Having Breakfast with Food Network’s Aaron McCargo, Jr. and Aunt Jemima

Last month, I was invited to have breakfast with Food Network’s Aaron McCargo, courtesy of Aunt Jemima.  You may not know this but I’m completely obsessed with the Food Network.  I know EVERYONE on the network and watch almost every show.  If there’s ever a blog event featuring ANYONE from the Food Network, I am so there!

I first saw Aaron McCargo when he was on the show called Food Network Star back in 2008. He actually won the grand prize of having his own show.  I was rooting for him since the beginning. He was a natural.  He had that spark that screamed out TV star and I’m so glad he won. I would vote for him all over again if I had to.

Now he has his very own show on the Food Network called Big Daddy’s House and the title fits him well. He cooks food with big, bold flavors and loves to add spice to many of his recipes.  He’s a married dad of 3 and takes his cooking seriously with some fun and laughter.  He’s perfect for the Food Network family.

A family man who adores all things flavorful, Aaron’s passion for cooking was sparked at the age of four when he started baking cakes in his sister’s Easy Bake Oven. At the age of 13, Aaron was as a Junior Volunteer in the kitchen at Cooper Hospital University. From there Aaron’s entrepreneurial spirit set in as he began making and selling cakes and cookies to his childhood friends. He has since worked in nine New Jersey restaurants including casual and fine dining. In 2003, Aaron opened his own restaurant in Camden, N.J., called McCargo’s Restaurant. Most recently, Aaron served as the Executive Chef of Catering at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. He attended Atlantic Cape Community College’s Academy of Culinary Arts.

Aaron McCargo has partnered with Aunt Jemima to show America why breakfast is the most important – and delicious – meal of the day.  He was inspired at an early age by watching his own mom in the kitchen and so Aaron has since become one of Food Network’s fastest-rising stars.

With the release of his new cookbook Simply Done, Well Done, Aaron is encouraging EVERYONE to get into the kitchen to start their mornings right.

During the event, he demonstrated easy-to-make recipes using the delicious Aunt Jemima Frozen Breakfast products you would find right from your grocer’s freezer.

Everything Chef McCargo  made was delicious but my favorite recipe was the Homestyle French Toast Monte Cristo. It was absolutely scrumptious.  I’m definitely trying this one one Sunday morning.

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Sample recipes from Aaron McCargo, Jr., and Aunt Jemima Frozen Breakfast included:

 

  • Buttermilk Pancakes with Homemade Blueberry Compote: Jazz up Aunt Jemima Frozen Buttermilk Pancakes with this easy and light jam-like sauce
  • Homestyle French Toast Monte Cristo: A classic recipe simplified! Layer slices of turkey, ham and mozzarella between two slices of Aunt Jemima Homestyle French Toast for a quick and satisfying meal
  • Sun-Dried Tomato, Basil, Bacon and Gruyere Cheese Omelet: Eggs are a great complement to pancakes, waffles and French toast. Nice and light, this is a great summertime dish.
  • Slamming Bananas Foster’s Pancakes: A recipe that is loved by many. Bananas and pancakes are a match made in heaven!

**Recipes will post soon so stay tuned!

For more information on future Aunt Jemima frozen products, you can follow Aunt Jemima on Facebook and follow Aaron McCargo on Twitter.

Disclosure: Thank you to Weber Shandwick for inviting me to this intimate media event. It was great to finally meet and chat with Aaron McCargo, Jr. He’s such a sweetheart and very warm and kind.  No monetary compensation was given. All opinions are always 100% my own.

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