A Creative Lunchbox

Say good bye to the white bread, bologna sandwich and get creative. A whole wheat bagel topped with peanut butter and banana packed with yogurt and baby carrots make a great mid day meal. Roll up some hummus, cheddar cheese and spinach in a whole wheat tortilla, with a side of grapes and a fruit dip, ole! Make cookie cutter turkey cheese sandwiches from whole wheat bread and pack a fruit, yogurt, granola parfait. Fill a pita with fat-free refried beans, shredded cheese and lettuce, and pack with sliced cucumbers and a yogurt dill dip. .
Veggie kabobs are colorful, fun lunchbox fillers!
What you’ll need:
2 popsicle sticks or decorative tooth picks
grape tomatoes
peas
broccoli florets
cucumbers
cubed cheddar cheese
*Any of the above items may be substituted for your child’s favorites.
Alternating veggies and cheese, fill the tooth pick. Don't forget the salad dressing, it makes a great dipper and pack some whole wheat crackers. Kabobs are sure to be lunchbox hit.
Variety, color, taste and a little creativity make lunchtime meals fun!

Locally Grown Produce

With the summer harvest in high gear, I try to buy and cook locally grown produce.
In my area strawberries, greens, summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers, corn, cauliflower, green beans, tomatoes, peppers, blueberries, winter squash, and peaches are available.
Here are a couple of great recipes that are perfect for a picnic or a dinner party and use all the freshest produce.
Strawberry Salad
1 Tbsp sugar
1-1/2 Tbsp white vinegar
1/4 cup minced Vidalia or red onion
1 tsp poppyseeds
1/4 cup light mayo
1/4 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1 head of Romaine lettuce
16oz strawberries, rinsed, hulled, and sliced
Whisk sugar and vinegar in large bowl, until sugar is dissolved. Stir in onion, poppyseeds, mayo and yogurt until well combined.Add romaine to dressing; toss until leaves are lightly and evenly coated. Divide salad among four individual salad plates; garnish with strawberry slices.
Grilled Zucchini & Peppers
3/4 lb zucchini, sliced diagonally in 1/2-inch rounds
1/2 lb sweet red pepper, halved, seeded, cut in 1/2-inch strips
2 Tbsp Oil
Preheat grill on MEDIUM 10 min.
Clean grill with wire brush. Using soft cloth, coat grill grate lightly with vegetable oil.Drizzle zucchini and pepper with oil. Sear on both sides. Grill, turning every 1-2 min, until both sides are grill-marked and vegetables are knife-tender, 10-12 min.
Enjoy the harvest.

Fruit Kabobs

I’ve been invited to a tennis party and I’m bringing the appetizer. With all the fresh fruits of summer in season, I decided to bring a plate of fruit kabobs. They’re so colorful and tasty and what could be more refreshing after a few sets of tennis?! If you’re short on time, most grocery store have pre- chunked fruit or a fruit salad bar, which is a bit more expensive but it’s a timesaver.
Or if you’re really cramped for time you can order a pre made platter
http://www.fruitfreshup.com/catalog.asp?prodid=593023
I found a recipe for a creamy orange dip that sounds delicious.
Here’s all you need
Creamy Orange Dip
1 jar marshmallow creme, 7 oz.
1 cream cheese, 1 - 8 oz. pkg.
2 T. frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

Summer Festivals

Food fests, art fests, music fests…whatever the fest they’re on my families to do list. Our city hosts the second largest food festival in the country. Over 60 restaurants serve up their specialty dishes to thousands of hungry patrons. Our arts festival began in 1958 and has grown and thrived over the past 50 years. It’s set in a lovely part of town where over 400 exhibitors show their art. At this festival, it’s as much fun to watch the people, as it is to look at the art. The ethnic fests are a great place to get a taste of the culture. My favorite is the Italian festival. The streets are lined with vendors selling everything from cannoli to sausage with peppers and onions, yum. My daughters love to go down to the art museum on Sundays to enjoy the outdoor jazz festival. We find a shady spot, set up the chairs, pop open the picnic basket and kick back, relax and enjoy the music.
If you'd like to find a festival in your neighborhood check out this informative site.
http://www.festivals.com/