Produce Lists & Recipes

 

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The USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service

PRODUCE LIST

Cabbage

Potatoes

Grapes

Bananas

Apples

Watermelons

 

 

 Updated: December 9, 2025

Fresh Bites: Recipes of the Month

Seasonal produce meets pantry staples – easy, budget-friendly meals for every table.

Each month, we feature simple, flavorful recipes that highlight what’s in season and what you might already have from your pantry or food box.

Whether you're cooking with meat, going meatless, or craving something sweet, there's something here for everyone.

🍗 Meat-Based Recipes

Hearty meals featuring lean proteins paired with seasonal produce and pantry staples.

  • White Chicken Chili:

    • This comforting recipe is made with green enchilada sauce, corn, and canned chicken. Everything simmers together in one pot on the stovetop, making it an easy, hearty meal with minimal dishes.

  • Southwestern Stuffed Potatoes:

    • This hearty meal is loaded with canned chicken, black beans, corn, cheese, and salsa. This easy, flexible recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and comes together quickly for a comforting meal.

🥕 Meat-Free Recipes

Delicious, filling recipes perfect for vegetarians or anyone looking to stretch their grocery dollars.

  • Minestrone Soup:

    • This vegetable soup is filled with beans, tomatoes, pasta, and tender veggies simmered in a rich, savory broth — an affordable, comforting recipe packed with fiber and vitamins to support a healthy, satisfying meal.

  • Chickpea Salad Sandwich:

    • ​​​​​​​This bright and creamy chickpea salad is made with crisp celery, light mayo, and lemon, piled onto bread with optional fresh veggies for a simple, satisfying sandwich — a no cook, cost-effective, family-friendly meal that uses simple pantry ingredients and is nutrient filled.

🍌 Dessert Recipes

Simple sweet treats using in-season fruits and common pantry ingredients.

  • Fruit Crisp:

    • This warm fruit bake is made with cinnamon and fruit cocktail topped with a crunchy oat and almond crumble — a comforting, pantry-friendly dish that adds fiber from the oats and almonds while providing a warm, satisfying treat.

  • Peanut Butter Rice Cakes:

    • This quick and wholesome snack is made with a crunchy rice cake topped with creamy peanut butter and fresh banana slices for the perfect sweet, satisfying bite — an easy, customizable snack that works with any fruit you have on hand.

 

Recipes from Our Nutrition Classes

Each month, our Nutrition Education team shares recipes in our classes that are easy, affordable, and made with ingredients you might already have in your pantry.

🍴Here’s what we’ve been cooking together this month:

  • Apple Dijon Kale Salad:

    • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This crisp and refreshing kale salad is tossed with tart apples and a tangy Dijon dressing for a bright, flavorful bite — a nutrient-rich dish packed with fiber and vitamins, perfect for a fresh and affordable meal or side.

  • Zesty Avocado Black Bean Dip:

    • This creamy, zesty dip blends ripe avocado, black beans, fire-roasted corn, jalapeño, and lime for a healthy, fiber-rich snack — a quick, no-cook recipe that doubles as a dip, spread, or taco filling using some pantry staples and fresh produce.

  • Strawberry Banana Smoothie:

    • A sweet and creamy smoothie blending fresh strawberries and banana for a refreshing, fruity drink — an easy, single-serving recipe that works with fresh, frozen, or fruit cups.

  • Sweet Potato Fries with Honey Mustard:

    • A simple and hearty 6-can chili loaded with beans, corn, and tomatoes simmered with warm spices for an easy, flavorful meal.

  • Elote (Mexican Corn in a Cup):

    • This flavorful, healthier take on classic elote is made with sweet corn tossed in a tangy yogurt-mayo sauce, Parmesan, lime, and a hint of chili and spices — a simple, low-prep recipe that works with canned, frozen, or fresh corn and comes together in less than 10 minutes!

Interested in hosting a nutrition education class? Please reach out to Kathryn Clanton at kathrync@bvfb.org.

 

Recipe Collections

Each recipe collection below highlights a common pantry ingredient and shows how it can be used in several simple, healthy, and affordable recipes. These collections are designed to give practical ideas for everyday meals using ingredients often found in food pantries.