573435 Tue Nov 18 20:44:27 -0800 2008 5 31 Home Cooking 0 4184915 so winter is upon us, and i'm looking for some more cozy lunch ideas for work! we have a microwave, toaster, and a kettle. so far, i've been cooking with whats on sale at the grocery store and it usually ends up being - braised beef stew, throwabunchofveggiesinapot soup, fried rice, butter chicken, chili, fish & ratatouille, leftover roast dinners... etc. I end up doing the same thing over and over again, and I'm looking for some other nice ideas or recipes on satisfying meals i can bring into work that reheats well, and can eat without a knife. what do you guys do? Tue Nov 18 20:44:27 -0800 2008 13092 jayseeca 1 4185790 I have a potato and corn soup that I love to eat in the winter. I don't follow an exact recipe but what I usually do is chop up potatoes and simmer them with a bag of frozen in vegetable broth until the potatoes are tender. Sometimes I throw in chopped poblanos too. Season as you wish - when I use the poblanos, I throw in some cayenne & if I'm not using them, I usually do rosemary. When it's done, I puree about half of it in the blender so it ends up creamy, then add a little half and half. It freezes well too. Stuffed peppers are good too. Wed Nov 19 08:21:04 -0800 2008 4184915 239731 scarletfan 1 4186265 I include both soup and half a sandwich in the packed lunch. That way I can vary the sandwich and/or the soup which gives my two variables with which to add variety to the lunch menu. For lunches packed with rice or noodle dishes (rather than soup) I like to include a variety of fresh raw vegatables and fruits, sometimes with a few special crisp crackers and perhaps a cheese spread, etc. Wed Nov 19 10:51:02 -0800 2008 4184915 203621 todao 1 4186511 I sometimes do a quasi- tuna melt. Mix up my tuna filling with some grated cheese, and heat that in the microwave while I toast the bread, then spread it on while everything is hot & gooey. When I buy Thai red curry paste, I freeze what I don't plan to use in a couple of days in ~1/2 teaspoonfuls. That way, I can put together a quick soup with powdered coconut, chicken broth, a handful of fresh spinach, and throw in a diced scallion or two and a nugget of curry paste. If you have Asian markets in your area, look into their frozen food section for pork buns, gyoza, etc. and grab 2-3 different sorts for a dim sum lunch. Wed Nov 19 11:55:20 -0800 2008 4184915 50613 weezycom 1 4186979 My husband packs his lunch everyday and has for years. When I was working full-time I also packed mine. Occasionally he takes a sandwich(usually chicken or egg salad) but more often than I'll make an extra serving for dinner and he'll take that for lunch the next day. Things he's taken in the last few weeks: Dal Chicken tagine with olives and preserved lemons coq au vin Lentils braised in red wine Wild rice and chicken soup split pea soup lentil soup pinto beans with cornbread Beef stew made with pumpkin ale mushroom enchiladas lasagna pot roast mushroom ragout with polenta For cold items he likes to take chopped salads. I'll chop a bunch of vegetables, toss in a can of tuna, a bit of feta and put a vinaigrette on it for him. If we have leftover chicken breast I'll do the same type of thing for him with that. Hope this helps! Wed Nov 19 14:17:53 -0800 2008 4184915 16406 ziggylu 1 4187092 I like putting things in tortillas or pita to make wraps. I'll make grilled chicken and roasted vegetables for dinner. For lunch, I slice the chicken and wrap it up with some veggies and put some really good greek yogurt on it. Works with almost any meat and veggie combo and it's a great way to use up leftovers. I also make stir fries with leftovers and put them in the freezer with a baggie of rice taped to it - perfect for those days when you forget to make something ahead! Wed Nov 19 14:52:04 -0800 2008 4184915 71196 dalaimama