Kitchen Notes September 29 th - October 3 rd 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: These cracker bites can be made the night before. Meal 2: This sandwich can be made the night before. Meal 3: You can make this dip 2-3 days before packing. Family Sized 1: If you bake these in the oven, remove from pan and pack in a thermos immediately. If you heat them up in the morning, send them in a thermos or lunch container to be eaten at room temperature. These are also freezable! Pop them out in the morning, warm and pack! Family Sized 2: I usually make a double batch because this recipe freezes very well. Along with some warm rolls this is a fantastic dinner recipe! Freeze extras, warm in the morning and insert in pre-heated thermos. Inside the Lunchbox: Meal 1- Mini Cuban Bites Meal 2- Hawaiian Sweet Rolls Meal 3- Cowboy Caviar Family Sized 1- Ham & Cheese Mini Quiches Family Sized 2- Ravioli Soup COPYRIGHT
Mini Cuban Bites 10 whole grain round crackers 2 Tablespoons fully cooked pulled pork 3 slices of deli ham meat 2 slices of Swiss cheese, cut into quarters 5 dill pickle chips 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard 5 toothpicks, wooden skewers, or coffee stirrers (optional) 1. Preheat broiler to High. Line a large baking sheet with foil. 2. To assemble sandwiches: Place crackers, flat side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Top with pulled pork, then fold ½ slice ham into thirds and place on top of pulled pork. Then top the ham with the quarter-slices of Swiss cheese. 3. Place the baking sheet under the broiler until cheese is melted and bubbly, 1-2 minutes. Remove from broiler. 4. Top each mini bite with ½ pickles slice and about ½ teaspoon mustard, then top with remaining crackers, flat side down. 5. Optionally, insert toothpick into the middle hole of the cracker to help hold it all together. MOM Tip: These cracker bites can be made the night before. Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten free crackers. Vegetarian Option: Spread hummus on cracker, layer on remaining ingredients.
Hawaiian Sweet Rolls 1 ½ - 2 teaspoons mayonnaise 1 ½ -2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 2 sweet mini Hawaiian rolls, split 2-3 ham slices, sliced thin 1-2 slices Swiss cheese 2 slices canned pineapple, drained well 1. Spread mayonnaise and mustard in each roll. 2. Top with ham, pineapple and cheese. MOM Tip: This sandwich can be made the night before. Make sure the pineapple is in the middle layer so that the bread doesn t become soggy. Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free bread or see resource guide for recipe. Vegetarian Option: Omit ham.
Cowboy Caviar Serves 4 lunches ½ large red or white onion (optional) 1 cup black beans ½ cup salsa ¾ cup corn 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend ½ teaspoon salt 1. Mix all ingredients together. 2. Pack with tortilla chips. MOM Tip: If using onion, dice the onion and soak in cold water for 5 minutes to remove the raw onion bite. You can make this dip 2-3 days before packing.
Ham & Cheese Mini Quiches Yields 24 mini quiches ½ cup chopped fully cooked ham 6 eggs 3 Tablespoons milk or nondairy alternative 1 cup cheddar cheese 1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease 1 mini muffin pan (24). 2. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in the milk, shredded cheese & ham. 3. Spoon into greased muffin cups. 4. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the tops are lightly browned. Allow mini quiches to cool in the pan before carefully removing with a small knife or spatula. MOM Tip: If you bake these in the oven, remove from pan and pack in a thermos immediately. If you heat them up in the morning, send them in a thermos or lunch container to be eaten at room temperature. These are also freezable! Pop them out in the morning, warm and pack! Vegetarian Option: Omit ham.
Ravioli Soup Family Sized/ Serves 4 4 cups chicken broth 9oz package mini cheese ravioli 2 cups shredded cooked chicken 4 cups baby spinach Salt & pepper, to taste 1. Bring chicken broth to a simmer in a large pot. 2. Cook ravioli in simmering broth according to package instructions. 3. Stir in chicken and spinach until spinach is wilted. 4. Season with salt & pepper to taste. MOM Tip: I usually make a double batch because this recipe freezes very well. Along with some warm rolls this is a fantastic dinner recipe! Freeze extras, warm in the morning and insert in pre-heated thermos. Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free penne pasta. Vegetarian Option: Substitute chicken for grilled tofu or your favorite protein. Also, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Weekly Menu Lunch item Ingredients Directions 10 whole grain round crackers 1. Preheat broiler to High. Line a large baking 2 Tablespoons fully cooked pulled sheet with foil. pork 2. To assemble sandwiches: Place crackers, flat 3 slices of deli ham meat side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Top 2 slices of Swiss cheese, cut into with pulled pork, then fold ½ slice ham into quarters thirds and place on top of pulled pork. Then 5 dill pickle chips top the ham with the quarter-slices of Swiss 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard cheese. 3. Place the baking sheet under the broiler until 5 toothpicks, wooden skewers, or cheese is melted and bubbly, 1-2 minutes. coffee stirrers (optional) Remove from broiler. 4. Top each mini bite with ½ pickles slice and about ½ teaspoon mustard, then top with remaining crackers, flat side down. 5. Optionally, insert toothpick into the middle Mini Cuban Bites Hawaiian Sweet Rolls Cowboy Caviar Ham & Cheese Mini Quiches Ravioli Soup 1 ½ - 2 teaspoons mayonnaise 1 ½ -2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 2 sweet mini Hawaiian rolls, split 2-3 ham slices, sliced thin 1-2 slices Swiss cheese 2 slices canned pineapple, drained well ½ large red or white onion (optional) 1 cup black beans ½ cup salsa ¾ cup corn 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup chopped fully cooked ham 6 eggs 3 Tablespoons milk or nondairy alternative 1 cup cheddar cheese 4 cups chicken broth 9oz package mini cheese ravioli 2 cups shredded cooked chicken 4 cups baby spinach Salt & pepper, to taste hole of the cracker to help hold it all together. 1. Spread mayonnaise and mustard in each roll. 2. Top with ham, pineapple and cheese. 1. Mix all ingredients together. 2. Pack with tortilla chips. 1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease 1 mini muffin pan (24). 2. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in the milk, shredded cheese & ham. 3. Spoon into greased muffin cups. 4. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the tops are lightly browned. Allow mini quiches to cool in the pan before carefully removing with a small knife or spatula. 1. Bring chicken broth to a simmer in a large pot. 2. Cook ravioli in simmering broth according to package instructions. 3. Stir in chicken and spinach until spinach is wilted. 4. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Printer Friendly Menu
Shopping List Lunch Items Only Lunch # Grocery Item Other Groceries Fresh Produce 1-F2 Fresh fruit for the lunch box 1-F2 Fresh lunchbox veggies 3 ½ large red or white onion (optional) F2 4 c. baby spinach Deli/Meats 1 2 T. fully cooked pulled pork 1, 2 3 slices deli ham + 2-3 F1 ½ c. chopped fully cooked ham F2 2 c. shredded cooked chicken Bakery 2 2 sweet mini Hawiian rolls Dairy & Refrigerated 1, 2 2 slices Swiss cheese + 1-2 3 1 c. shredded Mexican cheese F1 6 eggs F1 3 T. milk F1 F2 1 c. cheddar cheese 9oz package mini cheese ravioli Frozen Canned/Bottled/Packaged 1 10 whole grain round crackers 1 5 dill pickle chips 1, 2 1 T. dijon mustard + 1 ½ - 2 t. 2 1 ½ - 2 t. mayonnaise 2 2 slices canned pineapple 3 1 c. black beans 3 ½ c. salsa 3 ¾ c. corn F2 4 c. chicken broth Staples