Excellent - thank you for the replies.
Sorry to hear you had the same issue Metro. . . . but, lol, I'm glad someone has - I was starting to think it was just me and my game was glitching badly.
This isn't the 1st time my game has done odd stuff with no clear way around the issue. My last family had a ghost baby which I decided I wanted to make real. I went through all the steps to have them learn and top out their Gardening, Cooking and Fishing skills so they could make Ambrosia. I got the Death fish and Life fruit and had the recipe to make the Ambrosia.
The game refused to let her make Ambrosia no matter how many times I had her learn to make it. I tried every time of day. I went back and got more Death fish and more fruit. No matter what I tried - I still couldn't get Ambrosia as an option.
LMAO - I even asked on a different S3 forum for advice and was told they had heard of others having the same issue but had heard of no solution. I finally gave up so, needless to say - after several hours trying to get this challenger to accept I am starting to think my game just won't allow me to finish certain challenges. ARGH!!!
I will try your suggestions though and let you know the outcome. Thanks again.