Sip and Shop Sunday [Lunchboxes]

There's something about a fresh, new start that I love.  The start of a new school year is no different.  I still love to browse the school supply aisles and this year that includes lunch boxes.  I have all sorts of plans to pack my lunch for the week on Sunday (today for the first time this year) and the prospect of a cute lunch box makes that all the more appealing.  So, without further ado....

...today I'm sipping Greek Coffee...

....and shopping for lunch boxes. I especially love the idea of monogramming for a kiddo.  Let's face it, they all misplace theirs at some point (usually left on the playground) and making it easily identified could only help -- not to mention how cute they look!

Happy Sipping and Shopping!

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Apple Nachos

Since we were already having chicken wings, pepperoncini beef sliders, and other assorted goodies during the Super Bowl, these apple nachos were the perfect sweet little treat with a little less guilt.

 Really the sky is the limit with the toppings you choose.  These were a bit less daunting to eat than a traditional caramel apple, but with all the same yummy goodness.

Apple Nachos
Ingredients:

• Granny Smith Apples, sliced
• caramel sauce
• chocolate sauce
• white chocolate chips
• chocolate chips
• butterscotch chips
• pecans, chopped

Directions:

• Slice apples and layer on a plate.
• Top with your favorite toppings.

Notes:

• I used a different variety apple, but think the Granny Smith would hold up better.
• We preferred the mini chips - easier to manage.
• In hindsight, peanut butter chips would have been delicious.  
• I would make this the day of your event, not before. 

Happy "Cooking"!

Sausage, Quinoa, and Kale (Almost) One Pot Meal

Y'all, this just might be my new favorite dish.  One of the darling fourth grade teacher brings the yummiest looking lunches to school.  She's very sweet about sharing (both the actual dish and how she made it) and was absolutely the inspiration to this dish.  While her dishes feature pesto as the I decided to go with tomato instead.  She prompted me to just throw a little of this and a little of that in, and since that's how I cook usually, that's exactly what I did.  Here's the end result:

Sausage, Quinoa, and Kale (Almost) One Pot Meal
Ingredients:

• 1 lb sausage (I used garlic and basil chicken sausage from Fresh Thyme, which was terrific)
• 1 head kale, chopped
• 1 can tomato sauce (I prefer this to jarred tomato sauce, use what you like)
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1/2 cup quinoa, cooked 
• 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
• 1/2 t basil
• 1/2 t oregano
• salt and pepper to taste 

Directions:

• In saucepan bring broth to boil.  Add quinoa, lower heat to simmer, and cook for 10 min. Fluff with fork.
• While quinoa cooks, saute the onions in a dab of olive oil. 
• Add sausage to onions and brown completely.  
• Once sausage is cooked through, drain if needed.  Return sausage to pan and add kale.  Cook until desired softness is reached.  
• Add cooked quinoa, tomato sauce, and adjust seasoning.
• Enjoy!  (It really is just that easy!!)

Happy Cooking!

Weekly Meal Prep

Now that school is back in session it's time to buckle down and get organized.  Hubby and I were pretty relaxed this summer with the meal planning and unfortunately it shows both in the wallet and the waistline.  I took some time yesterday to prep our food for the week.  Typically I pack my lunchbox and a few snacks for the week, but haven't prepped beyond that.  Yesterday I did anything I could ahead for meals.  Hopefully it will pay off.  Hubby says I was a little overzealous and that this much food will last us longer than just a week, but better to be over-prepared than under, right??

In My Lunchbox [Southwest BBQ Chicken Salad]

Last week I shared Shredded BBQ Chicken as "what's for dinner x 2" and as luck would have it, I managed to get lunches out of the same recipe, too!  My kind of recipe...cook once and eat three ways.

With the new school year starting today...yep, you read that right, today....I snagged some new bento boxes from Amazon.  I love that they came in a set of 10.  I'm able to pack lunch and even breakfast, if I choose to, for the entire week.  I know myself well enough to know that if I don't do it on Sunday, it won't get accomplished later in the week.

While I'm happy with these, and the quality is fine for a what I'm using them for, I think next time I'll go with these instead, for no other reason than I like the way the sections are divided a little better.

I also ordered these silicone muffin cups to divide further if needed.  Unfortunately, I didn't read the description very clearly and they're smaller than I anticipated.  Happily, though, they still get the job done.

The only thing that made packing lunch even easier this week, was using part of the shredded BBQ chicken to whip up a little salad.  Couldn't be more simple.....

North End BBQ and Moonshine

Working in a school, we never rarely have time to have a nice lunch out with the girls.  Well, we did just that yesterday at The The North End BBQ and Moonshine.  I think I should preface this post with the explanation that my mama was from Memphis....I'm a little picky about my bbq, but this place was good!  It's just a hop, skip, and a jump away from my house and I've been hearing rave reviews, but somehow had yet to visit.  I'm sure it won't be long until my next visit.

PSA: Kale Salad

A sweet friend from school just shared an incredible kale salad recipe with me last week.  I was planning on making it this week, until my Daddy showed up with a nearly exact replica last week for our family dinner.....from Costco!

In My Lunchbox [Vegetarian Bento Box]

I originally started to title this post a Lenten Bento Box, but I just couldn't do it, as it includes eggs.  Growing up my family always fasted for Lent. (Although it was not the strict fast like my grandmother and great aunts, where no animal products, fish, oil, eggs, dairy products, or alcohol are allowed.)  Even as an adult before marriage, I was very good about it.  Then came along Hubby, who is not Orthodox, didn't grow up fasting for Lent, and is a meat lover.  It became much harder.  This year, however, I'm determined to be better.  I am reminded of a sweet childhood priest who discussed that the Lenten period is about deciding on what exactly you will do, and sticking to it, which will be my personal approach this year. 

In My Lunchbox [Soup in a Jar ~ Chicken Tortellini Soup]

Y'all already know what a huge fan I am of packing an entire week's worth of lunches on Sunday.  (If you don't you can see my other lunchbox ideas here.)  It doesn't really take any longer to pack a week's worth than it does one lunch, and this method ensures that I actually have one every day.  This week I decided to do a little something different than a bento box or salad in a jar, even if I didn't venture off too far from the jar....this week it's soup in a jar.  Sunday afternoon I cooked up a big batch of chicken vegetable soup, ladled into 5 different jars, and voila....lunch for the week.

In My Lunchbox [Tilapia Bento]

This week's bento box is just kind of a compilation of goodies from the fridge and the fact that tilapia was on super sale at Costco.  I'm not complaining though because the end result was yummy goodness.

In my lunchbox this week:

• tilapia (quickly saute with chef's salt, hit with lemon)
• sugar snap peas
• roasted red pepper hummus
• garlic and herb laughing cow cheese
• whole wheat crackers
• apple

Clearly I enjoy lunches that have lots of little bites of things.  As a bonus it makes it super easy to pack a week's worth of lunches in a snap.

For my snack I simply packed a little Greek yogurt in the individual serving size cups.  Costco by far has the best price on Fage, which is my favorite brand. 

Happy Lunching!

In My Lunchbox [Asian Inspired Bento]

Stating that a bento box is "Asian inspired" is a little redundant.....please just forgive and pretend you didn't notice ;)!  My very favorite lunch is the bento box from Sakura.  The salmon teriyaki with sushi is like a little bit of heaven.  Pair that with the fact that Daddy was my usual lunch date, and it was perfection.  This week's lunchbox was a inspired by theirs (although not nearly as good and without the wonderful company). 

In My Lunchbox, Salad in a Jar Edition [Southwest Salad with Cumin Cilantro Vinaigrette]

As y'all know, I love to pack my lunches for the week all at once.  I'm simply not disciplined enough to do it every night (or that morning).  The bento boxes have been a wonderful help with that, but I do love a salad for lunch, too!  Rather than having to worry about the dressing leaking, the lettuce getting soggy, or both, I pack the entire thing into one of my beloved Ball jars.  It works like a charm.

In My Lunchbox [Salmon Bento]

This week's Bento Box is simple....grilled salmon, blueberries, sautéed mushrooms and squash, and cherry tomatoes from the garden. 

In My Lunchbox [A Gardener's Bento Box]

Well, it's that time of year again....school starts tomorrow.  I am determined to have an organized, stressless (ha) year and am taking some steps to help achieve that goal.  I've already mentioned my love of packing lunch  for the entire week on Sunday, and tonight was no exception. 

The beauty of this box was that I simply stepped out to the garden and everything else fell into place.  This week's Bento Box includes: cucumbers, a couple snap peas, hummus, and Indiana melon (not from my garden, but Indiana grown).

 

In My Lunchbox [Avocado Drizzle]

I've been so busy playing catch up after our 50th Anniversary of the Tennis Program that I haven't had a chance to blog....or spend much time in the kitchen. But I'm back today with a quick and easy lunch that's one of my very favorites.  Bestie MHDRL introduced it to me when I was out visiting her last spring.  It's a keeper!

In My Lunchbox [Bento Lunch I]

It always seems that I start my week determined to be organized.  I always plan to pack my lunch and make home cooked meals for dinner......then Thursday (or sometimes even Wednesday) hits and that plan goes right out the window.

One of my favorite ways to combat this issue is to simply pack a week's worth of lunches on Sunday.  Then I'm all set.  It takes minimal time, but reaps a big reward.