I seriously had the time of my life last week… And, for awhile, “mum” was the word. But, now? Now, I’m gonna let the cat out of the bag. Guess who was on the winning team at the Frugal Food Lion Cook-Off? 🙂
Winners! Kelly, Wendy and me! |
I was asked by Food Lion to participate in a cook-off with other local food bloggers. We were put on teams of three and given 30 minutes to come up with a main dish and two sides for a “family of four” using ingredients from the provided Food Lion pantry. Oh, the meal had to come up at under $15. And, all teams had to share one oven and one stove-top.
Thank God I’ve watched my share of cooking shows like Iron Chef, Top Chef, and Chopped. Compared to those challenges, this should be a breeze… right? After we opened the challenge from the envelope, the two lovely ladies on my team, Wendy Bentien (blogger w/ Charlotte Smartypants) and Kelly Davis (Foodie Fresh), and I got to brainstorming. We considered our budget and the pantry. We wanted to make something healthy, easily doable in 30 minutes, and a meal that would stand out from the other teams. I think we did it.
Our main dish was Pan-Seared Curry Chicken with Asian Rice Pilaf and Teriyaki Roasted Carrots. We faced a tough panel of judges including the President of Food Lion, Cathy Green Burns. We got excited when everyone seemed to be clearing their plates. We got double-excited when one of the judges told us we got him to eat his veggies, which is not something he’s known for.
All of those that participated in the challenge were sent home with goody bags full of items we can’t live without. No surprise that my bag was filled with milk, coffee, Greek yogurt and beans. I think they forgot the beer. 🙂 Having not been a frequent shopper of Food Lion in the past, I was delighted to discover that all of the food I tried was not only good, but fantastic. And now I know… it’s also less expensive. We pulled together our dish for just $14.75 for over 4 servings!
But beyond taste and affordability, I have another reason to head to Food Lion much more often. Why? Because I was also given a $250 gift certificate to Food Lion for being on the winning team. Jealous? Don’t be… ‘Cause I also got one to giveaway on the blog!!!!
I can’t live without pasta!
Name on rafflecopter form: Mary Happymommy
Thanks for the chance! Food Lion is awesome!
How fun! Congrats!
Always have garlic and cooking wines!
My pantry always has tea bags, spaghetti, and mini pitas (my 5 year old hated regular bread at the moment so we keep those around to cut in half and stuff for lunch sandwiches). 🙂
Can’t live without pasta sauce! Raffle copter name is Amie Collins
i cannot live without cooking oil- livivua
Cheerios and oatmeal are a pantry staple at my house!
Way to Go, Katie!
We always have to have ketchup and peanut butter (though not together)!
Congrats! We always have pasta and sauce
Flour, cooking oils and sugar! We do a lot of frying and baking. So, I have to make sure I’m always stocked on these three things.
The pantry item we can’t live without: black beans!
Pasta and black beans! Congrats Katie?
I have to have some type of pasta in my pantry!
Pasta is the one thing that we cannot be without.
I can’t live without fruit snacks..my daughter is addicted!
Win = I’ll bring over some beers
i can’t live without pasta
amanda sakovitz
Risotto and chicken broth
Pasta and all kinds of different sauces that make one pot wonders.
Rice and Pasta! Thanks so much for the amazing giveaway!!
ashleygatewood1(AT)gmail.com
We love Food Lion…it’s literally our neighborhood grocery store! We can’t live without bread and yogurt!
We can’t live without pasta, beans and nutella! Not eaten together of course!
cant live without peanut butter and bread!
Pasta! sonyadmorris@gmail.com
ramen noodles!
vanitizebaby at yahoo dot com
Gotta have me sugar! 😀 Molly Bussler
Coffee, cream and sugar!!
honey and green tea
We cannot live without Pop Tarts. Thanks so much!
I can’t live without Prego Spaghetti Sauce
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I cannot live without peanut butter!
Jennifer Marie
lilnursejen at yahoo dot com
miracle whip
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Can’t live without pasta & sauce. It’s a good quick standby for a meal.
I can’t live without my spices.
ccboobooy at gmail dot com
I can’t live without coffee!
skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
I must have onions,pasta and pasta sauce.
I can’t live without peanut butter.
jjak2003 at gmail dot com
I cant live without crackers.
Judy S
pookiecat123 at yahoo dot com
Sugar! 🙁
I can not live without my cereals!!!!
rafflecopter ann lyfe
If I have to pick one, it would be our Chock full O’ Nuts Coffee!
Wanda McHenry
tomato sauce
I CAN’Y lie without rice
Crackers and Ramen noodles! hehe Thank you so much for this awesome giveaway!
My most reached for pantry items would have to be beef and chicken stock.
I cant live without peanut butte
rounder9834 @yahoo.com
Pasta
merleandtina@Yahoo.com
Rice!
tomato sauce