Momma In The Mitten

A pantry staple that replaces the can.

For years, my cupboard had a little section dedicated to “cream of” soups.

Cream of chicken.

Cream of mushroom.

Sometimes cream of celery.

They weren’t glamorous. They were just… there. Stacked in the back, taking up space, waiting for casseroles, pot pies, and slow cooker dinners.

And one day I opened that cabinet and realized how much room was being used for slightly different versions of the same base.

Same purpose.

Same creamy function.

Just different labels.

That’s when the idea clicked — what if I didn’t need three kinds?

What if I just needed one?

This Cream of Anything Dry Mix replaces the can entirely. Instead of multiple tins lined up on a shelf, I keep one simple jar in the pantry. When I need cream of chicken, I add chicken. When I need mushroom, I add mushrooms. The base stays the same.

It saves space.

It simplifies the shelf.

And it keeps dinner flexible.

There’s something satisfying about opening your pantry and seeing one jar doing the job of three or four different products. It feels intentional without being extreme. Practical without being complicated.

And that’s really the goal here — not reinventing comfort food, just streamlining it.

Cream of Anything Dry Mix

Ingredients

• 2 cups dry milk powder

• ¾ cup cornstarch

• 1 tsp onion powder

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• ½ tsp dried basil

• ½ tsp dried parsley

• ¼ tsp black pepper

Whisk together until evenly combined. Store in an airtight container.

To Replace 1 Can Condensed Soup

1. In a saucepan, whisk together:
   • ⅓ cup dry mix
   • 1¼ cups water
2. Heat over medium, whisking constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil.
3. Once boiling, reduce heat and continue cooking until desired thickness is reached.
4. Use as prepared, or stir in up to ½ cup of desired cooked vegetables or protein to create your preferred “cream of” variation.

This mix works anywhere you’d normally use a can of condensed soup — casseroles, pot pies, creamy pasta bakes, slow cooker meals.

It’s simple. It’s flexible. And it keeps your pantry from turning into a collection of almost-the-same cans.

If you’re building a more practical kitchen — one that saves space, cuts clutter, and still makes comfort food easy — this is a small swap that makes a noticeable difference.

One jar.

Less shelf space.

Same cozy dinners.

And honestly? That feels like a win.

If you’re enjoying these practical pantry swaps, don’t forget to subscribe and follow along for more pantry tips and simple homemade recipes. I’ll be sharing more dry mixes and realistic staples you can make once and use again and again.