Coming up with what to have for lunch is the most difficult meal decision I make! I need protein, but don’t want to fix something huge for the noon meal, nor do I want to prepare something that’s going to take much time. I try to keep it simple, but filling.
For that reason I try to always have cooked chicken breasts in the freezer. I put the prepared meat in small ziplock bags so I can thaw it quickly in the microwave. One day recently I pulled a bag of chicken out and said, “Lord, what can I make for lunch with this meat? (How awesome is it that we can pray about everything?) I then remembered that I had tostada shells in my pantry. Bingo! That would make a great, fast meal! Lunch was ready in 15 minutes!
I often find lunch a difficult meal to make. I could probably fix a different kind of sandwich every day and be a happy camper, but I try to limit bread, so I don’t want to make us sandwiches very often. So what are we to have that will be filling, healthy and delicious?
I found this recipe for Fresh Taco Salad in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine years ago and found that it was the perfect recipe for lunchtime! It has all the taco flavors we love served in the form of a healthy salad.
This comes together in minutes, making it a easy to prepare for a lunch meal!
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!
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