Warm boot recommendations please

[Cookie]

I make packed lunches every day. Home made pates are a good healthy choice. Today I had a roast aubergine pate (aubergine cut in half lengthways and roast on a baking sheet cut side down, then whizz up with an onion fried gently in olive oil), but other favourites are mackerel pate (smoked mackerel, cream cheese and lemon juice), home made hummous or guacamole. Serve with cut vegetables or a small bread roll - or both .

 

Other things I make a lot are spanish omelettes (tortillas) - great for using up a glut of eggs and vegetables Pasta salads (cooked pasta, vegetables and a nice dressing) or rice salads (cooked rice, lots of chopped fresh herbs or rocket, chopped fish or cold meats plus a bit of lemon juice and olive oil) are very easy too. Last week I made a big batch of ratatouille and that was really tasty for lunch (served cold) with a roll to mop up the sauce. I froze the rest to have for lunches another time.

 

For pudding you can make a big batched of stewed fruit (eg. plums, apple & rhubarb, apple & mixed berries) and keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Serve with natural yogurt if you want some calcium.

 

All these you can cook ahead and then keep in the fridge. Then putting the packed lunch together involves just decanting into pots. I have to make packed lunches for everyone at 6:30am each day, which is hideously early and I find this far easier and quicker than assembling sandwiches.

 

Hope this gives you some inspiration!

 

Love,

Cookie. xx

[PurpleHen]

Wheat bran

 

Never thougt of that where do you get it from is it only health food shops or do supermarkets have it as well

I've bought both Wheatgerm and Wheatbran from supermarkets - having checked my cupboard, both are Jordans branded so you should be able to get them. I think they are with the cereals..... off to make a smoothie for breakfast

[PurpleHen]

Well - thank you all for your great ideas, it's amazing what you can achieve with other people's brain power

 

I have had couscous for the first time in ages, raw veg salad with hard boiled eggs and home made dressing and tomorrow I'm having Red's mixed bean salad with home made dressing.

 

For the rest of the week I'm moving on to aubergine pate (yum ) and get back into the habit of smoothies and stewed fruit.

 

I'm not sure I can get as far as Sushi MD

[Linda]

Thanks for the great ideas, Cookie. I will definitely try the mackerel pate and the ever-ready fruit in the fridge!!

[Louise]

I looked for the bran last night in my local somerfield but no joy

 

That is the problem living where I do it is very hard to find unusual things I think I will have to go to sainsburys one lunch time that is where I had to go last week for my dinner party as I just can't get things nearer to home which kind of defeats the point a little

[PurpleHen]

Have just popped back to check the recipe for the aubergine pate ( it's so easy - how could I h ave fogotten that ) - and thought I'd add that tis morning I was going to make Red's mixed bean salad only to find I have run out of the seperate cans. But I did have a can of mixed beans which I combined with some cucumber and tomato, made a quick dressing, and threw in some grains /nuts.

 

I had never noticed these mixed bean cans before last time I went shopping, not as nice as from scratch - but good to have for when you run out of other things.

 

Thanks again for all your tips, my lunches have certainly improved!