March 26, 2013

Homemade Classic Sloppy Joe {Kids' Choice}


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Today's lunch is inspired by last night's discussion about the famous Sloppy Joe burgers.  I'm not even sure if it was even categorized as a burger.  So please correct me if I'm mistaken. 

I am on a lunch rut lately and have pulled out all of the school cafeteria's menu to see what the kiddos actually would want to try and eat.  I absolutely don't intend to become lazy and choose the easy way out.  But I plan to make a homemade version of all the cafeteria meals so the kids would feel that they're not missing out on what their friends are eating in school.  Remembering the pink slime issue and the artificial food coloring allergies my kids have, I have to work harder to keep the kids eating healthy and safe.  Not that I'm saying school cafeteria meals are unsafe, but if your kids have food allergy issues, then they're not quite safe.  Agree?

Sloppy Joe is one of them.  G asked, "What is Sloppy Joe, mom?"  Good question coz none of the kids had them. None of them wanted messy food on their lunchboxes and plates before.  Now that they have grown, I guess it's perfect timing to experiment and introduce them to new food. And the messy yummy stuffs.
"A Sloppy Joe is a sandwich originating in United States of ground beef, onions, tomato sauce or ketchup and other seasonings served on a hamburger bun."
For vegans, substitute ground beef to a textured vegetable protein meat.  You might want to give Quorn Foods a try for this purpose.  They're yummy as well. 

I researched for a perfect recipe that is great for starters, specifically for kids.  We've tried a few, and after a few modification, this one received the Thumb of approval, which made it to their EasyLunchboxes.  Great!!

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On his EasyLunchboxes, he has 2 whole wheat dinner buns, with Sloppy Joe on thermal container,
a spinach and olive salad with Ranch, and strawberry hearts.

Homemade Classic Sloppy Joe Recipe {Kids' Choice}

 
  • 1 pound  lean ground beef
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup green bell pepper, finely diced
  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • 1-1/2 tbspn brown sugar
  • cooking oil
  • salt to taste
  • pickle dill
Directions:
  1. Preheat skillet over medium heat.  Add oil then saute garlic till lightly golden. Add onions, green pepper and beef.  Cook till brown.  Drain excess liquid or oil
  2. Stir in mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar.  Mix thoroughly.  Reduce heat and let simmer for 30 minutes.  Season.
  3. Serve with pickle dill on a whole wheat dinner bun.  YUM!
This recipe has been linked up to:

Following In My Shoes Bento Lunches
Bento Lunch

Have a splendid lunch!!
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March 22, 2013

A Burst of Spring


Spring is absolutely here!  
SO let the COLORFUL lunches begin.

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It's always nice to pack lunches on spring-colored lunchboxes.  It adds colorful inspiration when it comes to planning.  And that is when I am thankful The EasyLunchboxes has created another genius product to tag along when on trips.  It just matches every single color of my silicone cups at home.  It makes packing lunches so fun and vibrant.  They honestly look good on pictures.  Don't you agree with me?

This lunch is so simple to prepare. It's just chicken and bean taquitos cut into halves for the stalk, and grape tomatoes to make as a bud blossoming on springtime.  Should have added some greens for the leaves, but my pantry is out so that will do for the day.  On side compartments are green pears and a couple of chocolate chip cookie treat.

Have a wonderful day!
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All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,
the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!

March 21, 2013

Welcome Spring!


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Finally Spring is here!! We've been so waiting for this season for a long time. We can't live in the cold weather for long anymore. Kids get sick on and off.  They miss out on fun play dates, and the not-so-fun school works too...LOL! Blame it all on the season. Winter is the FLU season.

Welcome Spring!!

We miss all the beautiful colors of the garden. This is the time my kids and I start to renew the garden and hunt for the brightest color of the season to bring cheers to each and everyone.

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So I thought of packing colorful lunches today to remind them of the beautiful cheerful hues of Spring....our most favorite season ever.  When they saw what's in their Easylunchboxes for lunch, they said, "Oooooh! Is it Spring yet, mom?" Yes it is! And I'm a day late.  But better be late than never.

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Don't you love packing lunches for your kids especially when celebrating something?  It makes everything special too with a touch of those Lunchbox Love Notes that express your heart out.  Loud enough for kids to feel and be proud of in school and out.

Have a wonderful Spring!

This has been linked up to the party!
Following In My Shoes Bento Lunches
Check it out.
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All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,
the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!

March 20, 2013

Homemade Chilidogs


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Our school had a Literacy Fundraiser Night last month. As part of the fundraiser, the school held a dinner sponsored by Weinerschnitzel.

For $5, you get either:
  • 2 chilidogs/ 2 corndogs/ 2 hotdogs or a combination of any 2 
  • chips, and 
  • soda.  
Missy A had 2 corndog meal, Mr G had a combination corndog/chilidog, while hub and I had to share on 2 chilidog meal, since Missy A could only eat 1 corndog.  So any leftover went to us.

After that night, G had requested for a chilidog school lunch, which never happened till this day.  I was able to find a good recipe that can equal, or might surpass Weinerschnitzel's that my kids , I mean Mr G, would love to eat.

I found a good recipe over at Simply Recipes.  But since I didn't have all the ingredients at hand. I played with these ingredients a bit in combination with another recipes I've found.  I noticed they all share common ingredients.  The only difference is the use of dry mustard, tomato sauce, honey/molasses, etc.  So by tweaking a bit, okay a lot since I left out on most ingredients, I was able to come up with a kid-friendly recipe, which G loved so well.  But not sure if its pretty much acceptable for adults' taste.  I like it in my own opinion.  Hubby thought it could have been better.  So next time I'd follow the recipe on the dot.

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On one of their EasyLunchboxes, I prepared the hotdog on a bun and packed the chili and cheese separately for sogginess-sake.  I also made him a spinach salad with ranch on the yellow cup and blueberries.  Missy A skipped the chili and just brought the hotdog on a bun with the rest of the meal.  She's not into chilidog, I remember.  Next time I'll pack some corndogs for her.

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What better way to send lunches to school? Send them with Lunchbox Love Notes by Say Please, that positively boosts self-confidence.  It truly compliments any lunchbox of your kids' choice.

For Easter, they have a promotion going on which saves you 15% off your entire purchase with the use of coupon code HOME15 at checkout. Make sure you visit them before they ran out.

Have a fun lunch!!

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All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,
the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!

March 19, 2013

Crab Sushi

I am telling you, blogging is not quite well for me these days.  Lazy as I could be, but I will never stop packing lunches for the kids.  It's been my addiction & passion for as long as they would let me.

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I packed Crab sushi for the kids, with some assortment of fruits {blackberries and grapes} and veggie {steamed edamame} on the side.  I have been experimenting on the different ways of packing meals.  This time in our Lunchbots Trio.  It's been my latest favorite.

I love it when I get to pack fruits and veggies on the children's lunchboxes.  Most of the time they're pretty picky with the greens.  So I just have to keep experimenting till I sold a package of lunch to them. Then I keep in mind what worked.  Those that didn't, will have to go around with another meal.  And see if that helps at all.  I do that with sushi fillings too.  But they're pretty good on poking them out before they actually consume the rolls.  That, of course, is the great idea of my Missy A.

My kids love the silicone cup idea inside the box coz it keeps the food contained and not be mixed and mangled with anything inside.  So with the help of the divided boxes, silicone cups were remained in place, which helps the food intact.

Have fun packing foods for your family. It doesn't have to be perfect.  Just keep it simple and yummy.  Have a fabulous day!!
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All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,
the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!

March 18, 2013

Potstickers Cutlets

What are potstickers?

Potstickers {or gyoza} are pan-fried dumplings with a meat and/or vegetable filling that is wrapped into a piece of rolled dough, sealed by crimping the edges together.  It has a thicker skin, which is usually eaten with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce.

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Lunch is vegetable and meat potsticker cut into halves in our teal-lidded EasyLunchboxes, The Brights Collection, for a more finger-licking meal for the kiddos.  Soy vinegar dip is packed in our mini dipper by EasyLunchboxes. Blackberries for his fruit and Kashi Berry Muffin Bar for a healthier dessert.  Kashi is all-natural, made with real fruit & vegetable in a whole grain bar.

Linked up at I Heart Lunch:

Following In My Shoes Bento Lunches

Go and visit the rest of the lunches!
Have a fabulous day.

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All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,
the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!

March 12, 2013

Mini Pancake Star Bites

I am honestly getting bored of my lunches and thought of putting out the cutters, and try our hands (my girl's) on it once again.  It's fun making lunches with your kids.  Have you tried it yet? 

Lunch below is made with a lot of help from my little fairy princess, Missy A. She makes food with a magical touch.

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She requested for pancakes. And she wants them bite-sized.  So, we thought of cutting them with her choice of mini cutter to go into her Lunchbots Trio.  And it's STAR for that matter. She's addicted to STARs because it's what makes up a wand of a fairy.  She  wanted to put a toothpick on them, but it wouldn't fit right on this box.  SO we'll make them on a different box next time.

On her Lunchbots Trio, we packed mini star pancakes with maple syrup on the yellow mini cup, strawberries on the left compartment, and hotdog wheels on a stick and a ketchup on the pink mini cup.  We have also included a pink mini fork for her to eat her pancakes with.

Also, we made our pancakes from scratch. We like it better that we can control the type of ingredients that goes into our system. Currently, we are on search of hotdog products that could come close to nitrate-free, all-natural and organic meat brand.  My children can't live without hotdogs, so I gotta find something safer and healthier. I heard of Applegate, have you?  I am getting in touch with them and see if they could end my search.  Would let you know :)

Let's find ways to pack lunches FUN and healthy for our family.

This is linked up at:

Following In My Shoes Bento Lunches

Let's see them all!
Have a fabulous day.
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All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,
the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!

Spring is here! Bunnies Everywhere!

Technically, it's not yet Spring till the 20th. But with the warmer weather and the change in time last Sunday, I could feel the fresh breeze of Spring coming really soon. I haven't really prepared anything bento for Spring or Easter yet, but I have one post which went to a Thanksgiving post, which is very wrong and disturbing I think...LOL!! So I thought to re-blog it for the right Season.  Here is the link for that previous post, in any event you still want to see.  


Lunch above was Missy A's. They are PBJ bunny-wich pals, with bunny picks hopping all over the sweet green grapes.  Mini mallows and raisins for treats. Everyone in her class loved this. Two of her friends took a bunny for themselves, as she gobbled whatever was left.

Welcome Spring!

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All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,
the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!

March 11, 2013

The Ill-Effects of Artificial Food Additives

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I thought of blogging about the effects of artificial food addiditives eversince we confirmed about its harmful effects on our kids.  I believe that it's my responsibility to let you know of our experience since I blog about food and school lunches.

While most kids are allergic to peanuts, dairies, eggs, soy, and so on, there are also sensitive individuals who get ill-effects from the artificial flavors and dyes, MSG, chemical preservatives commonly found on foods we eat, and beverages we drink.  For a decade, I have believed that my children have no known allergic issues on most things.  That made me so grateful coz I can practically feed them anything that I find healthy and nutritious.

I am allergic to MSG (Monosodium Glutamate). That is the least diagnosed case to most individuals unless they care to get tested.  My doctors said I am one sensitive individual to even react to it. It causes me to bruise easily, and tons, on my limbs even without any history of bumps and falls.  Thought I suffer from early stages of leukemia when I was growing up, but my blood tests would always come back normal. Until a Chinese doctor told me about the ill-effects of MSG to certain individuals.  As soon as I stopped eating canned foods, instant noodles, and chips, I stopped getting bruises too. Interesting, huh?

Now it's our kids' turn of sensitivity issues.  Have you ever noticed how the present generation of kids have grown to be? Most are hyperactive. Not just any ordinary hyperactivity, but some are behavioral as well. Neurologists have confirmed to us that hyperactivity may be due to an iron deficiency or sensitivity to artificial food dyes, regardless of its individual diagnosis. Most on Red, some on Yellow, and others on Blue.  Not sure if there's a sensitivity test for dyes. But if you want to try to eliminate all the dyes from your diet, I was told to allow at least 2-3 weeks resting period when testing out one dye at a time.  This is to give ample time for the body to eliminate the previous dye/s circulating in our system.  That way, you know which dye is causing an issue to your child's health.

We are affected by this hypersensitivity issue.  My kids are mild-to-moderately affected by hyperactivity, which I tend to dismiss and thought it was just the way they are.  At least we ain't getting extreme behavioral issues yet, but we're deeply concerned.  Never had a clue that it can either be caused by a nutritional deficiency, or by a hypersensitivity to food dyes/flavorings/preservatives. My kids will have their blood drawn to test whether they have iron deficiency. Consequently, we are ditching artificial food dyes in our life.  Tough as it may seem, but I'd do anything to minimize my children's exposure to allergens to live a better and sound life.

Grateful that I've learned about it as early as now. Now that they are quite mature to understand its ill-effects, and have voluntarily said NO to artificial dyes.  Two thumbs up for Mr G, for being so diligently avoiding DYES at all cost.

Right now, we are on the stage of switching our diets to DYE-FREE and ALL-NATURAL. So please bare with us, as I re-invent our daily school/work lunches.  We have sworn to eat only home-cooked meals from now on except on special occasion that we need to eat out. I believe eating out occasionally wouldn't hurt much compared to a daily consumption.  I hope you follow me on our quest to a new diet for a healthier and cleaner living.

Let's protect our kids from harmful food additives.  This might help them live a better life.  Say no to artificial additives.  Who knows? They could be the greatest precursor to cancer producing cells.
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