Kitchen Notes November 3 rd - November 7 th Unless otherwise noted at the top of the recipe, every lunch meal is for a single serving. Ingredients in the shopping list reflect the servings for that particular meal. Meal 1: You can make a bunch of these sandwiches ahead of time and store in the freezer up to 1 month (un-dressed). In the morning, take out of freezer. They will be room temperature by lunch and you won t need ice-packs! You can also make these ahead of time and store in the refrigerator wrapped in a moist paper towel to prevent bread from drying. Meal 2: The ingredients for this salad can be prepped and assembled the night before. Meal 3: Waffles can be made ahead of time and frozen. In the morning, toast waffles and assemble wafflewich. Family Sized 1: You can make the cream cheese mixture 1-2 days ahead of time and store in the refrigerator, covered, until ready to assemble pinwheels. Family Sized 2: This is a delicious family sized meal that would also make excellent leftovers for a thermos lunch. Inside the Lunchbox: Meal 1- Ham & Cheese Tea Sandwiches Meal 2- Crunchy Romaine Salad Meal 3- Chocolate Banana Wafflewich Family Sized 1- Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pinwheels Family Sized 2- Chicken Tortellini Soup COPYRIGHT MOMables
Ham & Cheese Tea Sandwich 1 Tablespoon cream cheese or 1 slice of cheese (your choice) + 2 teaspoons mayonnaise 2-3 slices of ham 2 slices of sandwich bread of choice 1. Spread cream cheese on to bread or mayo if using sliced cheese. Place sliced cheese on top. 2. Place ham on top. 3. Dress (lettuce, tomato, etc.) as desired, close sandwich. 4. Serve with fresh fruit, veggies & treat of choice. MOM Tip: You can make a bunch of these sandwiches ahead of time and store in the freezer up to 1 month (un-dressed). In the morning, take out of freezer. They will be room temperature by lunch and you won t need ice-packs! You can also make these ahead of time and store in the refrigerator wrapped in a moist paper towel to prevent bread from drying. Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free bread or see resource guide for recipe. Vegetarian Option: Omit ham and use thinly sliced cucumber. MOMables
Crunchy Romaine Salad Chopped romaine lettuce ¼ yellow bell pepper, chopped 2 Tablespoons matchstick carrots 1 Tablespoon shredded Swiss cheese 2 Tablespoons Ranch dressing 1. Toss lettuce, bell pepper, carrots, and cheese together. 2. Pour dressing into a separate, small container. MOM Tip: Send this menu item along with your child s favorite sandwich (or half) and a yogurt. The ingredients for this salad can be prepped and assembled the night before. MOMables
Chocolate Banana Wafflewich 2 whole wheat waffles, toasted ½ small banana, sliced 1 Tablespoon chocolate spread OR sunflower nutella 1. Spread chocolate onto waffles. 2. Layer evenly with banana slices. 3. Close wafflewich. 4. Serve with fresh fruit, veggies & treat. MOM Tip: Waffles can be made ahead of time and frozen. In the morning, toast waffles and assemble wafflewich. Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free waffles or see resource guide for recipe. MOMables
Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pinwheels Makes approximately 25 pinwheels 8oz package cream cheese, softened ½ cup mild cheddar cheese, shredded ¼ cup cooked bacon, crumbled (about 5 slices) ¼ teaspoon parsley flakes ¼ teaspoon dill weed ¼ teaspoon garlic powder 1/8 teaspoon onion powder Salt and pepper, to taste 2 large tortillas 1. Add all ingredients (except tortillas) to a large bowl. 2. Using an electric or stand mixer, beat on low until mixture is creamy. Season with salt & pepper. 3. Divide mixture between tortillas and spread evenly. 4. Tightly roll tortillas and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. 5. Then, cut into 1-inch pieces. MOM Tip: You can make the cream cheese mixture 1-2 days ahead of time and store in the refrigerator, covered, until ready to assemble pinwheels. Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free tortillas or see resource guide for recipe. Vegetarian Option: Omit bacon.
Chicken Tortellini Soup Serves 8-10 2 Tablespoons olive oil 5-7 garlic cloves, finely minced 4 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced 2 large white or yellow onions, peeled, halved and thinly sliced 3 celery stalks, sliced 2 red bell peppers, seeds and stem removed, diced (optional) 32oz chicken stock 8 cups water 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning Salt & pepper, to taste 2 cups shredded cooked chicken 20oz cheese tortellini 3oz fresh spinach leaves 1. In a large pot over medium heat, sauté the olive oil, garlic, carrots, onions, celery and bell peppers together until almost tender. 2. Add in the chicken stalk, water, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper and bring to a low boil for 10 minutes. 3. Add in the chicken and tortellini and boil for 9 minutes. 4. In the last minute, add in the spinach. 5. Serve warm. MOM Tip: This is a delicious family sized meal that would also make excellent leftovers for a thermos lunch. Vegetarian Option: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock. Instead of using poultry seasoning, use ¾ teaspoon rubbed sage, and ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme or marjoram. MOMables
Weekly Menu Lunch item Ingredients Directions 1 Tablespoon cream cheese or 1 slice of cheese (your choice) + 2 teaspoons mayonnaise 2-3 slices of ham 2 slices of sandwich bread of choice Ham & Cheese Tea Sandwiches Crunchy Romaine Salad Chocolate Banana Wafflewich Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pinwheels Chicken Tortellini Soup Chopped romaine lettuce ¼ yellow bell pepper, chopped 2 Tablespoons matchstick carrots 1 Tablespoon shredded Swiss cheese 2 Tablespoons Ranch dressing 2 whole wheat waffles, toasted ½ small banana, sliced 1 Tablespoon chocolate spread OR sunflower nutella 8oz package cream cheese, softened ½ cup mild cheddar cheese, shredded ¼ cup cooked bacon, crumbled (about 5 slices) ¼ teaspoon parsley flakes ¼ teaspoon dill weed ¼ teaspoon garlic powder 1/8 teaspoon onion powder Salt and pepper, to taste 2 large tortillas 2 Tablespoons olive oil 5-7 garlic cloves, finely minced 4 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced 2 large white or yellow onions, peeled, halved and thinly sliced 3 celery stalks, sliced 2 red bell peppers, seeds and stem removed, diced (optional) 32oz chicken stock 8 cups water 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning Salt & pepper, to taste 2 cups shredded cooked chicken 20oz cheese tortellini 3oz fresh spinach leaves 1. Spread cream cheese on to bread or mayo if using sliced cheese. Place sliced cheese on top. 2. Place ham on top. 3. Dress (lettuce, tomato, etc.) as desired, close sandwich. 4. Serve with fresh fruit, veggies & treat of choice. 1. Toss lettuce, bell pepper, carrots, and cheese together. 2. Pour dressing into a separate, small container. 1. Spread chocolate onto waffles. 2. Layer evenly with banana slices. 3. Close wafflewich. 4. Serve with fresh fruit, veggies & treat. 1. Add all ingredients (except tortillas) to a large bowl. 2. Using an electric or stand mixer, beat on low until mixture is creamy. Season with salt & pepper. 3. Divide mixture between tortillas and spread evenly. 4. Tightly roll tortillas and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. 5. Then, cut into 1-inch pieces. 1. In a large pot over medium heat, sauté the olive oil, garlic, carrots, onions, celery and bell peppers together until almost tender. 2. Add in the chicken stock, water, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper and bring to a low boil for 10 minutes. 3. Add in the chicken and tortellini and boil for 9 minutes. 4. In the last minute, add in the spinach. 5. Serve warm. Printer Friendly Menu
Shopping List Lunch Items Only Lunch # Grocery Item Other Groceries Fresh Produce 1- Fresh fruit for the lunch box 1- Fresh lunchbox veggies 2 Chopped romaine lettuce 2 ¼ yellow bell pepper 2 2 T. matchstick carrots 3 ½ small banana 5-7 garlic cloves 4 large carrots 2 large onions 3 celery stalks 2 red bell peppers (optional) 3oz fresh spinach leaves Deli/Meats 1 2-3 slices ham ¼ c. cooked bacon 2 c. shredded cooked chicken Bakery 1 2 slices sandwich bread 2 large tortillas Dairy & Refrigerated 1 1 T. cream cheese OR 1 slice cheese + 2 t. mayonnaise 2 1 T. shredded Swiss cheese 8oz pkg. cream cheese ½ c. mild cheddar cheese 20oz cheese tortellini Frozen 3 2 whole wheat waffles Canned/Bottled/Packaged 2 2 T. Ranch dressing 3 1 T. chocolate spread OR sunflower nutella 32oz chicken stock Staples ¼ t. parsley flakes ¼ t. dill weed ¼ t. garlic powder 1/8 t. onion powder 2 T. olive oil 1 t. poultry seasoning