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Getting my “Master Chef” on with Food Lion and a $100 Gift Card Giveaway!

October 3, 2012 By Julie 55 Comments

Have you ever watched Masterchef, or maybe even Chopped where they’ve opened up their mystery basket and your first reaction to the ingredients was:

“If I was standing there right now, I would so have this round in the bag.”

Ok, me neither.  However, a couple weeks back I was invited to participate in the first local Food Lion Frugal Cookoff here in Charlotte, where I was given the opportunity to change all that for the better.  Eleven bloggers attended and the gauntlet was thrown down.


Here are the “detes” for what we were up against:

  1. The group was divided into four teams and given 10 minutes to come up with a menu containing one main dish and two sides and then 10 minutes to gather up subsequent ingredients
  2. Our finished dishes were required to incorporate two of the available Food Lion My Essential products
  3. Said meal needed to be cooked and presented in 30 minutes or less
  4. The total cost had to be kept at $15 or under for a family of four

A smattering of the Food Lion My Essentials products we were provided with as pantry staples

Piece of cake right?  Not so fast Sherlock.  First off, I had no idea how fast time can fly when you’re on the clock.  Second, when you’re given limited ingredients to work with, the challenge rises that much higher.  Just look at all those furrowed brows from my teammates and me.  In the end we decided on a quick and tasty caprese chicken with noodles and wilted spinach.

My Team; Mary from Fervent Foodie, Alison from Coupon Kitchen and myself planning out our winning menu

We chopped, cooked, panicked, recovered and chopped some more.

Time flew like the wind but we managed to finish and, I have to say, I was pretty darn pleased with what we created

The judges seemed impressed too.  We received high marks for both flavor and spot on cooking technique of our chicken.

The judge’s table including Cathy Green, President of Food Lion

In the end, one team topped us with their creativity of a curried chicken in peanut satay sauce which even had my competition driven tummy rumbling despite their opponent status.  All in all it was a seriously fun event which left me dreaming of unique dinner concoctions long after the final buzzer rang.  Hmmm…. maybe I’m more cut out for Masterchef than I originally thought.

To end the night, Food Lion generously presented each of the bloggers across the four teams with grocery gift cards to share on their blogs.  So I ask you, who’s up for some grocery shopping?  I have $100 worth of family meals burning a whole in my pocket that I’d love to share with one of you.  All you need to do is leave a comment letting me know…

What’s your favorite go-to dish for a quick and healthy weeknight meal?

You can earn additional entries through:

  1. Liking Mommie Cooks on Facebook
  2. Liking Mommie Cooks on Twitter
  3. Following Mommie Cooks on Pinterest
  4. Following Food Lion on Facebook

Entries are open until midnight on October 10th and I’ll announce the winner sometime the following day.  Good luck!!

Update!  The winner of the gift card picked using Random.org is #6, Alysha!  Congrats and enjoy your gift card!

Note:  Food Lion provided the grocery gift card for this giveaway and sponsored the Frugal Cookoff event.  Pictures were also provided compliments of Food Lion’s photographers.  All opinions, as always, belong to little ol’ me.

 

You Might Also Like:

Default ThumbnailA Special Shout Out to Annie Bakes! Food Blog Camp 2011 Revisiting Rice Krispies and a $100 Giveaway! Cooking up a Rack of Pork and a $25 Costco Linky Giveaway!

Filed Under: Food, Other Tagged With: Charlotte, Cooking contest, Food Lion

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Comments

  1. anniebakes says

    October 3, 2012 at 1:47 pm

    Don’t put me in the contest because we don’t have a Food Lion, but I loved hearing the story and congrats on an outstanding dish!! anne

    Reply
  2. A New York Foodie says

    October 3, 2012 at 1:47 pm

    Definitely a quick pasta dish with a light marinara sauce. I can have that one ready in 30 mins.

    Reply
  3. cara says

    October 3, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    Breakfast for dinner is a staple at my house! Make some omelets, add in fresh fruit, fry some bacon and you have dinner!

    Reply
  4. cara says

    October 3, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    I follow you on facebook

    Reply
  5. cara says

    October 3, 2012 at 2:08 pm

    I follow on Pinterest as well

    Reply
  6. Alysha @Shesontherun says

    October 3, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    My go to meal is something in the slow cooker that can cook away while I’m at work – like chili or a chicken and veggie dish.

    Reply
  7. Alysha @Shesontherun says

    October 3, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    I like you on Facebook!

    Reply
  8. Alysha @Shesontherun says

    October 3, 2012 at 3:25 pm

    I follow you on Twitter!

    Reply
  9. Alysha @Shesontherun says

    October 3, 2012 at 3:25 pm

    I’m following Food Lion on Facebook!

    Reply
  10. Alysha @Shesontherun says

    October 3, 2012 at 3:26 pm

    I’m following you on Pinterest!

    Reply
  11. Heather says

    October 3, 2012 at 4:37 pm

    Hamburger soup. There’s almost always some in the freezer waiting for a Friday night when nobody feels like cooking but we still want to eat something good. Pair it up with some really good bread and we’re all happy.

    Reply
  12. Jennifer says

    October 3, 2012 at 4:47 pm

    Hey, Julie! That meal looks amazing! Wow!
    My go to meal is usually tacos! I’ll use low fat turkey, whole wheat wraps and fill em with lots of lettuce, tomatoes and avocado! Yum!

    Reply
  13. Jessie C. says

    October 3, 2012 at 8:47 pm

    We like veggie rolls for quick fix-up.

    Reply
  14. Jessie C. says

    October 3, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    Liking Mommie Cooks on Facebook

    Reply
  15. Jessie C. says

    October 3, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    Liking Mommie Cooks on Twitter

    Reply
  16. Jessie C. says

    October 3, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    Following Mommie Cooks on Pinterest

    Reply
  17. Jessie C. says

    October 3, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    Following Food Lion on Facebook

    Reply
  18. barbara n says

    October 4, 2012 at 7:26 am

    My favorite go-to dish for a quick and healthy weeknight meal is some kind of pasta and a big salad

    Reply
  19. Lisa says

    October 4, 2012 at 9:32 am

    Chicken strips seared in a llttle olive oil, then tossed in a salad with lots of pre-cut veggies and a light dressing . . . 🙂

    Reply
  20. Lisa says

    October 4, 2012 at 9:39 am

    Following you on Facebook . . . really enjoy your blog!

    Reply
  21. Jenna says

    October 4, 2012 at 10:50 am

    Hmmm . . . favorite quick and healthy weeknight meal . . . I’d have to say pan-fried tilapia with a cherry tomato/basil pan sauce. Over rice. It’s quick and totally delicious (my husband calls it “perfect fish”) as long as you don’t overcook the fish.

    Reply
  22. Jenna says

    October 4, 2012 at 10:50 am

    . . . and I of course like MC on FB. =)

    Reply
  23. Amy M says

    October 4, 2012 at 10:56 am

    I’m going to agree with the breakfast for dinner – we like eggs, sausage or bacon, potatoes, and toast.

    Reply
  24. Katie says

    October 4, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    We do eggs, toast and fruit for a quick and easy meal.

    Reply
  25. Katie says

    October 4, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    I like you on Facebook.

    Reply
  26. Katie says

    October 4, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    I follow you on Twitter.

    Reply
  27. Katie says

    October 4, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    I follow you on Pinterest.

    Reply
  28. Jan K says

    October 4, 2012 at 4:04 pm

    my favorite go to meal is Pasta Fagioli, I use ground turkey and whole grain pasta, yum.

    Reply
  29. Jan K says

    October 4, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    I follow you on Pinterest

    Reply
  30. Jan K says

    October 4, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    I like you on Facebook

    Reply
  31. Jan K says

    October 4, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    Follow you on twitter

    Reply
  32. Jan K says

    October 4, 2012 at 4:06 pm

    I like Food Lion on Facebook

    Reply
  33. Melissa B says

    October 4, 2012 at 8:49 pm

    I like you on FaceBook.

    Reply
  34. Melissa B says

    October 4, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    I follow you on Pinterest.

    Reply
  35. Melissa B says

    October 4, 2012 at 8:52 pm

    My favorite goto meal is anything made with rotisserie chicken.

    Reply
  36. Kara Deir says

    October 4, 2012 at 9:17 pm

    Our favorite mid week meal is Mexican meatloaf. We use ground turkey, grated zucchini, grated garlic, cumin and oregano. We top it with ketchup or salsa, depending on what’s in the fridge. The kids love it and it’s so easy. Yum!

    Reply
  37. Julian Kitchens says

    October 4, 2012 at 9:58 pm

    I can’t wait to try the Shrimp Appetizer. It sounds absolutely delicious. When we need something fast and healthy for dinner (with emphasis on FAST) we make breakfast. The kids love whole wheat banana or pumpkin pancakes and eggs. I have twin 7-year-olds (a boy and a girl) and we set the electric griddle up on the table and take turns cooking. They both have gotten quite good at cooking on the griddle. They’re also learning how to manipulate the ingredients to try new flavors!

    Reply
  38. Sonya Morris says

    October 5, 2012 at 11:28 pm

    I will have to go with meatless spaghetti as our quick go to healthy dinner.

    Reply
  39. Sonya Morris says

    October 5, 2012 at 11:28 pm

    Liking Mommie Cooks on Facebook.

    Reply
  40. Sonya Morris says

    October 5, 2012 at 11:29 pm

    Following Mommie Cooks on Twitter as catholicfanatic.

    Reply
  41. Sonya Morris says

    October 5, 2012 at 11:30 pm

    Following Mommie Cooks on Pinterest.

    Reply
  42. Sonya Morris says

    October 5, 2012 at 11:30 pm

    Following Food Lion on Facebook.

    Reply
  43. Mami2jcn says

    October 6, 2012 at 9:41 am

    Tilapia is really quick to make, along with a salad!

    Reply
  44. Mami2jcn says

    October 6, 2012 at 9:42 am

    I follow Food Lion on Facebook as Mary Happymommy.

    Reply
  45. Mami2jcn says

    October 6, 2012 at 9:43 am

    I follow Mommie Cooks on Twitter–mami2jcn

    Reply
  46. Mami2jcn says

    October 6, 2012 at 9:44 am

    I like Mommie Cooks on Facebook as Mary Happymommy.

    Reply
  47. grace says

    October 6, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    quesadillas with whatever happens to be on hand!

    Reply
  48. grace says

    October 6, 2012 at 1:06 pm

    i’m your latest twitter follower. 🙂

    Reply
  49. Ashley H says

    October 6, 2012 at 8:09 pm

    I usually make meatloaf.

    Reply
  50. Ashley H says

    October 6, 2012 at 8:09 pm

    I like you on facebook.

    Reply
  51. Ashley H says

    October 6, 2012 at 8:09 pm

    I like food lion on facebook.

    Reply
  52. Ashley H says

    October 6, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    I follow you on twitter @hewella1.

    Reply
  53. Jane Warren says

    October 8, 2012 at 12:37 pm

    This sounds like so much fun! I guess my go-to dinner would be a simple fish fry using tilapia and panko. It seems to hit the spot every time1

    Reply
  54. amber says

    March 4, 2013 at 6:20 pm

    my go-to dish is grilled chicken and sautteed spinach (we always have spinach in the house for smoothies)

    Reply
  55. amber says

    March 4, 2013 at 6:20 pm

    http://pinterest.com/mmmmdonut/
    follow u on pinterest at this account above

    Reply

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