Chili, Soup, & Stew Cook-Off — February 7, 2025

Posted January 23, 2025

The McKinley-Thatcher community is invited to our PTA’s annual Chili, Soup, & Stew Cook-Off on Friday, February 7, 2025! New this year, we’re expanding our Cook-Off event to include soups and stews in order to celebrate and include everyone in our diverse community!

  • Who: All members of the McKinley community!
  • What: PTA’s Annual Chili, Soup, & Stew Cook-Off
  • Where: Our school cafeteria
  • When: Friday, February 7, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
  • Why: Food & fun ($1 cake walk entries & other free activities) + enter your chili, soup, or stew to win a prize!

We’ll also have FREE ice cream samples thanks to the Stir-Pan Creamery!


What Is A “Cook-Off” Event?

Our Cook-Off is a community event where school families prepare their favorite soup, stew, or chili at home, then bring it to school for other families to sample. Event attendees taste each soup, stew, and chili and then vote on their favorite one. Participation in the Cook-Off is optional – you don’t need to participate if you don’t want to!

Please RSVP or Sign Up to Help Out!

RSVP online using our Google form or by calling our main office at (720) 424-5600!

Sign up to bring a chili / soup / stew, donate a cake to our cake walk, or help with clean-up using our SignUpGenius or by returning the paper form in your child’s January 24 Friday Folder to the main office.

PLEASE SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE BY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3!

I’d Like to Enter a Chili, Soup, or Stew!

Sign up to bring a chili, soup, or stew using our SignUpGenius form here.

Guidelines and Rules: CHILI / SOUP / STEW

  1. Bring a crockpot of HOT chili / soup / stew for tasting. Make sure your dish is hot; we will
    NOT have outlets for plugging in. Please bring a ladle.
  2. Please have your chili / soup / stew to the cafeteria no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday,
    February 7, 2025 in order to be entered into the cook-off. Food brought after 5:00 p.m. will be available for tasting but will not be entered into the contest. Please arrive early; remember, sign-in can take some extra time.
  3. Check in upon entering the lobby; then bring your chili / soup / stew to the cafeteria.
    Please bring a list of ingredients.
  4. Make sure your name is on the crockpot and ladle.
  5. You are welcome to bring extras to make your item stand out (cheese, crackers, bread,
    tortillas, etc).
  6. Please make sure your food is safely prepared, completely cooked, and heated through;
    remember that a lot of people will be eating your item!
  7. Chili / soup / stew will be judged. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, Firefighters’ Favorite, and “Best Staff Chili / Soup / Stew.”

I’d Like to Donate a Cake to the Cake Walk!

Sign up to donate a cake or other dessert using our SignUpGenius form here.

Guidelines and Rules: DESSERTS for Cake Walk Event

  1. Please bring your dessert to the stage in the cafeteria by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 7,
    2025.
  2. Please bring a list of ingredients to attach to your dessert for individuals with allergies. (NO
    NUTS, please!)
  3. Your dessert will go home with a cake walk winner, so please bring it on a plate or in a
    container that you are prepared to give away. It is not necessary to provide utensils.

I’d Like to Help Clean-Up!

Sign up to help with clean-up (beginning at 6:30 p.m.) using our SignUpGenius.

I Have Questions or Need More Information!

Call our Cook-Off coordinator, Ms. Mona Manzanares, at (720) 518-5458 or email her at Ramona_Manzanares@dpsk12.net.