Quick Little 411

We usually do a Bento-esque lunch a few times a week. Now that fall is coming and the temperature is dropping, I have brought out the thermos. It is great for cold lunches like gazpacho (yumm!) ; or for hot soups. We even use it to keep veggie nuggets (tastes like chicken) warm.

but there is a thermos trick!
for cold items, prior to loading with lunch fill up thermos with ice water. then drain and dry. This keeps the metal very cold all day.
For hot items, fill up thermos with really hot water. then drain and dry. Fill up with lunch. Keeps the metal hot.
Try it. It really works well.

My sister says she did not know this tip, so I thought I would pass it along to you.

A Favorite Brown Bag

One of my very favorite treats is a chicken or turkey sandwich. I love using cranberry sauce for my condiment instead of Mayo or mustard. sometime I add some crunchy spinach, watercress or waterchestnuts. Yummo!

It is good with sliced or diced chicken. and good in a wrap or pita pocket. Try to opt for whole wheat! ;)

Healthy eating! the healthy express way.

My New Trick for An Old Bag

Simple. and very convenient.

My healthier version of Beanie Weinees.

Vegetarian (no-pork and) beans. with cut up smart dogs http://www.lightlife.com/product_detail.jsp?p=smartdogs. No nitrates. Lower fat. High fiber and nutritional value. My kids eat them room temperature. but of course they can go in the thermos. A two thumbs up lunch.

Lunch Quickie

Tomorrow:
Egg salad with Nayonnaise. Whole grain crackers. Frozen red grapes.
Carrot juice with apple juice. Whole wheat graham crackers with nut butter and sunflower seeds.

First day of School

and all is well.

Snack. mix made by 2nd grader with water
Lunch. guac sushi. whole grain tortilla wrapped with guacamole, carrot shreds, diced chicken. rolled and cut to resemble sushi. apple fries. carrot/apple juice.
after school. pluot

Back to School Panic

This is the time of year that I begin to panic.
What will the kids eat for school lunches and snacks? What will be healthy and easy for dinner?

as if we have not eaten all summer. LOL but still, every year at this time, the anxiety sneaks in.

So, this week I will post my strategies and recipes for back to school dinners. They will feature my no-one-knows-if-or-when-we-will-eat-at-the-same-time dilema. Pete and Repeat menus. Pantry to the rescue. and much more.

So don't change that dial!

Pantry Dilema!

Girls, I love my pantry. It is an integral part of my kitchen. and I'll tell you why...
I love to look like I have it all together. although that is pretty far from the truth, you know? but when there is a change in our schedule or unexpected company or one of the kids is going through a growth spurt and goes from eating like a big to more like a teenager; well the pantry is my friend. Everything in the pantry is accessible, easy to fix, inexpensive, and always healthy.

The middle of the summertime is when I use down my pantry and use my "saved" money for fun things like waterpark. Then the end of July, I gradually restock. This is when pantry item coupons and sales are abundant. Plus, with hurricane season right around the corner, I like to have a well-stocked pantry.

Here is the dilema: my well-meaning husband put moth balls in my fully stocked pantry. The odor has penetrated the boxes and plastic wrap and seeped into my pasta, crackers, cereals, and sadly more. Is there any salvaging my groceries?

Thanks.