Cooks vs. Cons

In the Season 3 premiere, pumpkin is the surprise ingredient when the contestants make French toast. Then, judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Curtis Stone determine whose dish is tops when ice cream toppings are used to accent savory staples.

Peanuts are added to a dumpling challenge; and potato fries must be repurposed into twice-fried masterpieces.

Challenges take on a festive theme. Included: Rack of lamb is infused with traditional holiday drinks; and holiday treats are regfited as flavorful dishes.

Pasta made with Asian condiments and sinfully delicious savory apple dishes are critiqued by judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Jet Tila.

The contestants must include olives in their creamy egg cakes; judges Daphne Oz and Justin Warner choose the best rice dish.

Daphne Oz and Scott Conant judge; the competitors must use kids' lunch snacks in a steak and egg meal; in round two, the chefs try to make use of mustard as the surprise ingredient.

The cooks make stuffed peppers; judges Daphne Oz and Justin Warner judge the chefs' cheesy dishes.

The contestants must use cranberries to create quesadillas; Scott Conant and Daphne Oz judge the waffles the pros and amateurs make in their attempt to win the big cash prize.

Salad bar toppings must be incorporated into shrimp scampi variations; judges Jeff Mauro and Daphne Oz enjoy the second-round preparations that include coffee as an ingredient.

The pro and amateur cooks must concoct a gumbo with ginger as the surprise ingredient; judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Justin Warner pick a winner after trying some gas station snack masterpieces in Round 2.

The cooks must incorporate tailgate snacks in their sliders; the pros and amateurs must make dishes out of pizza toppings; Eddie Jackson and Daphne Oz judge.

The cooks and cons must combine tarts with vegetable or candy hearts; Alex Guarnaschelli and Jeff Mauro judge the contestants' chocolate dishes.

Nachos with canned soup for round one; in round two, cake must be used in a savory dish; Sunny Anderson and Daphne Oz judge.