Married couple spice things up in kitchen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Terrica Jones
  • 916th Air Refueling Wing
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  What do you get when you mix paprika, rosemary and ginger with two Air Force officers? Victory!

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base hosted its first Iron Chef competition here in mid-September. Air Force Reserve Capt. Ann-Kristine Thrift, 916th Intelligence, and active duty husband Capt. Matthew Thrift,  weapon systems officer with the 333rd Fighter Squadron, cooked up first place at the competition.

Capt. Ann-Kristine Thrift said she really didn't think they were going to win, but it was a chance for her and her husband to do something together, and it was fun.

The competition was originally scheduled in August, a time in which her husband was temporarily deployed, but later the dates were rescheduled and he was able to participate with her in the competition.

Before the competition began contestants were given specific ingredients that they had had to use when creating their dish. Fifteen minutes into the competition each group was given a "secret ingredient."

Before the competition was over the husband and wife duo created paprika steak, vegetable croquette, rosemary roasted potatoes and a carrot-ginger sorbet.

With a smile Reservist Thrift confessed she believed the carrot-ginger sorbet won the competition for them.

When asked who is the better cook in the family, she replied that her spouse has better  techniques, but she is more creative.

"We are a good combination which makes a good team," she said.

While they aren't preparing to star on the Food Network just yet, the couple did win a weekend at Fort Fisher to enjoy some time away from the kitchen.

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Editor's note: Links to recipes are not the same ones used by the Thrifts during the competition.