Apparently, Y'all Like Pinterest!

So, I posted yesterday with apologies for not updating more regularly and pointing you toward my Pinterest lunch page.  Apparently, y'all love Pinterest!  You can, of course, follow my Lunch Ideas board which I update almost daily.  If that's not enough, I have a few more food related boards.  I don't update them daily, but you may find them helpful.  Check them out below!

Follow Elizabeth's board Things I'd Like to Cook on Pinterest.


Follow Elizabeth's board Things I'd Like To Bake on Pinterest.


Follow Elizabeth's board Things I'd Like to Grill on Pinterest.


Follow Elizabeth's board Things I'd Like To Snack On on Pinterest.


Follow Elizabeth's board Kitchen Tips on Pinterest.


Follow Elizabeth's board Lunch Ideas on Pinterest. Pin It Now!

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date

Follow Elizabeth's board Lunch Ideas on Pinterest.

You know how I said I'd keep updating?  Two years ago?  Well, in that time I got a new job, moved half way across the country, got engaged, got married, and am now six months into happily wedded not-so-new-job bliss.

In other words, not so much time for lunches!

I'll try to do better, I promise.  I've remained very active on my lunch Pinterest page, so while I get my act together, check me out over there!


Pin It Now!

And we're back! Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta!

Heirloom, Tomato Bruschetta, Blueberries, Hard Boiled Egg

.....aaaaaaand we're back after a much longer hiatus than I had anticipated.  I'm going to be honest, I was a little glad to take a break from having picture perfect lunches every single day...there may have even been a few days when I just threw a Lean Cuisine in my purse and pretended like I wasn't a slacker.

Anyway, I've decided to try to make it to at least 365 lunches - also known as a year's worth!  After that, we'll see.  I definitely won't be updating every day, but I'll try to update at least once a week.  I may also lean more on showing you recipes that would provide great leftover lunches rather than just showing you lunchboxes.  In other words, lots of ideas!

Now, this lunch I'm showing you is from over a month ago.  At the height of tomato season, I visited my mom and we got some heirloom tomatoes from Reyer Farms in Lena, Mississippi (thanks, mom!).  If you're anywhere near the area, you should go visit the Reyers (they also frequent the Jackson and Livingston Farmers' Markets).  We went to their farm and picked out a whole bunch of tomatoes.

Aren't they beautiful?!

When I mentioned that I liked to cook, and particularly loved caprese salad and bruschetta, they cut some fresh basil for me and let me take it home for free.  (Really, you should go visit them.  They are super nice.  And no, they're not paying me for this review.  In fact, I don't think they even know I have a blog to review them in!  They're just nice, and sell tasty vegetables).  Anyway, mom and I divided up the tomatoes.  I brought a bag full home and made caprese salad, spaghetti sauce, and some bruschetta for lunch.  It. Was. Delicious.

I packed the bruschetta for lunch with some fresh local blueberries, and a hard boiled egg for protein.  If you pack this for lunch, you've really got two options.  I like it when the tomatoey goodness soaks through my bread and I have to eat it with a fork, so I packed it as pictured above.  If you like your crostini to be actually, you know, crisp (like it's supposed to be outside of my crazy world), then I recommend packing the bread and tomato mixture separately and assembling at lunch. 

Now, go buy some fresh tomatoes before they're all out for the summer!

Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta

1/2  cup chopped heirloom tomato (about 1/2 large tomato, or 1 roma tomato)
2-3 leaves fresh basil, chopped
1 T chopped red onion
1 T crumbled feta cheese
1 T red wine vinegar
1-2 t olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
dash of salt and pepper
dash of red pepper flakes, optional
2 slices Italian style bread (I used day old homemade rosemary focaccia - use whatever you have on hand)

Toast your bread until just golden on the edges, and let cool completely.  You may sprinkle on a little olive oil or butter if you like, but I find it unnecessary.

In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients and stir well.  Let sit for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to mingle.  You may store this in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days, realizing that the tomatoes will get softer and the flavors stronger the longer you store them (not necessarily a bad thing, just a matter of taste).  When ready to eat, spoon tomato mixture onto toast and eat like an open faced sandwich with your fingers.  Enjoy as a snack, appetizer, or light meal. Pin It Now!

Day 208 - One Year's Worth of Work Week Lunches!

Half Pimento Cheese Sandwich, Sugar Snap Peas, Peaches and Blueberries, Cracker Crisps.

A year ago this week, I started making lunches for work.  I said I'd make and document four lunches a week for a year, a total of 208 lunches.  And here we are!  I decided to end with a classic, cold sandwich lunch.  A half pimento cheese sandwich on toasted wheat bread, sugar snap peas, peaches and cracker crisps.  I took it to a brown bag lunch conference, and I definitely had the best looking lunch at the table!

So, I seem to be at a crossroads and need to decide what to do with this blog next.  Should I just leave it up as it is?  Keep documenting lunches?  Do something different?  I'd love to hear your feedback - whether or not you'd keep reading, if there are particular things you'd like to see, etc.  Let me know!

Either way, I'm taking a week off.  I am just a little tired of making lunches.  Don't worry, I'll still be having lunches at work, but I'll give myself a break from the photos and the creativity.  Heck, I may have a chicken sandwich every day this week!  Ok, probably not...

If you're distressed over the lack of lunches next week, just pop over to my Lunch Ideas Pinterest page. Pin It Now!

Day 207 - Cheesy Baked Chicken

Cheesy Baked Chicken, Broccoli, Orange.

I made a little too much pimento cheese this week, so we'll be using that up for the next two days.  Last night, in  a moment of desperation (because none of my regular recipes sounded appealing), I took a chicken breast, stuffed it with pimento cheese, rolled it in Ritz crackers, and baked it.  And it turned out really tasty!  I made an extra for lunch today, and cut into the side a little so you can see all the cheesy goodness inside.  I packed it with broccoli and an orange half, and it was a delightful lunch! Pin It Now!

Day 206 - More Delicious Salad

Can you tell I bought a whole lot of spinach last week and I keep trying to think of inventive ways to eat it?  Well, today that resulted in a very simple spinach and tomato salad with a white wine vinaigrette, a scoop of pimento cheese, peaches, blueberries, and some poppy seed crackers. 

That's really all of interest I have to say about this lunch, other than it's delicious!  You can check out my Lunch Ideas Pinterest page if you need more ideas for the week.  Only two more lunches til I reach my one year goal!  


Pin It Now!

Day 205 - Leftover Pork Shu Mai

Pork Shu Mai on Spinach, Teriyaki Ginger Dressing, Orange Slices, Dark Chocolate

 
Can you believe that this is my last week of lunches before meeting the one year mark?  One year, four lunches a week, 208 lunches total - crazy!

So, starting out this week, I've got some leftover pork Shu Mai from Sunday night take out!  I put them on a bed of spinach with a teriyaki ginger dressing on the side, orange slices, and two little dark chocolates!  I ate the shu mai cold, and it was so good! Pin It Now!