551276 Fri Aug 22 20:02:28 -0700 2008 200 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 3979924 just wondering what the allure is. Fri Aug 22 20:02:34 -0700 2008 15732 MarkG 1 3979934 I will buy canned corn for making soup in the winter. I also use canned beans to make my own refried beans. Fri Aug 22 20:08:00 -0700 2008 3979924 111530 gordeaux 2 3981922 Heh. Well we had a long power outage earlier this summer but luckily I have a gas stove that I can light with a match. I was awful glad to be able to dig out a little sealed container of instant coffee in the morning and boil some water so I wouldn't have to face the world without my cup of coffee. It was crappy but it did the trick. When life is going well it is good to have the best of everything in the way of food and drink that is within budget, but when life gets rough, (power outages, nasty colds and flus and even worse stuff) its good to have some canned veggies, condensed soup and instant coffee in your cupboard. Just in case. And the condensed soups have the added benefit of being foods from my childhood for me, especially comforting when life doesn't play fair. Sat Aug 23 22:58:32 -0700 2008 3979934 184593 givemecarbs 3 4902881 We have frequent power outages. Luckily I can always cook because I have a gas cook top. I just have to ignite it with a gas match. I use a French Press so good coffee is not an issue. Thu Jul 30 07:22:20 -0700 2009 3981922 10285 Candy 3 4984695 We, too have a gas stove....and an old Pyrex percolator, so we can always have decent coffee if the power is out (a rarity around here). Thu Aug 27 21:16:03 -0700 2009 3981922 226942 al b. darned 1 3979964 Instant espresso for tiramisu; Campbell's tomato and chicken noodle soups for whenever we need some... Fri Aug 22 20:33:27 -0700 2008 3979924 10877 Sarah 1 3979986 Instant coffee works really well in small amounts to any recipe with chocolate. Just a teaspoon will enhance the chocolate, so yes I use instant coffee. Canned veggies? I actually prefer canned peas to fresh or frozen and canned corn comes in very handy. I also love canned beets. Condensed soups I use in a couple of my nostalgic comfort food recipes. And Campbells chicken noodle soup is one of the ingredients in my flu cure! Fri Aug 22 20:52:24 -0700 2008 3979924 162300 MrsRosencranz 1 3980005 I always have condensed campbell's soup on hand for the days when I am sick and just need soup to sip on....it is a lot easier than making it from scratch or driving all the way to costco for it. Usually when I make soup I freeze some, but I don't like to leave it around for long periods of time. Also, I LOVE canned green beans. Fri Aug 22 21:06:42 -0700 2008 3979924 70884 Mag454 1 3980024 No on the instant coffee and canned vegetables (except for beans). A big YES on condensed soup. I always joke that I don't feel safe without a few cans of Campbell's in the house. If nothing else sounds good, I can always eat their chicken noodle or tomato soup. I also like some of the less common ones like scotch broth, minestrone or chicken with wild rice. Fri Aug 22 21:18:27 -0700 2008 3979924 11204 srr 1 3980070 My favorite comfort food is grilled cheese and Campbell's condensed tomato soup - always made with milk, not water. And I get my beans in cans. Fri Aug 22 21:52:10 -0700 2008 3979924 76025 mojoeater 2 3984412 With you all the way. My favorite comfort lunch, too. Lots of pepper and croutons in the soup- though I also like TJ tomato soup. Mon Aug 25 07:13:28 -0700 2008 3980070 11057 macca 2 3985949 With you all the way up to the grilled cheese. It's more likely to be tuna fish sandwiches, made from tuna in cans, of course. Mon Aug 25 14:19:30 -0700 2008 3980070 137881 BerkshireTsarina 1 3980089 Yep! Couldn't live without canned tomato products! Instant coffee great in baked goods. Canned beans have good quality and flavor, makes it very quick and easy to work into recipes. Yes, dry are cheaper and easy to cook - I do use them for soups and such, but canned allows me to not have to plan ahead. Campbell's tomato is my comfort food of choice when feeling sick. Canned pineapple and mandarin oranges are great in the winter for making a dish a little sunnier. Canned pumpkin has so many uses (plain, not pie filling). Canned evaporated low fat milk adds creaminess to recipes without the calories of cream. Sweetened condensed milk & coconut milk are pantry staples. Having lived in areas with weather extremes, canned goods are the basis for emergency living. I always have several weeks supply just in case. The times I've been without power and/or water for a week or more due to floods or storms have made me never want to be without! Fri Aug 22 22:05:16 -0700 2008 3979924 111267 meatn3 1 3980128 I still buy canned corn, canned beans and canned (but NOT condensed) soup. I no longer buy instant coffee ... I did once, a long time ago. Fri Aug 22 22:38:39 -0700 2008 3979924 11583 ipsedixit 1 3980137 This is so cool to find that there are so many other Campbells Chicken Noodle Soup eaters on Chowhound- I am not alone! My wife has started eating the no fat stuff from Progresso- not me! Give me my Campbells, dammit! Fri Aug 22 22:43:26 -0700 2008 3979924 96658 Clarkafella 2 4152267 I buy Campbell's CNS a case at a time at Costco. It is my #1 comfort food. If I'm sick, depressed, hungover, cold, whatever. And I ALWAYS make it with milk not water. And I use only half a can of milk so it's full of all that "good" flavor. My husband worries if I don't have at least one can in the pantry :) Wed Nov 05 17:38:05 -0800 2008 3980137 131001 c oliver 1 3980157 Yes. Instant coffee is good in baked goods and allows a coffee fix when backpacking. Canned tomatoes, olives, capers, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, baby corn, red-in-snow, and probably numerous other things I can't think of provide ingredients where fresh really isn't an option, at least most of the year. Canned clam chowder and tomato and chicken-noodle soups allow my kids to put something hot on the table in under 3 minutes when I'm too sick, tired, or busy to cook or supervise their cooking. What's the allure? What, is that supposed to imply that those who buy these ingredients are somehow inferior? The allure is that it's food that keeps in the pantry indefinitely. Anybody who refuses to use tomatoes out of a can in January isn't just a snob, they must not like tomatoes much, either. Fri Aug 22 23:01:58 -0700 2008 3979924 58743 alanbarnes 2 3980522 It's also a great way to survive a hurricane. I keep on hand jars of peas, green beans, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, campbell's tomato soup and several types of canned heat-and-eat soups for disasters - but the corn, beans and soups always end up being replaced over the year. Sometimes you just need tomato soup with cheeze-its. Or maybe that's just me. Sat Aug 23 08:00:19 -0700 2008 3980157 152043 TampaAurora 3 4043727 We've always kept a larder full of some tinned meats (here in Toronto, we can get canned flakes of ham, chicken, and turkey in addition to canned fish; you can use it to make ham or chicken salad fairly quickly; it's not great tasting, but it's OK in a pinch), canned vegetables like corn, peas, green beans, tomatoes, and legumes, and Asian vegetables like bamboo shoots, baby corn, hearts of palm, canned sauces, like pasta sauce, coconut milk, and of course, canned soups, baked beans, and chili. We also keep 4 five gallon jugs of water (they get changed every couple of months; the old ones get poured into toilet tanks or baths). And we have a little propane stove. We're just trying to be prepared in case of a natural (or man-made) disaster. I'll bet there's plenty of people in south Texas right now that wish they had these things. But in the winter, tinned tomatoes still taste better than the lousy "fresh" tomatoes at the grocery. And as others have written, Campbell's tomato made with milk (and I add some basil) is still a nice warm comfort food. I don't even put it in a bowl; I just drink it from a mug. Wed Sep 17 23:10:42 -0700 2008 3980522 48210 KevinB 2 4983409 What is red-in-snow? Thu Aug 27 12:41:08 -0700 2009 3980157 132739 lilmomma 3 5125515 A green, leafy Chinese vegetable. http://www.chinesefoodmore.com/html/pork/Pork-Shreds-with-Red-in-Snow_288.html Fri Oct 23 10:54:39 -0700 2009 4983409 14386 BobB 1 3980164 Allure? Do you live in a climate where you can pick corn out of the garden in January? Fri Aug 22 23:13:29 -0700 2008 3979924 55316 mpalmer6c 2 3981123 I don't, but I don't buy canned corn. I much prefer frozen. The only canned vegetables I buy are beans, tomatoes, occasionally chiles, and pumpkin. Don't buy canned soup, condensed or otherwise. Instant espresso powder for cooking, but I've never mixed it up to drink. Sat Aug 23 13:54:37 -0700 2008 3980164 10074 Caitlin McGrath 3 3984162 Just looked in my cupboard - chickpeas, beans, coconut cream and baked beans. I suspect my fondness for the latter is similar to the outpourings of affection for campbell's here on this discussion. Taste of childhood. Actually didn't buy a single tin of Italian tomatoes over the winter - we jarred 30 pounds of roasted tomatoes in batches during the summer. Actually is more convenient than tins, since I can use them straight as a sauce, no more cooking required. But I just don't get the American obsession with canned pumpkin. It makes no sense to me to carve pumpkins for hallowe'en decorations, and make pumpkin pie with canned. Although pumpkin pie tastes like sugar and nutmeg and cinnamon to me, so maybe it's a waste to use the good stuff in it? So not a fan... I keep instant coffee for when Grandma visits. She won't touch my bialetti-brewed artisan beans. I guess it's generational. Mon Aug 25 05:24:41 -0700 2008 3981123 10431 Gooseberry 4 3984165 I am guilty of canned pumpkin. Its just so darn easy. as a side note.... i have a cat that is obsessed with pumpkin..... as i discovered when he crawled in the trash can and shoved his head in to the can to lick out the bits...... and when he started biting the halloween pumpkin. Now the can is disposed of with a bit more care. Mon Aug 25 05:27:58 -0700 2008 3984162 165021 Firegoat 5 3993363 I had a cat with a pumpkin fixation as well. He'd also take mandarin orange segments out of your mouth if given the opportunity (my brother discovered this one). Odd. Thu Aug 28 04:43:56 -0700 2008 3984165 116540 kali_MM 6 4904222 We had a cat once who went crazy over cantalope of all things. He could smell you cutting it a mile away, and would come running, meowing for a piece. On the subject of this thread, I regularly use canned tomatoes (for pasta sauce in the winter), beans (pinto/black beans for a quick side dish or to use in chili, garbanzo beans for hummus), canned green chiles and hearts of palm on occasion, and canned tuna, of course. I rarely buy condensed soups, but sometimes will buy progresso chicken when I've got a cold and don't have any homemade soup in the freezer. I also keep a jar of Nescafe Classico on hand for the rare instances when I run out of coffee. Edited to add: Herdez salsa casera in the can is also a great product. Thu Jul 30 13:35:43 -0700 2009 3993363 11028 DanaB 7 4904530 dana, my cat too!! she'd even gnaw the rind..... hearts of palm....lovely. costco has an excellent product for the price. Thu Jul 30 15:05:33 -0700 2009 4904222 105717 alkapal 7 4983416 What is Herdez sasa casera and what do make with it? Thu Aug 27 12:43:05 -0700 2009 4904222 132739 lilmomma 8 4994113 Salsa casera is a variety of canned/jarred salsa offered by the Herdez label. It is a tomato based salsa with a hint of heat from chiles; it's great on tacos or with chips. To my taste, it's the best prepared salsa out there, including the "fresh" salsas sold in the produce aisle. It's much better than other canned or jarred salsas. It's typically stocked in the Mexican Foods section of the grocery store. I'm assuming it's nationally available, as I've bought it in both California and Wisconsin. Herdez's salsa verde is also quite good. http://www.herdeztraditions.com/herdez/salsa_casera.aspx Mon Aug 31 16:10:09 -0700 2009 4983416 11028 DanaB 6 5125519 No weirder that a cat I had once who liked blueberries. Most cats would just play with 'em, this cat liked to eat them. Fri Oct 23 10:55:58 -0700 2009 3993363 14386 BobB 7 5130064 I had a cat who liked pinto beans. also, potato chips... Sun Oct 25 16:45:04 -0700 2009 5125519 116047 The Professor 5 4995047 firegoat and kali, you've gotta see this pumpkin! http://atwestend.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=931 cute, huh? Tue Sep 01 03:49:19 -0700 2009 3984165 105717 alkapal 4 3984174 I use canned pumpkin almost weekly in baked good as a way to cut fat while adding moisture. For pumpkin pie I'll start with whole pumpkins, but I am not about to do that weekly. Mon Aug 25 05:31:55 -0700 2008 3984162 82243 ArikaDawn 4 3984191 As I'm not a fan of pumpkin pie, I don't have canned pumpkin in my pantry. But I have read more than once that canned pumpkins make better pumpkin pies than regular pumpkins. Mon Aug 25 05:41:37 -0700 2008 3984162 10763 Miss Needle 5 3984270 I don't think it makes better pumpkin pie, but it make a different pumpkin pie. I use real pumpkin because my mom makes frozen pumpkin pies. Between the two of us, we have our bases covered. Mon Aug 25 06:16:52 -0700 2008 3984191 82243 ArikaDawn 6 3984415 This as another side note, I'm told that the plum sauce served in chinese restaurants isn't made from plum at all, but rather canned pumpkin... Mon Aug 25 07:16:31 -0700 2008 3984270 176627 porker 6 3985344 I've been told the canned stuff makes a smoother pie filling. To be honest, I've never tasted a pie that actually tasted of pumpkin. Which makes me wonder, what's the point? Might as well use potatoes. Mon Aug 25 11:35:36 -0700 2008 3984270 10431 Gooseberry 7 3985386 Too bad they don't can "sweet potato pie filling" or at least haven't where I live. I'd totally buy that. Mon Aug 25 11:50:04 -0700 2008 3985344 165021 Firegoat 8 3986170 Ask and ye shall receive. :-) http://www.amazon.com/Bruces-Sweet-Potato-Fill-12ct/dp/B0002IMRVK (But you have to buy 12) http://www.cajunsupermarket.com/product_info.php?products_id=1449 Here's the direct site: http://www.brucesyamsbrand.com/ Holy smokes - look at the price directly from Bruce's! Gotta be worth ordering a few cans for your pantry. :-) http://www.brucefoods.com/mystOre/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=266 Mon Aug 25 15:25:38 -0700 2008 3985386 10532 LindaWhit 8 3987182 One of my quickest lunches (I work from home) is an orange-fleshed sweet potato, microwaved for a couple of minutes (topping depend on what's in the fridge!). Seriously, the ease of that thing is on a par with opening a can, and since sweet potato flesh is so soft, it would be pretty easy to mush it to a smooth puree with a fork (I imagine you'd have to stick pumpkin in a blender, to get rid of the stringiness). Tue Aug 26 01:54:43 -0700 2008 3985386 10431 Gooseberry 9 4152568 Gooseberry, my son adores sweet potatoes and, when in high school, ate them for breakfast all one winter. I got up to go to work an hour before he had to get up so I would put a big sweet potato in the oven and turn it on; by the time he got up the sweet potato would be done and he would have it busted open with butter and brown sugar, plus a few glasses of milk. An unusual breakfast but it sent him to school full of hot nourishing food. Wed Nov 05 20:32:45 -0800 2008 3987182 15521 Querencia 10 4890598 That sounds like a __wonderful__ breakfast!!! Sat Jul 25 18:30:00 -0700 2009 4152568 116047 The Professor 7 3985423 When you roast and puree your own pumpkin for the pie it DEFINITELY tastes more of pumpkin. I must admit, I'm a pecan/chocolate-pecan pie girl myself. Mon Aug 25 12:01:56 -0700 2008 3985344 82243 ArikaDawn 8 3987183 well point made for making it yourself, then. the stuff in tins tastes sweet to me, but nothing like a home roasted pumpkin. Tue Aug 26 01:55:47 -0700 2008 3985423 10431 Gooseberry 9 3988987 "the stuff in tins tastes sweet to me" ~~~~~~ gooseberry, make sure you're using straight canned pumpkin, and not "pumpkin pie filling." *huge* difference. Tue Aug 26 14:29:33 -0700 2008 3987183 103920 goodhealthgourmet 7 3988980 it's not just about smoothness, it's also the depth & consistency of flavor...as well as water content & volume of flesh. with fresh pumpkin you can never be sure about all these variables, whereas you know exactly what you're getting in the can, and it's the same every time. unfortunately you don't end up with all those yummy seeds to toast when you use the canned stuff. Tue Aug 26 14:28:10 -0700 2008 3985344 103920 goodhealthgourmet 8 3989188 Yummy and high-protein seeds. A treat for us, essential protein for the Aboriginal people who developed those plant species. The venison etc the guys brought home was always welcome, but the womenfolk of many peoples were providing a secure source of nutrition, including protein... I was very touched by the comments about the fact that tins are important for people of limited means. I don't necessarily find them cheaper than frozen food or even fresh food out of season (depending on where one shops) but they can be bought on sale and kept as supplies for a long time. Some of the tinned food is a lot better now - for example, the Canadian President's Choice house brand (Loblaws and affilates - also available in some US supermarkets, especially near the border) has a line that is salt-free and doesn't seem overcooked. In France, I found that many people had no qualms about serving tinned haricots verts and other veg - and some products were good indeed. Though there are problems that must be resolved about the lining of the tins, in terms of food safety, as Eden foods has done. Tue Aug 26 15:40:51 -0700 2008 3988980 84119 lagatta 9 3990212 Hi Lagatta. If you're interested in the agricultural methods of Native Americans, I'd recommend looking out for Rosalind Creasy's "Cooking from the Garden" in your local library. She has a chapter on Native food gardens which tell wonderful stories and really evoke the traditions and thought processes behind their food and growing choices. I think tinned legumes (beans, chickpeas) are a really great way to get protein quickly and cheaply (although dried is certainly cheaper, but cooking times/fuels need to be factored in too). Wed Aug 27 01:48:49 -0700 2008 3989188 10431 Gooseberry 8 3990209 good point, gourmet. Don't remember if it was tinned pumpkin pie filling or plain pumpkin. I hate to be a pain, but isn't cooking with vegetables and fruits all about the variables? Different batches of peaches will require different levels of sweetening for pies, some zucchini is waterier than others. 'it's the same every time' is, for me at least, exactly what I do not want with fruit and veg. And there are so many amazing small pumpkins-squashes in the US, like the acorn and buttercup, which will give better flavour and texture than big pumpkins (which are difficult to handle too) every time. If the orange colour is an issue, I'd suggest butternut, which isthe closest thing to reliable in the pumpkin-squash family in my experience. Wed Aug 27 01:45:11 -0700 2008 3988980 10431 Gooseberry 9 3991888 "I hate to be a pain, but isn't cooking with vegetables and fruits all about the variables?" ~~~~~ you're hardly being a pain :) i don't know what it is about canned pumpkin, but i just always like the results better when i'm baking it into a batter, particularly for a dessert [pie, tart, custard, muffin] that uses the traditional pumpkin pie seasonings/spices. in any other preparation [e.g. a savory dish], i like to use fresh...but for sweet baking, it has to be canned. Wed Aug 27 13:10:11 -0700 2008 3990209 103920 goodhealthgourmet 10 3993782 fair enough. Thanks for the explanation. I'm off to roast that wedge of pumpkin from the market now... Thu Aug 28 08:30:24 -0700 2008 3991888 10431 Gooseberry 10 5146345 I actually prefer the fresh pumpkin - hands down - in any recipe. After blending, I strain it with a mesh colander (lined with cheesecloth if it isn't a fine enough mesh) to take out extra water. I like to have fun with the extra water and boil it down to either use in the recipes or make up a new one (I did pumpkin pudding this year!). The strained pumpkin makes beautiful baked goods (and chili!). My to-be-brother-in-law loved our pie - and he hated pumpkin pie up to that point! Sun Nov 01 04:33:13 -0800 2009 3991888 1120776 Beemazin 9 3995106 For baking, variable water/sugar content is not a blessing but a burden, sometimes a curse. Thu Aug 28 15:40:43 -0700 2008 3990209 13819 Karl S 9 4900960 I read somewhere that most canned 'pumpkin' is actually butternut squash. Wed Jul 29 12:32:45 -0700 2009 3990209 98500 Bat Guano 10 4902419 Libby's uses pumpkin, so I wouldn't say "most", at least when it comes to canned. What you have to watch out for is pumpkin pie, that's usually squash. Manufacturers are allowed to substitiute winter squash since it's the same species as pumpkin. Thu Jul 30 01:45:55 -0700 2009 4900960 11097 coll 5 4034464 I've read a number of nutritional websites touting the power of canned pumpkin (just google it!)...think about it: they never add HFCS to it (if that bothers you--it bothers ME)..no starches are added, no sodium is added, and it has fiber and vitamins, etc. It's a WONDERFUL item to have on any shelf in my opinion...you can mix it with plain yogurt and add a little honey and cinnamon for a delicious snack. You can make pancakes with canned pumpkin, all kinds of neat things. Though I totally hear what the poster is saying about Halloween and pumpkins...what a waste! Cook up that jack-o-lantern! Sun Sep 14 14:33:24 -0700 2008 3984191 11983 Val 4 3984715 Not a big fan of pumpkin, here, but I've been told that the jack-o-lantern pumpkins aren't so good for cooking. They're bred to hold up well as decorations, and so are starchier and less sweet than cooking pumpkins. FWIW... Mon Aug 25 09:00:36 -0700 2008 3984162 58743 alanbarnes 5 3984841 Canned pumpkin is a lifesaver around Thanksgiving. I seem to make more pie than I plan on! Mon Aug 25 09:33:01 -0700 2008 3984715 29932 MIss G 5 3985327 Yu're correct,in many parts of the country the pumpkins used for carving are a different variety than pumpkins used for cooking. Mon Aug 25 11:28:47 -0700 2008 3984715 10506 DiningDiva 6 3985364 Well, it's more convenient for pies. I cook pumpkin for savory dishes when I have the time. Mon Aug 25 11:41:55 -0700 2008 3985327 29932 MIss G 5 3985335 I admit, I rarely cook pumpkins myself. Here in South Africa, butternut is considered the king of winter squashes, and I have to say, I have yet to cook one that disappointed me. They store well, and I buy baby ones so they're easy to handle (roasted is best, but the microwave is sometimes a lifesaver). Whereas pumpkins seem to be a bit hit or miss, regarding wateriness, lack of flavour and stringiness. That said, I bought a slice of one of those gorgeous gnarly grey-skinned beauts at the farmer's market this weekend. I'm hoping it will be a winner for dinner tomorrow. While I don't want to get all combatant, I'd say there's something wrong with breeding a highly nutritious food into something tasteless, just so people can let 'em rot on their doorsteps, and then teaching kids that pumpkin comes from a can. I've heard of guerilla groups kidnapping jack o' lanterns during hallowe'en, and using them to make soup for homeless shelters. Sounds like a plan to me... Mon Aug 25 11:32:45 -0700 2008 3984715 10431 Gooseberry 6 3985413 Anyone else use the flat white pumpkins to make puree for pies and savory dishes? In about a month they will be selling all over NJ. Mon Aug 25 11:59:28 -0700 2008 3985335 36312 HillJ 4 3991646 Gooseberry, when I use canned pumpkin, I use it for a few baked goods, like muffins and quickbreads; it's a matter of convenience, like many other canned goods. I don't usually cook fresh pumpkin - though I understand there are some varieties that are especially good for cooking - but I love to use other winter squashes in season, for savory eating. Ironically, I've heard that most canned pumpkin is actually butternut squash. Wed Aug 27 12:02:35 -0700 2008 3984162 10074 Caitlin McGrath 4 4891942 The large pumpkins that we carve are not pie pumpkins -- they are very stringy and watery. Pie pumpkins are quite small. I've used them to make pie, but really, you can't tell the difference between it and a good canned brand. Sun Jul 26 13:22:31 -0700 2009 3984162 11995 pikawicca 1 3980454 Instant coffee: I mix coffee and milk with brown sugar before every weight and running workout--six days a week. This is not a substitute for coffee. I grind good beans and make good coffee at other times of the day. Canned vegetables: canned corn; water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, and sauerkraut when I'm in the US; sometimes canned cooked garbanzos. Condensed soup: No. I recently noticed some Campbell's soups in the imported section in my supermarket. They were about $6.00 each. Sat Aug 23 07:46:08 -0700 2008 3979924 36661 Sam Fujisaka 2 4152271 Sam, I'd forgotten about that. We spent three months in Rio last year. The markets had 3-4 Campbells soups and they were about US$5 equivalent. Wed Nov 05 17:40:58 -0800 2008 3980454 131001 c oliver 1 3980521 Obviously--have you visited your local supermarket or even "gourmet" groceries lately? The allure is that they're convenient, affordable for the most part, and well, they can taste pretty darn good as well! Sat Aug 23 08:00:14 -0700 2008 3979924 12045 gloriousfood 1 3980704 Yep. I always buy canned tomato products, artichoke hearts, garbanzos, water chestnuts, pumpkin, mandarin oranges, occasionally olives, though for most veggies I prefer frozen when fresh aren't available. In the winter there's a chicken dish I like that requires a can of 98%ff cream of chicken. No shame in my game. For me, the use of these canned products is primarily about convenience. When I'm in a time crunch I can pull out some dry pasta, a can of stewed tomatoes, a can of artichoke hearts, maybe some olives, toss in whatever herbs and garlic are hanging around and dinner is done in 20 minutes. Need a quick snack? Can of garbanzos + garlic + olive oil + whatever spices tickle my fancy + immersion blender = great healthy dip for veggies/pita in 5 minutes. Sat Aug 23 09:55:38 -0700 2008 3979924 82243 ArikaDawn 2 3980752 Well, I was scanning through the replies and formulating mine only to find that I can basically say "ditto" to ArikaDawn's entire answer. The one difference being I'm not a fan of canned olives (although, now that I think on it I'm not certain the olives we get from our local market aren't from a large can that I just don't see). Sat Aug 23 10:27:09 -0700 2008 3980704 80141 ccbweb 3 4904237 I forgot about olives! However, the only canned olives I really love are Graber's ripe green olives. They are to die for! http://www.graberolives.com/ Thu Jul 30 13:39:44 -0700 2009 3980752 11028 DanaB 4 4907951 There are excellent tinned green olives from Spain, stuffed with all manner of things. Fri Jul 31 18:54:04 -0700 2009 4904237 84119 lagatta 5 4983464 Yes, I brought back a can of lemon-stuffed ones from Despana when we were in NYC. I'm saving them for a special occasion. Was going to serve to some houseguests but they sicked out on us. Thu Aug 27 12:58:59 -0700 2009 4907951 131001 c oliver 3 4904521 Most olives I've seen at the grocery store or bulk come in either large vacum packed plastic pouches, sometimes "cans" that look like a pickle jar but are solid colored plastic and maybe in giant cans (that I'm not sure). I have seen some restaurants that buy olives in giant glass jars-they display t hem on the counter in a few places here, saw that at a shawarma restaurant! So, I don't think there are really any "fresh" olives,even though I'd like to try some sometime if possible.....not sure they would be very tasty though. I don't think there is anything "wrong" with canned food. I know a few people that are millionaires even and they keep some canned items at home- canned beans, dry goods like pasta, jarred tomato sauce (ok not canned but Healthy Choice? brand in the jars...., oh that same well off person they also like Breyers real vanilla ice cream-not the "fancy" stuff usually...... I don't really have anything canned right now,but do have tons of dry mixes for stuff and some jarred items like sauces. Thu Jul 30 15:02:56 -0700 2009 3980752 1092138 MiriamOttawa 4 4904724 You may want to scratch fresh olives from your list of things you want to try. They're not just "not very tasty," they're spit-it-out-quick nasty. Bitter, bitter, bitter. Thu Jul 30 16:23:59 -0700 2009 4904521 58743 alanbarnes 2 3982192 Ditto on the tomato products, artichoke hearts, garbanzos, water chestnuts, pumpkin, mandarin oranges, and olives (much better here!), plus I prefer canned corn in salads. I also keep frozen broccoli and green beans because the produce here is not always reliable. Oh, and instant chicken broth - if you add a spoon or two extra powder you get something remotely resembling stock :-) Sun Aug 24 07:00:25 -0700 2008 3980704 208045 Cowprintrabbit 1 3980722 I use instant coffee in the morning during the week - another poster tipped me off to the Nescafe Classic and it's quite decent. I save the good beans and French press for the weekends. I add half and half to the coffee, which I make quite strong, and it suits me very well when I want my coffee asap. I used canned tomatoes, since 85% of the year they are better than fresh tomatoes for sauce. Can't think of any other canned vegetables. I do use canned beans. Sat Aug 23 10:07:36 -0700 2008 3979924 10985 MMRuth 2 3983235 Nescafe does two slightlty more upscale instant coffees.Both are supreme, suprema gold label jars.I have not seen them state side in years.I make it a point to seek them in my travels.The flavor profile is more Latin or French Roast style.Travel lots, HATE almost ALL hotel coffee.Jars of the instant are a AM saver.Good instant expresso is recipe ready for many things. Sun Aug 24 16:01:34 -0700 2008 3980722 203919 lcool 2 4043829 We use Necafe Clasico for a quick caffeine hit. Much of the time I just don't want to take 15 minutes to grind Chiapas coffee beans and wait for the stuff to brew. Clasico works very well with hot molk to make a cafe con leche, although I don't often drink it that way. Canned tomatoes are unbeatable for flavor, color and consistency in cooking, especially here (Michoacan, Mexico), where for unknown reasons we can't seem to find decent ripe tomatoes. (Except for the expensive vine tomatoes as sold at Costco.) In fact, until recently, canned tomatoes were scarce, but now I can get Cirio Passata, sometimes Progresso, and more recently, Cidacos Spanish canned tomatoes. Thu Sep 18 01:44:18 -0700 2008 3980722 49726 Anonimo 1 3980738 Like many of the other contributors to this thread, I always have a few cans of soup on hand. I'm also one of those freaks that likes canned asparagus and colossal black olives. Allure is found in many places. Sat Aug 23 10:17:22 -0700 2008 3979924 13722 small h 2 3981043 Canned asparagus - good indeed. How about salsifs? I keep a few cans of condensed soup on hand as well for emergency purposes - you know that hangover from hell. No need for re-constituting (do not add water) - don't heat, just a can-opener and a spoon, then the allure of high-sodium cream of mushroom, or vegetable, or Snows clam chowder... Sat Aug 23 13:11:47 -0700 2008 3980738 176627 porker 3 3981120 Is salsifs a word I should know? or do you mean salsify? I've never seen canned salsify, but then again, I've never looked. Your canned soup hangover cure is gross! I may try it. Sat Aug 23 13:52:39 -0700 2008 3981043 13722 small h 4 3982878 Yeah, its salsify, but I assume that in french speaking quebec, its salsif. Actually, I've never seen fresh - only the canned version. If you like canned asparagus, you'll most likely enjoy canned salsify Sun Aug 24 12:51:29 -0700 2008 3981120 176627 porker 5 3985983 Do you do anything with it, or do you just eat it cold and plain (which is what I do with canned asparagus)? Mon Aug 25 14:26:01 -0700 2008 3982878 13722 small h 6 3986417 I drain the can and plop the pieces on a plate, salt, and eat. About 7 years ago, I walked into a nearby deli (cold cuts, cheeses, etc). The owner was east European (don't know from where). He was especially chatty on this evening, turned out he was enjoying a glass of red while watching the store. He offered me a glass which I cheerfully accepted (I had to call in the wife from the car. He gave her a glass of wine as well). Soon a man, apparently the deli owner's friend, walked in and it was a party of 4. The friend says "You know, the wine is good....but it needs something a bit more for full enjoyment". The deli guy slices some meats and empties a can of salsify on a plate. We eat, we tell stories. That was my introduction to canned salsify and I bought 4 cans on the spot. Oh, after a while Mrs. Deli walks in, looks at us all gives Mr. Deli a glare. She starts yelling at him in perhaps Polish or Hungarian. The three of us had to make a hasty exit! Mon Aug 25 17:01:28 -0700 2008 3985983 176627 porker 7 3986871 Great story Porker! That sounds like it was a fun time. I am also a fan of canned salsify, had it for the first time this Christmas, and it was very tasty. BTW, Jean-Talon Market had fresh salsify this weekend, at the Fermiere Jacques et Diane stall! In case you want to give it a try fresh. I'm thinking of buying a whackload and making oyster soup with it. Salsify is apparently a classic match for oysters. Re: other canned goods, I'm in the canned beans tomatoes and water chestnut group. I also adore canned peaches (Eek - I admit it!) and canned mangosteen and mandarines on cottage cheese. Somehow fresh fruit is less appealing with cottage cheese for me. Canned baby corn and bamboo shoots are just too easy to give up as well. Edit: Oh dear! Forgot my recent canned obsession - piquillo peppers from Spain! These are so delicious! Wonderful smoky flavour, so bright and sweet. How could I not mention these babies? Mon Aug 25 20:23:10 -0700 2008 3986417 89969 moh 8 3986956 I'll have to check out fresh - like I say, never even seen it. I'm assuming it looks like a bark covered asparagus? In the can area, I like various squid and octopus stews as well. Also chopped clams - I used to stock up on Snows brand from the states, but Clover Leaf has been selling in Canada for a few years now. Last week's episode of No Reservations had Bourdain in Barcelona, Spain. He was in a tapas bar where the owner cans his own seafood. A ten ounce tin was costing 160 Euros! For CLAMS! I couldn't beleive it. Mon Aug 25 21:13:25 -0700 2008 3986871 176627 porker 9 3986981 I like canned clams very much for making easy clam sauce for linguine. But 160 Euros seems excessive! Re: fresh salsify, they look like hairy woody parsnips. I thought initially they were parsnips, but the vendor set me straight. Here is a link to a picture of fresh salsify: http://bitespot.blogspot.com/2005_11_27_archive.html Wacky looking huh? Mon Aug 25 21:26:50 -0700 2008 3986956 89969 moh 1 3980745 Other than canned plum tomato or tomato paste, I haven't bought canned veggies in quite some time (if I can't get fresh I use frozen); canned beans are a great timesaver too. I keep some instant coffee around but use it mainly for cooking and baking. Condensed soups? Of course! Some folks turn their noses up at them, and naturally I prefer home-made...but Campbell's products have always been good in a pinch and I always have a few cans of Tomato around. When I was a kid I loved the Cream of Mushroom. I also used to like their Pepper Pot and Scotch Broth...not on the level of home made but still comforting...but those specialty soups seem to be getting phased out of their product line (when I do find them, I notice they are imported from Campbell's in Canada) Sat Aug 23 10:23:44 -0700 2008 3979924 116047 The Professor 2 3980811 i ditto Campbells tomato soup with basil, cream of pretty much anything really, the mushroom and garlic one is very nice. and i'm still a sucker for cream of celery. Sat Aug 23 11:02:59 -0700 2008 3980745 153184 im_nomad 1 3980803 count me in the numbers of barbaric individuals who use canned goods from time to time. yes, to canned beans, artichokes, baby corn, regular corn, chipotle in adobo sauce, water chestnuts, tomato products, coconut milk, pumpkin puree, olives, thick cream, and even occasionally mushrooms and full size corn on the cob in a can (throwback from childhood). I even used canned sweet potato chunks in a soup I made not too long ago, and they weren't half bad ! These things are convenient, particularly at times when some things aren't available or in some communities with only meat and potatoes type stores. I use instant coffee in baked goods all the time. And sometimes even the cheap-o stuff at that. I purchase instant mexican hot chocolate as well, also iced tea mixes. I prefer my own soups to canned, but i do keep a can or two hanging around for a blast from the past (there's something about lumpy cream of celery soup for some reason), or at work for days when i forgot my lunch. I prefer the tetra packed ones for many reasons, but i do like the Campbells fiesta vegetable too. Obviously I would not be able to leave a container of home-made soup in my desk drawer at work. Sat Aug 23 10:57:53 -0700 2008 3979924 153184 im_nomad 2 3983269 Barbaric? I'm on a budget, I can what I can grow in the summer and fill in what I need at the store. I buy canned beans alot since I don't always get around to soaking beans overnight. Sun Aug 24 16:17:43 -0700 2008 3980803 29932 MIss G 3 3983303 I do believe im nomad was being a bit facetious in reply to the OP - just look at the list given. He (the OP) seemed incredulous that anyone would use canned veggies, condensed soups, or instant coffee. Sun Aug 24 16:40:20 -0700 2008 3983269 10532 LindaWhit 1 3980824 Allure!? holy cow, how do YOU make a quick marinara in the dead of winter? Canned diced tomatoes and canned whole plum tomatoes are critical to the staple cupboard. So are canned black beans, garbanzos, and a few cans of diced green chiles. Instant coffee for baking, and decaf instant for guests who insist on non-coffee coffee. Sat Aug 23 11:06:43 -0700 2008 3979924 11599 Alice Letseat 1 3980961 various types of beans corn green beans peas (for one dish i make the canned just seem better) a variety of tomato products water chestnuts green chilies jalapenos beets and if i don't have at least two or three cans of the much maligned cream of mushroom soup on hand, i have trouble sleeping..hahah... i also like the roasted garlic cream of mushroom soup, makes a great tuna casserole (along with those canned water chestnuts.) Sat Aug 23 12:29:08 -0700 2008 3979924 57890 KaimukiMan 1 3981016 Ok, maybe I"m a minority of one (actually 2 since my wife sides with me on this one) I actually prefer Taster's Choice instant over "real" coffee. We even take it with us on trips. As to canned veg, there's always a lot of canned tomato stuff in this house, because I usually make my own spaghetti sauce, creole shrimp, salasa, etc. The dog likes canned green beans with his dinner - or mixed veg. There's also a few cans of mushrooms and water chesnuts for last minute prep. I do keep a few cans of condensed soup around for emergency recipes, but haven't had them as "soup" in a decade. oops....just checked the larder and found a can of artichoke hearts in there as well Sat Aug 23 13:00:01 -0700 2008 3979924 204342 FriedClamFanatic 2 3981373 My good friend from Russia dearly loves freeze dried coffee. She dumps about 1/2 cup of it into a small mug and drinks it black. I tried it with her insistance and I choked it down but it wanted to come back up. SO bitter and just....kaaaaaaa!! We cry if we can't have our freshly ground coffee every morning. It's not the worst vice to have... Anyway- I am a canned bean girl. Always buy a few cans, every shopping trip. They are essential. I also have other canned things and some jarred things and I couldn't make marinara from fresh tomatoes that are available locally- they are all pretty terrible. I get the big-ass cans of Nina from Costco. I love looking at them in my pantry. They cost hardly anything. Soup is another story. Only canned Progresso. If I have condensed campbells it's for something specific... Sat Aug 23 16:09:15 -0700 2008 3981016 110426 Boccone Dolce 1 3981290 Instant coffee- yes- only to make last minute iced coffee. Read about it somewhere as a trend in Greece- shaken and creamy and sweet with lots of rushed ice. Canned soup: Always keep a big can of chicken noodle (generic is fine) for my 17 year old. I use 2/3 the water called for, then after heating scoop out all the noodles with the mesh strainer and top up the big bowl with most of the "broth". His quicky soup when feeling poorly with lots of ground pepper. Also tend to pick up a can of Campbell's Golden Mushroom to make a faux beef stroganoff along with onions, garlic and sour cream. Fruit: Try to keep a can of lychee or rambutan in the fridge. The kid actually called me up when he was suffering from a vicious sore throat recently and could not get anything down. He stumbled into the fridge looking for honey (?in the fridge?), popped open the cold rambutan and was apparently in heaven. Tend to also keep a can of cranberry sauce (chunky) for when a sweet relishy craving hits.Only use a spoon or two and pack the rest in small containers for the freezer. Canned tomatoes for when 'maters are not so pretty, and canned beans for emergencies Sat Aug 23 15:22:38 -0700 2008 3979924 17682 torty 1 3981318 The allure is convenience and practicality. I buy canned tomatoes, olives, beans and soups regularly. There are just some days when you need to throw something together and canned items and some pasta will enable you to make a meal fit for a queen! These items are practical because you don't have to worry about them going bad and in the case of a power outage, you should always have some canned items in the cupboard. For instance...I had some canned potatoes in the back of my cupboard that my father had given me months ago. When he gave them to me, I just said "Gee, thanks", while thinking, what am I going to do with these things. Fast forward to yesterday...I recently had surgery and I can't drive, can't lift more than 10 lbs, but I do have a maket that I can walk to. I walked to the market, made my purchases for dinner, corn-crab chowder, and walked (slowly) home. When I got home, I found that I had forgotten the potatoes I wanted for my chowder. I remembered the two cans of potatoes and went searching for them. It took me 10 minutes to find the darned cans, but I did and those potatoes were delish in my chowder. I just makes sense to have a well-stocked pantry which includes a good variety of canned items. Sat Aug 23 15:38:32 -0700 2008 3979924 110306 NE_Elaine 1 3981386 U bet I do. I don't drink coffee at home, but instant coffee is invaluable for many recipes involving chocolate, even when not specified in the recipe. Regular coffee does not work. Canned vegetables are less so, but from time to time they are irreplaceable. DItto condensed soups. There are recipes where a bechamel or white sauce is not quite the right thing, but condensed soups are. I got over being snobby against them a long time ago. Sat Aug 23 16:18:17 -0700 2008 3979924 13819 Karl S 2 3981857 canned tuna, salmon, tomatoes, beans, applesauce, pet food, pineapple, soups, stuffed grape leaves, instant decaf -- all very convenient and handy, no guilt. Sat Aug 23 21:53:45 -0700 2008 3981386 211115 neverlate 1 3981875 Others have already spoken to the canned veggies. I always keep instant coffee around, because there's nothing worse than running out of coffee on a day when the stores are closed. Backup, ya heard Sat Aug 23 22:11:33 -0700 2008 3979924 177724 tmso 1 3981889 I'm a complete snob over canned/condensed soup - gives me the creeps just thinking about it. Buy your own chicken feet and fowls and make your own stock. Buy niboshi or katsuobushi and kezuribushji and konbu for dashi. Keep your roast and smoker bones from beef and pork. It's just a whole different level of flavor. We're not talking about either rocket science or the labors of Hercules - we're talking about simmering things in a pot of water. There's almost always a few jars of stock, sealed in air-tight ball jars in my fridge. Using cream of mushroom instead of taking 5 minutes to make a bechamel? What are we making, green bean casserole? I think I did that once... in fifth grade. I know, I know - someone will immediately write something saying that they bet I can't taste the difference between one of their doctored up campbell's soups and the real goods... wanna bet your house on how chickeny my chicken soup is? Worshipping at the feet of Sandra Lee, are we? For everyday use, my pantry has canned tomatoes, mushrooms, beans (all kinds - garbanzos, kidneys, lots of black beans). Other regular canned stuff includes fukujinzuke, rakyo, water chestnuts, straw mushrooms. I have access to bulk bamboo shoots, (I make my own menma and have sealed jars in fridge) so don't need to buy that in cans any more. Canned tuna, of course, mostly Ventresca. Big cans of chopped clams. And Rotel... can't live without the Rotel. My kid mixes it in with his boxed mac'n cheese, with velveeta for a queso dip. No canned corn or veg - we use frozen. Once corn on the cob is available, we'll always buy and roast extra ears so that we can slice off kernels and store - the roasted caramelized kernels are better in almost any application than just plain corn (few exceptions). I keep a set of emergency food in the RV, which I rotate out periodically. I don't have a shelter, but think that with the generator in the RV, I can get the family somewhere else and stay for a while, if necessary. That set includes canned coffee (not instant, but Folger's - something I'd never drink unless desperate - but we'll never be desperate enough to drink instant - french press will travel), spam and other meats, lots of vegetables (mixed, corn, green beans, etc.), dried beans - and yes - lots of campbell's condensed soups! In an emergency, I'm just not sure I'll have access to chicken feet and fowls. You know, I think there's a can of crispy fried onion rings in there as well... Sat Aug 23 22:28:10 -0700 2008 3979924 10312 applehome 2 3982027 Ah, but you misunderstand. The issue is that for certain things, it is precisely the difference between bechamel and condensed soup that means only the latter is quite right for the occasion (green bean casserole with bechamel rather than condensed soup on certain occasions is just not as satisfying to many people). Also, the fact that it saves space in the already crammed freezer and frig. Sun Aug 24 02:10:29 -0700 2008 3981889 13819 Karl S 3 3982391 Agree. Over the years my sister and I have tried many different recipes for the infamous green bean casserole at holidays. Invariably, the recipes call for some version of a bechamel sauce rather than the condensed soup. And just as invariably the end results isn't as satisfying as the soup-based original. Sun Aug 24 08:56:23 -0700 2008 3982027 10506 DiningDiva 1 3982159 instant coffee: very rarely...only if it's in a recipe for a baked good canned veggies: no way, never have, yuck condensed soup: only the "cream of" soups for casseroles Sun Aug 24 06:36:41 -0700 2008 3979924 63634 rizzo0904 1 3982416 I love Lesueur canned peas. Sun Aug 24 09:06:04 -0700 2008 3979924 113872 diablo 1 3982417 Instant coffee -- nope, don't drink coffee. Canned veggies --- absolutely. Cheap and tasty. Even can my own sometimes. Corn niblets, tomato sauce and tomato paste, frenched green beans, Bush's baked beans. Sure, more in the winter than in summer when my own garden is producing, but I'm certainly not embarrassed by it. Condensed soups -- I'm sure there's some campbell's chicken noodle in the cabinet right now. Sun Aug 24 09:06:04 -0700 2008 3979924 165021 Firegoat 1 3982423 There's no allure to me for instant coffee or condensed soup, that's for sure. But clearly they're not entirely useless. I don't think I've ever bought instant coffee, though, and I haven't bought condensed soup in years. I do occasionally buy already prepared soups, canned or otherwise (sometimes it has been stuff that's kept chilled at the store). But even that has gotten to few and far between as we have started to make more soups at home. (Recently had amazing carrot soup with dill pesto from recipe passed along by our CSA. Makes a big mess in the kitchen but is not difficult.) I might buy such a prepared soup to go with a winter lunch at work or some chicken noodle if I'm not feeling well (which, thankfully, is pretty rare). Now veggies, there are a few that consistently seem to be useful. Well, at least if you count tomatoes and beans as veggies, which I do, whatever they are technically. ;-) For the beans (black, garbanzo, etc.) it's just convenience. For tomatoes, it's convenience plus they can be better than tomatoes trucked in from who knows where in the winter. Right now we can get local tomatoes, but that's only a few months out of the year. There may be a rare occasion for another vegetable canned, but pretty rare. Something like corn or green beans I would buy frozen. I can remember buying or eating them canned back in the day, but I can't really imagine doing that now. Sun Aug 24 09:09:29 -0700 2008 3979924 40162 CrazyOne 1 3982465 I use instant expresso powder for baking, canned tomato products for sauces. I'll buy canned corn and green beans in winter when I'm making veggie soup. I usually have a few cans of Progresso soup around, but I prefer Raman (for the noodles) to canned soup with noodles (which tastes mushy to me). I don't *hate* canned or instant stuff, but I don't use it except for very specific purposes, and there are some things I'll never use like instant mashed potatoes for example. Sun Aug 24 09:22:31 -0700 2008 3979924 178560 SharaMcG 1 3982492 instant espresso for baking. i try to avoid using canned products from any company other than Eden Organics, because they're the only company that uses BPA-free cans - so i buy their beans. most of what i might buy in cans is available in jars anyway - olives, artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, etc. a few exceptions - canned chipotles in adobo; fat free evaporated milk; and of course, San Marzanos, because there really is no substitute! Sun Aug 24 09:34:19 -0700 2008 3979924 103920 goodhealthgourmet 2 3986359 I don't do sweet baking (I don't eat sugar), so no instant espresso for baking, and if there is a power outage, it takes no more of the little Chinese catering stove's fuel to make a wee pot of espresso than instant. And there is always tea. (Canadians drink far more tea than US Americans, of course). I don't have any friends who eschew caffeine and drink coffee - I have several types of tisanes (herbal "teas") to drink myself and offer to them. Other than that, a bit like goodhealthgourmet - I heartily approve of Eden's foodsafe canning and also the fact that they don't add salt, so you can add the nice glop from beans instead of rinsing them. There are a couple of shops here (see Quebec board) where I can get them fairly cheap. Their tomatoes are actually Canadian - from southwestern Ontario - so they are not too bad in terms of food miles from here - and I think a lot of the beans are processed in nearby Michigan where their headquarters is. If not, I do have some Spanish olives in tins, filled with various things (this is to have a nice treat for unplanned guests), yes a tin of the chiles, perhaps artichokes (I've only seen the jarred ones in oil, which doesn't work for everything. Obviously tomatoes, unless I've had the time to put them up. I'm deeply ashamed not to do that every year, but the tomato season is often a busy work season for freelancers as businesses and institutions gear up for the year. Since our great Ice Storm, I've always kept an emergency pantry, but the main component is tinned fish for protein (for cat and human). Also agree that a bit of boxed wine is an essential emergency supply! Somebody below brought up sauerkraut. My favourite, which I bring back from Europe when working over there, is in pouches - a delicate riesling sauerkraut, but I also have a couple of tins of Mildessa German wine sauerkraut. It is tasty and highly nutritious, and in a pinch can also be eaten without reheating or sautéeing. I don't really like pumpkin - like the friend from South Africa, much prefer buttercup squash - and always buy that at the market, in season. Yum. Was very touched by South African friend's comments. Indeed, squash/gourd was one of the Three Sisters, the vital food supplies for indigenous people around here, and in much of the Americas. Decorations are very nice, but it does seem to trivialise the cultures of the Amerindian people to let the pumpkins rot that time of year. Squash, beans and corn (maize) all supported one another, and the seeds of the squash are high-quality protein. Linda, no judgement here at all, but any reason you don't like fresh corn in season? Or perhaps it doesn't grow where you live? Mon Aug 25 16:34:36 -0700 2008 3982492 84119 lagatta 3 3987184 Hi lagatta. South African friend weighing in here! We eat a lot of butterNUT squash here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Cucurbita_moschata_Butternut.png), although I have very fond memories of butterCUP squash from my time in the States. We get it here occasionally. I also liked something called harlequin squash, comparable to buttercup, but perhaps more chestnutty in flavour. Never seen that here, so I do miss that one. I'd love to try and grow the Three Sisters some time. I like that idea of symbiosis. And they all taste to good together! Tue Aug 26 02:01:17 -0700 2008 3986359 10431 Gooseberry 4 3989008 when i was living in San Diego, the prepared foods counter at my local WFM in La Jolla used to carry a "Three Sisters Salad" with butternut squash, corn, black beans and queso...it was fabulous. i really should see if i can get the recipe & make some... Tue Aug 26 14:37:31 -0700 2008 3987184 103920 goodhealthgourmet 3 3989024 lagatta - just a heads-up about artichoke hearts...i know it's nearly impossible to find the jarred ones packed in anything other than oil, but you can buy them frozen. Tue Aug 26 14:41:28 -0700 2008 3986359 103920 goodhealthgourmet 4 3989224 I had been looking for those here in Montréal for a long time - could only find the bottoms - but I've found Egyptian ones in a Middle-Eastern shop not far away. I have arthritis and artichokes are recommended against flare-ups - as well as being tasty. Indeed it seems silly to buy them in oil and then rinse it away for recipes where one is simply using the artichokes as an ingredient. Moreover if I'm to eat oil I want it to be cold-pressed (mostly olive oil) except for the heat-resistant oil one uses in small quantities in the wok. I'm sure you could think up a Three Sisters salad (or pot-au-feu) based on whatever squash, corn and beans are readily available where you live. Perhaps I'll come to this around Thanksgiving (earlier in Canada), so people can really appreciate the contributions Amerindian peoples made to the world's food supplies - imagine, the Italians had no tomatoes, the Hungarians no red peppers, the Irish and Poles no potatoes... Tue Aug 26 15:56:29 -0700 2008 3989024 84119 lagatta 1 3982751 Yes on all three. Instant coffee is used in many baking recipes. I ONLY buy canned corn. And canned beans, of course. Otherwise, no - I detest canned peas with every fiber of my being. (ETA: after reading the rest of the responses, adding canned tomato products, pumpkin, and pineapple on rare occasion when it's needed.) Condensed soup - only cream of mushroom. And only used (maybe) 2x a year in several "comfort food" recipes, like hamburger stroganoff from my first "set" of recipes - those 1971 General Mills recipe cards (I was the lucky recipient of the avocado green-colored box to keep them in!). Sun Aug 24 11:29:17 -0700 2008 3979924 10532 LindaWhit 1 3982826 I use canned beans (kidney, black, garbanzo) all the time. In any event, instant coffee, canned vegetables, and canned soup are all standard components of the earthquake supplies. (along with first aid kit, water, peanut butter, tuna, hard crackers in a box, canned chili, applesauce, tomatoes, a can opener, flashlight, radio and a large box of cheap wine I got in a gift exchange. I figure when the Big One comes I may decide that wine is worth drinking.) Sun Aug 24 12:16:31 -0700 2008 3979924 10158 susancinsf 1 3982828 I have instant coffee for baking. We don't drink coffee, so we don't even have regular coffee. I have canned tomatoes and canned coconut milk. For emergencies, I've got a couple of cans of beans (actually, looking at my cupboard, seems that I've run out). Artichoke hearts -- I purchase frozen if I don't get fresh. No other canned veggies -- I buy my water chestnuts and bamboo shoots fresh as I'm lucky enough to have decent Asian groceries in my city -- it's a world of a difference. Hate the tinny flavor of canned veggies in general. I wish I wasn't lazy, or otherwise I'd make my own coconut milk as well. Peas -- I prefer frozen. Corn -- frozen if I desperately need to. Otherwise, I get fresh. Have terrible memories of canned corn from school lunches. Olives -- I have enough difficulty eating them when they are not canned. I rarely make pumpkin pie -- so no canned pumpkin for me. If I need squash, I buy it fresh. So I've got to say that overall, I really don't have many canned stuff in my pantry. If there was some disaster like a hurricaine, I probably wouldn't last very long -- unless I can sustain myself on dried mushrooms, dried legumes, dried grains, etc. I haven't had Campbell's condensed soup in years (as well as regular canned soup). Reading this thread, it does bring back some nice memories. I should perhaps buy some Cambell's tomato soup. I used to eat it with boiled potato slices as a kid. And cream of mushroom was also a favorite of mine as well. Sun Aug 24 12:17:42 -0700 2008 3979924 10763 Miss Needle 2 4038539 I wonder if my hatred of canned corn traces back to when I was little? I just won't buy it. When I do get corn it's fresh and guess what I do? Yup-cut it right off the cob. It's insane. If we are out and I get something with loose corn in it, I can't eat it. Very odd quirk but there is something about random loose corn kernels or a scatter of peas that makes my heart grow cold. Tue Sep 16 05:29:05 -0700 2008 3982828 110426 Boccone Dolce 3 4038552 Generally, if I come across a recipe that calls for the addition of corn kernels I won't even consider making it. It's funny, because before I read your post I never really thought about it - I would just immediately be turned off and look for the next recipe. My husband feels the same way about peas. I love fresh corn on the cob, and things like corn bread, muffins, fritters, pudding etc. But any other kind of dish calling for loose corn kernels leaves me cold as well. Tue Sep 16 05:34:27 -0700 2008 4038539 63569 flourgirl 4 4043833 I agree that adding canned corn kernels to many recipes is a turn off. However, they're ok in corn chowder and maybe cornbread. However, I can it it if served it; eg, black bean and corn salsa. (What a weird concept!). Thu Sep 18 02:04:14 -0700 2008 4038552 49726 Anonimo 5 4044113 I absolutely agree - that's what I was trying to say. There are a few things that whole corn kernels are Ok in - but outside of those few, like chowder or some cornbread recipes, corn pudding, etc, I just can't get on board. But like you said, I can eat it if it's put in front of me, but it's not something I would ever make or order. Thu Sep 18 06:37:30 -0700 2008 4043833 63569 flourgirl 5 4057088 Funny - here in Canada, the President's Choice makes a black bean and white corn salsa that's our absolute fave with tortilla chips. Chunky, tasty, and with a lot of textures. Wed Sep 24 01:24:25 -0700 2008 4043833 48210 KevinB 1 3982928 We always have cans of tomatoes and tomato products as well as beans in stock.We also use canned green beans,peas,beets,sauerkraut and corn.Also stock up on canned broth and soups but not insatant coffee.Also occasionally canned fruit during the winter in New England. Campbells chicken soup is here during the flu season.Also cranberry sauce. Sun Aug 24 13:11:30 -0700 2008 3979924 11492 sandramrma 2 3982937 Amen, I've lost an entire deep freezer full before.... always have a back up. And frankly I've found some of the packaging on frozen vegetables to be less than appropriate and had more loss that way. Never had a problem with a can. Sun Aug 24 13:21:36 -0700 2008 3982928 165021 Firegoat 1 3983174 I use canned beans a lot. DH makes his famous chana masala with canned garbanzos, which he buys by the case. Its just a lot quicker and easier than using the dry ones given our busy lifestyles. Canned tomatoes are good in winter, and used in a lot of recipes when decent tomatoes aren't available. I find high-quality canned corn to sometimes be almost as good as what I can get on the cob around here; I use it a lot. I also have canned beets for when I crave beets. And of course, if you read my profile you will know that I *always* have Campbell's Cream of Tomato soup (condensed) available to make my favorite comfort dish....just in case. I do not have instant coffee in the house. If there is a power outtage or an emergency, I can make regular coffee using my camp stove (or even my regular stove, since its gas :-) and my camp percolator. I remember one New Year's Day in Reno many year's ago when there was an epic storm and the power was off for 24 hours. (This was the famous New Year's storm that led to severe flooding in our area). We were the only house on the block with fresh-brewed coffee to offset the hangovers from the night before. And we were very popular...:-) Sun Aug 24 15:38:50 -0700 2008 3979924 10290 janetofreno 1 3984381 Instant espresso for baking with chocolate. Canned pumpkin, canned beans, sometimes canned artichokes (although I prefer frozen). I actually like canned black olives in some salads. And my little guy LOVES them. Canned soup - I don't use a lot of canned soup anymore but it can be handy to have some chicken noodle and tomato in the cupboard. I also used canned cream of mushroom for the guilty pleasure of green bean casserole. It's one of the only dishes like this that I make, but my extended family loves it so it comes out on holidays. Mon Aug 25 07:01:33 -0700 2008 3979924 63569 flourgirl 2 3988398 How could I forget canned tomatoes?!? I also use canned chipolte peppers. Tue Aug 26 11:41:02 -0700 2008 3984381 63569 flourgirl 3 3988449 Lol, I forgot tomatoes too...duh! Tue Aug 26 11:54:43 -0700 2008 3988398 36312 HillJ 1 3984394 yes to all three. Instant coffee appears in dozens of recipes I rotate; especially those including melted chocolate. Canned fruits & veggies I am particular about but my kids love canned pears & peaches and I can't go without a few cans of sliced beets for salads when the work week doesn't allow me, or the season doesn't allow me, to roast fresh. Condensed soups are in my pantry for classic green bean casserole and a few quick dishes when I'm looking for a short cut. But several times a year, in support of local food drives, all three items are welcomed staples (in bulk) by soup kitchens & food pantries so my family & I will always buy these items. Mon Aug 25 07:06:54 -0700 2008 3979924 36312 HillJ 2 3986670 back to add: canned pumpkin, olives, artichokes, beans....pantry check revealed alot! Mon Aug 25 18:53:24 -0700 2008 3984394 36312 HillJ 1 3984416 Canned tomato soup, canned tomatoes for making sauces, canned black beans, canned B & M baked beans. Also usually have a few small cans of corn on the shelf - always a life saver if I am making Sunday dinner, and a "picky" eater stops in. Don't use instant coffe, though. Mon Aug 25 07:17:02 -0700 2008 3979924 11057 macca 2 3984801 I don't use instant coffee (nor do I bake), although I have a jar at work in case of emergency (I don't make coffee at home). I bring a brown bag lunch and there is a can of green beans every day. I drink the juice and eat the beans. I don't care for frozen green beans at all. I also have canned black beans, garbanzos, refried black beans (costeno), water chestnuts, water packed artichoke hearts (which I mix with canned tuna and season with lemon pepper and dress w/olive oil), cranberry sauce, canned tomato products (although tomato paste is in a tube), non-pickled beets, occassionally a can of corn, Pumpkin, pineapple (in water) baked beans once in a while for doctoring up. Canned condensed soups, yes, although sometimes they taste way too salty. I do love to mix a can of bean with bacon with a can of tomato soup, no dilution; and I still crave vegetarian vegetable (the alphabet soup) once in a great while. Mon Aug 25 09:22:29 -0700 2008 3984416 109905 laliz 3 4034539 I'm with you on canned green beans vs frozen. There's just something weird about the frozen ones. Sun Sep 14 15:11:27 -0700 2008 3984801 198984 Jeri L 1 3984817 I am starting a low iodine diet. Just yesterday I went to the market and was looking at frozen veggies. I was under the impression that they were just veggies. No. Every brand I picked up was Ingredients: Peas, Salt. Ingredients, Corn, Salt and so forth. At least with canned veggies I can get no salt added version. Then the ingredients are just peas, corn, beans, etc. I mention this because I was suprised at that. I also always keep "cream of" soups in my pantry. When you want it, you want it. I'll echo that sometimes a homemade sauce just isn't as satisfying. Mon Aug 25 09:25:08 -0700 2008 3979924 134060 GenieinTX 1 3985000 Hurricane supplies. Mon Aug 25 10:13:03 -0700 2008 3979924 166380 ldkelley 2 3985846 I live in earthquake country Mon Aug 25 13:46:24 -0700 2008 3985000 109905 laliz 1 3986042 I buy instant espresso for baking. Canned beets and canned beans for the convenience. Mon Aug 25 14:41:12 -0700 2008 3979924 10285 Candy 1 3986642 Instant cofffee: no Canned veggies: beans (black, ceci, cannelini, lentil, red, pinto), tomatoes, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, water chestnuts, goya anchovy stuffed olives. Once I bought canned baba gannoush in a middle eastern store and it was better than I'd expected but not as good as fresh made. condensed soup: ick....had too much growing up, can't stand the thought of it now Mon Aug 25 18:44:07 -0700 2008 3979924 117621 poptart 1 3987186 Of course, some people still buy these things. What an odd question to ask. If you find them in stores, they obviously sell well enough to keep them stocked. Sometimes it's not about "allure" so much as convenience, price and function. Also, if you have no canned food on hand and there is a natural disaster, you could find yourself in a bind. Some foods are qualitatively little different fresh than canned depending on how they are used. I live in Japan and there is no such thing as fresh pumpkin (there is kabocha, but it is not the same) nor can some types of beans be purchased dry. That being said, I infrequently use some things so having them on hand in cans makes sense. I buy refried beans, garbanzo beans, and mashed pumpkin in cans often. I never drink instant coffee, but my father always does. In fact, my family often uses canned vegetables because they live in the northeast where fresh produce out of season is very expensive and they are poor so frozen stuff costs too much relative to cheap canned stuff. If you don't have to shop by price and can base all of your food choices on freshness and taste, you are truly blessed. Not everyone is so lucky. Tue Aug 26 02:02:30 -0700 2008 3979924 98208 Orchid64 2 4889121 In fact, my family often uses canned vegetables because they live in the northeast where fresh produce out of season is very expensive and they are poor so frozen stuff costs too much relative to cheap canned stuff. If you don't have to shop by price and can base all of your food choices on freshness and taste, you are truly blessed. Not everyone is so lucky. Thank you! Maybe its just because of this particular website but it seems many of the replies are somewhat elitist. If you can afford the best or exactly what you want, congrats! Many of us shop by price alone. Sat Jul 25 00:38:49 -0700 2009 3987186 135226 chigirlmi 3 4889474 I think that maybe for a lot of posters here on CH the truth may lie somewhere in between "elitist" and maybe that a lot of people who post on chowhound might choose to spend more of their disposable income on high quality food as opposed to other things. I know my family does. But count me in as one of the people who has to be price conscious. I don't shop by price alone, but price is definitely a major factor for my family. And it is getting to be more of a factor every day, as our incomes remain stagnant but our living expenses keep climbing. Sat Jul 25 07:48:12 -0700 2009 4889121 63569 flourgirl 1 3987215 Instant coffee for baking of course, but I also like to add a spoonful to my Fage yogurt (coffee is my favorite yogurt flavor). Gives you a nice pick-me-up. Don't know what I'd do without canned tomatoes or pinto/garbanzo/cannellini beans. Made baked beans from scratch once, took me 5 or 6 hours and tasted just like B&M. What a waste of propane! Campbells Tomato soup made with milk and wide egg noodles, gotta have that once in a while. Greenbean casserole and tuna casserole have to use cream of soups. And like someone said, once or twice a year I donate all the excess to the local food shelter and start over again. Tue Aug 26 02:50:05 -0700 2008 3979924 11097 coll 1 3989015 canned veggies: san marzano peeled tomatoes (cento) and those whole, white potatoes (del monte). canned black beans and canned refried beans also have a home in the pantry. no instant coffee but i don't bake much and i don't bbq meats (yet). Tue Aug 26 14:39:07 -0700 2008 3979924 10627 steve h. 1 3989061 Instant coffee makes a great topping for chocolate ice cream. I get nervous if I don't have some Campbells chicken noodle and black bean in the house. I suffer the shame of liking canned peas better than fresh or frozen. Tue Aug 26 14:52:11 -0700 2008 3979924 109552 garfish 1 3990162 Smoked oysters. Mmmmm ... smoked oysters! Tue Aug 26 23:53:19 -0700 2008 3979924 25310 Chuckles the Clone 2 3990424 I always have a couple of tins of smoked oysters in the cupboard. I like the clams too... Wed Aug 27 05:49:25 -0700 2008 3990162 63569 flourgirl 1 3990230 MarkG: --instant coffee, yes I bake with it. --canned vegetables, yes all the time. --condensed soup, rarely, I dislike soup. The allure? Convenience. A legible expiration date would be nice, though, I think some of my cans go back to the year of the flood. Wed Aug 27 02:09:52 -0700 2008 3979924 11104 dolores 1 3990466 I buy canned tomatoes all the time, I prefer using them over fresh tomatoes. And I buy expresso instant coffee (Bustelo) for a last minute (and unplanned) addition in chocolate desserts. Also I keep some cans in the pantry, for emergencies (which I should discard BTW as they are too old). But no condensed soup or canned vegetables. Wed Aug 27 06:07:58 -0700 2008 3979924 111643 cpw 1 3990768 I've been avoiding posting on this thread for a couple of reasons but here goes. I don't drink coffee but my husband likes instant and usually only wants one cup on the weekends. I can't imagine Lent without grilled cheese sandwiches and Campbell's tomato soup. I can't imagine making anything Italian without canned tomatoes. And lastly, I have an appetizer I make with canned asparagus. This weekend, maybe with this post in the back of my mind, I bought fresh asparagus to make it. Results? Not the same. I thought the fresh asaparagus was all wrong. Wed Aug 27 08:09:31 -0700 2008 3979924 116638 southernitalian 2 4982629 Wow. I can't believe it's been one year since I first responded to this post. It's been a really, really crappy year and I find it even more offensive than the first time I read it. Thu Aug 27 09:07:34 -0700 2009 3990768 116638 southernitalian 1 3991900 Instant coffee -- yes; I use it to make "coffee" for my kiddos (1/4 tsp decaf instant coffee to 1 cup milk). They think they are drinking the same stuff we are! I've also used it to make desserts. Canned vegetables -- I have a special place in my heart for canned green beans. Not sure why. I know they are mushy and gray and not appealing, but every once in a while, I want them with some salt and pepper sprinkled on top. I always have a can in my pantry. I also like canned shredded beets (for salads). I do frozen corn and peas. Condensed Soups -- definite yes. I always have a can of cream of mushroom and a can of cream of chicken on hand for quick dinners. I work full time and have 2 kids under the age of 5, so I'm all for shortcuts when I cook. We aren't casserole people, but I'll use it to make a quick mushroom sauce for pork chops, or add green onions and broth to the chicken soup for quick enchilada sauce for chicken enchiladas (using leftover roast chicken). We don't use it often, but I always have it in stock -- I prefer using a can of condensed soup over getting takeout when I'm running late. Wed Aug 27 13:12:54 -0700 2008 3979924 12384 boogiebaby 2 3991917 Oddly enough I can't stomach canned regular green beans. But I love frenched green beans. Will eat those all day. Wed Aug 27 13:16:18 -0700 2008 3991900 165021 Firegoat 1 3997484 Yes. My mother does. The Can Can sale at Shoprite each January is usually a cause for celebration and a big outing to the store. Giant cans of yams, cranberry sauce, green beans, peas, corn, beets, carrots, cannellini beans, chick peas, whatever. Soak beans overnight? Too much planning required, so it was easier to use canned. She is also crazy about cream of mushroom soup for those holdover 60's recipes, and that only comes in condensed form. Why? Obviously for convenience and certainly not for the taste. She wasn't the only one trained to buy this way. My MIL was from a cold climate and grew up on winter root veggies. Everything else came from a can, except for a short time in the summer. DH still insists that he only likes the taste of canned peas (a true abomination, IMO) and protests when I make fresh beets because he "can tell" they are not the same as the canned variety (thank goodness). No accounting for taste -- and I am not about to change, not after all these years of eating fresh or, if in a pinch, select frozen, such as peas. Fri Aug 29 15:48:55 -0700 2008 3979924 87837 RGC1982 1 4034062 YES on instant coffee, NO on Canned vegetable and condensed soup. Not a big fan of those canned food as the i prefer freshness when it comes to food that provide minerals and vitamins to me. Instant coffee is fine as it is just a drink to kickstart the day, and it is not ready to serve until you pour in hot water. Sun Sep 14 11:24:25 -0700 2008 3979924 226114 edwong1016 1 4044763 Living in earthquake city, I have canned goods. I'm not sure what good they'll be if the fall out of the cabinets and knock me out, but anyway . . . I buy Heinz Vegetarian beans for when I get a craving for hot dogs and beans--a childhood favorite. I also like them with charbroiled skirt steak. I use canned tomatoes for my marinara sauce when I don't feel like using fresh, ditto for my ratatouille. Stewed tomatoes--yum. I have canned pumpkin for soup and pie. Never have canned cranberry sauce, EVER. Condensed soup, yes, limited to three flavors. Cream of mushroom and cream of celery, comforting made with half milk half water. Always have tomato soup on hand. It has almost magical curative powers. I have it when I think I'm coming down with something. It's the lycopenes, little phyto life savers. Thu Sep 18 10:26:34 -0700 2008 3979924 196419 Kate is always hungry 1 4044904 Here in England, instant coffee is very big. At people's homes, or in our office, and in quite a few restaurants, the coffee you will be offered is often instant. But somehow the stuff here on this side of the Atlantic is better than anything I remember from the States. I don't have condensed soup (but do they still make Progresso lentil?), but now I'm thinking of buying some in case of emergency. Thanks, everyone. Also, like others, I use canned tomatoes and beans regularly. Canned straw mushrooms and bamboo shoots are also staples in my cupboard. Thu Sep 18 11:29:23 -0700 2008 3979924 14139 Kagey 2 4056012 "But somehow the stuff here on this side of the Atlantic is better than anything I remember from the States." To these tastebuds, English instant is just as vile as US instant ;0 We keep a jar around the shop along with some Folgers for our intro to coffee tasting classes. It's amusing. I'll agree instant espresso is useful in a pinch for some baking, but since we have access to pounds of top notch espresso, we always use fresh ground. And for camping/traveling, we pre-ground what we need and use the Aeropress. Most legumes I use are canned for convenience. The exceptions being black beans or red beans when those are the featured ingredient - I'll soak dry beans instead. But for adding to soups, stews, etc. where they're an addition, not the primary ingredient, it's canned. Also canned garbanzos for hummus and canned cannellini for white bean dip. I'll keep a can of more obscure stuff around like nopales and corn fungus which are only available in a couple of places around here. And lots of tomatoes - whole San Marzanos, diced and stewed organic varieties. Couldn't live without those. Canned pumpkin is useful (plus I'm not fond of the smell of cleaning out a pumpkin). Otherwise, these days our veggies are fresh or frozen. But that's also how I grew up. We didn't eat much of anything canned because of the salt. Both parents were on low-salt diets (this was well before "no salt added" varities appeared). My wife is a big fan of condensed mushroom soup. I used to have condensed tomato once or twice a year, but as I make soup all fall and winter for our shop, I've always got leftovers in the freezer. And I make several versions of tomato soup that are much more satisfying. There's a sweetness from the Campbell's which I've come to dislike. The one canned soup I'll have in the cupboard is chicken tortilla. It's not as good as fresh, but not totally horrible either. Tue Sep 23 14:39:28 -0700 2008 4044904 24421 Panini Guy 1 4057073 I haven't had condensed soup since I was like 20 (10 yrs ago), I've never had instant coffee and haven't had canned veggies for around 12yrs. I do eat frozen organics though. Wed Sep 24 00:45:38 -0700 2008 3979924 146405 stricken 1 4205837 Broadly, you're asking about our individual demand curves for inferior goods. In consumer theory, an inferior good is a good that decreases in demand when consumer income rises, unlike normal goods, for which the opposite is observed. Inferiority, in this sense, is an observable fact relating to affordability rather than a statement about the quality of the good. As a rule, too much of a good thing is easily achieved with such goods, and as more costly substitutes that offer more pleasure or at least variety become available, the use of the inferior goods diminishes. In other words, SPAM. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferior_good I'm someone educated well beyond my income and drive. I'm using all of these things and eat offal too, although organ meats are nowhere near as cheap as they were. If you make instant coffee, lighten it with evaporated milk, add sugar, and cool it with ice, the resulting product resembles Starbucks bottled frappucino. Hot, the product is not unlike coffee shop and diner coffee as served across our country. The inferior good that I use that I recommend everybody use is evaporated milk. Nearly everything that's baked will come out better using evaporated milk diluted to the whole milk proportion rather than fresh whole milk. Also, pie fillings and puddings come out much better using evaporated mik. Also, commercial canned corn is fresher than most fresh corn available in most any city. Most canned corn nowadays is shucked and boiled right there in the field as it's being havested. When it's canned it's less than two hours old. Fresh corn at a supermarket here in NYC is usually at least a day old. Thu Nov 27 14:14:04 -0800 2008 3979924 27287 BigGuy 2 4206182 That canned is fresher line is a bit of a canard. It's the same issue as fish being frozen on the boat. May be... but it's nevertheless frozen. And the corn is stripped by a machine and boiled in the can. That's useful for some recipes, but if you want raw corn or the milk or whatever else reason to buy fresh corn on the cob, canned does you no good no matter how fresh it was when canned. Raw corn on the corn, reasonably fresh, can become an unlimited (as far as corn goes) number of dishes. Canned corn is somewhat more limited. And while I'm nitpicking... You can't possibly be educated beyond your drive. You had to have the drive to get that education, otherwise you wouldn't be so well educated, n'est-ce pas? Offal - mmmmm... Thu Nov 27 21:00:59 -0800 2008 4205837 10312 applehome 3 4218282 Instant coffee: the Asian 3 in 1 packs are yummy. I keep them on hand for when I run out of milk for making lattes (I have a freind who roasts, so I'm NEVER outta coffee) and for backpacking. Canned veg: tomatoes sometimes though I like the Pomi in a box a lot better. Creamed corn for corn chowder and a cornbread recipe. tinned salsa for the winder months, and many various kinds of beans. My favorite tinned beans are Ducal refried beans, they are the yummiest thing ever. Canned soup is gross!! The closest I come is those organic ones in a box--several of them are downright tasty. Wed Dec 03 14:10:10 -0800 2008 4206182 142209 allisonw 1 4221890 I do buy Medalia D'Oro instant espresso to have at work. We have a machine that uses "K cups", and I turbo charge my brew by spooning a bit of the instant espresso into my cup before placing it on the machine. A friend said to me "so, you're brewing your coffee with...coffee?" Trader Joes has a canned corn that is incredibly sweet. The "pot liqueur" it comes in is a distillation of all the sensory input one would feel if they were standing in a cornfield on a sunny summer day. I put it in a cordial glass and savor it. Condensed soup? Sure, it's cheap and it keeps me from going to the supermarket next door to buy a lunch that would suck anyway. And I like to always have chicken noodle on standby in the event of a cold. Thu Dec 04 20:45:07 -0800 2008 3979924 12752 MsDiPesto 1 4889113 Allure? What the heck do you mean by that exactly? Instant coffee-sure. Im not really a coffee person but will have some if really tired so instant is just fine. Canned veggies, soup, meats, etc. Heck YES! Especially in winter. If the power goes out or you cant get to the store (I live in the country-15 min. to closest store) its nice to have food. Even if its cold pork & beans! Sat Jul 25 00:15:07 -0700 2009 3979924 135226 chigirlmi 1 4893162 I always have tinned beans and corn in the cupboard. And we drink instant coffee for preferance. Mon Jul 27 04:30:16 -0700 2009 3979924 154102 Harters 1 4893470 I buy instant coffee for recipes only. Of course I buy condensed soups, especially tomato soup, and I still occasionally use the cream soups for cooking or thickening. I buy canned vegetables: corn, tomatoes, beans, tiny peas, green beans - they have their place in my life. I make a ton of things from scratch, but I'm not above taking a shortcut sometimes. And I love my Campbell's tomato soup. Mon Jul 27 07:19:10 -0700 2009 3979924 253735 bayoucook 2 4897867 As much as I like cooking to impress sometimes I still want a good funeral food casserole. I keep condensed soups on hand for just such occasions. Nothing more comforting than some kind of casserole with condensed soups, processed cheese food, etc. Yum! Tue Jul 28 13:41:11 -0700 2009 4893470 14445 swamp 3 4902539 Some of my friends have been surprised when I talk about wanting some good old southern comfort food - greens and cornbread, fried okra, squash casserole - I was raised on those foods and I'll always love them. With company, I cook to impress, and I love that food, too. I don't feel that it makes me less of a cook to keep canned items in my cupboard. I see you're from Galveston - like us, you probably keep hurricane food (and water) in storage, too. Thu Jul 30 04:42:25 -0700 2009 4897867 253735 bayoucook 4 4903293 Absolutely, I have my large plastic storage bin that has all my hurricane supplies, got my canned tuna and other meats, canned salsas because they can make things taste good when cooking after a hurricane, and yes lots of water stored this time of year. That is a whole other post, what do you have in your emergency food supply kit? Thu Jul 30 09:20:47 -0700 2009 4902539 14445 swamp 5 4904542 swamp, you've seen danhole's thread from last year about hurricane supplies? http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/552431 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/560248 Thu Jul 30 15:08:05 -0700 2009 4903293 105717 alkapal 1 4893488 I've just seen Nescafé Espresso 100% Arabica Instant Coffee announced. Has anyone tried that? Could come in useful, in an emergency but also for baking if it is any good. Mon Jul 27 07:23:47 -0700 2009 3979924 84119 lagatta 1 4899711 instant coffee -- for flavoring sweets and chili canned veg? oh heck yeah! beans, tomatoes, three bean salad, canned corn for casseroles, baked beans, collards, squash, hominy, beets...and on and on condensed soup? again, heck yeah. campbell's condensed cream of mushroom and cream of shrimp soups, or cream of celery, are great bases for tasty casseroles. i use the condensed tomato soup as comfort food, and it's required for my mom's great (and i'm not exaggerating) sauerkraut and meatballs recipe. http://www.chow.com/recipes/13527 i am not ashamed. i like fresh, and i like some canned. i use fresh and canned...and frozen. Wed Jul 29 07:14:05 -0700 2009 3979924 105717 alkapal 1 4900127 I use beans for bean salad, just because I don't want to cook several pots of beans at once! I also used canned tomatoes. I love Taste brand vegetables, but they're expensive. They have san marzano tomatoes, grilled mixed vegetables, and grilled eggplant, soaked in oil. Soup - I'm not big on canned soup, but I do love Cashew Carrot Ginger soup by Pacific Foods. Really nice, and not full of chemicals! Wed Jul 29 09:17:19 -0700 2009 3979924 1097518 veggiemelt 1 4904041 I too buy canned good for all the reasons listed above. I’m happiest when my pantry is full and the blizzard is blowing. Thu Jul 30 12:46:45 -0700 2009 3979924 233294 cuccubear 1 4904153 Its good to see so many 'hounds that do use these seemingly sub-par foodstuffs. My hubby and I don't drink coffee unless we are out somewhere, so I keep instand coffee in the fridge for baking and when company comes over and they don't want tea. I also use canned tomatos, beans and olives. If I need to bring a dessert in a pinch, I will use canned fruit for a quick cobbler or crisp. I don't normally eat condensed soups, but my mother taught me the ways a can of Campbells can add or be the base of a meal. My favorite is using Cambells cream of mushroom in ground beef to make savory hamburgers on the cheap. Thu Jul 30 13:17:46 -0700 2009 3979924 729068 cookieluvntasha 1 4904370 Instant coffee is necessary to make the Greek summer drink, café frappé. I've tried to figure out a way to make one with good, fresh roasted, fresh ground coffee. It just doesn't work. Thu Jul 30 14:12:18 -0700 2009 3979924 36408 danieljdwyer 1 4981635 I always have canned San Marzanos on hand and usually one can of chickpeas, water chestnuts and bamboo shoots. I can't always get fresh bean sprouts, and when they're not available, I'll by a can of those. Also, canned pineapple. That's about it. I make soup often and don't buy the canned due to the sodium content. Wed Aug 26 22:44:18 -0700 2009 3979924 1104013 Normandie 1 4994512 Right now, I have canned beans and a can of coconut milk in my pantry. Since I moved out of my parents' house eight years ago, I haven't bought any canned vegetables. Even when I lived at home, I think the only canned vegetables we ate was creamed corn (and that was only once every year or two). No... I lied. A couple years ago I bought a can of miniature corn. I don't make coffee at home. Soup is my favorite meal but I do buy stock (vegetable stock in tetra-packs). My stock-making attempts are never very successful and my doctor has advise me that I need to eat a lot more salt that I used to, so pre-made stock is one way I get in that salt. Mon Aug 31 18:48:50 -0700 2009 3979924 131149 Jetgirly 2 4994565 So do you not eat tomatoes? If so, what do you use in the off-season? Even during the season, I hear many chefs say they still use canned tomatoes. I think tetra-packs count :) Must not like tuna salad? Mon Aug 31 19:09:44 -0700 2009 4994512 131001 c oliver 1 4995199 I don't buy instant coffee or condensed soup, but I'd probably buy the latter occasionally if it were sold in Japan. It's immensely troublesome making your own condensed soup for various dishes (I know because I've done it many times because I have no option). I buy canned diced tomatoes and canned corn for soup. I do this in part because fresh tomatoes and corn are about a dollar apiece in Tokyo and there is almost no difference between fresh and canned in soups. The cost is too high for something where the end product does not benefit appreciably. Also, canned vegetables are always good to have on hand for cooking when you don't have time to shop or want to make something on the spur of the moment and don't have fresh on hand. I would never eat anything but fresh as a side dish or as the main element of a side dish, honestly, canned stuff in complex dishes or soup is really just fine. Tue Sep 01 06:01:43 -0700 2009 3979924 98208 Orchid64 1 5117826 I buy canned beans and canned tomatoes. For all other veggies I stick with frozen (or fresh). The occasional soup, but not usually cans- I tend to get the boxed ones. Roasted pepper and tomato is my favorite! And I have a bit of instant espresso for baking, but I'm not a coffee drinker. Tue Oct 20 12:54:34 -0700 2009 3979924 165770 k80k 2 5117985 No instant coffee, no condensed soup, no canned veggies no canned coffee, for that matter. I do use diced canned tomatoes occasionally, and canned beans. Otherwise, we're pretty canless around here, opting for fresh veggies mostly, sometimes frozen. Tue Oct 20 13:48:35 -0700 2009 5117826 133381 mcf 1 5118083 I buy instant espresso for baking, prepared olives...can you imagine curing your own? I used to buy canned soups for a quick lunch, now I cannot stand the salt content. It is tongue curling. Tue Oct 20 14:21:33 -0700 2009 3979924 10285 Candy 2 5118101 I am forced to buy instant coffee at work since we dont have a coffee maker...I am learning to like it though Tue Oct 20 14:26:05 -0700 2009 5118083 1105208 ShakeIt 3 5118187 If you can boil water for instant coffee at work, you can boil it and pour it over coffee grounds in a one cup #2 Melitta filter, too. If you want to, any way. Tue Oct 20 14:56:37 -0700 2009 5118101 133381 mcf 3 5118468 man, i'd sure buy a coffeemaker. you can get a small one for your desk. Tue Oct 20 17:12:09 -0700 2009 5118101 105717 alkapal 3 5125571 You can get a single cup french press, or even better, a travel mug french press. Peets sells them. Fri Oct 23 11:13:31 -0700 2009 5118101 86221 lulubelle 1 5118586 When you live alone, and are on a budget, canned goods are a lifesaver. My freezer is jammed pack with frozen vegetables and triple-packed meats that I buy on special, and it's the meats that take up a lot of space. Recently, they had baby back ribs on for $1.97/lb, so I bought 8 lbs - that takes up a lot of space. Steaks, pork chops, chicken pieces; I've got 'em all, and there's no space for anything else. So, in my pantry, I have about a dozen cans of cooked beans and marinated bean salad, half a dozen cans of tomato or pasta sauce, diced/chopped tomatoes, some other vegetables (corn, olives - and I don't understand the hate on these; what's the diff with jarred olives, and canned are half the price? - , green beans), and yes, lots of condensed soups. I have tomato, cream of celery, vegetable, plus lots of beef consomme. Typical morning breakfast is a whole can of soup mixed with milk and with a half-cup of beans (for extra protein and fibre) added. And I drink instant coffee because I usually only have one cup a day, and I can't get through a pound of ground coffee before it goes stale and loses flavour. Instant isn't great, but it's quick, easy, and convenient. Plus, it's comforting to know that if we have an extended power failure, I don't have to open my freezer at all (thus keeping the contents reasonably cold), and I can make a reasonable dinner out of canned corn, tinned tuna/salmon/corned beef sandwiches, and the marinated bean salad. Not exactly chowish, but if I get snowed in, I'm not worried about feeding myself. Tue Oct 20 18:07:40 -0700 2009 3979924 1104506 FrankD 2 5126576 instant coffee? no Canned vegetables? only summercrisp corn (tastes amazing), tomatoes, beans. The texture of other canned vegetables are so mushy and the flavor is just.... dull Condensed soup? ugh no, but i do love amy's and pacific food's rte soups Fri Oct 23 18:48:31 -0700 2009 5118586 264146 kubasd 1 5126658 Sometimes in the winter there is nothing better than a can of Cambell's tomato soup made with 3/4 can of milk plus a grilled cheese sandwich. Fri Oct 23 19:40:17 -0700 2009 3979924 11290 jfood 2 5126998 Throw in a little basil or tarragon with soup, and I'm right there with you, J-man. Sat Oct 24 03:12:22 -0700 2009 5126658 1104506 FrankD 3 5127059 there's a great idea with thye basil leaves. thx Sat Oct 24 05:15:18 -0700 2009 5126998 11290 jfood 2 5146560 I find the Campbell's tomato soup too sweet these days. But make it a can of Wolfgang Puck's cream of tomato soup instead, and I am so there. Sun Nov 01 07:19:49 -0800 2009 5126658 11781 beachmouse 3 5155616 campbell's tomato *is* sweeter than in days gone by..... Wed Nov 04 11:32:07 -0800 2009 5146560 105717 alkapal 1 5126691 Everytime this bit of flotsam gets behind my boat, it screams food snob. I can't imagine that there's a home cook or professional chef who doesn't use PLENTY of canned things. Fri Oct 23 20:03:25 -0700 2009 3979924 131001 c oliver 2 5126949 I know exactly ONE person who does not buy canned goods. My best friend makes gallons of tomatoes in the summer and freezes them. Ditto for stock. Jelly and Jam are put up every year as are pickles. I have seem a couple cans of chicken 'n stars in the cabinet when her husband is sick as that and jello are his go-to comfort foods, but aside from that , there are literally no cans in her pantry. As she also holds down a high-level and pretty stressful job that requires her to travel and work lots of late nights, I think she is crazy, but at the same time, I always want to be invited to dinner at her house, because the food is so damn good. Sat Oct 24 00:39:56 -0700 2009 5126691 86221 lulubelle 3 5127000 Your friend is lucky. Here in Ontario, we had a lousy summer. The tomatoes were awful all year, the apples and pears on our trees have no flavour at all, and even the pumpkins were substandard. And, as I noted earlier, my freezer is full of expensive meat. There's no room for gallons of tomatoes or stock. Heck, they had ice cream on special a few days ago, and I had to pass because I couldn't fit a half-gallon in the icebox. If I had a big house with room for a separate freezer, I might do as your friend does, but when you live in a small apartment, canned goods are indispensable. Sat Oct 24 03:15:10 -0700 2009 5126949 1104506 FrankD 4 5127064 They have a full-sized upright freezer in their basement as well as a second fridge, so yeah, she has plenty of room to store the fruits of her labors. I've never had that much space, and well, honestly, I've never had that much energy either. :-) Sat Oct 24 05:20:58 -0700 2009 5127000 86221 lulubelle 1 5130377 I'm a confirmed Scout, so am always prepared. I have all kinds of canned stuff that I would never consider consuming under normal circumstances stored under my bed. Is this weird? Sun Oct 25 18:15:02 -0700 2009 3979924 11995 pikawicca 2 5130481 Well, kid, if I wouldn't like the food, I wouldn't hoard it. Or are you talking about food that you would normally cook fresh and could settle for it canned? (My cat pukes occasionally under the bed so that's not a storage place for me!) Sun Oct 25 19:03:03 -0700 2009 5130377 131001 c oliver