The Start of the Summer Season

Last year around this time, I shared the Cool Chicken Pasta Salad, which is perfect for a warm day at the beach. This year, I wanted to share with you a sandwich perfect to help get you ready for the beach and that means eating a bit healthier.

The Lowfat Chicken Salad Sandwiches from Campbell’s Kitchen® are super easy to whip together before work and they travel nicely when on the go. As we get ready for the 2011 summer season, keep in mind that eating a healthy meal doesn’t mean you have to skimp on flavor. Experiment with the below recipe. Try substituting a little curry powder instead of onion powder or maybe kick up the spice with a dash of cayenne pepper.

Enjoy and remember to have fun with your food!

Lowfat Chicken Salad Sandwiches

From Campbell’s Kitchen®
Prep: 10 minutes
Makes: 2 sandwiches

1 can (4.5 ounces) Swanson® Premium White Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained
2 tablespoons chopped celery
3 tablespoons low fat or fat free mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
4 slices Pepperidge Farm® Farmhouse™ Soft Oatmeal Bread
4 tomato slices
2 lettuce leaves

1. Stir the chicken, celery, mayonnaise and onion powder in a small bowl. Divide the chicken mixture between 2 bread slices. Top with the tomato, lettuce and remaining bread slices.

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!

Just a reminder, in case anyone forgot, I’m fortunate enough to work with Swanson Chicken, which is why I love to share all these delicious recipes, great tips and money saving offers on Entertaining Escapades!

Easter Sunday Dinner: Buffet or Family Style?

Easter Sunday is this weekend, and if your family is anything like my family, it’s usually celebrated with a large feast on a bright Sunday afternoon. 

This year, I am faced with a daunting decision: buffet or family style dinner?  I really enjoy family style because of the natural interaction with guests as they pass around the various dishes.  However, there are a few benefits to serving a buffet.  First, if you have limited space on your table, serving a buffet on the counter or separate table frees up a lot of room.  Second, as your guests move down the buffet, they won’t have to feel like they are insulting the host if they skip certain dishes they may not like.  I also think the set-up of a buffet is a bit easier than serving family style.

Since this year I’m feeling that easy = better, I’ll serve dinner buffet-style. 

Today, I want to share a few great tips I found online to help serve Easter dinner buffet-style:

1.     Set the table.  Even if you are serving your dinner as a buffet, you still need to create an aesthetically pleasing tablescape for your guests to enjoy.  They can simply grab their plates from the table and help themselves when dinner is served.

2.     Table Placement.  In order to avoid congestion on your buffet, separate your stations by salad, main dishes, drinks and dessert.  This will help with flow and avoid any back up of your guests.

3.     Serving Food. Keep hot foods hot, cold foods cold, and don't leave any food in the danger zone (between 41ºF and 140° F) for more than 2 hours.

What is your favorite style of serving dinner: buffet or family style?

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!

For more great entertaining tips and recipes, visit Campbell’s Kitchen.

Spring Fever

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush." - Doug Larson

How can you not love that quote? Now that we have set the mood for our “Spring Fever” post, I want to share with my Entertaining Escapaders the top five reasons why I love spring!

1. This is quite obvious -- but the warmer weather kicks off my list of favorite things about spring. The warm weather also comes with green grass, spring flowers and a little bit more daylight every day.
2. A fresh new start. Spring offers a feeling of new beginnings. Whether it’s planting a new garden, getting back on track with your exercise routine or a recommitment to a personal goal, spring is the perfect time to start over and have a fresh new outlook on life. 
3. Nothing says spring more than Spring Training! How I enjoy the Philadelphia Phillies coming back from Clearwater to start a new season. Go Phils!
4. I love having the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors more often. Whether I take my little doggie for a long walk or simply enjoy sitting outside on our deck, the fresh air is purely rejuvenating.
5. Delicious fresh food such as asparagus, apricots, spinach and fennel are all in season during the springtime. We just love visiting the local farmer’s market to pick the freshest fruit and veggies!

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!

It’s Time for March Madness

I have never really bought into the hype of March Madness (probably because I’m not much of a basketball fan!).  As you know from my previous posts, I really enjoy entertaining during the football season. My sports enthusiasm pretty much ends at the Big Game and starts back up during baseball season. Despite this, so many people around me get excited about March Madness, today I wanted to share with you the perfect recipe to serve during any sports party!

This recipe comes from our Ultimate Football Challenge winner, Laura Powell from Real Mom Kitchen.  We had the pleasure of meeting Laura in January when she visited the Campbell’s Kitchen to compete in our cook-off. The result of the exciting competition was her amazing and popular recipe for Quick Chicken Enchilada Nachos.  You can see her winning recipe on Campbell’s Kitchen, or you can visit her blog for more yummy and delicious creations.

Quick Chicken Enchilada Nachos 

Campbell’s Kitchen and Real Mom Kitchen

Source: Campbell's Community
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Makes: 14 servings

Ingredients:

1 can (12.5 ounces) Swanson® Premium White Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained

1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (about 15 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained

1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Picante Sauce

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)

1 can (4.5 ounces) chopped green chiles

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 bag (12- to 14-ounces) tortilla chips

Assorted Toppings (shredded Cheddar cheese or Mexican cheese blend, sliced ripe olives, chopped green onion, diced avocado, sliced jalapeño peppers and/or chopped fresh cilantro leaves)

Directions:

1.     Heat the chicken, beans, corn, picante sauce, soup, chiles and chili powder in a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat until the mixture is hot and bubbling, stirring occasionally.

2.     Arrange the tortilla chips on a large serving platter.  Top with the chicken mixture and Assorted Toppings, if desired.

Best and until next time, Kaitlin.

A Case of the End-of-Winter Blues

Nothing seems to get me down more than the very end of these winter months. At this point of the season, I drag my feet and get a little case of the end-of-winter blues.

And there is nothing better to heal my sluggish behavior than delicious comfort food!

Today, I would like to share my winter blues dinner cure: Homestyle Chicken & Biscuits. This yummy dish will taste just like what your grandmother made -- in half the time and less the cost of most of today’s Chicken & Biscuit recipes!

Homestyle Chicken & Biscuits
From Campbell’s Kitchen
Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 30 minutes
Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
¼ cup milk
¾ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 bag (16 ounces) frozen vegetable combination (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots), thawed
2 cans (4.5 ounces each) Swanson® Premium White Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained
1 package (7.5 ounces) refrigerated biscuits (10 biscuits)

Directions:
1. Heat the oven to 400°F. Stir the soup, milk, cheese and black pepper in a 3-quart shallow baking dish. Stir in the vegetables and chicken.
2. Bake for 15 minutes or until the chicken mixture is hot and bubbling. Stir the chicken mixture. Top the chicken mixture with the biscuits.
3. Bake for 15 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown.

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!

Celebrate American Heart Month With Delicious Recipes

February is American Heart Month sponsored by the American Heart Association^®.  Every year, the AHA educates Americans about building healthier lives and preventing heart disease.

For more than 25 years, Campbell Soup Company has also focused on promoting heart healthy products and recipes.  As you may know from reading this blog, Swanson^® Premium Chunk Chicken meets the criteria for AHA heart healthy foods that fit into a heart healthy lifestyle.  Some of the other great Campbell products that offer a heart healthy option include Campbell’s^® Healthy Request^® soups, Low-Sodium V8^®, V8 V-Fusion^® juices, Prego^® Heart Smart Italian sauces and Pepperidge Farm^® whole grain breads.  For more information about Campbell’s dedication to heart health, their long history with the American Heart Association and how you can get involved in this year’s campaign, please visit Campbell’s AdDress Your Heart initiative. 

Now, back to the delicious recipes! Today, I would like to share one of my favorite “Heart Healthy” recipes found on Campbell’s Kitchen.  I hope you enjoy these Heart Healthy Stuffed Tomatoes!

Heart Healthy Chicken Salad Stuffed Tomatoes

From Campbell’s Kitchen^® 

Prep: 15 minutes

Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt

2 tablespoons light mayonnaise

1/3 cup chopped celery

1/2 small onion, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)

1 can (12.5 ounces)* Swanson® Premium White Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained

4 medium tomatoes

6 cups shredded lettuce

Directions:

1.     Stir the yogurt, mayonnaise, celery, onion and chicken in a medium bowl.

2.     Cut each tomato into wedges, cutting down to about 1/2 inch of the bottom, without cutting all the way through the tomato.

3.     Place 1 1/2 cups lettuce on each of 4 serving plates. Top with a tomato and spoon 1/2 cup of the chicken mixture into each tomato.

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!

Just a reminder, in case anyone forgot, I’m fortunate enough to work with Swanson Chicken, which is why I love to share all these delicious recipes, great tips and money saving offers on Entertaining Escapades!

It’s a Football Challenge!

Do you have a killer recipe for football fans? Does everyone rave about your food after the Big Game? This year, Swanson® Chicken asked bloggers across the social media space to create the winning football/tailgating recipe using Swanson Premium Chunk Chicken.

As you all know, our famous Buffalo Chicken Dip has more than 35,000 fans on Facebook and is one of the most requested recipes of the past two years. With the overwhelming success of Buffalo Chicken Dip, we set out on a quest to find the next BIG recipe for football entertaining and we found it!

This past Wednesday, the three finalists of our Swanson Chicken Ultimate Football Challenge ventured on an all-inclusive trip to visit the Campbell’s Kitchen®. The three finalists were chosen based on recipe creativity, use of the ingredients and reader engagement. Once at the Campbell’s Test Kitchen, the chosen bloggers met with Campbell’s® Chefs, viewed the facilities and prepared their winning recipes for a select panel of Campbell’s® judges. The three finalists in our Ultimate Football Challenge were:

Real Mom Kitchen's Quick Chicken Enchiladas
Hazzard in the Kitchen's End Zone Empanadas
Taste and Tell's Chicken, Bacon & Cream Cheese Mini Taquitos

And the Ultimate Football Challenge winner is… Laura Powell from Real Mom Kitchen. Laura's Quick Chicken Enchilada Nachos was chosen as our winner and will have the opportunity to be featured on Campbell’s Kitchen.com. Stay tuned and visit us online to see the winning recipes!

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!

Lunch Time! Chicken Salad with a Twist

As many household budgets have gotten a bit tight over the past few years, it’s very common and financially-savvy for people to bring lunch to work.  Spending money at take-out counters and restaurants can not only hurt your wallet, but also your waistline as well.  Taking your lunch to work can be simple, delicious and good for you.

Campbell’s Kitchen® has several great tips and ideas on how to make “Desktop Dining” easy and economical.  I am always looking for new and delicious recipes to prepare for lunch and I recently came across this delicious Chicken Salad Sandwich with a yummy twist.  The crunchy almonds, fresh jicama and tarragon all add a lovely layer of flavor to a classic chicken salad sandwich.  What is your favorite twist on a traditional chicken salad?

Miami Chicken Salad Sandwiches

From Campbell’s Kitchen

Prep: 15 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons light mayonnaise

2 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream

1 teaspoon dried tarragon leaves, crushed

1 can (4.5 ounces) Swanson® Premium White Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained

1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted

1/4 cup chopped jicama or celery

4 slices Pepperidge Farm® Whole Grain Soft Honey Oat Bread, toasted

1 mango, pitted, peeled and sliced

2 green leaf lettuce leaves

Directions:

1.     Stir the mayonnaise, sour cream and tarragon in a medium bowl. Stir in the chicken, almonds and jicama.

2.     Divide the chicken mixture evenly between 2 bread slices. Top with the mango, lettuce and remaining bread slices.

Best and until next time, Kaitlin.

Happy Holidays!

The holidays are here!  My favorite part of the season is getting the opportunity to spend time with my family and friends.  Throughout the month, there are a lot of get-togethers, holiday parties and work functions.  I really like to take the few days between Christmas and New Year’s to spend quality time with my close family. 

Traditionally, my entire family will host a holiday party the weekend before Christmas.  We have such a large family with a lot of small children, so it tends to be difficult to get everyone together on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  I actually like it this way.  It gives everyone the chance to have a small, intimate holiday celebration at their homes without the hustle and bustle of visiting with ten or so aunts and uncles, dozens of cousins, grandparents, grandchildren… and it can go on!

My absolute favorite part of this family time is sitting around the tree on Christmas Eve, listening to festive music, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying my favorite holiday treat, Brie en Croute.   My absolute favorite recipe comes from Campbell’s Kitchen®.  As you all may know, I do work for Swanson® and as a part of the Campbell’s family, I am always trying delicious recipes! I particularly love this recipe because it’s a perfect combination of the sweet and tangy apricots and dried cranberries along with the crunch of the almonds and the creamy smooth brie.  It really adds a special touch to a classic holiday treat!

Holiday Brie en Croute 

From Campbell’s Kitchen®
Thaw: 40 minutes
Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 20 minutes
Stand: 45 minutes
Makes: 12 servings


Ingredients:

1 egg

1 tablespoon water

1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed

1/2 cup apricot preserves or seedless raspberry jam

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds

1 (13- to 16-ounce) Brie cheese round

1 package (13 ounces) Pepperidge Farm Entertaining Quartet Distinctive Crackers

Directions:

1.     Heat the oven to 400°F. Beat the egg and water in a small bowl with a fork.

2.     Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 14-inch square. Spread the preserves on the pastry to within 2 inches of the edge. Sprinkle with the cranberries and almonds. Place the cheese in the center of the pastry. Fold the pastry up over the cheese to cover. Trim the excess pastry and press to seal. Brush the seam with the egg mixture. Place seam-side down onto a baking sheet. Decorate with the pastry scraps, if desired. Brush with the egg mixture.

3.     Bake for 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Let stand for 45 minutes. Serve with the crackers.

What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!

A Holiday Gift-Wrapping Party!

Every year, I purchase about two to three rolls of wrapping paper with some to spare. My only gripe about the rolls is that I would like a little variety with my gift giving. Once all my gifts are wrapped, they all look the same! I recently came across the idea of throwing a holiday gift-wrapping party and I just had to share this wonderful idea with my Entertaining Escapaders. Perhaps this can even become a holiday tradition with your friends?

The idea is to have a festive holiday party, asking each of your guests to bring along one or two different styles of wrapping paper and a corresponding spool of ribbon for decorating. The hostess will provide tape, scissors, name tags and of course, delicious food, drinks and holiday goodies. It’s a really unique party idea, which will allow your guests to wrap their holiday gifts in a variety of different papers and ribbons.

Here are a few tips, courtesy of Campbell’s Kitchen®, to think about when you organize your holiday gift-wrapping party. Setting your party up into three worktables will help create a nice flow and keep everyone organized throughout the evening.

• The first table should supply boxes, envelopes, bags and other “outer” containers along with a few creative ideas for oddly shaped items (like mailing tubes). As a host, go through your own collection of boxes and packing supplies—it’s very likely that you’ll have plenty of material on hand to easily outfit the station without having to buy anything.
• The second station is for all the guest-supplied rolls or sheets of wrapping paper, tissue paper and decorative gift bags.
• The last table is for guest-supplied spools of ribbon, string, stick-on bows, tags and any decorative novelties or ornaments. Outfit this area with additional tape, glue/glue sticks, scissors, pens, a paper punch and stickers.

For more entertaining tips, recipe ideas and fun holiday tricks, visit Campbell’s Kitchen!

Best and until next time, Kaitlin.

The Winter Welcomes Warm Soup

There is a chill in the air!  The only really nice thing about the colder weather on the east coast is a warm, cozy homemade soup.  I usually like to make soup on a Sunday afternoon and freeze all the leftovers for a quick, easy dinner during the week. 

Of course Swanson Chicken® has a ton of ideas, tips and recipes for soup and I am on a mission to taste them all!  Well, maybe I won’t be able to test them all this winter, but I would love to try.  The best part about the recipes feature below is that they are quick, easy and really fit my budget, especially when there are Holiday gifts to be bought! Here are a few of my favorites:

Easy Chicken Chili with White Beans 

In the mood for chili?  No problem...because you can have this flavorful chicken chili on the table in less than 1/2 hour.  It only tastes like it's been simmering all day.

Santa Fe Chicken Tortilla Soup

Santa Fe Chicken Tortilla Soup Using the Swanson canned chicken, prepared salsa and flavorful chicken broth allows you to make this satisfying soup in just 20 minutes.  Try it...it's zesty and delicious.

Country Chicken Stew This hearty stew, chock full of carrots, green beans, onion, potatoes, and chicken, simmers in a creamy base to tenderness in just minutes. Garnished with crispy bacon and parsley, this colorful dish is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.

What’s your favorite winter soup?

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!

Family, Thanksgiving and the Best Leftovers

As I mentioned last week, I will be hosting my first Thanksgiving dinner this year.  Through all the planning, preparation and excitement about the upcoming holiday, including the glorious Black Friday deals, I almost completely forgot about my favorite part of Turkey Day, the leftovers! I typically don’t eat many leftovers.  Yes, I am that person who will let the leftover chicken casserole go to waste as I forage on to new recipes.  However, for some reason there is something really special about eating Thanksgiving leftovers.

As the host, I am sure to have a refrigerator filled with turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and gravy.  Today, I wanted to share a few great recipes I found around the web from last year.  The best part about most of the below recipes is that if you really enjoy one of them, you can always try substituting the turkey for Swanson’s Chicken so you can enjoy it all year round!

Now, on to the recipes…

·      Rosemary Turkey Squares from Taste and Tell. I love this recipe because the rosemary adds a lovely earthy undertone along with an elegant touch. It’s perfect as an appetizer or perhaps lunch. 

·      Hot Turkey Sandwiches from Campbell’s Kitchen. This recipe is a classic Thanksgiving leftover meal. It’s comforting and just brings me back a great time in my childhood.

·      Thanksgiving Leftover Panini from Annie’s Eats.  This recipe is unique and simply delicious! All you have to do is sandwich your leftover turkey and cranberry sauce together and add some cheese.  I even like to add a little gravy to the side for dipping.  It is winning recipe!

·      Thanksgiving Casserole from Lauren’s Kitchen.  All I can say about this recipe is that it’s DELICIOUS!  The casserole is the perfect chance to test out substituting the turkey for Swanson Chicken.

·      Turkey Cranberry Quesadillas from Real Mom’s Kitchen. This recipe is creative and is great for lunch after a long morning of shopping all of the Black Friday deals! 

I hope you enjoy the leftovers just as much as the big meal! Happy Thanksgiving!

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!

Thanksgiving Entertaining

WOW! It’s mid-November already and I am getting a little nervous about Thanksgiving this year.  As you know, I am still quite new to cooking for myself which means I don’t have much experience entertaining at home.  This year, I am hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the very first time and it is quite nerve-wracking!

The menu will be pretty traditional.  I will have a roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and of course, green bean casserole.  In fact, I’m not that worried about the menu.  I think I have that all set from all the great tips at Campbell’s Kitchen. 

My concern this year is my décor.  I would really like enhance the overall experience of Thanksgiving with some great, yet easy decorations.  So, I have been doing some research and I found quite a few wonderful resources that offer some great tips for decorating for Thanksgiving.  I thought all my Entertaining Escapaders would love to hear all about it!

A Warm Welcome

It is often said that first impressions of a home starts before you even open the front door.  I think it’s very important to greet your guests for Thanksgiving with a warm, autumnal welcome.  You can create some great, affordable fall décor with a little imagination.  I found a wicker basket at the craft store and filled it with a variety of small pumpkins and gourds and placed it on my front porch. I added a nice autumn wreath to the door and it turned out just wonderful for an affordable price!

The Centerpiece

The entire dinner will be centered around what you have on the table so, I thought it would be important to create something special.  I will be attempting to create my own centerpiece using a how-to guide I found on HGTV’s website. 

The Table Setting Tips

 I found a few wonderful tips for table settings on Martha Stewart’s website. One of my favor tips is the name cards made from sweet-gum-tree spurs.   

The great thing about these tips is that she includes a how-to tutorial for each tip and a lot of them are fun projects for the entire family.  You are sure to find some great ideas!

I hope you find my autumn decorating tips helpful and you try something new this year when you welcome your family and friends into your home for Thanksgiving!

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!

5 Recipes Under $10

If you are anything like me, you are always looking for delicious and easy recipes that fit a budget. Since working for Swanson, I have had great opportunities to not only test a lot of yummy recipes that fit my budget but to also share them with great people like my blog followers!

Today, I have chosen five recipes from Campbell’s Kitchen all under $10. Now, that is what I call eating deliciously for less!

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches - This flavorful recipe is great for the family or for casual get-togethers. It uses Swanson Premium Chunk Chicken and prepared barbecue sauce to make mouthwateringly delicious sandwiches.

Tortellini-Vegetable Toss - Cheesy ravioli and colorful vegetables are laced with Garden Combination Pasta Sauce for an easy, satisfying two-step supper.

Chicken and Bean Burritos - These quick and tasty burritos feature a zesty combination of Swanson Premium Chunk Chicken, bean soup and salsa inside a warmed flour tortilla and are ready to serve in about 20 minutes.

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps - Crisp lettuce takes the place of tortillas in these delicious wraps made quick and easy with Swanson Premium Chunk Chicken and crunchy vegetables tossed in an Asian-sesame dressing.

Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry - This delightful dish featuring Swanson Premium Chunk Chicken and a colorful combination of vegetables in a tasty sauce is on the table in minutes and so much better than take-out.

Do you have any delicious and affordable recipes to share? Please feel free to post them in the comments section below!

Best and until next time, Kaitlin.

Would you like Buffalo Chicken Dip with your penne pasta?

If you follow my blog, you know that Swanson has a Facebook page for our famous recipe, Buffalo Chicken Dip, aka BCD. The page is a fun place to share the recipe, host giveaways, conduct trivia contests and have fun conversations about sports, entertaining and just about anything related to BCD. A few weeks ago, I posted this question to our fans, which resulted in a lot of great, unique responses: Do you ever have Buffalo Chicken Dip leftover from your tailgate party? If so, what's your favorite tip for using leftover BCD?

Today, I wanted to share with you some of the best ways to use leftover Buffalo Chicken Dip – as supplied by the folks on Facebook. Not that we ever have any leftover after our parties, but should you ever have any, here are a few great tips:

- “Take Tortilla wraps, place a piece of iceberg lettuce in there and put the BCD on top of it and wrap it up like a burrito!” –From Patricia
- “Take two crescent rolls...unfold them onto a flat shallow baking pan...bake till brown, then spread BCD over the crust, add chopped onion, broccoli, cauliflower, or any veggie you want...” –From Gene
- “Won-ton wraps. Put a spoonful in the middle of a wan-ton shell fold it in half (to make a triangle, seal the edges) and the deep-fry. Delish!” –From Karle
- “Use tortilla scoops, add a spoon drop of Buffalo Chicken dip, and sprinkle with shredded cheese of your choice for an appetizer before dinner or an after school snack for kids.” –From Marianne
- “I like to put it over a nice bowl of penne pasta, it sounds strange but it is ohhhhh so good!” –From Brandon
- “I spread it on thick Italian bread, broil with cheese, and DEVOUR!!!” –From Kelly

What’s your favorite tip for using leftover Buffalo Chicken Dip?

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!

Do you have a “Picky Palate?”

One of my favorite food bloggers in the online foodie blogosphere is “The Picky Palate”.  Jenny is a stay at home mom with two little boys living in San Diego.  Her food blog, “Dresses Up Original Family Style Recipes For Even Your Pickiest Eaters.” She has wonderful photography, delicious recipes and just great ideas when it comes to dinner.  Her blog is super popular even among those who aren’t moms but simply love cooking quick and delicious dishes.

We had the huge honor of working with Jenny this past summer for the Swanson Mommy Blogger Dinner Challenge and she was just wonderful.  She is a creative cook with a talented eye for food photography; you should definetly check out her blog.  Since Jenny was the winner of our Dinner Challenge, today I wanted to share with you her winning recipe: BBQ Chicken Soup.  Jenny created this recipe with just $10.00 and a 12.5 oz. can of Swanson Premium Chunk Chicken! 

BBQ Chicken Soup 

From: Picky Palate

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 Tablespoons fresh minced garlic

11 oz can corn with peppers, drained

2 12 oz cans Swanson’s Chicken, drained

1 1/2 Cups Chicken Broth

1/2 Cup BBQ Sauce

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

1/4 teaspoon Lawry’s Garlic Salt

1/2 Cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

Directions:

1.     Heat oil into a medium pot over medium heat.  When hot, sauté onions for 5 minutes or until softened.  Stir in garlic, corn and chicken breast; mix to combine.  Pour in chicken broth, BBQ sauce, salt, pepper, garlic salt and cilantro leaves.   Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes or until ready to serve.  Garnish each bowl with a fresh sprig of cilantro.

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!

A Good For You Lunch

I often get off track when trying to eat healthy while balancing an intense work/social life.  If there is one thing I have learned on my journey, it’s that it can be difficult to create delicious, good for you meals on the go. 

Today, I have a delicious and easy recipe for lunch on the go.  You can easily make this the night before and simply put it together at lunchtime.  Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps substitutes crisp lettuce in place of tortillas  -- ultimately creating a good for you wrap featuring Swanson Premium Chunk Chicken and crunchy vegetables tossed in an Asian-sesame dressing.   I hope you enjoy the recipe!

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps 

From Campbell’s Kitchen®

Prep: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 can (12.5 ounces)* Swanson® Premium White Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained

2 medium carrots, shredded (about 1 cup)

3/4 cup diced red pepper

4 green onions, thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup reduced fat Asian-style sesame salad dressing

6 large Bibb or iceberg lettuce leaves

Directions:

1.     Stir the chicken, carrots, pepper, onions and dressing in a medium bowl.

2.     Divide the chicken mixture among the lettuce leaves. Fold the lettuce leaves around the filling and serve immediately.

P.S. To make this even easier to eat while on the go – consider chopping up the lettuce and eating this as a chopped salad!  You get the same taste in a less messy and more travel friendly format!

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!

Tailgating!

Have you ever been to a tailgate party?  It usually entails a lot of food, some friendly taunting and trash talking from fans and, of course, the game!  Every year, I will typically throw two or three football tailgate parties for my friends.  I usually serve the typical football food items: chips and salsa, BCD, pizza, quesadillas… 

Since we know throwing a party is a bit overwhelming, here at Swanson® (where I work), we created an easy and delicious tailgate menu that anyone can throw together on Sunday morning.  Our tailgate menu can be downloaded right from Campbell’s Kitchen®. Whether you’re cooking for the whole team or just the offensive line, these dishes are guaranteed to satisfy even the heartiest of appetites!

Here is a quick list of recipes you will find in the Swanson Quick and Easy Tailgate Menu:

·      Frank’s® RedHot® Buffalo Chicken Dip

·      Chicken Nachos

·      Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings

·      Lighter Chicken Quesadillas

·      Easy Meatball Parm Hero

·      Chocolate Goldfish Pretzel Clusters

What are you waiting for?! Download the Swanson Tailgate Menu today!

Save Money and Shop Smart

If there is one thing I have gotten really good at after college, it is how to shop smart.  Not only am I able to find the best deals when shopping, I would also call myself a master of eating healthy on a budget.

Today, I would like to share with you one of my favorite, good for you, weeknight dinners, Quick Chicken Stir-Fry.  This recipe will be featured in local Sunday papers across the country this coming weekend, so make sure you look for it in the coupon section. It will also have a great offer on Swanson Premium Chunk Chicken!

Once you are able to get your coupon, then it’s off to the grocery store to shop.  Here are a few great tips from Campbell’s Kitchen® (www.campbellskitchen.com) on Smart Shopping:

•  Make a shopping list and stick with it! Type up a master grocery list of foods in the supermarket you typically purchase. Then each week print out the list and circle what you need.  
• Organize your food list based on the MyPyramid food categories. This helps ensure that your grocery cart has a healthy balance of food.  
• Read labels! Compare nutrition labels between brands and varieties of your favorite foods to make choices that best meet your family’s needs.
• Don’t shop when you are hungry! Eat a small meal or healthy snack before you shop. This will help you stick to your list and reduce impulse purchases.

If you would like more great tips about smart shopping, visit the Campbell’s Kitchen’s Smart Shopping section. It’s a great place to learn about eating and shopping healthy.

Quick Chicken & Vegetable Stir-Fry 

From Campbell’s Kitchen

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Cost per recipe: $8.01
Makes: 4 servings (about 1 cup and 1 cup rice each)


Ingredients:

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 3/4 cups Swanson® Chicken Stock  

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

4 cups cut-up vegetables *

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 can (12.5 ounces)** Swanson® Premium White Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained

4 cups hot cooked rice

Directions:

1.     Stir the cornstarch, stock, and soy in a small bowl until the mixture is smooth.

2.     Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetables and cook until they're tender-crisp. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

3.     Stir the cornstarch mixture in the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium. Cook and stir until the mixture boils and thickens. Stir in the chicken and cook until the mixture is heated through. Serve the chicken mixture over the rice.

RECIPE TIPS

  *Use a combination of broccoli flowerets, sliced carrots and green or red pepper strips.

**Or 3 cans (4.5 ounces each)

Just a reminder, in case anyone forgot, I’m fortunate enough to work with Swanson Chicken, which is why I have love to share all these delicious recipes, great tips and money saving offers!

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!