Check

I've still been marching right along on my 2011 To Do List, and like I've mentioned before, I love having it handy...it keeps me super motivated because my favorite part is coming back to my blog and checking off a new task.  So fulfilling. 

Anyway, one of the items I wanted to accomplish this year, was to come up with new and different lunch options for my kids' packed lunches.  They're getting sick of sandwiches and pretzels.  I've been gathering recipes for many years now (yes you read that right...years) and it was finally the right time to try them all out.  I chose ones that were easy, and that I thought my kids would like.  I must say the kiddos have been excited with the change and have even said that some of their friends were impressed!  Ha.  Love it.

I will leave you with the four we have tried, liked and have actually used multiple times.

Lunch Box Pizzas

1 tube refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (10)
1/4 c. tomato sauce
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
10 slices pepperoni or other toppings like olives, mushrooms, etc.
3/4 c. shredded cheese

Flatten each biscuit into a 3-inch circle (I used a rolling pin to quickly flatten three at a time...I'm all about the time savers) and press each into a greased muffin cup.  Combine tomato sauce and Italian seasoning (or I used pizza sauce that I jazzed up a bit with garlic salt, Italian seasoning, etc.).  Spoon 1 tsp sauce into biscuit. Top each with pepperoni/olives/etc. and then cheese.  Bake at 425* for 10-15 min (mine were done in like 9 so watch them).

I've also tried meat and cheese for a different variety and they freeze well too.




Peanut Butter 'n' Jelly Mini Muffins (pictured below)

1 c. all-purpose flour
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/2 c. vanilla yogurt
3 Tbs. creamy peanut butter
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
3 Tbs. favorite jelly

In a lg. bowl, combine dry ingredients.  In a small bowl, beat eggs, yogurt, peanut butter and oil on low speed until smooth.  Stir into the dry ingredients until moistened.  Fill greased or paper-lined mini muffin cups half full. Top each with 1/4 tsp jelly and remaining batter.

Bake at 400* for 10-12 min or golden brown.  Cool for 5 min. before removing from pans.

These also freeze great.

Oatmeal Breakfast Bars (pictured above)

4 c. quick-cooking oats (I used regular oats too, they don't stick together as nicely though)

1 c. packed brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 c. flaked coconut

3/4 c. butter, melted

3/4 c. orange marmalade

1-1/2 c. chopped walnuts (opt)

In a mixing blow, combine oats, brown sugar, and salt.  Stir in remaining ingredients and mix well.  Press into greased 15-10-1 in baking pan.  Bake at 425* for 15-17 min or until golden brown.  

The hardest part about these is probably pressing the mixture evenly into a pan and then cutting them out when they're cooled.  I use a pizza cutter for easier slicing and then crumbled the crustier edge pieces that were leftover for granola.  I love the hint of orange marmalade.  Mmmmm.  

Italian Sandwich Rolls (not pictured... sorry)

This recipe is from my mom, therefore it is a word-of-mouth type recipe...not very exact, but trust me, it doesn't have to be exact.

1 Bag of Rhodes Dough Rolls

Sliced deli meat (I usually use ham...and I've used both the cheap kind and the good kind, doesn't matter too much)

Cheddar cheese either grated or cut into wedges

Melted butter sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, garlic salt and Italian Seasoning (just add what you think looks good)

Take out as many rolls as you want to make and place on a cookie sheet sprayed with Pam (I usually do about 24ish at a time). Let rolls rise according to directions.  Flatten each roll into a circle.  Place a slice of ham and about a Tbl. of cheese in the middle.  Pinch dough together around meat and cheese.  Roll each sandwich in butter mixture and bake according to package directions. 

These are great hot or cold so they work awesome for lunches, traveling, picnics or dinner.  They freeze well too.  I've also used pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese for pizza pockets.

Happy lunch-making...