From the Personable Chef's kitchen...
A great choice for both adults and children. Little compartments allow you to add a few delicious treats to make lunch that much more special and lets face it... much better for the enviroment as there's no extra containers or plasic baggies needed.My daugher loves it when I use her bento box because she's able to assemble the goodies inside and lets face it kids love that. But adults also appreciate something different then the easy sandwich choice. It just takes a little bit of planning.• hummus with pita crisps or tortilla wedges, some favorite fruit pieces, celery sticks and baby carrots. All great to dip in the hummus and very healthy.• salami slices, cheese cubes, crackers, favorite veggie, friut leather. Your own healthy lunchable!• cold sesame noodles with a broccoli slaw and fruit pieces. (recipe below)4 serving- will keep for 3 days• Spaghetti, linguine or soba noodles- cook as directed, drain.• While noodles cook put together sauce:Sauce: microwave safe bowl place 3 tables spoons smooth peanut butter, 5 to 8 seconds till melted.• few drops of toasted sesame oil• 1-tablespoon lite soy sauce ( add more if you want ,depends how you like it)• 1/2 tsp garlic powder (tsp 5 spice powder is also a great ingredient here to add)Mix well (if peanut butter is not your thing omit and use 1 tbsp of canola oil to get the above sauce going.)
When noodles are drained and still hot toss with a splash of canola oil, gives some sheen, flavor and keeps them from sticking together. While still hot add above sauce. Toss.The above is only a guide line as some people like things spicy, add some pepper flakes to the sauce, more salty add more soy or better yet a small amount of black bean dip added into the sauce.Broccoli slaw : package slaw (Trader Joes or other) , favorite dressing, apple cubes, sun flower seeds. In mixing bowl add all ingredients and toss. Add to bento box and enjoy a great crunchy lunch treat!Remember recipes are a starting point to be creative, become a food artist and play with your food.You may be surprised with what you come up with.
Lynn Samuels
Happy Eating!
From the Personable Chef's kitchen...
Busy days, school concerts, office parties and friends and family stopping by. All a great reason to have some extra ingredients and tricks up your sleeve to put together a fast and delicious appetizer in moments. All it takes is some creativity.
Cucumber bites: garlic flavored cream cheese, smoked salmon cut into smaller pieces, dill sprig. (Cut cucumber into 1 inch rounds, arrange on plate, place some cream cheese spread, slice of smoked salmon and top with dill sprig, done!)
or
Your favorite hummus flavor, roasted red peppers (cut cucumber as above, place dollop of hummus on each slice, cut up a roasted pepper into bite size pieces and place on top. (Roasted red peppers can be purchased in jars now already to go, Trader Joes and other local super markets carry them.)
Baguette: Slice into 1/2 inch slices (diagonal slices give more surface space) brush with olive oil and place in preheat 400 degree oven for 5 to 7 minutes or until crisp. Bring out, let cool a moment, and then rub with garlic clove. (garlic clove, take off skin and cut a small piece on end to expose inside.)
This becomes a blank canvas for so many yummy savory treats....
- goat cheese spread and roasted red peppers
- thin slices of pear and then topped with brie cheese
- olive tapende (purchased at store in jar), goat cheese or feta, toasted almond silvers
- many, many more ideas be creative!
Easy Antipasta Plate: Keeping certain ingredients on hand during this time of year will make entertaining that much easier.
Salami, hard cheese (asaigo, sharp cheddar or favorite), soft cheese (goat cheese, brie or favorite), favorite olives, roasted red peppers cut up (bought in jar at local market), toasted almonds, pear slices (squeeze of lemon to keep from browning). Using a thin crisp cracker is always a good choice.
Happy Holidays and good eating!!
Lynn Samuels
Lunch Sacks vs Bento Boxes
What Have I been missing?
Off and on throughout the past through years I attempt to make my husband his lunch for work. Cost wise, I really should do it, plus all of the health reasons.
However, my poor husband does tend to cringe when he sees yet another sandwich in a bag for him.
Don't get me wrong, there's other goodies that I shove in there. If I don't throw munchies he'll just go to the local gas station or 711 on his way to work and load up anyway. 
Occasionally I'll do a search, trying to find lunch box ideas that are 'grown up approved' so to speak. He's no help at all, always telling me everything is "fine" and the mysteriously "forgets" it on his way out the door.
Today I stumbled upon the art of Bento Boxes. WOW! I might have to start up a random blog (or section here!) about me trying to figure out a way to do this amazing little lunch craft for my husband (and eventually my kiddos). I had no idea that a boxed lunch could be so beautiful.
Goodbye paper sack, hello bento box!
Thanksgiving is a mash-up of traditions in my family. We are a varied bunch from different cultures, and the food has always reflected that. But one thing that’s been a staple at our Thanksgivings through the years is Waldorf salad. We like to mix it up into mock-Waldorf salad by adding a few things of our own, and using the healthier yogurt dressing instead of mayonnaise.
I absolutely hated the celery in the salad when I was younger; I thought it had no business being in such a sweet salad. Nowadays I love it for the crunch, but you can pick and choose from the ingredients for varying tastes. Whatever it takes to encourage children to eat it! Since the original only had apples and celery with the lettuce and dressing, this is now pretty much a whatever-sounds-good-to-you kind of recipe.
Mock-Waldorf Salad
Ingredients:
- lettuce and/or spinach
- 4 apples, cored and chopped
- 3 cups grapes
- 3 cups walnuts (the sugar-spiced ones are superb here)
- 2 cups chopped celery
- 1 cup raisins or dried cranberries
- seeds from 1 pomegranate
- 1 cup plain yogurt (you can add lemon juice or honey to it, to vary the sweetness or tartness)
Mix together all fruits, celery, nuts, and yogurt.
Place a bed of greens on each plate.
Plop one half to one cup of yogurt mixture on each serving of salad.
If you prefer, mix greens and yogurt mixture ahead of time for a simpler way to serve it at the table.
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