The bare shelves at Walmart, Target, and Publix told me I'm not the only one who stocked up on canned goods when the stay-at-home order was put in place (in what seems like a lifetime ago). But what do we do with them now? If I'm honest, I'm not really a pro when it comes to cooking with canned goods. But after a little research and discovering that many of them help with digestion, and are a great source of protein, I knew I needed to incorporate them into my diet and not just keep pushing them to the back of the shelf. While I'm only human and have ventured off into ice cream and cookies on more occasions than I would like to admit, I have to say, canned goods are my pantry's best-kept secret. A bonus is that many of them are easy and don't require a lot of time.
If I can make the best of them, anyone can (trust me). Check out a few recipes that use your canned goods for all of their delicious and nutritious potentials.
Moroccan Chickpea Stew:
It's vegetarian, it's packed with flavor (and protein, thanks to the chickpeas), and it's Moroccan. This recipe might be the getaway our taste buds never knew they needed.
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Sweet Potato Chilli:
Break out the sun-dried tomatoes. From Italian sausage and bell peppers to of course sweet potatoes, this recipe is where the real party is.
Vegetarian Black Bean Omelet:
Black beans never tasted so good.
Winter Minestrone:
Our hearts could all use a little warming up, and this minestrone soup does just that.
Sweet Potato-Pecan Pancakes:
Who knew sweet potatoes could be even more delicious? This recipe calls for canned sweet potatoes, cottage cheese, oats, and your appetite.
Golden Sweet Cornbread:
While you're making chili and stews, you might as well grab canned corn and indulge in this amazing cornbread!
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Easy Peach Cobbler:
No quarantine is stopping this groove. Canned peaches are the golden ingredient for this sweet treat.
Copycat Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli:
For those who are craving their favorite Italian joint, this recipe is definitely more than a constellation prize (and it's the perfect excuse to use the canned beans that have been camped out in your pantry).
Easy Vegan Chickpea Nuggets:
Vegans and vegetarians might not ever have a problem finding use for their canned goods, but this recipe certainly switches things up.
Creamed Spinach:
You only need three ingredients for this one: canned spinach, fried onions, and sour cream. And they all come together so perfectly.
Featured image by Shutterstock
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Get to know Ashley below.
xoNecole: Where are you from?
Ashley Versher: San Francisco - BAY AREAAAAAA!!!!
xoN: What was your first major acting role?
AV: A 49ers Super Bowl commercial - I think I was 3.
Ashley Versher
Johnny Marlow
xoN: Have you ever had an embarrassing or funny audition story? If so, what happened?
AV: Yes! I was doing a self-tape once and I forgot to take off my bonnet. But the tape was so good I sent it in anyway.
xoN: Your hair is gorgeous. What has it been like navigating Hollywood with natural hair?
AV: Thank you so much! Navigating Hollywood with natural hair has definitely been a journey of self-discovery. Early on, I had to make a conscious decision about how I wanted to show up—not just in this industry, but for myself. Once I fully embraced my natural hair and committed to the journey, everything else began to align. It’s been nothing short of empowering.
Navigating Hollywood with natural hair has definitely been a journey of self-discovery. Early on, I had to make a conscious decision about how I wanted to show up—not just in this industry, but for myself.
xoN: What are your favorite go-to hair products?
AV: Ooooooo, right now I’m loving Camille Rose’s Jai Twisting Butter—it’s super moisturizing and gives me a fun, bouncy twist-out! I’ve also recently gotten into oils, and I’m especially loving sweet almond oil.
xoN: We know you as an actress, but what is another special talent you have that most people don't know about?
AV: I trained as a classical violinist for 13/14years.
xoN: Who is your hero?
AV: My mom. She’s incredible - full stop.
Ashley Versher
Johnny Marlow
xoN: How do you like to spend your down time?
AV: Ha! What’s that!? Jk jk, I love to travel, that’s honestly my favorite thing.
xoN: Who was your first celebrity crush?
AV: Prince.
xoN: What is your dream role?
AV: One day I will play a witch with Harry Potter-like powers!
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Feature image by Johnny Marlow