Adam's Tips

Chef Adam Gertler believes that common pantry staples can be springboards for creating new and delicious recipes, saving home cooks money and time. As a chef who loves making dishes that take diners by surprise, Chef Gertler has teamed up with Hungry Jack® to share creative tips and recipes to transform pantry items into show-stopping meals.

Use pantry staples in unexpected ways

• Out of prepared barbecue sauce? All you need is 1/4 cup Hungry Jack Regular Syrup, 2 tablespoons ketchup, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce to make a homemade tangy-sweet glaze.
• Use Hungry Jack Complete Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix for your next fruit cobbler. Coat a 9-inch square baking pan with Crisco® No-Stick Cooking Spray. Prepare the basic recipe for 6 to 8 pancakes on the package. Pour into prepared pan; top with 1 (21 oz.) can of fruit filling of your choice. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and bake at 375° F for 25 to 30 minutes. Serve warm with whipped topping or ice cream.

Keep favorite go-to items on hand

• Broths or stocks are valuable items to have in a pantry to make quick soups, sauces, gravies and stews.
• Sweetened condensed milk and coconut milk are incredibly versatile ingredients to use in a variety of dishes, from pancakes to Thai curries.
• Try using canned evaporated milk in macaroni and cheese or to add creaminess to garlic mashed potatoes.

Get the most out of your groceries

• Save room and keep dry goods fresh all in one shot. When you get home from the grocery store, transfer flours, pastas, cereals and other dry grains into resealable storage bags. Simply label and date them with a marker and you'll be surprised at how much extra room you'll have in your pantry!