My Trip to Campbell’s

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 or 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 recipe 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 migrane.  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 is 7 month 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 discover our flight isn’t long enough for lunch so they only offer 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.

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 made Bacon Chicken and Cream Cheese Mini Taquitos with a Ranch Guacamole Dipping Sauce.

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

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.  

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.

So I have one set of Campbell’s cook books to giveaway which includes 4 Ingredients or Less, Potluck for All Occasions, and Week Night Cooking along with a Campbell’s silicone spatula.  Silicone spatulas are one of my favorite kitchen tools to use.

Then I have two of the Pace Family Recipe Round-Up 50th Anniversary Cookbooks to also giveaway.

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite Campbell’s soup is.  You have until Wednesday Feb 2 at 10 p (MST) to enter.
Also, starting Jan. 31 my recipe should be on the Campbell’s website up until the Super Bowl, so check it out!