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Any food52 member is welcome to help us test our Editors' Pick candidates, so go call dibs on the recipe you'd like to test in the comments section below! Don't forget to email us your notes (about 100 words) to [email protected] by next Tuesday at 5pm. We'll collect your comments, decide the official list of Editors' Picks and publish your evaluation in the headnote if the recipe is selected as an Editors' Pick (with credit, of course!). And even if the recipe you test isn't chosen as an Editors' Pick, please feel free to leave your testing notes in the recipe's comments section. Constructive criticism is always encouraged! Click here for more details on how our community-tested Editors' Picks system works.
- Editors' Picks (these are the ones we've tested -- Congratulations!)
- Mushroom Risotto with Creamy Leeks
- Risotto da Re
- Lemon & Fennel Risotto
- Leek, Radicchio and Fontina Risotto
- Honey Ricotta Gelato with Honeyed Almonds
- Rustic Polenta Cake with Ricotta and Prune Filling
- Italian Wine Biscuits
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- Editors' Pick Candidates (these are the ones we want you to test)
- Mushroom Chestnut Risotto
- Butternut Squash Risotto with Pancetta, Manchego & Sage
- End of Summer Melon Risotto
- Spicy Squid Ink Risotto (without the plane ticket)
- Risotto Verde
- Leek and Bok Choy Risotto
- White Risotto with Fava Bean Puree
- Rabbit Risotto
- Pressure Cooker Saffron and Artichoke Risotto
- Shrimp and Grits Style Risotto
- Spring Risotto: Risotto with Asparagus, Peas, Parsley and Lemon
- Smoky Red Pepper Risotto with Pimentón
- Early Spring Risotto with Fava Beans, Asparagus and Artichokes
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- Citrus Yogurt Panna Cotta with Honeycomb
- Simplified Limoncello Tiramisu with Raspberries
- Ricotta Pumpkin Zeppole
- Gateau Panama
- Tuscan Apple Tart with Gelato and Traditional Balsamico
- Budino di Ricotta all'Americana
- My Sister Nicky's Ricotta Pie
- Sara's Almond Tart
- Anise Biscotti
- Torta di pere e cioccolato
- Affogato allo Zabaglione
- Blood Orange Olive Oil Cake with Candied Pistachios
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We've also added some incentives to reward your hard work and make things interesting. The three people who test the most Editors' Picks candidates by June 1, 2010 will be entered in a drawing to win one of these fabulous prizes:
Shop the Story
- 1. A weekend stay on a small-scale working family farm with Feather Down Farm Days
- 2. A snazzy food52 tote from L.L. Bean
- 3. Three selections from Rick's Picks' line of delicious pickled goods
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Written by: Food52
Popular on Food52
37 Comments
dymnyno
March 25, 2010
Could I have a clarification? Who picks the finalists and then picks the Editor's Picks? Is it just Merrill and Amanda or is it your staff? If a recipe is for meatloaf shouldn't the finalist be someone who made meatloaf rather than a sauce to go over the meatloaf? I think that a lot of great recipes were overlooked for one that sounds like it should be at Olive Garden. This is not sour grapes (ha ha) but rather a clarification on just how original you want a recipe to be, how difficult it should be and how family friendly, how budget friendly. I find that I am getting more confused each week about what you are looking for. I love Food52 for the structure that I am learning and I love the comraderie of the group. BUT... thanks and please don't shoot the messenger!
Amber O.
March 25, 2010
Okay, this is interesting. Personally, I'm not concerned about who does the picking, but you bring up some thoughtful aspects of the contests that others might be mulling over as well. If the only reason to post a recipe to a contest is to win, then maybe that does get the brain trying to figure out the "formula" but as you can testify to, it just makes for confusion!
I'm learning a lot from the winners; they are so SURPRISED to be in the finals and some don't even check back that soon to see how they fared. Is there a distinct nuance that food52 is searching for? The diversity of the picks and winners is key and that tells me "we ALL have a forum to be a winner"! I enjoy the challenge but certainly relate to the disappointments as well. Your recipes are fun and many have landed in my saves along with making me laugh. Can't wait to meet up at one of the Bay Area potlucks!
I'm learning a lot from the winners; they are so SURPRISED to be in the finals and some don't even check back that soon to see how they fared. Is there a distinct nuance that food52 is searching for? The diversity of the picks and winners is key and that tells me "we ALL have a forum to be a winner"! I enjoy the challenge but certainly relate to the disappointments as well. Your recipes are fun and many have landed in my saves along with making me laugh. Can't wait to meet up at one of the Bay Area potlucks!
lastnightsdinner
March 25, 2010
I think the winning meatloaf recipe was both - a tasty meatloaf and an interesting, creative, and surely darned tasty sauce. Frankly, I do a very similar base meatloaf recipe (the beef/pork/veal mix, fresh breadcrumbs, etc.), but there are subtle variations in that recipe - and many others that were submitted - that intrigued me. And frankly, I bet the sauce is fantastic. I haven't been to an Olive Garden in years, but it seems this dish is far removed from the overly-cheesy (in more than one sense) dishes many chain restaurants serve. In my mind what appealed about that particular dish (though both finalists, and many of the submissions, were very appealing) is that it seemed like a fresh take on an old standard. I love that so many dishes we're seeing here seem to come as a result of people thinking outside of the box, and really having fun with different ingredients and unexpected flavor combinations. Just my two cents, but I continue to find a ton of inspiration in the recipes submitted here each week.
Food52
March 26, 2010
Editors' Picks and potential Finalists are chosen somewhat
democratically by Merrill, Amanda and the team of editors and recipe
testers, with more weight being given to the recipes that A&M think
are promising. Then several recipes are tested for each contest and
the two we liked best become Finalists. In the end, the Winner is
chosen by the community. We are simply looking for great recipes that
work consistently, and are inspired and delicious (regardless of
budget, ease or family-friendliness), which is why we've started the
new Editors' Picks system to ensure all of our recommended recipes are
tested. We feel really lucky to have attracted such a large and
growing number of excellent cooks! We appreciate your patience as we
figure things out and always welcome questions and feedback at
[email protected]. Thank you all for being a part of our wonderful
community.
democratically by Merrill, Amanda and the team of editors and recipe
testers, with more weight being given to the recipes that A&M think
are promising. Then several recipes are tested for each contest and
the two we liked best become Finalists. In the end, the Winner is
chosen by the community. We are simply looking for great recipes that
work consistently, and are inspired and delicious (regardless of
budget, ease or family-friendliness), which is why we've started the
new Editors' Picks system to ensure all of our recommended recipes are
tested. We feel really lucky to have attracted such a large and
growing number of excellent cooks! We appreciate your patience as we
figure things out and always welcome questions and feedback at
[email protected]. Thank you all for being a part of our wonderful
community.
coffeefoodwrite
March 25, 2010
Anise Biscotti, please. Thank you!
coffeefoodwrite
March 25, 2010
Woops...see that is already taken. I'll take My Sister Nicky's Ricotta Pie. Thank you!
Food52
March 25, 2010
Update: the following recipes are still up for grabs -- Mushroom Chestnut Risotto, Spicy Squid Ink Risotto, Rabbit Risotto and My Sister Nicky's Ricotta Pie.
MrsWheelbarrow
March 25, 2010
If Linda's unsure, I'll take the shrimp & grits.
Food52
March 25, 2010
It looks like drbabs has already called the Shrimp and Grits Style Risotto below but please feel free to add your notes to the recipes' comment section if you make it on your own (that goes for you too, Linda!). Is there another you'd like to test?
likestocooklovestoeat
March 25, 2010
Leek and Bok Choy Risotto, please :)
likestocooklovestoeat
March 26, 2010
Bummer! It turns out I won't have time to cook this weekend after all - does someone want to take it off my hands?
AntoniaJames
March 25, 2010
I'll take the Simplified Limoncello Tiramisu with Raspberries, gladly!! ;o)
Loves F.
March 25, 2010
Ahh, so many delicious choices! I'd love to make the anise biscotti!
Culinista A.
March 25, 2010
This is what happens when you type from a lunch meeting on an Iphone scrambling to get a recipe before they fly off the shelf...wrong box and missing apostrophes! I would love to try Sara's almond tart.
See what other Food52 readers are saying.