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Upcycle Your Pantry Staples

Easy-to-make recipes with on-hand ingredients!

Recipes You’ll Love That Are Great For You and The Planet

What does eating sustainably look like? One way is to upcycle items you already have in your pantry. What’s been pushed to the back of your fridge or hidden behind various containers in your cupboards? Before going out and buying new, take a moment and look around to see what ingredients you already own. These are the key elements to a delicious, simple and sustainable meal.

Registered Dietitian and Instagram influencer, Kara Lydon, shares easy recipes for meals and snacks made from ingredients often found in your kitchen including folded-up quesadillas with Fuji apples, cinnamon blended baked oats with Pink Lady® apples and a spiced yogurt parfait with d’Anjou pears. Next time you’re tempted to run to the store, try one of these recipes and the planet will thank you!

Want more?

stem blog logoApply your new knowledge of pantry upcycling to more recipes from The Stem, Stemilt’s blog! Put those sustainably skills into action and feel great about what you’re eating.

Apple Folded Quesadillas Two Ways

Apple Folded Quesadillas Two Ways

Ingredients

  • Turkey and Brie
  • 4 whole-wheat tortillas
  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
  • 1 Stemilt Fuji apple, sliced
  • 4 oz brie cheese
  • 4 slices deli turkey
  • 1 cup arugula
  • Bacon and Cheddar
  • 4 whole-wheat tortillas
  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
  • 1 Stemilt Fuji apple, sliced
  • 6 slices cooked bacon (see tip below)
  • 1/2 cup sliced red onion (about 1/4 onion)
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

These folded-up quesadillas are easy to make with everything you already have in your kitchen.

  • Yield
    2 servings
  • Prep time
  • Cook time
  • Total time
  • In Category
    entree

Instructions

Turkey and Brie Instructions:

  1. Lay tortilla on cutting board. Fold in half to create a seam in the tortilla marking the middle. Unfold, and make a small cut to the center of the tortilla.
  2. Spread 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard onto each tortilla, evenly covering the tortilla.
  3. Visualize the tortilla being divided into four equal sections.
  4. Add the 1 ounce cheese to one section, 1 slice turkey to the next, then four apple slices, then 1/4 cup arugula. Repeat for each tortilla.
  5. Starting with the bottom right quadrant, fold the tortilla up and over the top right, then the top left, then the bottom left.
  6. In a nonstick skillet, turn heat to medium. Add folded quesadillas to pan and cook until lightly browned, about 1-2 minutes per side.*
  7. Serve immediately.

Bacon and Cheddar Instructions:

  1. Lay tortilla on cutting board. Fold in half to create a seam in the tortilla marking the middle. Unfold, and make a small cut to the center of the tortilla.
  2. Spread 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard onto each tortilla, evenly covering the tortilla.
  3. Visualize the tortilla being divided into four equal sections.
  4. Add 1/4 cup cheese to one section, 1 1/2 slices bacon to the next, then four apple slices, then 1/8 cup red onion. Repeat for each tortilla.
  5. Starting with the bottom right quadrant, fold the tortilla up and over the top right, then the top left, then the bottom left.
  6. In a nonstick skillet, turn heat to medium. Add folded quesadillas to pan and cook until lightly browned, about 1-2 minutes per side.*
  7. Serve immediately.
  8. Tip 1: For a darker brown tortilla, add 1 tablespoon olive oil to pan over medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side.
  9. Tip 2: To cook bacon, place bacon on a nonstick skillet or pan or cast iron pan. Turn on heat to medium-low and cook until desired level of crispy, flipping bacon regularly as the edges begin to curl.

Nutritional Information

Per Serving

  • Calories: 376
  • Fat Content: 18.6 g
  • Cholesterol Content: 57 mg
  • Sodium Content: 743 mg
  • Carbohydrate Content: 39.2 g
  • Fiber Content: 6.9 g
  • Sugar Content: 12.8 g
  • Protein Content: 16.5 g

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oats

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oats

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup applesauce
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp cinnamon, divided
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg, divided
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup diced Stemilt Pink Lady® apple (about 1/2 apple)
  • 1/2 cup chopped Stemilt Pink Lady® apple (about 1/2 apple)
  • Optional: Greek yogurt and/or maple syrup for topping

These cinnamon blended baked oats with Pink Lady® apples are perfect for an easy morning

  • Yield
    1 serving
  • Prep time
  • Cook time
  • Total time
  • In Category
    Breakfast

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a tall (9-ounce) ramekin.-
  2. In a high-speed blender add rolled oats, egg, maple syrup, applesauce, vanilla, baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and salt.
  3. Blend on high until all ingredients are blended together (about 60 seconds).
  4. Pour mixture into greased ramekin.
  5. Using a spoon or small spatula, fold diced apples into mixture.
  6. Bake until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean, about 32-35 minutes.
  7. Let cool on wire rack for about 10 minutes before serving.
  8. In the meantime, in a microwave-safe small bowl, add chopped apple and remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. Stir to evenly coat apples with spices.
  9. Microwave apples until apples are tender, about 1 1/2 minutes.
  10. Serve soft cinnamon apples over baked oatmeal.
  11. Optional: Top with dollop of Greek yogurt and/or a drizzle of maple syrup.

Nutritional Information

Per Serving

  • Calories: 516
  • Fat Content: 7.6 g
  • Cholesterol Content: 164 mg
  • Sodium Content: 427 mg
  • Carbohydrate Content: 85.6 g
  • Fiber Content: 11.6 g
  • Sugar Content: 45.5 g
  • Protein Content: 29.3 g

Spiced Pear Yogurt Parfaits

Spiced Pear Yogurt Parfaits

Ingredients

  • For the granola (makes about 5 cups):
  • 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp cardamom
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
  • For the parfait:
  • 1 Stemilt D’Anjou pear, peeled, cored, and diced into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tsp olive oil (or any neutral cooking oil)
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger
  • 1 1/2 cups vanilla Greek yogurt

This spiced yogurt parfait with d’Anjou pears is a great option for breakfast or a snack using easy-to-find ingredients.

  • Yield
    2 servings
  • Prep time
  • Cook time
  • Total time
  • In Category
    Breakfast

Instructions

For the granola:

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, add coconut oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, cardamom and salt and whisk to combine.
  3. Add oats, almonds, and pumpkin seeds and stir to evenly coat.
  4. Transfer mixture to parchment-lined baking sheet and spread into even layer.
  5. Bake until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes, tossing halfway through.
  6. Remove from oven and place baking sheet on wire rack. Let cool, undisturbed, for at least 45 minutes, or until cooled completely.
  7. Use in parfaits and store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one month.

For the parfait:

  1. In a small nonstick pan, heat oil over medium-low heat.
  2. Add pear, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, and stir to coat.
  3. Cover pan and let cook until softened and caramelized, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
  4. To assemble parfaits, in a glass or small mason jar, add about 2 tablespoons granola to bottom of glass. Cover with a layer of pears. Top with 1/4 cup yogurt. Repeat two more times or until you fill the glass.
  5. After the last yogurt layer, feel free to top with more fruit and granola.

Nutritional Information

Per Serving

  • Calories: 1774
  • Fat Content: 105.9 g
  • Saturated Fat Content: 58.3 g
  • Cholesterol Content: 8 mg
  • Sodium Content: 632 mg
  • Carbohydrate Content: 178.1 g
  • Fiber Content: 23.8 g
  • Sugar Content: 67.1 g
  • Protein Content: 41.8 g