Chef Paul spends his weekdays at the food bank preparing kid-friendly meals and snacks. Sometimes he caters amazing lunches for staff and our board.
Today, he was asked what he would make using some of the products often found at a food pantry. He came up with some great ideas and shared them on 9News.
You don’t have to be a food pantry participant to enjoy these tasty treats! And if you are one of the fortunate folks who has enough to eat this summer, we hope you’ll contribute to help those who don’t – every dollar we receive becomes four meals for our hungry neighbors!
Cranberry Chicken Salad
- 2 – 5 oz. cans chicken
- ¼ small onion, diced
- ½ rib celery small, diced
- 2 Tbs mayonnaise
- 2 Tbs jellied cranberry
- 1 Tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Spread on your favorite bread.
Tuna Cakes
- 2 – 5 oz cans tuna (drained)
- 1 10 oz. can diced tomatoes w/ chilies (drained) (Ro-Tel brand works great)
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 3 Tbs mayonnaise
- 2 Tbs lemon juice
- 2 Tbs minced onion
- 2 Tbs minced celery
- 2 Tbs chopped parsley
- ½ tsp worchestershire sauce
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
Combine all ingredients, mix well, shape into patties and fry in a pan with a bit of cooking oil.
Canned Sweet Pea Guacamole
- 2 – 10 cans peas (drained)
- 1 10 oz can diced tomatoes with chilies (drained)
- 1 small red onion diced
- 3 Tbsp chopped cilantro
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp jalapeño minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Dash of hot sauce to taste (Tabasco works great)
Add all ingredients into a bowl, mix and mash until peas are mostly smashed to a guacamole consistency. Serve with chips or as a spread on your favorite bread.
Sweet Pea Hummus
- 2- 10 oz cans sweet peas (drained)
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Dash of hot sauce to taste (Tabasco works great)
Blend all ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth. Serve on crackers, bread, chips or veggies.
Peanut Butter Banana Pops
- Bananas
- Peanut Butter
- Dry Cereal (chocolate oat cereal pictured)
- Pretzel Sticks
Slice bananas in half, spread with peanut butter, roll in dry cereal, add pretzel stick. Freeze if desired or serve at room temperature.
Cranberry Fruit Pops
- 1 15 oz can cranberry sauce – jellied
- 1 – 15 oz. can fruit cocktail (drained)
- 1 cup water or juice drained from fruit cocktail
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
Mix ingredients in a bowl, pour into paper cup. Cover with paper circle and place a wooden skewer or plastic knife through the paper. Freeze and serve.
