I got some DOLE canned fruit and notification of a contest DOLE is running right now, the DOLE Make me a Chef Essay Contest. It runs from March 16 through May 8 and all you have to do is write a 200 word or less essay on “How DOLE Canned Fruit is part of your pantry.”
Win the chance to cook alongside acclaimed chef, Ben Ford. Ben has created four signature recipes with DOLE Canned Fruit and wants to share his culinary tips with you and three of your friends at his latest hot restaurant in Los Angeles. Enter your short essay and you could win a beautiful weekend in Los Angeles in June cooking and sharing a feast with Ben Ford!
Now, normally we aren’t canned fruit kind of people but we thought we would give it a try since there were so many creative recipe ideas on the site.
I decided to try out one of Ben Ford’s signature recipes with the canned DOLE tropical fruit I got this week since I am trying to eat better these days.
Lately I have been loving smoothies and frozen fruit blends. They are better for you than a candy bar and they are also a sweet treat right? I tried Ben Ford’s Easy Aloha Smoothie, I wasn’t feeling like having to chop up fruits and do lots of prep work. Do you know how much of a pain it is to cut up a pineapple?
What? I am a lazy pregnant lady who is going to be 7 months pregnant as of this Thursday! Wait, I am 7 months pregnant already? WOW. I guess I’ve just slept right through the whole pregnancy huh? Dang…
Anyway, back to my lazy smoothie making. It is called the “Easy Aloha Smoothie” because all you need is a can of mixed fruit, some yogurt and ice. The can of mixed fruit has a nice variety of different fruits to enjoy and you don’t have to peel, cut or slice anything! It doesn’t get easier than that and it was yummy too!
The most important factor in choosing my favorite recipe was ease and quickness. No pregnant lady wants to be standing in the kitchen forever! So, now I want to know which is your favorite of Ben Ford’s recipes? All you need to do is visit this site and click on the recipe link.
Also, if you do decide to enter the essay contest (which you should) please also post your essay in the comment field for us so we can cheer you on!
YUMO! I’m not a big canned fruit eater, to me the fruit is way to sweet from the suryp it is packed in… How ever I may just try a canned fruit smoothie!
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Being the Aspiring Chef that I am, I had to enter. I couldn’t pass this opportunity. I’ve taken some time off the last yr or so to add to our family, but will eventually get back into working at the restuarants, it’s what I love and have passion for. I also plan to go to Culinary school hopefully, once we move. I normally eat more fresh Dole fruit then canned but I love all of it. here’s my essay… I hope it’s not too cheesy,lol :
I am an aspiring Chef that has taken some time off recently because we have an addition to our family,our baby boy. I would LOVE to cook along with Ben Ford! I could learn so many things that can help my career.
I find Dole fruit to be a healthy, quick,tasty, ingredient in everyday meals.Having two kids and a husband in the US Navy, sometimes our lives can be hectic and sometimes we don’t have alot of time.
One of my favorite is the Mandarin Oranges. I love making salads with them. Making fuit kabobs is also something I like, using Dole fresh fruit. I like to use chunks of pineapples,chunks of mangoe, and oranges.
I find having kids, the ready- to – eat fruits in the cups, are a great snack wether it’s on the go, for school lunches or a no-mess snack at home.
I love pretty much all Dole fuit wether it’s canned, fresh or frozen. It’s part of mine and my familes life on a daily basis.
I hope to get the opportunity to work with Ben. I want to learn as much as I can in the Culinary industry.Knowledge is power!!
I am glad you entered! Your essay was good too. Mandarin Oranges are the best in salads huh? What you wrote made me very hungry! I think DOLE would like that, LOL.
I like Dole’s packaged salads. Quick, easy, and tasty.
As for mandarin oranges, I’ve loved them since I was a child. I might write an essay about them and how I loved to spear them all with a fork and then drink the juice…
Anything I make that calls for pineapples, Dole is going to be used. I am way to lazy to use fresh!
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Hope you win, you winner, you!
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Ha, I haven’t entered actually. Just tried out their recipe and wanted to share the opp in case anyone else was interested. Shoot, I wont be traveling anywhere anytime soon with a new baby on the way so there is no point in entering. LOL.