Monday through Friday lunch is usually a solo act for me – at least during my daughters’ school year. Sometime after my morning routine of internet-ing, exercising, grocery shopping and occasionally cleaning; I start to get hungry and my mind wanders to lunch. Since I am alone I can create what I want and experiment with no one dictating what I should make or asking how much longer until it’s ready. My lunch prep goes something like this, peek into the refrigerator and whip something up with leftovers or – a food craving takes hold and my lunch evolves around my craving. Sometimes those cravings are highly influenced by watching Martha earlier in the morning or paging through cookbooks while making my grocery list.
A Few of My Recent Quick Cook Lunches~
1. Grilled Asparagus and Cheese Tartine
Leftover grilled asparagus, multi grain bread, shredded Coastal Cheddar cheese
Toast the bread, layer the asparagus spears and top with shredded cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted 5-ish minutes. Sometimes I drizzle mine with extra virgin olive oil or balsamic glaze.
Microwave left over rice or use a frozen rice package from Trader Joes, sliced shitakes, sugar snap peas and thin slices of fennel. (If you are feeling ambitious mince some garlic and ginger) sauté vegetables with a little olive oil and serve over rice. I drizzle mine with soy sauce or my new favor “Bragg’s Liquid Aminos” – a soy sauce alternative with a lot less sodium.
3. Grilled Tuna, Quinoa, Avocado, Tomato, Cilantro Wrap
Leftover grilled tuna or you can use canned tuna, left over quinoa or rice, chopped avocado, tomato and cilantro rounded into a wrap. I spread my wrap with a Greek herb yogurt spread before filling.
4. Herb Omelet
Lucky for me I have a friend with chickens so fresh eggs, herbs from the garden and what ever cheese I am craving or have on hand. So simple – but often a forgotten quick lunch.
The key to all my quick cook lunch successes are limiting the ingredient list AND using fresh herbs from my garden when possible. This year I have devoted a majority of my small garden space to herbs. My favorites; basil, Italian parsley, cilantro, chives, thyme, tarragon, rosemary, sage, spearmint and oregano. If you can, grow some herbs in your garden or in pots, they will make ALL the difference in your quick cook lunch and build healthy food cravings. Lunch Time!
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