Be prepared: ‘Girl Scout Cookie Championship’ debuts this week

By Michelle Rose TV Media

Are you craving Thin Mints? Or maybe a Toffee-tastic? Hold on tight to that “no sweets” New Year’s resolution because Girl Scout cookie season starts soon, if it isn’t already underway in your community (the season varies by location). And be sure to mark your calendars for the premiere of Food Network’s newest competition show, “Girl Scout Cookie Championship.”

The brand new series launches Monday, Feb. 3, and it might be the ultimate tribute to your favorite seasonal treat leading up to National

Girl Scout Cookie Weekend (Feb. 28).

The four-episode series challenges professional bakers to transform Girl Scout cookies into over-the-top creations that will wow anyone with a sweet tooth and an eye for edible art.

A Girl Scout alumna, “How I Met Your Mother” star Alyson Hannigan serves as the upbeat host of this competition. Nacho Aguirre and Katie Lee are two of the three judges, and they’ll be joined by “a rotating third panel member, including Carla Hall,” per Food Network (Lee and Hall are also former Girl Scouts).

The series format doesn’t deviate from the tried-and-true Food Net- work formula that has worked so well for most of its seasonal competitions, such as “Halloween Baking Challenge,” which also featured Lee and Hall as judges. But we all know the cookies are the true stars here. And it’ll take a lot of them to create some of the mmm-masterpieces that will be featured on the show.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest female-centered, femaleled entrepreneurial program in the world. It’s been going strong since the first cookie sale in 1917 and became a national event in 1936.

According to Fortune, about 200 million boxes of cookies are sold annually from February to April, and the estimated profit of $800 million provides critical funding for financing local troop activities nationwide.

So when you’re feeling guilty about eating half a box of Girl Scout cookies without sharing (been there, done that, will do again), there’s the consolation that your sweet tooth is at least doing some good at a community level (your dentist might not see it the same way).

Ever notice some cookies go by different names? It depends on which of the two licensed bakeries provides the cookies, and that’s why the same cookie might go by the name Caramel deLites or Samoas; Peanut Butter Patties or Tagalongs, Do-si-dos or Peanut Butter Sandwiches; and Shortbread or Trefoils. And that’s something to watch for when tuning in to “Girl Scout Cookie Championship,” which begins Feb. 3 on Food Network.

Sunday, Feb. 2

1:00 p.m. (9) KAWE Ciao Italia

2:00 p.m. (9) KAWE The Great British Baking Show For their Signature challenge, the bakers go all out with two types of sponge puddings.

Monday, Feb. 3

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

Tuesday, Feb. 4

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

Wednesday, Feb. 5

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

10:00 p.m. (2) KTCA New Scandinavian Cooking

10:30 p.m. (2) KTCA New Scandinavian Cooking Andreas prepares king crab with barley risotto and roasted vegetables in Eastern Norway.

4:00 a.m. (2) KTCA New Scandinavian Cooking

4:30 a.m. (2) KTCA New Scandinavian Cooking Andreas prepares king crab with barley risotto and roasted vegetables in Eastern Norway.

Thursday, Feb. 6

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

Friday, Feb. 7

12:30 p.m. (9) KAWE Food Over 50 We examine the facts about this stretchy little protein found in wheat, rye and barley.

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

Saturday, Feb. 8

7:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Steven Raichlen’s Project Smoke Piri Piri prawns, Monroe County pork steaks with spicy vinegar dip. Hosted by: Steve Raichlen

7:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Moveable Feast

With Fine Cooking A feast is made featuring seafood rice, steamed barnacles, and chocolate mousse.

8:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Jamie’s Quick and Easy Food Asian tuna steak salad and sweet and sour chicken noodles are served.

8:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Simply Ming Alex Crabb makes Dandelion Gnudi.

9:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Martha Bakes Martha prepares two dishes with grapes: a winemaker’s focaccia, and a Concord grape tart.

9:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Pati’s Mexican Table Pati creates family-friendly recipes inspired by her day in Oaxaca for her son, Juju. Hosted by: Pati Jinich

10:00 a.m. (2) KTCA How to Cook Well With Rory O’Connell Rory makes roast chicken casserole with Pilaff rice with parsley and curly kale.

10:30 a.m. (2) KTCA New Orleans Cooking With Kevin Belton Crab Cakes; Soft Shell Crab Amandine; Crabmeat Stuffed Shrimp.

11:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Joanne Weir’s Plates and Places Joanne goes caper hunting with some friends along the stone walls overlooking the Aegean. (N)

11:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Lidia’s Kitchen Sausages with fennel and olives; orange and red salad.

Noon (2) KTCA Jamie’s Ultimate Veg Jamie prepares an easypeasy scruffy aubergine lasagna and some bigged-up broccoli.

Hosted by: Jamie Oliver

(9) KAWE America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated Pork, Fennel and Lemon Ragu with Pappardelle and Pasta are prepared.

12:30 p.m. (2) KTCA America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated Pork, Fennel and Lemon Ragu with Pappardelle and Pasta are prepared. (N)

1:00 p.m. (2) KTCA Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Mexican tacos al pastor, ancho chili salsa roja, and orange-guajillo chili pulled chicken.

1:30 p.m. (2) KTCA Cook’s Country From America’s Test Kitchen Christie Morrison shows Julia Collin Davison how to make a show-stopping blackberry pie.

(9) KAWE Barbecue University With Steven Raichlen Steve demonstrates tricks for shellfish shucking and how to avoid tipping over clamshells.

2:00 p.m. (8) WDSE A Taste of History Recipes include: braised short ribs, and Pennsylvania Dutch gratin.

2:30 p.m. (8) WDSE Cook’s Country From America’s Test Kitchen Grilled sausage and peppers; whole-wheat sandwich bread; ballpark pretzels.

3:00 p.m. (8) WDSE America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated Pork, Fennel and Lemon Ragu with Pappardelle and Pasta are prepared. (N)

Brainerd Daily Dispatch, MN: Food Feb 2, 2020 to Feb 8, 2020