December Cooking: THM Syrup Recipe & Smart Uses for Freeze-Dried Cheese

Hey There, Food Storage Friend!

December stretches our schedules thin — especially for caregivers, busy moms, and anyone juggling real life during the holidays.

This month’s Pantry Today update highlights freeze-dried cheddar cheese, nonfat milk powder, and butter powder to help you create fast, nourishing meals without a last-minute grocery run.

And because a little holiday sweetness makes the season brighter, we’re sharing a THM-friendly, sugar-free Butter Cream Syrup perfect for waffles, pancakes, and brunch casseroles.

Spotlight Ingredient — Freeze-Dried Cheddar Cheese

Freeze-dried cheddar cheese adds instant richness to THM S meals and reheats beautifully with a small splash of water.

Easy Ways to Use It

• Stir into broccoli cheddar soup

• Sprinkle over eggs, omelets, or casseroles

• Add to low-carb chili

• Use as a topping for THM S skillet meals

• Include in emergency-ready shelf meals

This ingredient earns its space in your pantry because it stores well, tastes great, and saves time on busy mornings.

Nonfat dry milk is one of the most flexible THM ingredients. It provides protein and creaminess without adding fat — making it perfect for E and FP fuel types.

How to Use It by Fuel Type

• E Meals: Add to oatmeal, baked goods, lattes, or smoothies for extra protein.

• FP Drinks: Use in hot cocoa or chai-style drinks for gentle creaminess while keeping fats and carbs low.

• In Mixes: Ideal for homemade drink mixes, breakfast kits, and shelf-stable meal starters.

Spotlight Ingredient — Butter Powder

Butter powder brings buttery flavor with zero refrigeration, making it a convenient addition to everyday meals and shelf-stable kits.

Try It In

• Creamy THM S sauces

• Casseroles

• Popcorn toppings

• Seasoning blends

• Baking mixes

• Emergency food kits

Recipe of the Month — THM-Friendly Butter Cream Syrup (Sugar-Free)

Tags: THM S | Staple

This sugar-free Butter Cream Syrup adds cozy holiday flavor to breakfast without the sugar spike or holiday guilt.

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter or butter powder reconstituted

• ¾ cup Gentle Sweet (or your DIY THM blend)

• 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk

• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Melt butter in a saucepan.

2. Whisk in Gentle Sweet until dissolved.

3. Slowly stir in evaporated milk.

4. Boil lightly for 10 minutes until syrup thickens.

5. Add vanilla.

Serve warm over pancakes, waffles, or low-carb bakes.

THM-Style Serving Notes

• This recipe is an S-friendly syrup due to the healthy fats in the butter.

• Each tablespoon contains approximately 1.5g carbs and 4.8g fat.

• Enjoy 1–2 Tbsp on almond-flour waffles, low-carb pancakes, or holiday S brunch casseroles.

• Not suitable for E or FP meals.

• For added protein, pair with eggs, Greek yogurt (S-friendly), or breakfast sausage.

Make Your Own Gentle Sweet (THM-Friendly)

Skip the store-bought blends and mix your own at home!

This DIY Gentle Sweet Alternative is affordable, easy to make, and works beautifully in all THM fuel types — including this month’s Butter Cream Syrup.

Get the recipe:

https://www.pantrytoday.com/diy-sweetener-blend-recipe-make-your-own-thm-gentle-sweet-alternative-copy

THM Tip of the Month — Smart Ways to Use Freeze-Dried Cheddar Cheese

Freeze-dried cheddar is one of those quiet pantry heroes that helps you pull together THM-friendly meals in minutes. It adds rich flavor, melts beautifully, and keeps your S meals satisfying without adding fuss to your day.

How to Use It in THM Meals

• S Meals (Satisfying):
  Sprinkle onto eggs, casseroles, skillets, or soups for instant cheesy richness. It melts perfectly when rehydrated with a small splash of water or added directly to hot dishes.

• Quick S Snacks:
  Blend into dips, stir into low-carb chili, or toss onto roasted veggies for simple, flavorful upgrades.

• Shelf Meals:
  Freeze-dried cheddar stores well and rehydrates easily, making it ideal for quick, from-the-pantry dinners on busy nights.

• Kid-Friendly Swaps:
  Mix into omelets, quesadillas made with low-carb wraps, or sprinkle over pizza bakes.

Why It Works So Well

You get all the flavor of fresh cheddar with the convenience of long shelf life — a perfect match for THM S cooking and everyday preparedness.

Shop December Specials — Thrivalist Freeze-Dried Essentials

Stock your pantry with Thrivalist’s December Specials, featuring fruits, veggies, proteins, baking staples, and comfort-food favorites. These are perfect for:

• Emergency kits

• Shelf meals

• Holiday cooking shortcuts

• THM-friendly swaps

Use this link to shop December Specials:
https://thrivalist.com/?ref=pantrytoday

Preparedness Corner — Stress-Free Holiday Cooking

During the holiday hustle, a well-stocked pantry becomes a quiet gift to yourself. Build a few shelf-stable meal kits — soups, casseroles, or THM Shelf Meals — and you’ll always have a calm backup plan when days get busy.

Preparedness is simply kindness to your future self.

Thanks for being part of the Pantry Today community. I hope this month’s ideas bring warmth, comfort, and confidence to your kitchen.

Here’s to a December filled with simple meals and steady peace.

~ Debbie & Monty
Pantry Today

P.S.
If December has you juggling too many tabs (same here!), I keep all my helpful links in one cozy corner of the internet: pantrytoday.com/links.

Final Thoughts