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My Trip to Campbell’s

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I finally have some time to tell you all about my trip to The Campbell’s Kitchen in Camden, NJ.  Let me just say that it was an adventure getting there, but after that it was so fun!

A group of bloggers were asked to create a recipe using Swanson’s premium chunk canned chicken around the theme of the Super Bowl.

From left to right: Deborah from Taste and Tell, me, of course, and Cathy from Hazzard in the Kitchen – the three finalists.

Three finalists were chosen to go to the Campbell’s Kitchen in New Jersey and prepare their recipes for a panel of judges.  I was one of them.

I was lucky enough to get to also go with another finalist, Deborah from Taste and Tell.  We both are in Utah and I have been to two other events with her.  It is always more fun to have a travel buddy to go with, having someone you know is even better!

When the time came to head off to Campbell’s, I got to the airport early only to find out my flight was delayed, so I settled in with a smoothie.

Our flight was scheduled to leave at 7:10 am.  However, weather back east delayed the flight until 8:30 am.  The problem with that was we were leaving Salt Lake to a connecting flight in Chicago and then heading to Philly.  I checked on our connecting flight and was told it may be delayed also.  So, Deborah and I boarded our flight in Salt Lake hoping our connecting flight would be delayed.

When we landed in Chicago we hurried off the plane as fast as we could, which wasn’t very fast because they made us check our carry on bags and we had to wait at the gate for those to be taken off the plane.  When we got our bags we hurried off to check the flight board.  Our flight was delayed and we had about 20 minutes before it was scheduled to leave.

So we raced to our gate and made it just in time.  

Keep in mind this is now 1:30 pm in Chicago and I was running on a smoothie.  We were hoping to snag some food before boarding our Chicago flight but their wasn’t time.  We figured we would just buy some lunch on the plane.  So we get already to take off and then we are told that the flight would have to wait 1 hour before we could leave.  All flights were being delayed an hour.

At this point I was dying.  

I was starting to get a migraine.  I really needed some food, and Deborah had some granola bars in her carry-on, but we had to check our carry-ons again for this flight.  We were both starving, and Deborah, by the way, was 7 months pregnant.  As we are waiting on the runway for the hour, we decided to check out the menu so when we finally do get in the air we can get some lunch.  We then discovered our flight wasn’t long enough for lunch, so they only offered snacks.  We both decided to order the cheese and cracker tray.  That was more filling than a cookie, etc., that was offered.

When we finally were able to take off and order our food, I am telling you it was the best cheese and crackers we have ever had.  It also had some mixed nuts and raisins with it.  We really loved our airplane lunch.

Now, we didn’t land until just before 6 pm in Philly.  We were supposed to be meeting the other finalist, Cathy Hazzard along with one of the Campbell’s people in the lobby of our hotel for dinner at 6:15 pm. We knew we wouldn’t make that.  So, I made a phone call and plans were made for Deborah and I to check in at the hotel and take a few minutes to freshen up.  Then, we took a taxi to meet everyone at dinner.

orge Garces

We went to dinner at Tinto.  

This is a Jorge Garces’ (one of the Iron Chef’s on the Food Network) restaurant.  We got to eat with several of the Campbell’s people from different divisions of the company.  It happened to be restaurant week in Philly, so we got to sample several things for a great deal.  I had an arugula salad with onion soup, follow by some yummy beef and asparagus.  Of course we had a dessert too. I ordered a cherry something with pastry cream but didn’t really like it.  One of the Campbell’s girls let me have some of her dessert and it was heaven.  It was a chocolate thing.  Think of chocolate ganache but even better than that.  Oh, it was GOOD.  I took pictures but they didn’t really turn out because of the lighting in the restaurant.

After that, it was off to bed after a long travel day and we had an early morning. In the morning, we headed to Campbell’s in Camden, NJ.  It was a really short drive.  We went straight to the kitchen where we were greeted with a light breakfast.  Then it was time to get cookin’.  We each had our own kitchen, which was just like any kitchen you would find in a regular house.  I felt right at home.  We each prepared our recipe.  We made a plate to show and then another one for the judges to sample.

Deborah from Taste and Tell

Deborah from Taste and Tell made Bacon Chicken and Cream Cheese Mini Taquitos with a Ranch Guacamole Dipping Sauce.

Cathy from Hazzard in the Kitchen

Cathy from Hazzard in the Kitchen made End Zone Empanadas with Roasted Red Pepper Pablano Dip

 

Laura from Real Mom Kitchen

The whole time in the kitchen, we were followed by cameras for both photos and video.  That was a little weird, but it actually wasn’t too distracting.  We more or less just talked with the camera guys while they were there.

After we finished cooking, we presented our dishes to the judges, and then we headed off to lunch.  

Laura from real mom kitchen making award winning super bowl nachos.

We had a fabulous lunch.

 My favorite was the crab cakes and roasted red pepper soup.  Of course, you gotta have a bowl of soup while you are at Campbell’s. I just wish they would put that red pepper soup in a can.  It was SOOOOO GOOOOOOD.
After lunch it was time for the big announcement of the winner. Low and behold it was me and my quick chicken enchilada nachos.  I couldn’t believe it!  Little old me won a recipe contest.  I was so honored.

After some more video and photos, all the finalists got to go to the Campbell’s store on a shopping spree.  I even got some stuff to share with you guys.  Now, I decided cookbooks would be the best option.  I mean you guys come to my site for recipes so why not say thanks to you with MORE recipes.

Laura

105 Comments

  1. Pingback: Chocolate Fondue | Real Mom Kitchen

  2. Loved the article in the Trib and I’m planning to serve the nachos at our super bowl party Sunday. Fun to read about your hectic trip. Congrats!

  3. Congrats! I can’t believe you were so close to where I live! About 35 miles from here! I know exactly where that is. My favorite Campbell’s soup is Manhattan Clam Chowder!
    Again Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. Congrats ! So happy you enjoyed and prospered from your experience. Love the Cookbook offerings. Thanks ..

  9. Love Tomato Soup made with milk instead of water with a grilled cheese sandwich to dip in there. Yum!

  11. I love their vegetable beef. Don’t know why, it’s a condensed soup, but i really like it.

  12. Plain old Tomato soup! My go-to comfort food….
    Add tuna sandwiches on the side, and I am in heaven!

  14. Congrats on your win! And what a wonderful giveaway. I don’t think I could survive my workdays in the winter without Campbell’s Tomato Soup in those wonderful Soup at Hand containers.

  15. Congratulations on winning the contest! I just stumbled upon your website tonight and am so glad I did. I love your recipes and your concept! I have to say the big Campbell’s Soup flavor in our house is the classic – Tomato! I love it, I grew up on it, and I can’t get enough of it. My four year old asks for it EVERY DAY. Not just for lunch, but for dinner and for breakfast…EVERY DAY. She’s crazy for tomato soup and I’m glad for it – it could be something much worse. 😉

  18. Wow! Congratulations! That’s so cool. My favorite Campbell’s soup is cream of potato – you can eat it as is or use it in so many other ways.

  19. If I could have only one variety stranded on a (kitchen) island, it would be their tomato soup. It’s a comfort thing going back to childhood.

  20. Congratulations on winning the Campbell’s Cooking Contest!!!
    I love cooking with cream of mushroom soup, but for eating, it’s Chicken Noodle.
    susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com

  21. I love Campbell’s Golden Mushroom. It makes a nice sauce to go over both chicken and turkey entrees. I enjoyed your blog about the Campbell’s contest!

  22. I love Cream of Chicken because I use it to make one of my favorite childhood recipes: Chicken and Gravy with Mashed Potatotes.

  23. My favorite soup is cream of mushroom because of the variety of recipes I can make with it.

  24. My favorite would be Cream of Mushroom because of all the great things you can make with it! If it a soup to eat, then it is a three way tie between chicken and rice, chicken noodle, and tomato.

  25. My favorite is Tomato because it’s so yummy. No other Tomato soup can compare. Simplicity is bliss. I love a bowl of Campbell’s Tomato soup and a grilled cheese after church on a snowy Sunday. Can’t beat that.
    When I was a little girl, my mom made me Campbell’s Tomato Soup for lunch before Kindergarten. If I was especially good, she would put pop corn in it. It was really fun and I still remember how much I loved that.

  26. My favorite Campbell’s soup is chicken noodle. My mother would always bring me some when I was younger if I wasnt feeling good, so not only do I have good memories attached to it, its also delicious!

  27. Mine would have to be Minestrone soup. I love that one. I also use the cream of chicken in recipes a lot.
    Congrats! I think that is so awesome that you won.

  28. I love Campbells tomato soup!! We would always eat it in the winter with crackers. It is definitely one of my most favorite meals.

  29. I love Campbells soup and will buy no other brand! I guess my favorite would be the chicken noodle. So good.

  30. Congrats on your recipe winning! My all time favorite ever since I was a kid is good ole Campbells Chicken Noodle Soup! I think it always tastes soooo goooood…especially when I am not feeling well. Thanks for the chance to WIN! I can’t wait to try your recipe…It looks so yummy and sooo easy too!

  34. To eat made as directed on the can- i like tomato. It’s great comfort food! I use a lot of cream of chicen and cream of mushroom in other dishes a well- so I to give those a 2nd place tie for my favs.

  39. Looks like so much fun! My favorite is the regular chicken noodle. I always have my husband buy it for me when I’m sick.

  40. Yes I agree w/many comments. Cambells Cream of chicken for use in so many ways..but tomato for just a yummy bowl of soup.

  42. First off…Wow! Congratulations! =) I think my favorite is just plain ol’ Tomato soup. I use it for everything and love it plain too!

  45. I use lots of Campbell’s soups (and I’m from Camden County, so how fun to see you there!), but my favorite has to be Tomato. Nobody else makes Tomato soup like Campbell’s.

  49. My fav would have to be the Cream of Mushroom because I use it in so many things. It’s a staple at my house!

  50. I love plain old tomato, with a gooey grilled cheese sandwhich. Sometimes I spice it up with a little basil and garlic powder and make it with milk instead of water…so good!

  52. Congrats on winning the recipe contest! Thanks for the giveaway. My fav would be cream of mushroom-classic!

  53. My favorite Campbell’s soup is Campbell’s Chunky Baked Potato with Steak & Cheese Soup 🙂 *Thanks* for the giveaway!

  54. My favorite has always been and will always be plain ol Campbell’s Tomato soup. I grew up on it and paired with a grilled cheese sandwich it’s still one of my fav quick meals.

  62. Although I love all types of soup, my favorite is Campell’s Minestroni. Can’t really explain why other than it’s my comfort soup.

  69. Hmm I think my favorite is bean with bacon so yummy! Oh and what recipe did you make that won? Unless I missed it in your post.

  70. I love the classic chicken noodle soup. Nothing better on a cold day or when you are not feeling well!

  71. I love the classic chicken noodle soup. It tastes good and really does make me feel better 🙂

  73. I love to eat Bean and Bacon Soup on cold days and love to use the Chicken Gumbo in Sloppy Joes–there’s nothing better !!!!

  75. My favorite Campbell’s soup is Cream of Mushroom because it can be used in so many of my favorite recipes. But my favorite one to actually eat plain is Italian Wedding Soup.

  76. I just recently learned I like their Chicken Soup with Rice. 🙂 My son’s kindergarten class had it for a snack this week and all the kids were saying it “was the best snack I ever had!”. It was way too cute. And yummy!

  78. It’s kind of silly but my favorite is Bean with Bacon Soup. Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved this soup. The off brand just doesn’t cut it.

  79. congrats again! My favorite campbell’s soup has to something from their “chunky” line. It’s like drinking gravy, haha.

  81. Congratulations on your win!!
    I like to mix one can of chicken noodle with one can of double noodle. Makes for the perfect ratio of chicken to soup to noodle!

  82. Cream of Mushroom, its the perfect soup and added ingredient to loads of casserole recipes!

  84. Congratulations, that is so exciting!! I love good ol’ cream of mushroom soup, so versatile!!

  85. Growing up, my favorite Campbell’s soup was Bean with Bacon. My mom would make it for us at least twice a week for lunch.

  88. My favorite is tomato soup. I love tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, and I like Cambells Tomato soup the best.

  91. Congrats! I have several soups that I like- Fiesta Nacho Cheese in chicken enchaladas for sure.

  93. Campbell’s Vegetarian Vegetable – my favorite soup to eat. I also cooked with Campbell’s soup all the time! Congrats on the win!

  94. Tomato just to eat ( and use in porcupine meatballs) or French onion (it makes a mean beef with broccoli)!
    Congrats on the win! That’s awesome.

  96. I think we have cream of chicken running in our veins …. I use it in just about everything. 🙂 Congrats on your win!!!

  98. Congrats on winning! My favorite soup is the good old tomato soup… there’s so much you can do with it!

  99. My favorite is Campbell’s chicken with stars… one taste and I’m a little kid again! 🙂

  101. It’s hard to decided but I’m going to go with cream of chicken! I cook with it all the time & my family love it =) Congrats on your win that’s awesome!

  102. congratulaiotns on your big win! wow..you must be SO excited!
    we are big mushroom lovers in my house..so the cream of mushroom soup is often a nice addiiton to etnress that i a making…
    (we eat LOTS of chicken.and its a great addition to chicken recipes)

  104. My all time favorite is Tomato. Just the memories I have of eating that growing up with yummy toasted cheese to go along with it 🙂

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