Last year I did an article about making traditional Thanksgiving recipes a BPA Free makeover. Many of our holiday favorites require canned ingredients to make them the foods we love during the holidays. In my own effort to stop using all canned food items in my life (which has been really easy – I haven’t bought a can of anything in over a year) I published a few ideas to replace the required “can of mushroom soup” from green bean casseroles. At the time, I could not find cream of mushroom soup in anything other than in a can so my solution was to a) use cream of celery, which was easier to find in a box or b) make your own. Suggesting to someone who is hosting T-Day dinner might laugh in my face over that one.
Pacific Natural Foods to the rescue. They have recently release 3 new condensed soups that can round out your recipes for the holidays or any other of your traditional favorite meals. Their new condensed soups include Cream of Mushroom (finally!), Cream of Celery and Cream of Chicken. Hooray!
Bonus? They’re all USDA Certified Organic and are packaged in a BPA Free aseptic box. Now before you ask: There is a layer of aluminum, however the aluminum is not in contact with the soups (its there to protect the soup from light to eliminate the need for added preservatives) and the two inner most layers are made of polyethylene, which is a BPA Free food grade plastic. The boxes are also recyclable in some areas. I much prefer this over a can if I need to purchase prepared soups. If you’re not comfortable with the plastic you can always make your own – no harm in that. But in a pinch I think these are a great and healthy alternative. Sorry, Campbells.
In case anyone is interested, they make a great low sodium Organic Creamy Tomato Soup too – it’s my favorite!
I love Pacific products but haven’t seen this one at my store just yet – I’ll be looking for it!
I also found a great non-canned pumpkin pie filling for those who don’t want to use a real pumpkin. Arrowhead Mills Pumkin Pie filling is packaged in a BPA-free aseptic box. The only downside is it’s not certified organic.
And for those who “can’t” make home-made gravy (I’m there with ya!), there’s Imagine Organic Gravy packaged in the BPA-free aseptic box.
I also found RW Knudsen Sparking Organic Apple Cider (and Pear) – so my little ones can have feel like the grown-ups getting their drinks from elegant champagne-style bottles.
Awesome tips, thanks Jennifer!
Thank you SO much for posting this! I use cream of chicken & cream of celery a lot. I didn’t realize there were can free versions. I’ll have to look for this brand at my grocery store. I hope I can find it!
Jennifer – Thanks for the tip on the Arrowhead Mills Pumpkin Pie filling! : )
Thanks so much. I have been using Imagine creamy portobello mushroom soup in aseptic box, unfortunately it wasn’t organic. They also make potato leek and cream of broccoli, (which I’ve used as a substitute for some casserole recipes) which are organic.
I’ve been can free for over a year too and I was surprised at how easy it really is.
Thanks Jennifer for letting us know about the pumpkin pie filling. I was not looking forward to having to make my own. With a toddler every second counts!
Thank you for the great find! What stores have you found it in?
I have seen these in my local Kroger so far and I do believe I saw it in a Giant Grocery store in Delaware. I’m sure Whole Foods is a good place to try too.
I’m so glad you shared this. I’ve been looking at alternatives for Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup but was not relishing making my own. According to their website, they carry this brand at my local store, so I’ll definitely look for it.
We LOVE the Arrowhead Mills Pumpkin Pie filling! Used it last year and this year. Trader Joe’s now carries Cream of Mushroom (not organic) in an aseptic box as well. We found a great organic condensed tomato soup in an aseptic box by Fig Foods Co. Finally companies are getting on the bandwagon and getting rid of nasty cans! My cooking repertoire is flying wide open now!