It’s so easy to get into a rut at lunchtime! The choices get old – a sandwich, a cup of soup. or a hot dog. One day when I was searching for lunch ideas, I found this recipe for Asian Chicken Wraps on the Weight Watchers site and I realized that I pretty much always have these ingredients on hand. I buy a rotisserie chicken from Sam’s Club every couple of weeks and cut the meat off the bones and freeze it. Then when I want to make anything with chicken breasts or thighs, it’s so convenient.
The ingredients for these wraps are few – thigh meat chicken, celery, carrots and Hoisin sauce. Eating them on lettuce makes them lighter, and the crunchy lettuce is perfect! Talk about a quick, healthy lunch menu!
We eat lots of salads at our house, so that means we need salad dressings. I like Ranch, but that can be pretty boring after a while! I love to make my own dressings for three reasons:
To add variety and freshness to our meals
To add the right flavors with the type of salad I’ve made
To be able to control the ingredients.
I’ve recently tried two new dressing recipes and they were so fresh and delicious that I just have to share them with you!
We had a sandwich fellowship at church recently and I brought this Stromboli. It’s such a great “lunch-y” type food that is special, but super easy! I’m sharing this recipe again because it deserves to be highlighted!! If you have made this yet, I hope you’ll put it on your menu this week!
If you don’t own a Gooseberry Cookbook, I’m telling you, you’re missing some great recipes! I have one that’s for entertaining that is full of promises of happy things! There’s not a recipe in there that’s not been really good!! I recently pulled it out looking for a quick and inexpensive lunch-type food I could serve for after church Sunday night. I came across this recipe for Easy Stromboli and was sure I’d found a winner…I was right!
This is appropriately named Easy, becuase it was a cinch to make. Frozen bread dough also makes the prep fast and inexpensive. I bought a package of 5 loaves for a little over $4 at Kroger. I also made it and baked it before we went to church. Then when we got home, I just warmed it in the microwave. It was a quick light meal to use to entertain friends!
Here’s a picture of the easy steps:
Easy Stromboli
1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed 2 eggs, separated 2 T. oil 1 t. dried oregano 1 t. dried parsley 1/2 t. garlic powder 1/4 t. pepper 4-oz. pkg. sliced pepperoni – I used Turkey Pepperoni 8-oz. pkg. shredded mozzarella cheese 1 T. grated Parmesan cheese
Roll out bread dough into a 12×15-inch rectangle; set aside. Combine egg yolks, oil, oregano, parsley, garlic powder and pepper together; spread over dough. Arrange pepperoni and mozzarella cheese on top; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Roll up; place seam-side down on a baking sheet. Brush with egg whites; bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. Makes 8 servings.
I served it with some pizza sauce alongside for dipping. Yum!
Have you ever had Stromboli? I’m not sure I’d had it before I made this, but it will definitely be on repeat from now on!
If the words, Tuna Sandwich make you think of a dry, boring lunch, I want to introduce you to this version that I began making recently.
This flavorful version of Tuna fish is full of crunchy goodness, but is also light on calories! It only requires a little mayo to help hold it together! The choice of bread is key, but the addition of the cheddar cheese and tomato slice help bump up this sandwich that gets as bad a rap as canned asparagus. Here’s the simple recipe we’ve been loving…
INGREDIENTS – Makes 2 sandwiches
1 packet of tuna (in water), drained
2 Tbl carrots, minced
2 Tbl minced celery
1 tbsp red onion, minced
1 tbsp light mayonnaise
1 tsp red wine vinegar
salt and pepper
Bread of your choice – I used a light bagel – You could also do this open-faced with only one slice of bread
2 slices 2% reduced fat cheddar or American cheese
2 slices tomato
Cooking spray
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine tuna, celery, carrots, onion, mayonnaise, vinegar, salt and pepper.
Heat a large skillet over low heat.
Spray skillet with oil, and place sandwich on top.
Top bread with cheese, then tuna salad and tomato. Cook on low heat until cheese melts and bread gets toasty.
Serve immediately.
You will not miss the normal heavy mayo in this sandwich. It’s perfect as is! Using a special bread like these bagels makes it taste really indulgent, so I would definitely check your Aldi for these! Toasting the sandwich makes it perfect for a fall or winter lunch!
Don’t settle for a plain tuna sandwich in the future! These simple ingredients will add the pizzazz your lunch time routine needs!
Need other lunch menu suggestions? Check here and here and here for other ideas!
Whether your children are at home for lunch or you’re packing their meal for them to take with them, I have a few great suggestions to make their noon meal something to look forward to!
It’s easy to just pack a PB&J sandwich, but how about bumping up your lunch game with one of these instead…
English Muffin Pizzas
English Muffin Pizzas – These couldn’t be easier!
English muffins, split Pizza Sauce Toppings of choice Mozzarella Cheese
Toast the English muffin then spoon Pizza sauce on each half. Top with toppings and cheese. Place on a baking sheet and then place it into the oven under the broiler. Heat until cheese is melted.
Cold pizza is good, so you can pack these in a lunch for your children to take with them!
Tortilla Wraps
Tortilla wraps are a great alternative to a regular sandwich. Pile it with fresh things you love – tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, banana peppers, cooked chicken, cheese, sour cream and salsa! Roll it up and secure it with a toothpick, or wrap it into a piece of waxed paper or syran wrap.
Corn Dog Muffins
This is a simple take on the old Corn Dog! So easy and just as delicious as that dog you got at the fair!
Corn Dog Muffins
Jiffy Corn bread mix Milk Egg Hot Dogs of choice
Mix up the Corn bread mix and place in greased muffin tins or tins lined with cupcake liners. Slice hot dogs and add slices to each muffin. Bake as directed. Serve with your favorite condiment!
These taste great at room temperature, making them the perfect addition to a lunch on the go!
What is your “go-to” when packing lunches? What creative additions do you add?
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