brown-bag challenge!

i have come to the realization that it is going to be impossible for me to continue my frivolous lunchtime spending habits.  i have a honeymoon jar to fill, after all!

so this week, i am going to challenge myself to five days straight of brown-bagging.  it shouldn't be hard, since i recently acquired this cheery lunchbox for myself, so i can tote my snacks to school in style:

so, what have i packed in my lunchbox for today?


-green sandwich, featuring three-grain bread from big sky, hummus, cucumbers, avocado, and roasted red peppers (although i lament the lack of sprouts, which are usually a staple for this sandwich)

-honeycrisp apple slices

*UPDATE*

the quality of this sandwich increases gajillionfold simply by toasting the bread.  heaven.

i love packing lunches on mondays, since our fridge is freshly stocked with the bounty from our trip to the sunday morning farmer's market.  if there is any avocado left by the end of the week, i might have to repeat this sandwich a few more times before resorting to the traditional pbj.

any other suggestions for creative veggie sandwich delights?

mexicali blues

ok.  so this just happened:

mexicali red and white quinoa

then, this happened:

plated with organic blue corn chips, fresh avocado and organic salsa

aaand then, this happened.

clean plate club!!!

here's how you, too, can make this happen.

equal parts red and white quinoa, tomatoes, black beans, red onion, jalapeno, cilantro, alfalfa sprouts, cumin, red pepper flakes, salt, lime juice.

and that's it.  and then you eat it and it tastes really good and you feel happy.  the end!


ps 
anyone want to get me a sweet new camera for xmaskkah?  thankssssss.

not your mama's brown bag

working at a school, and the subsequently atrocious cafeteria food provided there (cheesy beef-a-roni with a side of soggy fish sticks?  no thanks), on top of a newly acquired penny-pinching mind-set i've adopted, has me brown-bagging my lunch most days of the work week.

pb&j will always have a special place in my heart, of course, but there is a more healthy, more delicious, more sophisticated alternative that takes just as long to make, that blows your old school superhero lunchbox meal out of the water.

 

veggie wrap with cumin ginger hummus

ingredients

for the hummus

1 can chick peas

1-2 teaspoons of tahini (sesame paste)

1/2 small clove garlic

1/2 tsp ginger

juice of 1 lemon

dash cumin, or to taste

salt and pepper to taste

olive oil

room temperature water

method

in a food processor, put drained and rinsed chick peas, tahini, garlic, ginger and lemon juice.  turn on processor, and slowly begin to drizzle in olive oil and water until it reaches desired consistency.  scrape the sides to make sure all the ingredients get processed.  turn off machine, add salt, pepper, and cumin, and pulse a few times to mix.

veggie wrap

ingredients

1 large flour tortilla

1 tbsp. cumin ginger hummus

handful alfalfa sprouts

2-3 strips of red pepper

4-5 slices cucumber, peeled

handful arugula

4-5 grape tomatoes, halved

method

spread hummus over tortilla.  layer arugula, sprouts, pepper, cucumber and tomato.  sprinkle with salt and pepper if you wish before wrapping.

prep tips:

make the hummus ahead on sunday night.  wash all your veggies as soon as you get home from the gro' sto'.  this recipe makes enough for a week's worth of wraps, plus a little extra for after school snacking.

wrapping tips!  i learned from a pro...

it helps if you warm the tortilla slightly before assembly so the tortilla will adhere to itself.  place the ingredients in a little mound towards the bottom center of the tortilla.  bring the two sides in first, then wrap the bottom flap up over the mound of filling and tuck under slightly.  bouche.