Breakfast for lunch

I'm a big fan of breakfast foods, and so I decided to take breakfast for lunch in my goodbyn. I've got some Stonyfield Banilla yogurt, 2 tangerines, a bagel, laughing cow cheese, smoked salmon, and granola. My granola is in a baggie so it wouldn't get soggy in the yogurt. If you like banana, you must try the Banilla yogurt! It is so delicious.

Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food

Unless you don't watch television, you all have probably heard about Jamie Oliver and his work.  Finally a chef to use his celebrity for the good of food....REAL food.  Not all of us love to cook, not all of us cook gourmet food, not all of us have the money to cook "fancy".  Jamie is on a mission to change the way we look at food.  To get people into the kitchen to cook simple and healthy meals for ourselves and our families.  His Ministry of Food campaign has spread beyond England and he has branched out to Australia as well.  

He recently did a web cast where many Aussies cooked along with Jamie...Jamie also answered questions live.  I wanted to share this web cast with you all.  It is an hour long but it really is worth the time.  He prepares Piri Piri chicken, lemon rice and a salad.  He also talks a lot about the ministry of food.  I think if more people embraced his philosophy on food, we all would be better for it. 

Enjoy....

Ministry of Food Australia - Webcast

Chicken Salad Croissant-wich

So I made a delicious holiday-themed bento this morning, and when I went to take a photo of it, my camera batteries were dead.  And if you think this pregnant woman had any idea where she put the extra battery and charger you would think wrong.  I am completely useless when it comes to remembering things lately.  So instead, I am going to post an older bento of mine.  In fact, the very first bento I ever packed for DH.  I was so excited to use his Goodbyn the first day.  This is also a great idea for using up some post-Christmas poultry, or even some of that Thanksgiving Turkey you still have kicking around in your freezer.  Man, I'd hate to be a Turkey this time of year.

So for the "main event" we have a Croissant that I made some yummy chicken salad to tuck inside.  I put the chicken salad in a separate compartment to prevent the croissant-wich from getting soggy.  The chicken salad is super easy to make.  Arby's in the US used to have these awesome Chicken Salad Sandwiches on their Market Fresh menu.  Not a word of a lie, any time I went across the border I HAD to go to Arby's to get one of these sandwiches.  Canadian Arby's didn't carry them even after we got the Market Fresh menu.  Then, a couple of years ago while down in Utah, we arrived at Arby's.  I was eagerly awaiting my favorite sandwich only to find out that they no longer carried it!!!  I was pretty upset.  Needless to say, I decided to try and copy it myself, and this is my version.  It's not exactly right, but it's pretty close.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a replacement for that delicious bread - so I usually use a croissant.  Why?  Well, because I love Croissants!  lol

I always make a big batch of this with any leftover rotisserie chicken or a roast turkey or anything that we happen to have.  I also don't have measurements.  Sorry.  I am one of those "a little of this, a little of that" kind of cooks!  lol

Tear up the chicken/turkey into small, bite sized pieces.  You will need some red grapes, halved; craisins; celery, chopped up into small pieces; sliced almonds or walnut pieces; and miracle whip or mayonnaise.  Toss all the ingredients in a bowl and mix.  I add the mayo a spoonful at a time until it reaches the consistency I want.  It changes depending on how much chicken I have.

Anyway, this is a delicious and slightly sweet addition to your bento rotation.  I hope that you like it if you try it!  The photo is so deceiving, unless you have a Goodbyn you don't realize how big that area is, and that there is quite a bit of chicken salad in that little compartment!  DH ended up having too much to put in his croissant.

Also included in this Goodbyn, a pear, sugar snap peas, licorice, a juice box, and a little love note!  lol

Anyway, I hope you all have a fabulous week and that this gave you some ideas on how to use up some of your own leftovers, or how to think outside of the (brown) bag; at least when it comes to sandwiches!

Nena     

Holiday Baking

First off, I apologize for not having a lunch post today.  I totally flaked on a Christmasy themed lunch this week.  So instead...I want to share some yummy sweet recipes that I find myself making during the holidays.  And what kid doesn't appreciate some cookies in their lunchbox?!

One of my favourite cookies of the holiday season is ginger snaps.  My grandmother used to make these all the time...the smell of ginger, cinnamon and molasses....yummy!

Gingersnaps

3/4 cup margarine

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup molasses

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup white sugar to roll your cookies in

Optional ingredients:  chopped candied ginger OR zest of one orange

Preheat your oven to 350.  Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth.  Add egg and molasses and mix until combined well.   If you are adding orange zest or candied ginger I would add to the wet now.  Mix together your dry ingredients (minus the sugar for rolling).  Add your dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.  You are going to have a dense dough that you can roll into balls.  Roll into 1 inch balls then roll the balls into the sugar.  I have used decorative sugar for this as well and it gives the cookie extra crunch since the sugar crystals are so large.  Regular granulated sugar works just as well.    Place your cookie dough balls onto an ungreased cookie sheet about 2 - 3 inches apart.  Bake for 8 - 10 mins.  Cool on a rack and done! 

The next recipe also holds some wonderful childhood memories.  Shortbread cookies!  I love these buttery, crumbly, sweet cookies.  The best and most easy recipe I have come across so far is the one that comes off of the Canada Cornstarch box. 

Shortbread Cookies

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup icing sugar (aka confectioners sugar or powdered sugar) 

1 cup flour

3/4 cup butter, softened

Preheat your oven to 350.  Sift the cornstarch. flour and sugar together into a bowl.   Mix your room temp butter into your dry ingredients.  Form into 1 inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet....I use either a silicone baking mat or parchment paper because I don't want them to brown much.  Flatten the balls with a fork or the bottom of a drinking glass that you have dusted with icing sugar so it won't stick to the cookie dough.  Bake for 15 - 20 mins.   

You can change up these cookies with some lemon zest in the dough or top with some candied cherry pieces. 

These recipes are peanut free and safe for school and work lunches!!  Happy baking!

Holiday Inspiration

I need some serious inspiration.  I know a lot of people won't be packing lunches over the holiday break--but for those of us who have to, we might as well put together some charming bentos to lift our Christmas spirit!

• I love all the stars in this cute bento lunch!  It's an easy and perfect way to add some sparkle to your lunch.
• I giggled when I came across these adorable Santa and Rudolph chicken nuggets, click the link to see how they are made.  Too cute.
• It's hard to resist an adorable Snowman.  The perfect shape for a sandwich. 
• You have to check out all the cute holiday bentos over at Hapa Bento, lots of inspiration in the form of Rudolph, snowmen, presents and stockings . . . how fun!
• And we can't forget the Gingerbread Man with presents made of apples, we can't have Christmas without him.

There are great bento ideas for holiday inspired lunches around the web.  I can't wait to try some of these examples.  What will you be making?  Please share your lunches with us!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

We are proud to announce our winning entry in our Goodbyn Giveaway!  (winner was chosen by random draw) We loved seeing all of your lunches over the past couple of weeks and I hope that you keep sharing your wonderful ideas with us in the future too!   Together we can keep creating fun, eco friendly and healthful lunch ideas for the whole family.  Stay tuned for more fun challenges, ideas and the occasional giveaway!  But on to the important news.....

Drum roll please........

The winner of a brand spankin' new Goodbyn lunch box is Missy Wainman!   Missy...if you could contact me at ubergoober333@gmail.com with your mailing address, we will get your Goodbyn mailed out to you! 

(photo shown is not the actual giveaway Goodbyn.  They are my personal lunchboxes) 

Chicken with Mango Salsa

I'm snowed in today and feeling a little blue, so decided to make my absolute favourite all time lunch - EVER! Its super healthy too !

Here's what you need to make 2 portions:

2 whole wheat flour tortillas
1 chicken breast
cumin and oregano
Onion
red pepper
cheese
mango
tomatoe
avacado
garlic
jalepeno
red onion
lime

seems a lot but this is so easy to make.

Simply sprinkle about 1 tsp of cumin and oregano on your chicken and cook this on the hob with your white onion and red pepper (which you need to cut into strips). Whilst this is cooking, cut up the mango, tomatoe, avacado, garlic clove and red onion into small cubes add the juice of a lime and throw in a couple of jalepeno peppers - depending on how much heat you like. Mix this well, add some salt and pepper to taste. I also like to sprinkle on some chilli flakes! :)

When your chicken is done, add this to the tortilla, add a couple of spoons of salsa and sprinkle on the top with cheese. Roll it up and hey presto! I had some salsa left and love it so much added more on the side.

Also in this goodbyn: grapes and more mango, orange slices and 2 oat cookies

Better Late Than Never

I always say . . . sometimes anyway.

Sorry for the late post, but I've had a rough couple of nights and I've been draaaagging.  And the frozen strawberry margarita to help me relax isn't helping.  Well, actually, it's helping pretty well.  :-D

All righty then, my Goodbyn bento for the day, chock full of yummy chicken nuggets and egg noodles.  So easy to cook up in the mornings!



Also included in the bento:  Capri Sun Roaring Waters, carrot cake cupcake, strawberries dusted in sugar, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, greenbeans.