Recipes supplied by Richard Rust , a fabulous, 5 star trained, gourmet chef. He has cooked for, amongst others, British royalty, Woolworths and written for Taste magazine. His company Gourmet Gurus caters for children’s parties; lunch boxes; private/corporate functions and dinner parties.
The moment we think of lunchboxes the dreaded soggy sandwich appears. Below are ideas that can be made a couple of days in advance to add variety to a lunchbox that are easy and cost effective whilst adding important nutrients.
When making sandwiches vary the types of breads, try using rolls, wraps, croissants. Ifusing fresh tomato always make sure that the tomato does not come into contact with the bread as this will cause them to go soggy.
Mix cooked chicken with mayo the day before for an easy option.
Stir fry strips of beef with strips of vegetables and use in a wrap.
Mix mayonnaise with grated cheese and cooked bacon bits.
Try pasta salads, mix cooked pasta with mayonnaise or a dressing plus your child’s favourite things.
Add portions of dried fruit or fresh pieces of carrot etc instead of chocolates for a healthier option.
PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
Makes: 30
Preparation time:10minutes
Cooking time: 10minutes
Ingredients:
60g salted butter
125ml Crunchy Peanut Butter
100g brown sugar
100g caster sugar
1 extra large egg
140g cake flour
Method:
Lightly grease 2 baking sheets and pre-heat an oven to 180ã
Cream the butter and peanut butter together. Gradually add the sugars beating well.
Beat the egg into the mixture until light and fluffy. Sift in the flour mixing well.
Shape a teaspoon of mixture onto the trays and bake for 10minutes.
When cooked allow to cool on a wire rack.
QUICHE
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 45-50 minutes
Ingredients:
125g butter (unsalted)
250g flour
1 egg
½ teaspoon salt
60ml milk
150g spinach, steamed, squeezed and chopped (optional)
150g bacon, cooked and chopped
150g cheese grated
2 eggs
250ml cream
Method:
Mix salt and flour thoroughly.
Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles fine bread crumbs.
Mix in the egg and milk.
Knead briefly.
Rest in the fridge for 20 minutes.
Roll out and press into a pie dish.
Pierce and bake blind without colour (approx 20 minutes)
Baking blind is the technique that requires the filling of the pastry shell with foil or parchment paper and dried beans.
The beans help to keep the shape of the shell while cooking it empty.
Remove the beans.
Mix the spinach, bacon and cheese together and place in the pie shell.
Mix together the eggs and cream and pour into the pie shell to fill.
Bake at 180ºC for 25 minutes until the filling is just set.
SMOKED CHICKEN BACON AND RED PESTO PASTA SALAD
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
300g penne pasta
100g smoked bacon rashers
2 smoked chicken breasts
1 tub Woolworths Fresh Sun Dried Tomato Pesto
Handful basil ripped
15g fresh parmesan, shaved with a vegetable peeler
Method:
Cook the pasta as per instructions.
Cook the bacon until crispy.
Thinly slice the chicken and chop the bacon.
Mix the pasta with the bacon, chicken, pesto and basil.
Recipes supplied by Gourmet Gurus. Caterers for children’s parties; lunch boxes; private/corporate functions and dinner parties.
Contact Richard (former Woollies chef) on 074 1722312 or gourmetgurus@live.co.za
Share your favourite lunchbox recipes with us please.
Recipes supplied by Richard Rust , a fabulous, 5 star trained, gourmet chef. He has cooked for, amongst others, British royalty, Woolworths and written for Taste magazine. His company Gourmet Gurus caters for children’s parties; lunch boxes; private/corporate functions and dinner parties.
Lovely tips and ideas here
Thanks for this, however where can we mummies or daddies find more ideas for lunch box meals?
Hi Judy,
I alway find myself scouting for new lunchbox ideas
try the woolworths website
have placed the link below
Natalie
http://www.woolworths.co.za/caissa.asp?Page=ITB4_RHContext&Post=O-Food_School
thanx a lot Natalie, as a single father I’m the best father in the planet with your tips from Woolworths.
It would be great if more people could add some of their own suggestions. Some of the snacks I give my kids for lunch include:
* dried mango and banana
* biltong sticks
* chicken and egg mayonaise in pita bread
* fresh fruit cut up (rather than whole)
* cut up red and yellow sweet peppers
* cut up carrots and cucumbers
* baked pretzels – the ones you buy at anywhere without additives and preservatives
* nuts and raisins
* almonds and cashews
* samoosas
* pancakes filled with something savoury (cheese & tomato, or ham an gherkin)
Please add to this list. I would love some new ideas
Thanks, this really helps.
Here are more lunchbox ideas.
Chicken Nuggets
Fish Finger
Grapes
Croissants with Jam & butter
Steak or chicken pies
enjoy!
more lunch box ideas:
1.Cooked chicken cubes spread on butter roll / bun topped with mayo & lettuce (optional chilli sauce for teens)
2. tuna & mayo sandwich with fine cubed onion,tomato topped with lettuce on bread
3. Toasted cheese with tomato
or polony
or leftover steak pices
or chicken
4. Untoasted butterred bread with cheese & lettuce
5 French polony sandwich
6.Fish fingers with julineed strip carrots & sliced cucumber fruit
7. Egg bread (dip a sliced of bread into well beaten egg) fry on both sides ( very quick & easy)
8. Sweet egg bread – as above,but add about 1/4 cup milk & 1tsp sugar to the egg – than dip bread & fry both sides
9. Samoosa (many variants available)- mince,cheese,chicken
10. Leftover mince tossed into spaghetti
11. Fried savoury rice
12. Goldem smackeroos (fish nuggets) baked ,with cut up veg or fruit!
13. Baked pies
14. mini pizzas
Always give a squeeze bottle of water that the child may have during lessons or breaks (water is the best energizer)!! and I feel our generation just doesn’t get enough water!!
Here’s a tip re tomato to prevent sandwiches going soggy. Slice tomato thinly until u get to the ‘insides’. Scoop out the insides, ie. seeds & pulp. Rinse, wipe dry and then continue slices for sandwich. Certainly works for us!!