Chicken still comes before egg - at least, for CCAP finals

No doubt here, we're positive you are still practicing your CCAP finalist heart out.  (And you should!)

CCAP central has thoughtfully offered a number of suggestions to make finals easier. (We've taken the liberty of making their tips even easier to get through.  Here we go:

·      You have two hours to prepare two plated chicken dishes and two plated dishes of dessert crepes (with pastry cream and chocolate sauce).  Practice each step of each recipe until you can do this in two hours or a bit less than two. Yeah: this means practice the steps individually! (specific recipe tips coming, too)

·      A written prep list and plan will guide you through competition. You need to write these yourself!  (See CCAPinc.org for a sample timeline!)

·      Work out your plate presentation ideas BEFORE you get to the competition!  If you keep it simple/easy, you'll have time to spend where it counts - on knife skills, organization and cooking techniques (the judges will be all over the kitchen during competition).

·      KNOW sanitation and food handling techniques.  Use gloves when needed (handy rule:  uncooked food that will be cooked - no gloves.  Ready-to-eat (count salads and/or garnishes!) or cooked food - gloves.  And remember to wash your hands.  Often.