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Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 14th May, '12, 23:41
by chocolate
Hey

Looking for some new things to bring for lunch....
I do leftovers sometimes (when Mr. Chocolate doesn't eat it all the night before !) but most days it's some variation of a salad or rice / quinoa and chicken.

Caveat: have a gluten intolerance so real bread is out and I've not made good GF bread yet....so sandwiches are difficult.

Any other ideas?

Thanking you :)

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 15th May, '12, 02:27
by BoD
Ask Lynford Christie..

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 15th May, '12, 04:37
by chocolate
some days I don't know why I bother posting on here ;)

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 15th May, '12, 06:12
by canuck
Thai Salmon fishcakes.....
Tex mex chilli
Home made pot noodles... Rice noodles, part of chicken stock cube, fresh bok choy, fresh tomato cube, chili, slice of ginger, then throw in hot water at lunch time and nuke for 3 mins in microwave... Add tofu cubes if you like them, or left over chicken, or shrimp dumplings, or if you do get it hot enough crack in an egg.
What about wraps! The do some with potato flour?
Oven roasted sqaush
Home made pumpkin, corriander soup?
Broccoli and stilton soup? Mmmm one of my fav,,, can give you a quick recipe

These are things i have made

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 15th May, '12, 09:02
by Tas
Presume you don't have egg intolerance too? Because it's a great little item for lunch - boiled eggs, egg pie, frittata - all good in the lunch box. There are also simpe recipes for using bacon or prosciutto wrapped around edge of muffin tin, throw a few favourite bits in (eg steamed asparagous or chopped tomato) then crack an egg (or pour a mixed blend) then back on moderate ~12-15mins - easy little pies.
Agree with fishcakes too - I just make plain salmon ones as using stuff up and don't have the right flavours handy, crab cakes are cool too.

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 15th May, '12, 21:25
by chocolate
Thank you canuck and Tas

Canuck - I'll take the broccoli soup recipe for sure.

I eat eggs every morning for breakfast Tas - though I could do frittata at lunch, I wouldn't care....maybe a crustless quiche... ?

Do you have a fishcake recipe - that doesn't have regular flour ? How do I stop them falling apart?
Thanks - some great ideas there :) And simple !!

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 15th May, '12, 21:57
by Fat Bob
Stop being a postdoc, go find a proper job, and then afford a real lunch....subsidised by the company!

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 16th May, '12, 01:17
by chocolate
Fat Bob wrote:Stop being a postdoc, go find a proper job, and then afford a real lunch....subsidised by the company!
Well now that you mention it - I have a new job ....starting June 4th....

Still will bring my own lunch....most days... :)

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 16th May, '12, 04:33
by avatarless
This might help: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/gluten-free

Congrats on the new job! Still in academia?

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 16th May, '12, 06:24
by canuck
Cheater fish cakes with thai twist
Shouldn't need flour.

Just use potato if you want to bulk them up
I used tinned salamon (admittedly chili flavoured, not sure you can get those there), lemongrass paste, part of a mashed potato ( which i microwaved and let cool) if you don't need moisture use lime zest, if you need moisture use a touch of lime juice, add more chili or some fresh red chillies, and then just fry in a hot frying pan with salt and pepper till brown and warmed through.

Regular thai fish cakes ( not my recipe)

1 lb (.454 kg) white-fleshed fish fillets
6 kaffir lime leaves, snipped into thin strips with scissors
3 Tbsp. coconut milk
2 Tbsp. fish sauce
1/2 tsp. shrimp paste
1/2 Tbsp. chili powder
1/3 tsp. ground cumin

Edit
Or go here for a couple just don't coat them in flour
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=5924

For my broccoli/stilton soup
1small onion diced
1 smallish potato diced
1 head broccoli
Stilton
Litre of water ( or to cover)
Pepper

Throw everything in pot except the stilton, cover with water and cook til soft (15-ish mins)
Once soft take a hand blender and blend til smooth, adding stilton chunks and blending lightly until it suits your taste, then add pepper. A nice piece of crusty baguette and snarf....

If you like a bit stronger extra stilton flavour, keep some back and crumble in just before serving.


For recipes that ask for flour to bind, try potato flour

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 16th May, '12, 09:32
by Tas
potato flour should be tops as alternative - might try that anyway for myself. Shouldn't cornflour also be fine for thickening? Just use less. I make the broccoli soup without the stilton, must say think it is better with the cheese as it fights the bitterness of the broccoli and adds a sweetness.
Most recipes for soup follow similar method of cooking in the broth, then blending and if want then add the creamy element. I made creamed mushroom soup the other week and it was just fantastic (used thin cream), very filling.

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 16th May, '12, 16:28
by Bender
chocolate wrote:...I've not made good GF bread yet...
A few GF people I work with reckon these are brilliant. Maybe an option?

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 16th May, '12, 22:58
by chocolate
Thank you canuck - those fish cakes sound delicious!! And i'm a huge broccoli soup fan so yay!
Potato flour - hmmmm...I'll definitely have to give it a try - there are lots of 'blends' of GF flour here - and they are very hit or miss, and often grossly sweet.....

Thanks for the breadmaker link - I do need to get one definitely and if you have heard good things about that one I'll definitely have a look for it! :)

@avatarless - it's still within the academic realm but NOT in the lab anymore yay!!! It's a Program Director at the Office of Faculty Affairs at Harvard Medical school - in short I"ll be assisting the process of senior promotions (assoc profs to full profs) .Very excited.....

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 17th May, '12, 03:41
by Kooky
All that AND she got a card recently. It's green.

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 17th May, '12, 03:58
by chocolate
Kooky wrote:All that AND she got a card recently. It's green.
:D

AND a first author paper - all in the same week - pretty amazing!- while I'm tooting my own horn :)

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 17th May, '12, 04:30
by sluggo
Oh yes a green card. Congratulations and welcome aboard Choc. My sister-in-law got hers recently, now she needs to master the language (she's Brazilian).

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 17th May, '12, 04:38
by chocolate
Thanks :)

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 17th May, '12, 07:00
by baloo
Bender wrote:
chocolate wrote:...I've not made good GF bread yet...
A few GF people I work with reckon these are brilliant. Maybe an option?
He lives.
chocolate wrote: while I'm tooting my own horn :)
How long have you been married now ?

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 17th May, '12, 10:32
by chocolate
Not that long! !! Smart*ss

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 19th May, '12, 02:34
by avatarless
chocolate wrote: @avatarless - it's still within the academic realm but NOT in the lab anymore yay!!! It's a Program Director at the Office of Faculty Affairs at Harvard Medical school - in short I"ll be assisting the process of senior promotions (assoc profs to full profs) .Very excited.....
Sounds awesome! Nice score.

Re: Lunchbox Suggestions

Posted: 10th Jul, '12, 12:56
by MichaelK
Baked sweet potatoes are lovely. Microwave them if you wanna save on time. Few minutes in the MW oven and they are ready to go. Yummy and nutritious!