Lunch idea for today?

[Earthy]

Taking a picnic lunch to my dh work. Any idea? I have nothing for things to stay warm so it has to be cold items. It is also about a 35+ min drive, as he works out of town.

Going to the store to pick some stuff up but I would appreciate any ideas.

Thanks!!!!

[Jackie]

Chicken salad or tuna salad in pita pockets, with lettuce and tomato in it.

[ABall]

salads with mayo will need to be in a cooler.

You could make your own sub sandwiches. with some chips or a pasta salad made with an italian style dressing.

tortilla roll ups

salad with dressing on the side

[KrisRV]

oh there are tons and tons of cold things. sauasge and cheese cut up on crackers. when we need the idea we can never think of it. I hope alot of neat ideas came to your mind and you all had a wonderful lunch together.

[Jackie]

Amy, I'll use one of those cold packs in the lunchbox to keep my tuna salad cold. Or I'll freeze a juice box. It keeps things cold, but is thawed out by the time I want to drink it!

[KrisRV]

I also put a bag of ice in a gallon ziplock bag and it keeps everything cold until you need it.

[Emma's#1fan]

I might be late to share ideas but I hope you both have a great lunch!!!
Taking lunch to your hubby is so special. Handsome usually works far from home so I usually do not take him lunch. The only times I have is when I am in the area, which isn't often, and when he is near by, which isn't often.
Patty

[dozermom67]

One thing I like to do is make up a 'finger foods' tray. I cut up pieces of summer sausage, ham, or turkey, pieces of different cheese, apples, strawberries, carrot sticks, celery, broccoli, etc. Then I pack up different kinds of crackers and/or any dips we might want. I usually add toothpicks for easy pick-up, or even the little thingies you use to hold corn on the cob. Maybe take some cookies or something along for dessert. Or, you may just be too full for dessert.

[Earthy]

Thanks for the ideas! I took tortilla wraps, veggies and grapes.

Then I came home and found my links on recipes for lunches. LOL

[Emma's#1fan]

Well the good thing is you have new ideas for next time!!!!;)
Patty

[Earthy]

This is our quick On the Go meal:

1 or 2 loaves of crusty bread Or wheat crackers
Block of cheddar cheese or another kind
Grapes, apples, raisins, peaches, apples or whatever fruit we have
Summer sausage
Gallon of water or lemonade.
Cookies
Roll of paper towels
Plastic bag for trash
Folding chairs
Picnic basket
In a bag with a small cutting board and sharp knife and cut what we need as we eat.
OR
1 gallon jug water
2 loaves of bread
1 plastic container of peanut butter
1 plastic jar of jam
Homemade cookies OR store-bought
Apples
Knife, roll of paper towels, paper plates
I pack everything in a large cooler with frozen gallon water jug to keep it cool.

Then here are my lunch ideas:
Peanut Butter and Jelly

Tuna fish sandwiches

Pasta salad with veggies

Pasta salad with tuna, mayo, and peas

Burritos with beans, cheese, or defrosted taco meat (made ahead of time in bulk, then frozen in lunch-size portions)

Quesadillas with cheese, leftover meats, veggies, beans

Waffles, pancakes

Rice and beans (add toppings like scrambled egg, cilantro, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream)

Soups made in bulk and frozen ahead of time

Canned soup with your own added pasta and frozen veggies

Baked potatoes with toppings like cheese, beans, chili, veggies

Chili

Lunch meats or wraps

Omelets

Bagel or English Muffin pizzas

Yogurt with granola

Various raw veggies and dips served with cheeses and crackers or bread

Fresh fruits with yogurt dip

Cottage cheese and fruit

Hot dogs and beans

Turkey dogs in crescent rolls with honey mustard dip

Chicken salad from leftover chicken

Crescent rolls or phylo dough stuffed with leftovers then baked

Calzones stuffed with leftovers then baked

Pasta with tomato sauce

Mac-n-cheese

Hummus, cheese, crackers, pitas

BLT's

Peanut butter on banana or apple with raisins

Mini frittatas baked in muffin tins (eggs, milk/cream, veggies, leftovers, etc)

Grilled cheese (throw some chopped veggies between cheese layers!)

Fish sticks

Egg salad

Nachos

Ramen noodles with veggies

Sliced Cheese, Sliced Summer Sausage, Ritz Crackers, Carrot Sticks, Sliced Apples, Watermelon Slices

[Earthy]

I need to save these in a quick spot to get to. If anyone has any more to add that would be great.

[Deena]

WOW Nellie, those are great!

[Earthy]

Sack Lunch Ideas

Mozzarella string-cheese sticks
Orange wedges
Whole-wheat carrot muffins
Bagel spread with cream cheese
Sugar snap peas
Box of raisins
Tortilla rolled up with a slice of mild cheese
Fresh green beans
Small tangerines
Banana bread spread with peanut butter and a little honey
Cucumber coins
Melon cubes
Cream cheese and apple butter on whole-grain bread
Veggie mix
Dried apricots
Half of a pita stuffed with shredded carrot and mild cheese
Individual cup of applesauce

Mix and match one from each group:

Bread:
Pita
Muffin
Quick bread- banana, pumpkin, apple
Whole-wheat bun
Bagel
Tortilla
Raisin bread

Fillings:
Peanut butter- honey, banana, jelly, shredded carrot
Cream cheese- jelly, apple butter, shredded veggies
Mild cheese
Hummus

Veggies:
Baby carrots or carrot sticks
Fresh green beans
Sugar snap peas
Cucumber coins
Broccoli florets sprinkled with non-salt seasoning
Zucchini sticks

Fruits:
Half a banana
Small apple
Orange wedge
Raisins or other dried fruits
Drained pineapple chunks
Individual applesauce container
Melon cubes

[Ohio Mom]

Nellie, great ideas, thanks. Will be enjoying these all summer.

[P.H.]

salads with mayo will need to be in a cooler.


Yes, if they're made with regular mayo, which has eggs in it. "Veganase" tastes just as good and is made without eggs. It's in a lot of health food stores.

You've got a lot of good ideas on here. We do on-the-go lunches a lot in the summer, so I'm reading this with interest.

[Earthy]

I need to get some more Veganase. I wish it was sold at the regular stores. I am also looking for Almond butter. We just purchases Sunflower Seed Butter, from Target and it taste's great! Peanutbutter is getting old.

[Earthy]

Using small idvidual bags of Fritos. Add ground beef, beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato, salsa (all diced to fit) Take with you plastic spoons and Enjoy!

They line up side by side in a cooler or if you aren't going far in a paper sack. You can close the tops by folding them over and using a bit of tape.

[ABall]

You can make your own vegetarian mayo

I asked for a recipe on the TOH and someone found one.

Ingredients
Amount Ingredient Preparation
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup soy milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon prepared mustard
6 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions
Put all the ingredients except the oil in a blender.

Blend on lowest speed.

Graduall - literally one drop at a time - add the oil until the
mixture starts to thicken.

Continue blending until thickened and smooth.

Transfer to a jar and store in the refrigerator.

[Earthy]

ABall- Thanks, I will try it out!

[Deena]

Now that's my kind of mayonnaise! :D I'll have to try that! Thanks ABall!

[Earthy]

I need to get on TOH more often! I have the ingredients ready to try the mayo out.

Since PB is used a lot around here, this is how to spice up your sandwich a bit;)

Peanut Butter + cinnamon & raisins
Peanut Butter + onion slices
Peanut Butter + potato chips
Peanut Butter + honey
Peanut Butter + pickle slices
Peanut Butter + banana slices
Peanut Butter + tomato

YUM!!

[Jackie]

Phillip loves PB and Strawberry slices this time of year, plus PB on apples.

[Ohio Mom]

Love PB on apples - granny smiths. Never tried PB & strawberries, sounds good.

Elijah has eaten PB and honey - ever since he could, now Gianna wants that. They eat PB & honey for lunch about 3 times a week.

[Earthy]

OH! I did for get to add that one!:

Peanut Butter + apple slices
Peanut Butter + carrot slices



We have never tried strawberries with it.

[Jackie]

This really isn't lunch, but you GOTTA try it! I found this recipe on the "Hillybilly Housewife" site. Made it for the kids tonight, and the WHOLEHEARTEDLY approved!!! It's really easy, especially if you have a refridgerator that has crushed ice.

SLUSHIES

2 cups ice water
1 pkg. flavored drink mix (ie: Kool Aid Packet)
2/3 cup sugar
4 cups or 1 full tray ice cubes


Put all ingredients into your plender. I twill be about 2/3 to 3/4 full. Put the lid on. Process on high for a full minute. Stop the blender, use a spoon to stir it a bit. Look for unchopped ice chunks. If all the chunks are grated up, then go ahead and serve it. You may need to blend it for anotehr full miute, though. Serve immediately. I usually have to spoon this out of the blender with a measuring cup becaue the mixture is so thick. Makes 4-8oz. servings.

[Earthy]

I love the Hillbilly Housewife! LOL

Slushies YUM!

[Earthy]

This is SO good!

Black Bean & Mango Salsa

1 can black beans
1 mango, slices (or 1 can mango)
1 can corn
1/4 C onion, minced
1/4 C cilantro, chopped
2 T lime juice
1/2 t garlic
1/4 t cumin

Combine all ingredients and eat with chips!

[Marylyn_TX]

Ooo, if you like mango salsa, you have to try this! I got it from my gardening forum and it is SO good!:

The Yumminess
AKA Gardenwife's Mango Salsa

2 cups diced tomatoes*
1 cup finely diced red onions
1-2 (or more or less, depending on how hot you like it!) finely diced jalapeno (with or without seeds and membrane)
1 cup finely diced red bell pepper
1 1/2 cups chopped mango (about 1 ½ mangoes)
4 Tbsp chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp white vinegar (optional)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Juice of one large lime

* I use grape tomatoes in the winter since regular hydroponic ones are pretty mealy and don't have much flavor. Can't wait for great, fresh produce!

Directions: I find that hand-chopping the ingredients (at least the tomatoes) works out better, as the food processor can really pulverize things if you're not careful. I also put the diced tomatoes in a strainer and let some of the juice drain out, so the salsa would not get too runny.

Dice ingredients and fold them together in a large glass bowl. Cover and let stand at least a half hour before serving. Refrigerate if not eaten within a few hours. Best eaten within a day or so. Great on chips, or over chicken or grilled fish.

[Earthy]

Thanks! It looks really good!

I love different salsa's.

[Earthy]

I made the Mago salsa yesterday! It was delicious! I did a mix between mine and the one marylyn posted. Yum!