for the pie crust)
Pour the juices back into the meat.
Add: 1 med. chopped onion, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, good pinch ground black pepper, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/8 tsp. ground cloves, 4 – 5 slices dried white bread (with crust cut off) diced into cubes.
Cook on med – low heat for about 20 minutes until the onions are soft. Remove and let cool a bit before putting into unbaked pie crust.
Pie Crust:
1/2 cup Lard (For 1 double crusted pie)
1 cup unbleached flour
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix by hand until mealy or like little peas. Make a well in the middle and add a little cold water at a time until it forms a ball or just all comes together. Make sure your lard is not ice cold or not quite room temp. Too cold is hard to work with and too warm is mushy.
Roll out the 1st crust for the bottom pie crust. Put meat mixture in until level with the top of pie pan. Roll out top pie crust, put in some vents and place on top. Flute edge of pie so juices don’t spill into oven. Bake at 350 for about 50 – 60 minutes.
These pies are Ok warm, but are much better when frozen, thawed and warmed up in the oven at about 275 – 300 until heated thru.
You may want to make sure you have fresh cinnamon and cloves – not a few years old. I always make sure I have fresh on hand at the start of the Holiday Season. We start making them for Thanksgiving and keep eating until after New Years. They freeze well. Also, sometimes I have noticed by using the amounts of spices above, it just doesn’t always hit the “taste” of Christmas I am looking for so I sample the meat mixture after has been cooked for a while. So, you can add a little of whatever to your taste. Just remember, Cloves will overpower the Cinnamon and you don’t want that.
DocLynn
I just did it for all interested and you have my email and phone number if you have any questions. Will be gone this evening. Am going to a Charlie Pride concert. I am not a Country Western Fan, but I do like him.
DocLyn et all
Yes, please send me samples and I will judge fairly. DO NOT USE SOY SAUCE IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM, PLEASE.
thanks Putter…next time I have to cook for Mom, this will be one of the special treats for her…I am sure she will love it!