Good Better Best Lunch Box-Part 1 Sandwiches

My day job took me away for the last three weeks.  Think Tampa, FL and Charlotte, NC and two guys with unusual first names vying to be the leader of the free world.  Now I am back and while Running Daddy did a great job getting the Sweet Boy to and from school every day and packing his lunch box, I am so happy to be back to my regular routine and the things I love so much including writing Good, Better, Best Food.

I always think that one of the most important editions of this blog I can write is on school lunches.  Now I am not going to get into the politics of school lunch programs (too much politics in my day job), but I do think we pack in our kids lunch boxes is very important.  It will give them the proper fuel to help learn all day.

Maybe you and your kids are getting a little bored with the lunch box routine or maybe you need more ideas for healthier brown bagging...Good, Better, Best can help.  I am starting with sandwiches.

 1) The classic--PB & J:  To make it Better use whole grain bread, natural peanut butter or organic jelly.  To make Best add multiple elements.

 http://www.smuckers.com/products/ProductDetail.aspx?groupId=1&categoryId=341&flavorId=821

2) Bagel and Cream Cheese: The Sweet Boy doesn't love many sandwiches only Jelly (see above) and now we have started adding bagels and cream cheese as a lunch.  To make it Better use a whole grain bagel or mini bagel or organic cream cheese.  To make Best use both!

3) Hummus and Cucumber Wraps: These are Already Better as the hummus is made with chickpeas they are in the Already Better category as they are a legume and I consider that like a whole grain.  To make Best add home grown/farmers market or organic cumbers, and a whole wheat wrap. 

4) BLT ala GBB: BLTs are yummy, no doubt about it.  To make Better use whole grain bread, home grown or organic tomatoes or organic bacon.  To make Best use multiple elements.  Want a healthy twist...use one of the mayos blended with olive oil.

5) Tuna Salad: To make Better use whole grain bread, organic mayo or farmers market onions.  To make Best add multiple elements.

Enjoy the Best lunch box food!
Patty

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Grilled Pesto Salmon, Lentils and a Wine Review

Running Daddy loves cedar planked salmon and with the weather turning cool on a gorgeous early fall night, tonight was the perfect night to grill salmon, veggies and cook up some lentils Good Better Best Food style.

Lentils

Lentils are new for me, but they fit nicely into the Good Better Best lifestyle  Already a whole grain they are Already Better.  Here is how I cooked them:

-1 shallot
-1 Tbs olive oil
-2 cups or so of chicken stock
-1 cup of lentils

Heat a sauce pan and add the olive oil.  Chop shallot and then add to the olive oil, saute until tender.  Add lentils and saute for about 1 minute.  Add about 1 cup of stock at a time, turn down heat and simmer until tender about 20 minutes.  Add stock as necessary.

Since the lentils make this alreader better, to make Best add farmers market shallots or organic stock or both.

Salmon

Since we cook the salmon on a cedar plank, there is not a lot that needs to be done to add flavor.  We used wild salmon which made this Already Better.  Typically when we grill salmon all we do is add about 2 Tbs of commerically made pesto to the salmon before grilling.  The pesto gives it a mild seasoning and also helps keep the fish moist.  You can make Best by making your own pesto with basil from your garden or the farmers market.

Cook the salmon on med-high heat for about 15-20 minutes until it flakes easily with a fork.

Wine

 

Tonight we were treated to a great wine by our friends at Wine Chateau  located in New Jersey.  Domaine de L'Olivier 2010 Chardonnay was a lovely surprise.  While I am now a white wine drinker, I typically do not reach for Chardonnay...until now.  This Chardonnay was crisp with only a hint of oak and  nicely paired with the fish and the lentils.  This wine was excellent on a Sunday night at the $10 price point.

If you are in the Metuchen or Piscataway, NJ area, stop into Wine Chateau and see what wine gems they have for you!  http://www.winechateau.com/

Enjoy the Best Food!
Patty

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