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 199 - Buffalo Turkey Sliders

Buffalo Turkey Sliders, Potato Salad, Fruit Salad

Ok, this is probably one of the more unappealing pictures for one of the more delicious things I've ever made.  I made up this recipe based on what I had in my fridge, and it was SO GOOD.  Turkey burgers stuffed with cheese and buffalo sauce, on slider buns with provolone and tomato.  Beyond tasty!  The provolone was totally unnecessary, but still appreciated!  Had two leftover sliders for lunch today with fruit salad and potato salad.  I ended up actually packing the burger patties in a separate container for microwaving, and at the rest cold.  Perfection!

I know these don't look pretty, but they are much prettier in person and delicious!  You should definitely try them.

Buffalo Turkey Sliders

1 lb ground turkey
8 slider buns, any kind (I used King's Hawaiian)
1 egg white
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup shredded colby-jack cheese
1/4 cup buffalo sauce (I used mild)
toppings of your choice

In a large bowl, mix turkey, bread crumbs, cheese, egg, and buffalo sauce with your hands until well blended.  Shape into 8 slider patties, about the size of two golf balls.  Cook over medium high heat in a non-stick skillet until dark brown on both sides, about 4-5 minutes per side.  Place hot onto slider buns, add toppings of your choosing, and enjoy!

These burgers will fall apart on the grill, so be sure to cook these stovetop.  They will come out very soft and gooey - as long as there is no pink in the middle, you're burgers are fully cooked - enjoy how they melt in your mouth! Pin It Now!

Day 182 - I Had a Lot of Extra Feta Cheese

I really, really  love feta cheese. And I had some leftover, and no idea what to do with it.  So, I thought, "Hey!  Why don't I just eat feta for lunch?!"  So, I did.  I mixed feta, olive oil, kalamata olives, and red pepper flakes together for  lunch today, which I heated in the microwave for about 30 seconds to make a warm feta spread.  Soooooo worth all of the calories!  Put in some leftover pita bread, leftover caesar salad, and sections of a Cara Cara orange.  Good, healthyish, easy, and quick! Pin It Now!

Day 172 - PB&J

PB&J, pretzels, cantaloupe.

It's happened.  I've been fighting it for 172 days, but here it is:  My first PB&J for lunch.  I couldn't help it - I was so tired, so uncreative, and that white bread looked so inviting!  To be fair, I do usually buy the thin white bread from the store, which makes me feel like I'm being a little healthier.  Right?  Well, at least I added cantaloupe, that's healthy!  And, pretzels...

I feel like a little bit of a lunch fail, and yet this was so inevitable. AND delicious!  Pin It Now!

Day 162 - Pork Sliders

Pork Tenderloin Sliders, Teriyaki Sauce, Watermelon, Dried Green Beans

 
Remember when I said yesterday that I had some leftover pork to use up?  I made my Cranberry Dijon Pork Tenderloin on Sunday, and so today I had pork tenderloin sliders for lunch!  I put them on little homemade country white rolls with some teriyaki  on the side for dipping.  I put some watermelon (which is getting fresh again, YAY!), and TJ's dried green beans on the side.  Pin It Now!

Day 149 - Open Face Breakfast Sandwich

Open Face Breakfast Sandwich, Red Grapes, Clementine

Aaaaand, we're back!  From a wonderful, relaxing, taco and margarita filled vacation!  I already miss my dear friend who was sharing her time and couch with me, but I think we had a great time.  I hope you all had a good week, as well!

Of course, the downside of traveling is...well, the traveling part.  Flying through an airport-which-must-not-be-named, I was naturally delayed by about four hours due to...well, this airport just generally being inept.  Sorry, but they always mess something up.  Anyway, trials of this particular airport aside, I got home well past my bedtime last night, and so did not have time to grocery shop or prepare lunch.  What's a lunch blogger to do?!  Well, I multitasked!  As I was making breakfast this morning (toast, boiled egg, fruit), I decided to throw together a breakfast sandwich for lunch.  I had a multigrain piece of toast which I topped with goat chevre, two strips of crisp bacon, and one egg cooked over hard (I would have made it over easy had I not been taking it to work).  Not the prettiest sandwich, but very tasty!  I added grapes and a clementine on the side, and I was good to go!

There will be some cooking tonight, so we'll see what more interesting things I'm able to concoct! Pin It Now!

Day 143 - Fajita Wrap

Cold Fajita Wrap, Carrots, Red Plum

I made steak fajitas last night, and had just enough left over to make a cold fajita wrap for lunch.  I tossed together shredded lettuce, red and green bell pepper, and a little onion.  I laid it out on a burrito sized tortilla, stacked some fajita steak across it, and added a drizzle of low fat spicy thousand island dressing.  Carrots and a red plum rounded it out.  Quick, tasty, easy.  My kind of lunch! Pin It Now!

Day 142 - Cucumber Mini Sandwiches

Cucumber Sandwiches, Carrots, Pretzel Crisps, and Cheese Cubes

When I was a kid, my school always had a Mothers' Day tea, and each grade had a specific dish they'd always make.  First graders made cream cheese mints, second graders made sugar cookies, etc.  My favorite every year, made by the third graders, were cucumber sandwiches.  Every year I inhaled them, and had no idea why I loved them so much.  At some point down the road, I discovered that not only was the existence of these tiny delights not limited to my elementary school, but that they are really easy to make.  Traditionally you use white bread with the crusts cut off, thinly sliced cucumbers, and cream cheese.  Some people add sprouts or water chestnuts, but I think those people are crazy.

So, here is my grown up version for lunch today.  Multigrain bread, chive flavored whipped cream cheese, and an English cucumber sliced very thin on a kitchen mandolin.  I cut off the crusts and sliced the sandwich into four equal parts, laying them cut side up strictly for visual purposes.  Threw in some carrots, cheese cubes, and pretzel crisps.  Great lunch for an adult or a particularly adventurous kid.  Pin It Now!

Day 144 - Pimento Cheese Sandwich

Pimento Cheese Sandwich, Celery, Apple Slices, Red Plum

Pimento cheese, one of my favorites!  It's so bad for you, though, that I packed a half pimento cheese sandwich on wheat toast with celery, apple slices, and a red plum.  The fruits and vegetables make the cheesy part healthy, right?  Right?!

Nope.

Anyway, if you've forgotten my recipe for pimento cheese, you can find it here.  Enjoy! Pin It Now!

Day 141 - Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joe Sliders, Apple Slices, Celery

Ok, friends, this week's posts are going to be short and simple, just like the lunches I'm making.  Life is just busy - professional conferences, longer hours, trying to get ready for vacation (yay!), and life in general.  So, this week is going to be all about sandwiches. 

I normally don't eat a lot of sandwiches.  I love a good sub every once in a while, or a nice panini, but I think somewhere between kindergarten and junior year of high school, I got burned out on sandwiches.  This week, however, I'm making an exception.  Sandwiches' lunchtime popularity is because they're easy, fast, cheap, palatable, and a great use of leftovers!  Of course, sandwiches don't have to be just PB&J every day, either.

So, today, I have Sloppy Joe sliders.  I made Sloppy Joes last night (ground beef + canned sauce...couldn't be easier), and put them on slider buns instead of regular sized ones.  Easier to eat, and way cuter.  AND, two sliders fit perfectly into my Easy Lunch Boxes!

I brought a big napkin to microwave the sandwiches on so as not to heat up the apples and celery I had on the side.  Crunchy, delicious, and a good balance of healthy and indulgent! Pin It Now!

Day 136 - Chicken "Burger"

Chicken "Burger," Clementine, Potato Cracker Chips

I'm calling this a "burger" because it may look like a burger, but it's really just a small piece of pan cooked chicken.  You can get ground chicken and make a burger, but for whatever reason I just don't love the taste of chicken burgers.  However, I love a grilled chicken sandwich...but I killed my George Foreman Grill.   So, I took this piece of chicken and sauteed it in a pan with some balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and sherry.  Put it on a whole wheat bun with lettuce, mayo, dijon, and a slice of havarti.  Added a clementine and a handful of Special K Cracker Crisps, and there was lunch!

Have you tried Cracker Crisps?  They're not bad.  Looks like their half potato, half rice cracker.  A little better for you than regular chips, and satisfy much of the same cravings.

Pin It Now!

Day 132 - Ham Sandwich

Last day of ham week!  And, of course, you can't have a week of ham without a delicious ham sandwich!  I made a smaller sandwich by using a multigrain dinner roll (yeah, I know...that's a huge roll), adding of course some Dijon mustard.  Threw in some celery, carrots, apples, and cheese cubes, and made a pretty healthy meal!  This would be a great meal for kids or adults, and has a lot of different colors, flavors, and textures. 

I will say that the one draw back of ham week is the amount of sodium you get, which I tried to keep in check this week with lots of raw veggies and fruits, particularly at snack time.  I also don't personally like to eat meat every day, but that's certainly not true for everyone.  The upside is that you save a lot of money, have a great opportunity to be creative with your recipes, and all your pre-planning makes prep during the week much easier!

Pin It Now!

Days 121 & 122 - Two Meals, One List - Italian Style!

Two delicious Italian and Mediterranean Style lunches!

 
I never planned on this being a thing, but I guess it is now!  Here's another two days of lunches from one main set of ingredients.  Common ingredients for these two days include:  salami, tallegio cheese, bean sprouts, mini bell peppers, and a baguette.  I already had the baguette, peppers, and cheese at home, so I brainstormed and picked up the salami and bean sprouts to round it out.  

The first lunch was a salami and tallegio sandwich on a baguette with sprouts, peppers on the side, rice crackers, and mixed berries.

The second lunch was a bed of sprouts with a wedge of tallegio, a few parmesan cubes, salami  slices, olive skewers, bell peppers, and baguette slices.

These were great to make ahead of time because they kept cold so well.  And all of the ingredients could be served at room temperature, so I could refrigerate it overnight and then just leave it on my desk for work.  If you're packing lunch for kids, this would be great for any adventurous eaters.  Pin It Now!

Day 112 - Ham and Asparagus Roll-ups

Ham and Asparagus Roll-ups, string cheese, orange sections, wheat thins.

I'll be honest today....this was not nearly as cool as I had intended it to be.  I made some ham and asparagus pinwheels (faux sushi, really), and they looked like a Pinterest Fail.  On the upside, they tasted a lot better than they looked!  They were roll ups of white sandwich bread, ham, asparagus, almonds, dijon mustard, and mayo.  A pretty tasty combination, but I think it would be a lot more effective with a tortilla or some sort of flat bread.  

Anyway, I added some string cheese, wheat thins, and orange sections.  Pretty tasty, even if it's not pretty attractive.

I'll give you the recipe, but really...I wouldn't repeat this exactly as I did it.  But the flavor combo is great, so feel free to experiment.

Ham and Asparagus Roll-ups

1 slice white sandwich bread
1 thin slice ham
4 stalks raw asparagus
1 T sliced almonds
1/2 t  dijon mustard
1/2 t mayonnaise

Cut crusts off of bread (or whatever you use) and flatten with a rolling pin; spread mustard and mayo over one side of bread.  Sprinkle almonds on top Lay on ham slice, cutting to fit.  Trim asparagus stalks so that they are no longer than the bread, and lay on top of ham.  Gently roll up sandwich, like a cigar, with the asparagus in the middle.  Slice into 1/2 inch sections and serve with asparagus ends facing up. Pin It Now!

Day 109 - Ham Sandwich

Ham sandwich with mustard, sugar snap peas, orange sections, wheat thins with low fat cheese.

Today is just a plain ham and dijon sandwich with traditional and healthy sides - orange sections, wheat thins and little low fat cheeses, and sugar snap peas.  Nothing overly exciting, but sometimes you just have to throw together a sandwich in the morning and get to work.

Watch this week for common ingredients - I bought deli ham, oranges, and asparagus this week.  Of course, I bought other things also, but these came in bulk and will stretch through the week.  I'll even incorporate them at night, too.  This is fairly impractical if you're cooking for a large family all week, but if you're just feeding yourself (or only concentrating on lunches), it can be good to plan a menu with lots of common ingredients.  I usually buy what's on sale to increase my savings and streamlining even more! Pin It Now!

Day 35 - Sandwich of Average Sandwichness

Ham and cheese sandwich, pretzels, raspberries.

I'll never know how I can cook a piece of tilapia for myself so perfectly, and then when I cook one when I have company over it's limp and watery.

Harumph, I say!

So, anyway, after last night's blah tilapia, I just wasn't in the mood for much cooking this morning.  So I had a normal ham and cheddar sandwich on multigrain bread.  With dijon.  Because dijon makes even the more boring of sandwiches a little tastier.

Raspberries, pretzels, you know the drill.  Nothing earth shattering today. :) Pin It Now!

Day 28 - Mini Burritos

Mini Turkey and Black Bean Burritos, red plum, dried green beans.

You know those delicious peppers from yesterday?  Well, when I cooked them two nights ago, I actually doubled the filling and used the leftovers for burritos last night (and today for lunch).  I liked it just as much as the peppers from last night!  The only alteration I would make is maybe adding some extra salsa and sour cream...but they were delicious even without those.  Added a red plum and some dried green beans, and this was a good meal.

The burritos packed a ton of protein, so this is a great meal if you need to eat quickly and stay full for a while.  You could also use regular burrito sized (10 inch) tortillas for a larger burrito - I just used fajita tortillas because that's what I had on hand, and everything is cuter when it's mini.  Seriously.  For instance...

See how tiny and cute he is?!  And he's next to soup, so he obviously loves being a mini-fluffy-chef.

I rest my case.

Anyway, burrito time.  Remember, the way I organized this was to double the recipe for the filling (what gets cooked in the skillet, minus the cheese), using half for the Roasted Stuffed Peppers and the other half for burritos the next day.  The recipe below, however, is just for the burritos.  Only.  Smaller quantities, equal deliciousness!



Mini Burritos

1/4 lb ground turkey
1/2 small onion, diced
1 Tablespoons taco seasoning
1/2 can black beans, drained
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1/2 cup red tomato salsa
1/4 cup frozen corn
1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
8 6-inch (fajita size) flour tortillas

Brown turkey in a large skillet.  Add onions and cook until onions are translucent.  Stir in the following 5 ingredients, through corn, and cook until heated through.  Gently fold in cheese until just melted.  Remove from heat and divide evenly between tortillas, rolling them up as you go along.  Serve or refrigerate immediately.  Pin It Now!

Day 26 - Chicken Gyro!

Chicken gyro,  watermelon, pistachios.

Last night, I went out for Greek food.  We went to a new place and found my new favorite guilty pleasure: fried portobello mushrooms with marinara and feta dipping sauce.   It was so bad for me.  It was so tasty.

How did I not think of combining marinara and feta myself?

Needless to say, I got the vegetable plate for my entree.

Anyway, it inspired me to try to make a chicken gyro for lunch.  I was honestly a little shocked at how good it is.  I've made pretty good tzatziki sauce for a while now, just never mastered the gyro.  All I did was made up some fresh tzatziki, heat up a wheat pita, add some tomato, mixed greens, red onion, feta cheese, and chicken grilled with Greek spices.  It was soooo good.  Added some watermelon and pistachios, and it was a pretty great lunch.

Throwing together gyros and other Greek wraps is pretty easy, as long as your components are good.  Here's my recipe for tzatziki sauce.


Tzatziki

1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 large cucumber
juice of 1 lemon
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon dried dill
Salt and Pepper to taste

Peel the cucumber and cut in half, longways (is that a word?  Guess it is now).  Scoop out the seeds with a spoon; discard seeds.  Chop roughly and pulse in a food processor until finely diced or pureed - the smoother your cucumber, the smoother your sauce will be.  Spoon the cucumber into a sieve and press until most of the liquid is removed.  In a small bowl, combine cucumber, yogurt, and remaining ingredients.   Refrigerate for at least an hour to allow flavors to mingle.

Don't know what to do with your leftover cucumber juice?  Add it to a gallon of water and keep in the fridge for a super refreshing drink! Pin It Now!

Day 24 - Final Man Lunch...Return of the Sandwich

Chicken salad sandwich, cherries, and popcorn.

Alright, last day of lunches for Dad.  I could tell he wanted another sandwich, so I gave him a Waldorf Chicken Salad sandwich with romaine, cherries, and popcorn.  Popcorn and red cherries, by the way, are impossible to photograph well together in sunlight.

The chicken salad is from The Fresh Market, which my parents love.  My dad really loves this chicken salad - chicken, grapes, celery, poppyseeds, nuts - sounds good, but I don't personally like it.  He gives it both thumbs up, though, so he was happy!

Back to more of my lunches and recipes next week.  Hope some of you are getting a quick vacation before fall sets in, as well!

Pin It Now!

Day 22 - Man Lunch

Roasted Chicken Sandwich, blueberries, crackers & cheese, Kashi granola bar.

I'm visiting my parents for a couple of days, so instead of documenting my own lunches, I'll show you the lunches I'm making for my dad to take to work.

I'm so nice.

Ok, that wasn't so nice.

Anyway, these are MAN LUNCHES.  If I made steak and mashed potatoes for my dad every night, he'd die happy.  Early, but happy.  So I'm trying to give him lunches that are light, healthy, and will still keep him full.

Today he had a sandwich of pumpernickel bread, dijon mustard, romaine lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and roasted chicken.  I had to squoosh it down (technical term) for it to fit in the box, but there is seriously about half of a chicken on that sandwich.  I included some blueberries, wheat crackers, and light cheese spread.  Threw in a Diet Dr. Pepper and a Kashi bar in case he got snacky.

He claims to have loved it, and to have been too full to finish.

He's never too full to finish.

So if you have one of those people in you're life who's never too full, try this one! 

Pin It Now!