Meal Planning for Real Life: A Simple Technique for Using Food Pantry Ingredients Efficiently

A resource from Food Is Medicine Lesson One to help you plan meals with confidence and creativity.

 

As a professionally trained chef—and a professional procrastinator—I’ve found ways to make meal planning both easy and approachable. One of my favorite methods is writing out the dishes I can make using the ingredients I already have on hand.
By posting this list somewhere visible—usually on the fridge—it serves as a reminder that yes, there is food at home. Meal planning becomes simple when it's based on ingredients you already have.
Below is a list of recipe ideas based on the items distributed by the Switzerland County Food Pantry on Thursday, October 23, 2025. You can find links to these recipes on Purdue Extension Switzerland County’s Pinterest page, linked below.

 

 

Recipes

 

Written by Hailey Dornbusch

Posted on 10/27/2025

Recipe Ideas Based on Ingredients

Eggs 

  • Scrambled, fried, poached, boiled 

Bread 

  • Sandwiches, croutons, breadcrumbs, French toast, bread pudding, toast 

Canned Potatoes 

  • Scalloped potatoes, fried, stir fried, mashed potatoes, potato soup, potato pancakes, breakfast side dish, twice baked 
  • Corn and Potato Chowder 

Canned Garbanzos  

  • Fritters, hummus, crunch snack, soup add-in, salad 
  • Mediterranean Chickpea Burgers 
  • Crunchy Chickpea Trail Mix 
  • Cocoa Roasted Chickpeas  
  • Garlic Herb Chickpea Crackers 

Canned Chicken 

  • Southwest chicken, chicken salad, wraps, buffalo dip, patties, nuggets, added to salad or soup, alfredo, mediterranean meatballs 
  • Chicken Enchilada Soup 
  • Rosemary Lemon Chicken Patties 
  • Chicken Fritters 
  • Southwest Chicken Salad 
  • OG Chicken Salad 
  • Chicken Picoatta Meatballs 
  • Crockpot Butter Chicken 
  • Healthy Buffalo Chicken Soup 

Applesauce 

  • Snack, sub for eggs in baking, side dish or dessert, for pork chops, applesauce bread 

Canned Corn 

  • “grilled” salad, cornbread, stand-alone/side dish, soup, pot pie, southwest salad, wraps 

Raisins 

  • Bread pudding, stand-alone/snack, trail mix, raisin caramel, cinnamon raisin bagels, bread and muffins 
  • Sticky Raisin Baked Oats 

Corn Stock  

  • Soup, rice, drink, etc.  

Chocolate Aquafaba Mousse with Raisin Caramel & Pecan Garnish

Food is Medicine – Lesson 1 Dessert

I had so much fun creating this dish—it all started with a humble bag of raisins. As I often do, I began brainstorming different ways to use them and realized they could be a great substitute in some of my favorite healthy date-based dessert recipes.

The second inspiration came from leftover chickpea liquid, also known as aquafaba. I knew it was a popular egg substitute in vegan baking, but wasn’t sure how I wanted to use it. After a bit of research (and giving in to my sweet tooth), I landed on a chocolate aquafaba mousse, paired with a raisin caramel and topped with pecans.

Just like the Southwest Bowls, I focused on using ingredients I already had on hand—keeping it simple, affordable, delicious, and shelf-stable. The result was a quick, easy dessert with a healthier ingredient list that supports a more sustainable approach to nutrition.

As always, I hope you enjoy it! I’d love to hear your thoughts or suggestions—please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Happy Food, Happy Health
- Hailey Dornbusch

Published on 10/27/2025

Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients

  • 1/2 C powdered sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 200 ml (1 can) Aquafaba
  • 7 oz chocolate, 60%
  • 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1/3 C milk

Directions

  • Pot a saucepot on the stove halfway full of water and bring it to a simmer.
  • Drain a can of chickpeas saving the liquid. Set the chickpeas aside you will not be using them . Put the liquid called Aquafaba in the fridge to chill.
  • Mix the powdered sugar, cream of tartar, and salt into a bowl. Set aside.
  • Place the aquafaba in the stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Slowly increase the speed until it reaches its highest setting. Once the liquid becomes white and frothy, start slowly adding in the powdered sugar mixture. After the powdered sugar is fully incorporated, let the mixture whip until it forms a stiff peak.
  • In a metal bowl, add the chocolate and milk. Place the bowl over the simmering pot and allow the chocolate to melt.
  • Gently fold the melted (not hot) chocolate into the aquafaba whip.
  • Portion into ramekins and place in the fridge to set for two hours.
  • Serve with caramel and pecan topping.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 8.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 159
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 10 g 16 %
Saturated Fat 6 g 30 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 1 mg 0 %
Sodium 23 mg 1 %
Potassium 29 mg 1 %
Total Carbohydrate 18 g 6 %
Dietary Fiber 2 g 7 %
Sugars 15 g
Protein 2 g 5 %
Vitamin A 1 %
Vitamin C 0 %
Calcium 1 %
Iron 10 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

Raisin Caramel

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp vanilla 
  • 1 C raisins
  • 1 C hot water
  • Pinch of Salt

Directions

  • Bring water to a boil.
  • In a heat safe bowl, add the raisins.
  • Once the water is boiling hot, pour it over the raisins and let it soak for at least thirty minutes. If you have the time, set it in the fridge overnight to soak after the thirty minutes.
  • Place the soaked raisins, the water, 1 tsp vanilla, and a pinch of salt into a food processor or blender.
  • Blitz the mixture until it forms a smooth paste.
  • If you do not want any of the texture, pass the sauce through a strainer. Although this step is not necessary.
  • In a medium-low heat saucepot, add the paste and allow it to cook down for about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
  • The sauce will thicken as it cooks. Cook it longer if you would like it to be thicker. Be careful not to burn the natural sugars and remember that the sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
  • Either serve right away or chill in the fridge.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 16.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 31
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 0 g 0 %
Saturated Fat 0 g 0 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0 %
Sodium 12 mg 0 %
Potassium 75 mg 2 %
Total Carbohydrate 8 g 3 %
Dietary Fiber 0 g 2 %
Sugars 7 g
Protein 0 g 1 %
Vitamin A 0 %
Vitamin C 0 %
Calcium 1 %
Iron 1 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.
Meal Nutritional Value