318742 Fri Aug 18 16:32:06 -0700 2006 3 31 Home Cooking 0 1817304 My boyfriend and I plan to bring our lunches to school this year, for a healthier and less awful alternative to school lunches (or skipping altogether, which is what I usually do) I've been looking at the lunch suggestions in the archives, and they are pretty good. We really don't have time to heat things up, we both need a good dose of protein to get through the afternoon, and we have a TOTAL of 20 minutes for lunch, sometimes less. I'm thinking of concentrating on, say, cooking 2 or three things - like roast veggies, a turkey breast, some couscous, and bringing those in different forms during the week. Any new lunch discoveries? Fri Aug 18 16:32:06 -0700 2006 10580 Betty 1 1817364 I think you're right on track! When I'm organized, I either make a dedicated lunch dish that is easy to bring in or make enough of dinner the night before that I can designate some leftovers for lunch. When I have less time and energy, I buy some prepared lunch options (e.g. tamales, yogurt) at the grocery store. If life is so hectic that I've resorted to take-out, I'll save half for lunch the next day. Stuff encased in bread travels well; here's a spanakopita-calzone hybrid that I like: Ingredients: Whole-wheat pizza dough Spinach, fresh or frozen, chopped Feta, crumbled Tofu, drained and crumbled or chopped fine Onion, chopped small Garlic, minced Olive oil Salt Pepper Cumin 1. Pre-heat oven to appropriate pizza-cooking temperature. 2. Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil; add spinach and cook briefly so it releases some of its water. 3. Mix onion-spinach mixture with feta and tofu; season to taste with salt, pepper, cumin, whatever else appeals. 4. Roll pieces of pizza dough into small rounds; fill with spinach mixture; fold into calzone-like objects. 5. Cook in oven until pizza dough attains desired crispiness. (If you're feeling particularly energetic, you can brush them with egg-wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds before baking.) You don't taste the tofu, I promise, but it adds a nice protein kick. Fri Aug 18 16:56:55 -0700 2006 1817304 26789 feedzone 1 1817377 I make a big tub of tabuleh almost every 2 weeks to bring to work for lunch. I also make a potato salad with spinach that's really good. Let me know if you want the recipe. Fri Aug 18 17:00:21 -0700 2006 1817304 22854 aroydee 1 1820882 Not much into sandwiches?? As a bread alt., I buy soft Lavosh, roll/stuff with: lunch meats, lettuce, tomato...., hummus, grilled veges -eggplant or grilled portebello's are great!, string cheese....vege special-avocado, cheddar, and any assortment of veges. Put in a small bento box so they don't get smashed during the day and you can keep in a back pack. I add a small "frozen ice" thingy to help keep all cool. Sometimes I add an individual soy milk. :) Sun Aug 20 18:57:09 -0700 2006 1817304 11934 Kitchen Queen