Friday, May 11, 2012

Cooking under pressure, a breakfast scramble and grocery card giveaway


Long title, huh? But they all have something in common…

I recently attended the Safeway Culinary Kitchens Search for Our Next Chef regional cook-off event in San Francisco where four contestants tried to cook their way into the final. At the final cook-off, the winner will be given a full-time job in the Safeway kitchens and their skillet meal will be turned into an actual product sold through Safeway’s Open Nature product line. I’d say that counts as cooking under a bit of pressure, wouldn’t you? Especially when you have Le Cordon Bleu Executive Chef Mike Weller looking over your shoulder, like this.


Gulp.

Just watching this made my hands sweaty. Not only were the contestants cooking under Chef Weller’s stare watch, but also Safeway Culinary Kitchens Executive Chef Jeff Anderson’s. And then more nail biting as the dishes went to the judging table where they were dissected and evaluated. Again…gulp. I’ll stay in the comfort of my own kitchen, thank you very much.


In the end, Chanda Clark’s chicken creole dish impressed the chefs and got her the win. You can read more about the cook-off and my interview with Alex Guarnaschelli, who will be one of the final judges, here.


Onto the breakfast scramble. Before I start raving about this dish and these products, let me first be clear that I was NOT compensated for this post. I just happen to really, really like them.  I’ve been a fan of Open Nature products since I attended the product launch last year, so I was happy to try out this recipe developed by Executive Chef Jeff Anderson.

This was one of the best breakfasts I’ve had in a long time, and the flavor of the Andouille sausage was perfect with just the right amount of kick to it. We will definitely be making this again.


Open Nature Andouille Sausage Breakfast Scramble with Pesto

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon garlic, freshly minced
2 Open Nature™ Andouille Sausage, cut into small dice
1 tablespoon Open Nature Pesto Sauce
4 O Organics™ Eggs
1 tablespoon finely sliced scallions
2 cups Open Nature Hash Brown Potatoes or oven roasted potatoes (optional)

Heat olive oil in medium skillet; add garlic and diced Andouille sausage. Cook until hot.
Scramble eggs, add to the pan and cook until it reaches your own desired degree of doneness.
Stir in pesto and allow to warm briefly.
Serve over freshly prepared hash browns or oven roasted potatoes.
Top with scallions.

Notes: I used only 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic and extra pesto to taste.


Now for the good part: the giveaway! I have two $50 grocery store gift cards to give away, good at any Safeway Companies stores in the U.S. or Canada (Safeway, Vons, Pavillions, Genuardi’s Dominick’s Carrs, Tom Thumb, or Randalls). Giveaway will run through midnight PST on Friday, May 18 and I’ll pick a winner at random. Winners must have a U.S. or Canada mailing address.

To enter (come back and leave a separate comment for each entry):
  • Tell me if you think you could handle the pressure of a cooking competition.
  • Check out the Open Nature products and let me know which one looks good to you.
  • Tweet the following: Enter to win a $50 grocery gift card #giveaway from @tastytrials here: http://bit.ly/KQcShQ
  • Follow @tastytrials on Twitter
  • Pin this post.

Disclaimer: Safeway Companies provided gift cards for this giveaway, but I was not compensated monetarily in any way. All opinions are my own. 

61 comments:

  1. What a fun experience that must have been. We don't have this store in our area but I have seen it in other places. Saving this great recipe;tonight egg are on the menu; this would be perfect.
    Rita

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know I could not handle the pressure of a cooking contest. I try hard just in my own mind and family to have good food for my family but to compete against many others that I do not know I think would be very hard and I give a lot of credence to anyone who does do it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The English Muffins look good to me and they would be great instead of toast of a plain piece of bread and they would be perfect for an egg sandwich or even little pizzas.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I definitely couldn't handle the pressure! I cracked in my 6th grade spelling bee.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Open Nature Chicken Meatballs look good.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. tweet:

    https://twitter.com/#!/mami2jcn/status/201102233373388800

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I follow you on Twitter (@mami2jcn)

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

    Thanks for the chance!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I couldn't handle the pressure of any contest, expecially cooking! lol

    elena150980@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Follow you on Twitter @ElenaIstomina

    elena150980@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I like Open Nature ice-cream

    elena150980@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. https://twitter.com/#!/ElenaIstomina/status/201104951991214081

    elena150980@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I know I could handle the pressure of a cooking competition since I was a finalist at the Gilroy Garlic Festival Cook-Off way back when.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am following you on Twitter.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I Tweeted your giveaway on Twitter.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The Open Nature product that looks good to me is the BACON!

    ReplyDelete
  16. And I would pin this post if I could find the Pinterest button that goes with it. So let's pretend I pinned it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. No, I don't think I can cook under pressure.

    ReplyDelete
  18. French Wheat Loaf looks great

    ReplyDelete
  19. Follow @tastytrials on Twitter@tcarolinep

    ReplyDelete
  20. https://twitter.com/#!/tcarolinep/status/201143508353036288

    ReplyDelete
  21. http://pinterest.com/pin/177329304048077090/

    ReplyDelete
  22. i cant cook so there is no way i could handle the pressure!

    vanitizebaby at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. i like the chocolate chunk cookies

    vanitizebaby at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. tweet

    https://twitter.com/#!/MeandBells/status/201315233782956032

    vanitizebaby at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. following your twitter @meandbells

    vanitizebaby at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I could handle it...because really what couldn't I handle. Would I like to or would I do it? No way :) The thought makes me squirm.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'd put the chicken sausages on my list of things I want to get. They look great.

    ReplyDelete
  28. http://twitter.com/#!/won2x/status/201787351083655168

    ReplyDelete
  29. @won2x following @tastytrials on Twitter.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Pinned:

    http://pinterest.com/pin/273453008594729720/

    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have always wanted to enter a cooking competition. Maybe someday...

    mglawler at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I would love to try the Uncured Bacon.

    mglawler at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Tweeted!

    https://twitter.com/#!/MsMissy62/status/202088564631146496

    mglawler at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I am following you on Twitter. MsMissy62

    mglawler at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Pinned!

    http://pinterest.com/pin/199565827208221539/

    ReplyDelete
  36. I would not be able to handle a competition. I would be freaking out!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I would love to try the beef franks. I love that there are no nitrates in the product.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I am following you on Twitter. @AccordingtoRach

    ReplyDelete
  39. Tweeted. https://twitter.com/#!/AccordingtoRach/status/202095548390584320

    ReplyDelete
  40. Pinned! http://pinterest.com/pin/148267012702679512/

    ReplyDelete
  41. I think that I could do a cooking competition - once I were there. It's the getting there that would be the trial. I've never entered because ... I just never have. But I'd love to do it, and I just might have to someday!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Wait, just one product? Gah! I think it would have to be the bacon because it's so hard to find natural bacon that actually TASTES good. I'm going to have to track these folks down.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Following you on Twitter (@honestandtruly) - and happy birthday yesterday!

    ReplyDelete
  44. There is no way I could handle a competition like this! I also tend to be pretty slow in the kitchen so I know I couldn't keep up the pace.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I don't think we have Open Nature products at my local Safeway...I'll have to check next time I'm there! I think I'd choose to try the chicken sausages.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Also, I've pinned this post.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I love breakfast scrambles. We have one every morning in my house. Literally. And for some reason, it never gets old. Andouille sausage is one of my faves, too, so I'm looking forward to trying this!

    ReplyDelete
  48. This sounds really exciting and I love the photos!

    ReplyDelete
  49. I would absolutely LOVE to take part in a cooking competition! How fun that looks.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Not in for the giveaway, but that breakfast scramble looks super scrumptious and i love that it has pesto in it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  51. Oh yea, I could handle a competition

    ReplyDelete
  52. Open Nature Cream Top Yogurt looks good to me ! All Natural ! Yay !

    ReplyDelete
  53. I tweeted !

    http://twitter.com/#!/beadreamaker/status/202784277056864256

    ReplyDelete
  54. I follow @TastyTrials on Twitter

    ReplyDelete
  55. Oh, there hummus looks good! @DearCreatives DearCreatives.com thanks for the chance!

    ReplyDelete
  56. https://twitter.com/#!/DearCreatives/status/202810468228808704

    tweeted! thanks again for the chance! @DearCreatives

    ReplyDelete
  57. I'd be nervous trying to compete in a cooking competition!

    jenna at loveofbabyonline dot com

    ReplyDelete

ShareThis