WHAT’s COOKING: Canned pork - It's for dinner

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Canned meat products have been used as a part of the commodity supplemental food program for years by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to supplement the diets and incomes of families.

Canned meats once had a terrible reputation, being described as almost like chewing rubber.

However, in recent years, canned meat products (such as SPAM) have become culinary and cultural delights. It’s versatile with a long shelf life, so it’s easy to incorporate into many recipes to add tasty protein.

Canned pork is convenient and a great kitchen staple for when you want a quick and delicious meal, and is the recipe selection by Annunciation’s St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry.

Beef Potato Pancakes

6 oz of can beef, broken into very small chunks

3 med potatoes, shredded

2 green onions, chopped

1 large egg

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Place all items, except oil, in a bowl, form into golf size balls. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place potato balls, a few at a time, into the hot skillet. Flatten balls with a spatula and fry until crisp and golden brown, about 7 minutes per side. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.

Canned BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

1 can pork

BBQ sauces

Hamburger Buns

Cheese

Open and drain a can of pork. Place pork in a saucepan and scrape off and discard any fat. Break up pork and heat on medium. When pork is heated through, add sauce and stir till heated. Serve on buns with cheese.

Garlic Pork Puffs

Cooking spray

10 ounces of can pork, shredded

2 ounces of cream cheese, or more to taste

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 (8 ounce) can refrigerated crescent roll dough

Preheat oven to 375. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Stir pork, cream cheese, and garlic powder together.

Unroll crescent rolls and cut each triangle in half into 2 triangles, for a total of 16 triangles. Lay the triangle out on a flat surface. Place 1 tsp of the pork mixture in the center of each dough triangle and fold the corners over the mixture into the center. Place triangles onto a prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and puffed 12 to 14 minutes; cool before serving.

Pork Tacos

28 oz can of pork

1 jar salsa 16 oz or 1 T. taco seasoning

8 soft corn tortillas

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped, optional

1/2 cup white onion, diced

Lime wedges

shredded cheese

Add canned pork and juices to a saucepan over medium heat. Add salsa or taco seasoning and mix well for a few minutes. Heat tortillas according to package directions. To assemble tacos, add pork and toppings. Finish with a squeeze of lime juice.

Annunciation’s St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry provides food to those needing assistance in the area, including dairy, various proteins, fresh vegetables, fruit, and canned and boxed goods.

What good is the assistance if you don’t know what to cook with the groceries provided? Volunteers at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry want to provide recipes to help people use their groceries.

People in need of assistance – either with food or to check on bill assistance available - call 812-531-3637 or stop by the next food pantry event held each Tuesday.

Tax-deductible donations can be sent to Annunciation Church, 19 North Alabama Street, Brazil, 47834.