The “Scouts Honor” episode starts with the top 12 home cooks out on a hike in the wilderness with Gordon and Christina. They find their way to a campground and learn they will be cooking pork and two sides for the Boy and Girl Scouts. Peyton and Evan are chosen as team captains.
Peyton’s Blue Teammates are Justise, Jasmine, Shayne, Gonzalo & Lila.
Evan’s Red Teammates are Mark, Adam, Cydney, Afnan & Avani.
The cook will have 75 minutes to cook a meal for hungry campers. The winning team goes directly to top ten. Losing team will have to face the dreaded pressure test.
The Blue Team decides on making a gravy for their mash potatoes and Gordon absolutely hates the idea. No gravy outside on a sunny 90 degree day! When they change to vinaigrette, Shayne says he can’t do it, but a little friendly screaming back and forth with Gordon helps him feel sure he actually can do it. When the team messes up with the pork chops Gordon asks if they have given up. Shayne says, “No, they are not going to give up!” The Blue Team serves Grilled Pork Chop with Mashed Potatoes and Sautéed Corn.
The Red Team decides they will make potato pancakes out of tiny little potatoes even though Cydney strongly disagrees. When Gordon finds out he says, NO WAY! Roasting is the answer. Getting the pork chops done right is a struggle for Mark. Adam tries to help. They get it together and bounce back after a rough start. The Red Team serves Korean BBQ Pork Chop with roasted Potatoes and Coleslaw.
In the end the Boy & Girls Scouts the preferred the Red Team’s flavors, so the winning team is THE RED TEAM!
That means the Blue Team is in the Pressure Test. They have to make a box of my favorite cookies, French Macarons. Christina says they are “delicious almond meringue cookies… That smooth, hollow top, that ruffled bottom edge, that rich thin center layer of buttercream or ganache. These little cookies might be small, but they require a huge amount of technical skill to get just right. This chic little cookie could save you from going home.”
During the baking time Shayne tells a bewildered Gordon that he adding bacon to his macarons because as he says, “bacon makes everything better.”
When Lila is knocking the air out of her macarons she drops a whole batch onto the floor!!! She has to redo them with very little time remaining.
Gonzalo is really stressed by the challenge because he has never eaten or baked a macaron before! Gordon encourages him to do his best and reminds him every cook has weak areas.
60 minutes is up super-fast and the macarons have to be boxed and up on the front counter. The bakers just make it!
Peyton’s Blackberry Macarons with Blackberry Buttercream and Black Cherry Jam look good and they have amazing flavor. She has smooth top and ruffled feet, but a tip on top.
Shayne’s Maple Macrons with Bacon Buttercream look technically consistent but have a weird buttery taste with the bacon. Gordon says classics are to be respected.
Justise’s PB & J Macarons with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese and Blueberry Jam look absolutely stunning. Good color and feet and taste amazing.
Lila’s Pink Lemonade Macarons with Raspberry Coulis and Lemon Zest are not visually perfect. The color is good, but the cookie is rough and has a tip. Unfortunately, they are a little overcooked.
Gonzalo’s Raspberry Macarons with Buttercream are under mixed and could have used more time in the oven. They are cracked all over but still have a nice flavors.
Jasmine’s Pina Colada Macrons with Pineapple Puree and Lime Zest are beautiful. Technically perfect and delicious, Gordon says she raised the bar for the whole competition.
Peyton, Justise and Jasmine’s macarons earned them a spot in the top ten! Shayne is also safe and heads up to the balcony. That means Lila and Gonzalo are going home 😦 Lila is sobbing and Shayne gives her and Gonzalo a supportive hug.
Gonzalo and Lila give the judges a hug goodbye. When they are walking out all the kids are cheering for them and they get an exit montage.
Lila says, “I’m sad to be leaving Masterchef Junior. But I will never forget my journey here. This is probably one of the best things that has happened to me in my whole entire life. I learned so being in the MasterChef Kitchen. Not many people can say they have cooked for Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi. I’ve meet so many amazing friends here and I will never forget all the fun times. I’m gonna keep cooking and I still want to have a restaurant run by kids someday”
Gonzalo says “When I first came into this kitchen I said this has got to be a dream. I have represented my culture. This opportunity have changed my life forever and I’m definitely grateful. I really do want to be a chef and I don’t think I would have found that if I hadn’t come into the MasterChef Kitchen.”
I liked this episode because I liked to see how the kid baked flavors into their macarons. They did some interesting flavors. I was relived Shayne didn’t go home, but also sad for Lila and Gonzalo!
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