January 2015 – Sprinkles in my Lunchbox

29
Jan
2015

Community Helper Themed Lunches – Part II (Fire & Rescue, cont.)

Tomorrow is the last day of Fire & Rescue in my Bigs’ class. They will get to see a fire truck, up close, get little badge stickers and fire hats. If my son used hashtags, he might use #bestfridayever. My little guy got to have the fire truck experience today and just about keeled over with happiness.

Here is Bigs’ lunch for tomorrow:

I made a Fire & Rescue Dalmatian PB&J and used my Food Writers for the detailing. I wracked my brain for another fire day idea and a sweet friend at school suggested this. I am so happy with the way it came out. I also packed a mandarin orange, blueberries, strawberries, honey wheat pretzels, and Pocky for dessert. They sort of look like fire hoses if you squint. And use a boatload of imagination.

Have a great weekend,

Kristin

28
Jan
2015

Community Helper Themed Lunches – Part II (Fire & Rescue)

categories: Kid Food, Lunchbox

My Bigs’ Police lunch went over well. Today was Pizza Delivery Day. The school ordered pizza in. So fun. Because I know my bud eats as much as a 9000 pound gorilla, I also packed him a bento of sides, to accompany his pizza.

I packed strawberries, blueberries, homemade fruit snacks (recipe below), mandarin orange, and a Campfire Cookie.

Homemade Fruit Snacks

1 cup orange juice (I use concentrate and water if I don’t have orange juice)
1 cup frozen or fresh fruit (I like to use strawberries and add peaches, sometimes)
1 – 2 T honey
5 – 6 packets of unflavored gelatin

Directions:

Pour juice (or water and concentrate) and fruit into a small saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the fruit is tender.

Cool for about 10 minutes. Place in a food processor, add honey, and whiz until liquified.

Add the gelatin and whiz again.

Pour into a small cookie sheet and place in fridge for at least 30 minutes. Cut into squares (or whatever shapes!).

For tomorrow’s Fire & Rescue day, I made a fire-themed lunch:

I free-hand cut (is that even correct English? don’t care) fire on bread and then added details with Food Writers. It’s a PB&J. I also packed strawberries, a mandarin orange, honey wheat pretzels, dried cranberries, and a Campfire Cookie.

And for my Smalls, who will be in his one-day-a-week-school:

I packed a half peanut butter and jelly sandwich, on which I made a happy face. I also packed four little Trader Joe’s cinnamon school house cookies, strawberries, applesauce, a few pretzels, and some carrots.

Kristin

26
Jan
2015

Community Helper Themed Lunches – Part II (Police)

categories: Kid Food, Lunchbox

This week continues the Community Helpers study for my Bigs’ class. They are learning about Police and Fire. I love this study. Fun fact: I worked in Law Enforcement for a bit (and many of my family members did as well, sworn and otherwise). I wasn’t in a sworn position, but had so much fun working with my cop buddies. I am still friends with many of them, so I am going to dedicate these next two Police lunches to them. I am so thankful for their selfless bravery and sacrifices each day.

I used my ABC cutters to make out the word “POLICE” on some very wonky-shaped bread. I put PB&J on the inside and used red and blue sprinkles, so that they’d show through the word. I used my Food Writers to add flashing “reds and blues”. I also packed honey wheat pretzels, yogurt covered raisins, strawberries, blueberries, and a Campfire Cookie.

As my Smalls would say, “weeee ooooooo, weeeeeee oooooooo”.

Kristin

22
Jan
2015

YAY Friday

categories: Kid Food, Lunchbox

Yippee. Tomorrow’s Friday.

Here’s a “Yay Friday” lunch:

I packed a ham, cheese, and mayo gold star and party hat (details made with food safe spray and Food Writers), honey wheat pretzels, colby jack cheese stick, fruit salad (mandarin oranges, strawberries, blueberries, and red grapes), a Campfire Cookie, and one teeny, little Fairy Bite. I used party hat and clown picks to add some flair.

Rock on.

Kristin

22
Jan
2015

Community Helper Themed Lunches – Part I

categories: Kid Food, Lunchbox

This week began the Community Helpers study for my Bigs. During the next few weeks, the students will take a deeper look into the occupations that do great and helpful things in our community – doctors and nurses, dentists, police, fire, mail and pizza delivery (LOVE that pizza delivery falls into “community helper” status #ourschoolforthewin), etc.

First up this week – Dentist!

I made a peanut butter and jelly tooth. Yes, that’s right. A tooth. While I realize my free-hand cutting skillz require some work and leave quite a bit to be desired, I’m hopeful that my Bigs’ precious and sharp teacher was able to decipher what this thing was, when he inevitably would ask. I drew a toothbrush with toothpaste on it out of an index card, just for fun. I also packed raisins, Trader Joe’s honey wheat pretzels, half a mandarin orange, and apple smiles for dessert. For the apple smiles, I cut apple slices (used some mandarin orange juice on them to prevent browning), pat them dry, added peanut butter to the insides, and marshmallows for teeth. I think he loved it. I’ve done it before and it’s been a raging success. I also used my favorite lunchbox accoutrement – my ~~toothpicks~~ tooth picks. So fun!

And for Doctor Day:

This is where you’ll find further evidence of my crapola drawing skillz. In hindsight, I maybe should have written, “ER” or something more legible. But hey, Bigs can’t read all that well, so for once, that’s in my favor. Here you have yet another PB&J, but this time, it’s shaped as a doctor’s office (squint, then you’ll see). I’ve also packed honey wheat pretzels, raisins, strawberries, blueberries, and a Campfire Cookie.

My Smalls will also be in school today. Here is his little lunch:

PB&J, raisins, Campfire Cookie, pretzels, and strawberries (he’s on a no blueberry kick).

Happy Thursday,

Kristin

21
Jan
2015

Sweet Week

categories: Dessert, Kid Food, Lunchbox

I was a Baking Fool this past weekend (it’s an official title, of sorts). I needed some new lunchbox treats. That’s always a fun time for me, finding something new to bake. I chose two recipes that I’d had tucked away for some time – Fairy Bites (tiny, little, sprinkle-y shortbread squares) and Campfire Cookies (all the yummy components of s’mores).

I’ve had these on my radar for a while and I was happy to finally be able to make them. They were so simple and easy to make and came out so cute.

Lightly almond and super buttery, these cookies are sure to please almost everyone (as long as “everyone” likes lightly almond and super buttery and cookies, and if you don’t, I’m not sure I want to know you)!

They are so adorably tiny, which makes them perfect for little hands. Or big hands, like mine. Either one.

I ~~probably~~ definitely should have added more sprinkles.

But, I am still very happy with the way they came out. These are great lunchbox treats and would be so precious at a little tea party (which my boys would straight up annihilate, so I’ll be sticking with serving these in lunchboxes for them and eating directly from the cookie jar for me).

http://pinkpiccadillypastries.blogspot.com/2014/02/fairy-bites.html

Needing something with chocolate??

Me too. Always.

I had also been wanting to make these Campfire Cookies for a long time. I LOVE s’mores. We have a life-long love affair, me and s’mores. And when the opportunity arises to eat them deconstructed or reconstructed, I’m in.

These hearty cookies are made with both flour and graham cracker crumbs.

They are chock full of Hershey’s milk chocolate and mini marshmallows.

They were so ooey and gooey and melty, fresh out of the oven.

I highly recommend these.

http://www.kevinandamanda.com/recipes/dessert/gooey-smores-cookies.html#_a5y_p=1384098

And continuing with the “sweet” theme, for Tuesday’s lunch…

I packed a heart-shaped ham, cheese, and mayo sandwich, colby jack cheese, assorted raisins (LOVE Trader Joe’s raisins), strawberries, blueberries, and one Campfire Cookie.

Enjoy!

15
Jan
2015

Fluffernutter Friday

categories: Kid Food, Lunchbox

For as many Fluffernutter sandwiches I’ve eaten, my sons have never tried them. And, I was reminded of that today, when a recipe for Fluffernutters appeared in my FB newsfeed. So, to rectify this horrible tragedy, I made one for my Bigs’ school lunch for tomorrow. I mean, I had to. I’d have been completely remiss not to. And I am a responsible adult and parent.

I hardly think a recipe for the Great Fluffernutter is even necessary, but should you be in the dark about this, like my poor boys, here you go (and you’re welcome):

Take bread. Put PB (you can use crunchy too!) on bread. Put marshmallow fluff on top of that, liberally. Put slices together. Slice in half to view the beautiful cross section. Eat. Repeat. Several times over, if necessary.

*Helpful Hint: Take spoon, dip in PB and then again in marshmallow fluff. Eat directly off of spoon.

I also made one for my Smalls, lest you think I forgot about him.

Back to my Bigs’ lunch – I also packed a mandarin orange, with two grapes in the middle (I realize it looks boob-ish, but he doesn’t know), and some honey wheat pretzels.

Get on it.

And Happy Friday.

Kristin

14
Jan
2015

Three Thursday Lunches

categories: Kid Food, Lunchbox

Tomorrow is school for both of my boys…AND I get to work in the Co-op with my older son. I love these special times we get to share together. I packed three lunches for tomorrow.

For my Smalls:

I packed a crust-less PB&J sandwich, red grapes, a banana, Trader Joe’s honey wheat pretzels, a few yogurt raisins, and half an oatmeal cream pie. Sadly, this meal is a bit monochromatic, but still enjoyable.

For my Bigs:

I packed another crustless PB&J, red grapes, honey wheat pretzels, a mandarin orange, the other half to Smalls’ oatmeal cream pie, and some yogurt raisins.

And for me:

I packed red grapes, cherry tomatoes, one small cucumber (cut on the bias, because they feel fancy), a mandarin orange, some Trader Joe’s sesame sticks, a piece of chili-rubbed dried mango, some trail mix, and a few dark chocolate sea salt almonds. I love all the color.

Happy Thursday,

Kristin

13
Jan
2015

Kebab VPK School Lunch

categories: Kid Food, Lunchbox

It’s kebabs for lunch for my buddy tomorrow!

I love giving him kebabs. It’s a great way to cut some carbs and it’s a fun way to serve lunch. I found mini skewers at my Publix. I used Applegate Naturals ham and cheese on the skewers. I also packed Trader Joe’s honey wheat pretzels, a whole mandarin orange, TJ’s assorted jumbo raisins, an applesauce cup, and an oatmeal cream pie, because #littledebbieforlife.

Happy the-week-is-half-over-day!

Kristin

13
Jan
2015

Pretty on the Outside

categories: Dessert

Upon reading this title, you may think this post has to do with something deep, profound, even. And I can get like that. I’m a deep thinker, that’s for sure. But this isn’t about anything like that. It’s about food. That’s pretty. On the outside. And not so much on the inside. Well, technically, the inside was pretty, too, but it didn’t taste pretty. The only way “pretty” can be used to describe this dessert was “pretty bad”, to be honest. So bad, that I am not even going to share the recipe with you. But I love how it looked, so I am going to share that. Just the looks. The pretty outside.

Before this, I had never made a jelly-roll cake before. I had always wanted to. And it was a fun one to make. I am going to keep making them until I get one right. You know, for the sake of research. So, stayed tuned for that. “That” being future successful jelly-roll cakes (fingers crossed).

See how pretty this came out? Such a tragedy about the taste. Despite following this particular recipe exactly, it came out very eggy. Not in a good way. There is a time and a place for eggs, and a beautiful jelly-roll cake is not one of those times, despite what you may have heard. Or not heard, in this cake (my fingers wanted to type “cake” and not “case”, and so how can I deny them that? leaving it.).

Luckily, I had made it to take to a girls’ night in and it was eaten by friends, very polite friends, who told me it was good even if it did taste eggy. Bless. Bless them. Bless me. Bless my egg roll. And bless my kids, who thought it was great (but, also, my two year old licks floors and chair seats, so his tastes can’t really be complimented).

So, see? Not everything that looks like a pretty little package on the outside has a matching inside. That’s as deep as I can go with this.

Not everyone is ready for this jelly.

Kristin

Month: January 2015