Like many mothers today, Moser says her family demands meals with more spices and flavor and less fat, but she needs to prepare meals quickly to fit busy schedules. She depends on a pantry stocked with canned foods. I strive to keep a nice home and provide healthy food for meals and snacks. In summer, keep the pantry stocked with canned beans, tomatoes, chilies, corn, salsa, pasta sauces, olives, peas, artichoke hearts, tuna and even chicken to supplement seasonal specials. When lettuce prices rise, as they have recently because of rains in California, switch to corn and bean salads and relishes, antipasto trays of artichoke hearts, olives, pickled peppers, garlic and other pickled vegetables.
Canned tomatoes are a reliable year-round alternative to fresh tomatoes for pasta and rice sauces.
Flavored tomatoes such as Italian, Cajun and Mexican eliminate peeling, chopping and soaking. Canned green chilies give macaroni and cheese a Southwest touch. Winning recipes showed how some of the 1,500 canned foods available today can help streamline rush-hour cooking. Some recipes follow. Joy of Cooking magazine Family Circle and Joy of Cooking have joined forces in a new magazine, Family Circle Joy of Cooking.