6 Snow-Day Recipes from the Pantry

Snowed in with a near-empty fridge? Food Network Kitchen worked up these six comforting recipes made exclusively with nonperishable pantry ingredients.

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FROM THE PANTRY: CREAMY MUSHROOM PASTA
Food Network Kitchen
Bowtie Pasta, Evaporated Milk, Chicken Broth, Olive Oil, AllPurpose
Flour, Dijon Mustard,
Garlic, Worcestershire Sauce, Sweet Paprika, Jar Sliced Mushrooms, Sherry Vinegar or
White Wine Vinegar, Dried Dill Weed, Dried Chives, or Dried Parsley

FROM THE PANTRY: CREAMY MUSHROOM PASTA Food Network Kitchen Bowtie Pasta, Evaporated Milk, Chicken Broth, Olive Oil, AllPurpose Flour, Dijon Mustard, Garlic, Worcestershire Sauce, Sweet Paprika, Jar Sliced Mushrooms, Sherry Vinegar or White Wine Vinegar, Dried Dill Weed, Dried Chives, or Dried Parsley

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Pizza delivery is a pipe dream for anyone snowed-in, and it may be a few days before many can get to the store for fresh provisions. Fortunately, you don’t have to subsist on frostbitten leftovers from who knows when. Food Network Kitchen worked up these six comforting recipes made exclusively with nonperishable pantry ingredients. At first the rules seemed daunting — no fresh produce, no dairy, no fresh herbs, not even a squeeze of lemon! — but these recipes turned out so delicious that your family will never know. Plus, they make fun and easy cooking projects to keep cooped-up kids and adults occupied.

If you're snowed in, or just way too tired for a trip to the store on a busy weeknight, this comforting pasta (pictured above) is perfect. Think beef stroganoff meets chicken paprikash (without the meat). The sauce is uber-creamy without the help of cream. Instead, the combo of evaporated milk, flour and mustard does the trick.

FROM THE PANTRY: CURRIED PUMPKIN AND WILD RICE SOUP
Food Network Kitchen
Wild Rice Blend, Golden or Dark Raisins, Apple Cider Vinegar, Cashews, Almonds, or
Peanuts, Tomato Paste, Curry Powder, Onion Powder, Red Pepper Flakes, Olive Oil,
Chicken or Vegetable Broth, Pumpkin Puree

FROM THE PANTRY: CURRIED PUMPKIN AND WILD RICE SOUP Food Network Kitchen Wild Rice Blend, Golden or Dark Raisins, Apple Cider Vinegar, Cashews, Almonds, or Peanuts, Tomato Paste, Curry Powder, Onion Powder, Red Pepper Flakes, Olive Oil, Chicken or Vegetable Broth, Pumpkin Puree

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

There's always one can of pumpkin puree still kicking around after Thanksgiving. Put it to use in this ultra-flavorful soup. We use traditional cooking techniques (part mole, part curry) by making a paste with common pantry staples and frying it in oil to create a deep layer of flavor. If you don't have wild rice, just use 1/2 cup of any dry grain you have on hand.

FROM THE PANTRY: VEGAN PEARCRANBERRY
AND PECAN MUFFINS
Food Network Kitchen
Pecans, Walnuts, or Almonds, AllPurpose
Flour, Cornstarch, Baking Powder, Ground
Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Pears Packed in Syrup, Vegetable Oil, Sugar, Vanilla Extract,
Dried Cranberries, Cherries, or Raisins, Confectioners’ Sugar

FROM THE PANTRY: VEGAN PEARCRANBERRY AND PECAN MUFFINS Food Network Kitchen Pecans, Walnuts, or Almonds, AllPurpose Flour, Cornstarch, Baking Powder, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Pears Packed in Syrup, Vegetable Oil, Sugar, Vanilla Extract, Dried Cranberries, Cherries, or Raisins, Confectioners’ Sugar

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

You have no eggs or milk of any kind, and your pantry is bare, so baking is out of the question, right? Wrong! These clever muffins use cornstarch instead of eggs and canned-fruit syrup in place of milk. Use whatever nut or dried fruit you have on hand and canned peaches if you don't have pears.

FROM THE PANTRY: MEXICAN BEAN, RICE AND CORN BAKE
Food Network Kitchen
Converted White Rice, Tomatoes, Chili Powder, White Vinegar, Chipotle en Adobo, Corn
Tortilla Chips, Black Beans, Corn, Cream Corn, Salsa, Pickled Jalapenos

FROM THE PANTRY: MEXICAN BEAN, RICE AND CORN BAKE Food Network Kitchen Converted White Rice, Tomatoes, Chili Powder, White Vinegar, Chipotle en Adobo, Corn Tortilla Chips, Black Beans, Corn, Cream Corn, Salsa, Pickled Jalapenos

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

We took a cue from one of our favorite Mexican brunch dishes, chilaquiles (fried tortilla chips tossed with a red or green sauce), to create this easy no-shop recipe. The chili powder in the sauce has two jobs: one as flavor booster and the other as thickener.

FROM THE PANTRY: CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CORN CHIP CHOW
Food Network Kitchen
Semisweet Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter, Unsalted Butter, Unsweetened Cocoa Powder,
Corn Chips, Confectioners’ Sugar

FROM THE PANTRY: CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CORN CHIP CHOW Food Network Kitchen Semisweet Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter, Unsalted Butter, Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, Corn Chips, Confectioners’ Sugar

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Chances are you have all of these ingredients in your pantry, so get ready for your new favorite sweet-and-salty snack. Inspired by the classic kids' party treat, this combo of semisweet chocolate, salty peanut butter and toasty corn chips is completely addictive. And it keeps well in an airtight container at room temperature (though there might not be any left to store).

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Even if your pantry is close to bare, you probably have the fixins for these super-simple and special flatbreads. The combo of sun-dried tomatoes and vinegar gives the bean spread a tangy earthiness that goes great with the tuna-and-olive salad. It's a perfect big snack or small meal.

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