Recipes from the St. Vincent de-Paul Food Pantry

“What’s cooking?” is a question many families face daily. Some families don’t even bring up the topic because the cupboards are bare.

Food pantries provide families in need with items. However, there are times the family doesn’t know what to do with the free groceries delivered.

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

If you don’t know what to cook with the groceries provided, what good is the assistance?

That is why volunteers at the St. Vincent de-Paul Food Pantry want to provide some recipes to help people use the groceries they receive.

The food boxes currently being distributed during the distribution includes canned pears.

Please don’t throw them out because there are many “good eats” to be created with that simple can of pears, including:

1 - Open and drain the juice from the fruit. Use the liquid like apple juice, adding it to oatmeal, rice, or flavor vegetables.

2 - Use it while cooking chicken or pork, including mixing it in BBQ sauce.

3 - Freeze the juice along with the fruit to make smoothies for the family.

And that is just the beginning.

Here are some desserts to try:

MARSHMALLOW PEACH ICEBOX DESSERT

INGREDIENTS

1 T. UNFLAVORED GELATIN (1 PACKET)

1/4 COLD WATER

2 EGGS, SEPARATED

1/3 CUP BUTTER SOFTENED

1 CUP POWDERED SUGAR

10 OZ BAG MINI MARSHMALLOWS

4 CUPS CANNED PEACHES, DRAINED

1 1/2 CUP CRUSHED VANILLA WAFERS OR GRAHAM CRACKERS

INSTRUCTIONS

1. SOAK GELATIN IN THE COLD WATER FOR 5 MINUTES

2. IN A SMALL SAUCEPAN, CREAM THE BUTTER, POWDERED SUGAR, AND EGG YOLKS. COOK THE MIXTURE OVER LOW HEAT, STIRRING CONSTANTLY UNTIL SLIGHTLY THICKENED.

3. REMOVE THE MIXTURE FROM THE HEAT, STIR IN THE SOAKED GELATIN, MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO LUMPS. POUR THE MIXTURE INTO A LARGE BOWL AND ALLOW TO COOL FOR FIVE MINUTES.

4. IN A SEPARATE SMALL BOWL, BEAT THE EGG WHITES UNTIL STIFF PEAKS FORM.

5. FOLD THE PEACHES INTO THE BUTTER MIXTURE UNTIL THEY ARE ALL COATED. STIR IN THE MARSHMALLOWS AND GENTLY FOLD IN EGG WHITES.

6. IN A 8 X 10 OR 9 X 13 ( DEPENDING ON HOW THICK YOU WANT THE DESSERT), ADD HALF THE CRUSHED VANILLA WAFERS. TOP THE WAFERS WITH PEACH AND MARSHMALLOW MIXTURE. FINISH OFF BY TOPPING IT WITH THE REMAINING VANILLA WAFERS. REFRIGERATE FOR 2 HOURS BEFORE SERVING.

EASY PEACH DUMPLINGS

INGREDIENTS

1 CAN CRESCENT ROLL DOUGH

8 SLICES OF CANNED PEACHES, DRAINED. SAVE THE JUICE

1 STICK OF BUTTER

1/2 CUP OF 7 UP OR SPRITE

1/2 CUP OF POWDERED SUGAR

1/4 CUP OF BROWN SUGAR

1 1/2 TEASPOONS VANILLA

CINNAMON

INSTRUCTIONS

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350.

GREASE A 8 X 8 BAKING DISH AND SET IT ASIDE

PLACE EACH PEACH SLICE ON THE LARGER END OF AN UNROLLED CRESCENT ROLL DOUGH PORTION. FOLD THE CORNERS IN AND ROLL UP.

PLACE EACH DOUGH-COVERED PEACH IN THE PREPARED PAN.

IN A 2 CUP LIQUID MEASURING CUP, MICROWAVE THE BUTTER UNTIL MELTED.

STIR IN SUGARS, VANILLA, SODA, AND THE JUICE FROM THE PEACHES.

SPRINKLE THE DUMPLINGS WITH CINNAMON TO TASTE. DRIZZLE OVER THE LIQUID MIXTURE TO COVER ALL OF YOUR DUMPLINGS.

BAKES FOR 40 MINUTES. IF YOU NOTICE IT GETTING BROWNER THAN YOU WOULD LIKE, LOOSELY COVER THE PAN WITH FOIL.

SERVE WITH WHIPPED CREAM, ICE CREAM, OR DRIZZLE THE JUICE FROM THE PAN OVER THE TOP.

PEAR DUMP CAKE

INGREDIENTS

1 20 OUNCE CAN OF SLICED PEARS IN HEAVY SYRUP.

3 T. LIGHT BROWN SUGAR

1/2 TEASPOON CINNAMON

1 YELLOW CAKE MIX

1 STICK OF BUTTER

INSTRUCTIONS

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350,

IN A BOWL, STIR TOGETHER PEAR SLICES, BROWN SUGAR, AND CINNAMON.

PLACE THE PEAR SLICES INTO A BUTTERED 8 X 8 OR 7 X 11 PAN.

POUR THE CAKE MIX ON TOP OF THE FILLING.

POUR THE MELTED BUTTER OVER THE TOP OF THE CAKE MIX. MAKE SURE TO COVER THE ENTIRE TOP.

PLACE IN THE OVEN AND BAKE FOR 50 MINUTES UNTIL THE TOP IS GOLDEN BROWN.

The non-denominational food program helps “all God’s children,” and helps families stretch their food budget. The food pantry works to make sure Clay County families do not go without food.

People in need of assistance – either with food or to check on bill assistance available - call at 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.