In light of the Coronavirus concerns and people being encouraged to stay home, the Traina® Home Grown family invites people to use their creativity in the kitchen to whip up some wholesome yet easy and simple meals. With some basic staples and a few flavor boosters (such as Traina® Home Grown dried fruit), eating in has never been more delicious!

Oatmeal — Oatmeal is a hearty staple for breakfast and it’s also a great ingredient to use in homemade granola bar or energy bites recipes. Check out these easy No Bake Apricot Energy Bites, for example. Or take a morning short-cut and make overnight oats in jars, or bake some old-fashioned oatmeal cookies with dried cranberries as a twist versus traditional raisins.

Pasta and Bread — A big pot of pasta can fill up a whole family for not a lot of “dough.” Try serving with big chunks of mozzarella, fresh basil and some Traina® Home Grown Sun Dried Tomatoes in Oil. Or give Traina Home Grown’s recipe for California Sun Dried Tomato Overnight Souffle a try! With just a few staple ingredients, this hearty souffle can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Rice and Beans — A simple one-two combination of rice and beans can take on many flavors. For example, use some cumin and Traina® Home Grown Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup in place of tomato sauce when making the rice for a Mexican or Spanish style meal. For a Caribbean flair, add some diced red and green bell peppers (and a splash of Tabasco!). Or forgo the beans and make a rice pilaf with dried fruits and nuts.

Crockpot BBQ — An easy and hearty meal starts with the crockpot and a pork shoulder or chicken breasts plus a bottle of Traina® Home Grown Sun Dried Apricot or Sun Dried Plum BBQ sauce and a little broth, some chopped onions and seasonings. After several hours, shred the meat and serve it on slider buns with coleslaw or over rice. The best part is crockpot cooked meats are super forgiving and can be reheated for tasty leftovers.

Sloppy Joes — A classic dinnertime staple, Sloppy Joes are typically a meal that the whole family can dig into! To kick up this old school favorite, use Traina® Home Grown Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup in place of regular ketchup or add a spicy kick with Traina’s Sriracha Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup variety.

Peanut Butter and Jelly — Even a simple sandwich can have a little pizazz with the addition of dried fruit mixed into a complementary jelly or jam flavor or some crushed pretzels or Chex cereal mixed into the peanut butter. Have fun and let the kids pick which combinations they love most. 

Regardless of what’s on the stove or in the oven, the Traina family sends its best wishes for health and safety at this time. Cooking at home can become a positive way to connect with family while nourishing them with a delicious dose of fruit!