BSI Rules!
UPDATED: As of January 18, 2010 - BSI is back! Email me at: mybizzykitchen@gmail.com if you would like to host the next event! 
In an effort to help new weekly hosts, and people who are new to BSI, here are the rules!
BSI stands for Blogger Secret Ingredient. Each week a new host picks an ingredient and anyone (food blogger or not) can submit a recipe. The contests starts on a Monday, and recipes need to be submitted by Sunday night of that week. Then the next day the host chooses a winner and picks someone to host next weeks contest.
It is up to each weeks host to deem what the prize will be. It will be up to the discretion of each host – I’ve received homemade sugar free bread and cute hello kitty socks for my two wins!
Each host needs to cut and paste the following previous hosts – I’ll update it each week with that new persons information to keep it easier for the next host.
To recap:
- Pick an ingredient, preferably one that is in season and readily available and not too expensive;
- link back to all the other previous weekly hosts;
- review the recipe submissions by Sunday night of each week;
- pick a recipe that is your favorite; and
- Post the winner Monday morning and send the winner a token prize of your choosing.
- you do not have to have a food blog to participate
- you do not have to submit a photograph
- your link doesn’t have to be current, just as long as the secret ingredient is used
- if you don’t have a blog, you can submit your recipe to that weeks host, and they will post your recipe for you
Here are our previous hosts:
Week 118: Mara from What’s for Dinner - Pears
Week 117: Jenn from Slim-Shoppin - Cranberries (fresh or dried)
Week 116: Biz from My Bizzy Kitchen - Pumpkin
Week 115: Jacky from Jax House - Cherries (dried or fresh)
Week 114: Dana’s Food for Thought - Broth
Week 113: Veronica from Recipe Rhapsody - Cream Cheese
Week 112: Nutmeg Nanny - Mango
Week 111: Tina from Life in the Slow Lane of Squirrel Head Manor – Salsa
Week 110: Heather of Girlichef – Lemons
Week 109: Renee of My Kitchen Adventures - Buttermilk
Week 108: Loser for Life - Proscuitto
Week 107: The Balanced Broad - Cumin
Week 106: Cupcake Muffin – Green Beans
Week 105: Wendy at Around My Family Table - Vanilla
Week 104: Debbi Does Dinner Healthy - Hot Sauce
Week 103: Dana from Food for Thought - Cous Cous
Week 102: My Bizzy Kitchen – Yogurt
Week: 101: Cooking Aweigh the Pounds - Bacon
Week 100: My Bizzy Kitchen – Chiles
Week 99: My Year On The Grill – Leftovers
Week 98: Errign’s Adventures – Apple Cider
Week 97: Slim-Shoppin – Pork
Week 96: Sandyha’s Kitchen – Kidney Beans
Week 95: Rucika Cooks – Paneer (Indian cottage cheese)
Week 94: Mharo Rajasthan’s Recipes - Okra
Week 93: Creative Sanyukta - Milk
Week 92: Chilli & Chocolate - Pistachio
Week 91: The Southern Cookbook – Butter
Week 90: Recipe Rhapsody - Flour
(also: Quips, Travails and Braised Oxtails - Black Eyed Peas)
Week 89: Debbi Does Dinner Healthy - Ground Turkey
(also: Chacko’s Kitchen - Garbanzo Beans)
Week 88: Hema – Onions
Week 87: Quips, Travails & Braised Oxtails – Black Eyed Peas
Week 86: Making Good Choices – Applesauce
Week 85: Non-Dairy Queen - Raspberries
Week 84: Healthy Exposures - Bulgar Wheat
Week 83: Clarity in Creation – Peaches
Week 82: Mo’s Kitchen - Rice
Week 81: Waisting Duxie - Swiss Chard
Week 80: Fuss Free Flavours - Capers
Week 79: Jenn Cuisine - Honey
Week 78: Living Free - Cashews
Week 77: Affairs of Living – Artichokes
Week 76: One Frugal Foodie - Sunflower Seeds
Week 75: Part of the Whole - Beets
Week 74: Dinner at Christina’s - Sour Cream
Week 73: The Chef in My Head - Goat Cheese
Week 72: 5 Star Foodie - Asparagus
Week 71: Eats Well With Others – Carrots
Week 70: Burp and Slurp - Brussel Sprouts
Week 69: Fun Fearless Foodie – Parmesan Cheese
Week: 68: Natalie’s Killer Cuisine - Cocoa Powder
Week 67: Eat, Live, Travel, Write - Lemon Zest
Week 66: Travel Eat Love - Coconut Milk
Week 65: Run Beans Run - Tofu
Week 64: Chicago Marathon Val - Mushrooms
Week 63: Biggest Diabetic Loser – Cheddar Cheese
Week 62: A Fit and Spicy Life – Balsamic Vinegar
Week 61: Peanut Butter Fingers - Nutmeg
Week 60: Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now - Garlic
Week 59: Home Cooked Em – Cinnamon
Week 58: The Balanced Broad – Flax
Week 57: Cookin Fanatic - Blue Cheese
Week 56: Foodie in the City - Ricotta Cheese
Week 55: Savvy Eats - Maple Syrup
Weel 54: Sound Eats - Dried Fruit
Week 53: Mega Nerd Runs - Acorn Squash
Week 52: Healthy Tipping Point - Pancake Mix
Week 51: Live, Laugh Eat - Almond Butter
Week 50: Balance, Joy and Delicias! – Cauliflower
Week 49: Healthy San Diego Living - Chickpeas
Week 48: Thought 4 Food - Yogurt
Week 47: London Foodie in New York - Chocolate
Week 46: Johnstone’s Vin Blanc - Oats
Week 45: Guilty Kitchen - Figs
Week 44: Ordinary Recipes Made Gourmet - Peanut Butter
Week 43: The Sophisticated Gourmet - Brown Sugar
Week 42: My Kitchen Addiction – Lime
Week 41: Nutmeg Nanny – Coffee
Week 40: Chaya’s Comfy Cook – Broccoli
Week 39: Healthy Delicious – Plums
Week 38: Zoe - Feta
Week 37: ChezWhat- Potatoes
Week 36: Cinnamon, Spice & Everything Nice – Blueberries
Week 35: Girlichef -Greens
Week 34: The Ungourmet – Watermelon
Week 33: Bread + Butter – Bell Pepper
Week 32: Burp and Slurp -Corn
Week 31: Say Yes to Salad – Kabocha
Week 31 1/2: Simply Fabulous Now – Cherries
Week 30: Thinspired – Bananas
Week 29: To Be The Whole Package – Almonds
Week 28: Kristas Kravings – Lemon
Week 27: From French Fries To Flax Seeds – Coconut
Week 26: Plentiful Plants – Avocado
Week 25: Training Fuel – Eggs
Week 24: Dinner at Christina’s – Cabbage
Week 23: Hey What’s for Dinner, Mom? – Strawberries
Week 22: One Bite at a Time – Basil
Week 21: Just Sweet Enough – Black Beans
Week 20: What I Ate Yesterday – Kale
Week 19: What’s for Dinner – Orange
Week 18: BranAppetit! –Spinach
Week 17: Tales of Expansion Dates
Week 16: Biggest Diabetic Loser – Zucchini
Week 15: Sweet & Natural –Peppermint
Week 14: bella eats [and runs] – Ginger
Week 13: Coffee Talk – Walnuts
Week 12: For the Love of Oats – Pumpkin
Week 11: Trying to Heal – Sweet Potatoes
Week 10: The Inner Workings of a College Graduate – Eggplant
Week 9: Itzy’s Kitchen – Pears
Week 8: The Fitnessista – Cranberries
Week 7: Tri to Cook – Lentils
Week 6: Rhodey Girl Tests – Polenta
Week 5: Eating Bender – Butternut Squash
Week 4: Care to Eat – Apples
Week 3: On a Lobster Placemat – Mushrooms
Week 2: Hangry Pants – Tomatoes
Week 1: sportsnutritionliving – Quinoa
Cherries -
Thanks Biz
Just so I am clear on this I do NOT think that being featured on someones blog and facebook page is a prize. That comes with the territory. The prize SHOULD be something small and cool, worth busting your hump for. IMHO.
Hi Biz, followed the rules and entered a recipe last week only to find out that I wasn’t qualified to enter because I had no photo. Here is the email I sent to last week’s host:
Hi Kim, I just checked your blog to see results for BSI and was surprised to learn that my recipe was not listed. I thought I followed the instructions that were posted at Biggest Diabetic Loser. When I saw your judging criteria I realized that perhaps BSI has evolved and now has more rules to follow (photos, for one). If so, the instructions should be amended to show that. Also, since you mentioned judging criteria in your blog post, my question would be was that your judging criteria or is it criteria that everyone is using? And is it typical to have more than one person judging? I think some uniformity is called for here, and judging criteria should also be listed in the instructions.
I would not have gone to the trouble of sending in an entry had I known that I didn’t even have a chance.
Kim wrote me back and told me to contact you since you are the originator. I’d like to be involved in BSI, but need to know what rules to follow and how the entries will be judged. Not trying to be picky, so if that’s offensive forgive me.
Poor Judy!
From what I always understood you didn’t need a photo to enter – heck, you didn’t even need a blog – you could email it to them instead of linking back. Biz’s instructions also just say you need to submit a recipe, nothing about a photo. I’m sorry on your behalf that Kim didn’t let you participate!
I agree Laura. Sometimes I go to a few stores to track down the ingredient, so a tiny prize would make it worth it. Although, I have never won
and also I realize people might not be able to afford a prize and/or shipping currently, but it does stink and I think if you could possible scrape together $5 to buy a couple cute things (like Sophia’s Hello Kitty socks) it should be done!
Yikes! i didn’t even see this! Thanks Christina for pointing this out to me!
Hi..couldn’t find email address. Would you like to exchange links?
http://www.potatopatchrecipes.com
Let me know
PotatoChef
Thanks Biz for letting me know about the updated rules. I’ll try to participate when able.
Pingback: Chocolate Sugar Cookies - Natalie's Killer Cuisine
Pingback: Back at it! « Preventionrd's Blog
Hey, Biz, it’s nice to meet you too!
I have a question. One of my blogging friends submitted a recipe, but on her post it says she got the recipe from a magazine. I was under the impression that it has to be the person’s ORIGINAL recipe but I can’t actually find that in the rules. I love the recipe she submitted but can it even be qualified? If not I’d love to still feature it for people looking for rice ideas, just not as part of the contest.
I don’t think it matters if its an original recipe or not!
I am always looking for new recipes!
Hey, Biz, just wanted to let you know that you left Nicole (Prevention RD) off the list!
Do you think you could take over or find someone to take over this week? Every.single.person I ask is busy and I’m very embarrassed that I’ve delayed this week’s contest. I’m sorry.
I hope it doesn’t seem like I’m spamming you but just wanted to retract my previous comment; I found a host. I am sorry that I delayed it, though!
Biz, the instructions looks good.
And I have just subscribed to your blog.
I would also like to submit / host the events but I am afraid as I am new to this field.
Biz, I am hosting BSI next week – I have a question about posting the list of previous bloggers. Could you shoot me an email at michelhays AT juno DOT com?
Anyone interested in hosting the next week? Please send me a note at the above email address…
Next week’s BSI contest will be hosted by Hema at h4hemh4help
Thanks Michele!
We’ll have a slight gap of a week, but Hema is still on – her deadline will be Aug 1.
I have posted for this week http://h4hemh4help.blogspot.com/2010/07/firstevent-bsionion.html is my posting. BSI: Onion.
Kindly let me know if anybody is interested for week #90 from August 2nd.
Hema, I’ll find someone to host after you. I agree with Michele – we’ll run your BSI through August 1 since its already Friday. Thanks again for hosting!
Thanks Beth for the extension of date.
Any luck on this week’s host please let me know?
Pingback: BSI Contest–Blogger Secret Ingredient! « Recipe Rhapsody
Biz, are you aware that there seem to be two concurrent BSI contests? Not that this is really a problem, but you might want to merge them at some point?
The divergence seems to start here: http://chackoskitchen.blogspot.com/2010/08/bsi-event.html
and goes on here:
http://easy-to-cook-recipes.blogspot.com/
Thanks for letting me know Michele – I’ll check it out!
Hey Biz!
I have updated my BSI- Event post. Please have a look when you get time. I am glad that every thing got sorted.
Thanks,
Sanchita.
Hi Biz!
The next BSI host is http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/ please have a look on her blog.
Thanks,
Sanchita.
hi biz,
i m hosting this weeks BSI with milk….wonderful event..
Thanks! I’ll add you to the BSI list – I gave you a shout out yesterday
The next BSI host is http://mharorajasthanrecipes.blogspot.com/ please have a look on her blog.
Thanks,
Sanyukta
Thank you! Thanks again for hosting this week too!
Biz, thanks for such a wonderful event. the next host, I chose is http://ruchikacooks.com/?p=3076. I see that you already have listed her here, but still leaving this comment.
I thoroughly enjoyed hosting the event
Thanks!!! I am sorry, not an okra fan, I couldn’t come up with a recipe!
Hi,First time here.came thro ‘Ruchika cooks’ who is hosting this week.This is such a wonderful idea.Just wondering if u are looking for hosts.If u are count me in anytime
Okay – its usually up to that week’s host to pick someone, but there are times when they can’t find anyone and ask me to find someone. I’ll let you know when that happens!
Thanks Biz
Pingback: Challenge #1 – Ready, Set, Blog! | Biggest Diabetic Loser
Pingback: I’m hosting BSI this week + Guest recipe from Snack-Girl.com
Pingback: BSI is Back! | My Bizzy Kitchen
Pingback: Pumpkin Spice Bagels & Pumpkin Butter « Recipe Rhapsody
Pingback: BSI – Week 100! | My Bizzy Kitchen
Pingback: Corn and green chile chowder
Is there a host and secret ingredient for Week 102?
I’m anxiously awaiting the next challenge.
Hi there, Just wanted to let you know I’m hosting for this coming week (105) and my secret ingredient is green beans! Here’s the post: http://cupcakemuffin.blogspot.com/2011/02/blogger-secret-ingredient-green-beans.html
Hi! I am new to BSI. Not sure how I find out what the ingredient of the week is? I participated last week for the first time. Looking to find out what this week’s ingredient is. Thanks.
Pingback: “Happy Ending” Massaged Kale Spice's Bites