Farewell Winter

 This simple lunch is a great way to farewell Winter.

Yoghurt, apple slices, sandwich with cookie cutter impressions, Nutella/cashew nut dip, and juice.

An easy way to jazz up an easy sandwich. Simply use FooDoodlers to colour a cookie cutter and then use it to make an impression in your sandwich!

Details of my tools & toys can be found on this page.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. This post may contain affiliate links.

Bunny Lunch with Egg Mould Repurpose

This toddler lunch was all inspired by our humble bunny egg mould.

Leftover pasta with some mini sausage bunnies are separated from mixed vegetables and a 'Bunny Eggy' with a little baran.

Using the egg mould as a stamp, I added a little Bunny love to her sandwich.

I then used the egg mould itself to house some store bought dip and carrot sticks. Again separated with a little baran.

A mandarin and strawberry flower along with some yoghurt are some of my Honey Bunny's favourite sides. And they go well with the milk in her Juice in the Box.

Have you entered to WIN one of FOUR Juice in the Box starer bundles yet? See this previous post for details! Hurry! Ends this weekend!!

Details of my tools & toys can be found on this page.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. This post may contain affiliate links.

Thomas the Tank Engine Prep Lunch

 Did you enjoy Honey's Thomas the Tank Engine lunch the other day? (read all about it here) Well I couldn't send Miss M off to Prep without including her in the fun!

Spiral 'train wheel' sandwich, popcorn, grapes and yoghurt. A nice little snack for on a train I think. Add a milk Juice in the Box and a Thomas sandwich and you're all set for a tooting good time ;-)

Don't forget to check out this previous post with all the details you need to enter and WIN a Juice in the Box starter bundle! Hurry! Ends this weekend!!

Details of my tools & toys can be found on this page.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. This post may contain affiliate links.

Thomas the Tank Engine Daycare Lunch

All aboard! Did you know that Thomas the Tank Engine is 70 this year? He's in pretty good shape don't you think? All the more reason to celebrate him in a lunchbox!!

I've used the Thomas pasta before as a bit of fun for both the girls. Today it was honey's turn to take it for lunch. She also has a Thomas shaped egg, coloured with FooDoodlers.

That egg mould I also used to create Thomas sandwiches! I felt so very clever!!

What do you think? Perfect to accompany Honey's yoghurt, mandarin, popcorn and Juice in the Box milk, right?

Don't forget to read up on this previous post about how you can WIN a Juice in the Box starter bundle to help keep your little ones chugging along ;-)

Details of my tools & toys can be found on this page.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. This post may contain affiliate links.

Teddy Bear Toddler Lunch

Have you been getting creative in the kitchen these holidays? Miss M helped me to make some lemon cordial and I sent some to daycare with Honey in her Juice in the Box with this Teddy bear inspired lunch!

Simple side of fruit salad and yoghurt, along with some Teddy-rific mains :-)

I used our CuteZCute original cutter to shape some of our leftover spaghetti marinara. Some of the carrot was also cut with the CuteZCute.

Miss M never really went for eggs but Honey loves her 'Teddy Eggy' (and those Tiny Teddy treat biscuits below it)

Her sandwich today was also made with the CuteZute. I used the bear ears/nose/mouth and the eyes from the cat to make the Teddy extra cute ;-)

For those interested in the lemon cordial, it was based on this recipe by Matt Preston.



What would you pack in your Juice in the Box if you WIN one of the FOUR up for grabs in our current giveaway? Details in this previous post!

Details of my tools & toys can be found on this page.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. This post may contain affiliate links.

Another Very Hungry Caterpillar

 Gosh, has it really been two years since I made my first version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar? (You can see that in this previous post)












This latest version is made from circle Vegemite sandwiches and a plum head with cute food picks for detail. Added to the compartment are a cheerio, cheese, salami, mini ice cream cone, and a mini cake. All with little 'nibbles' taken out :-).

The rest of Miss M's Nude Food Movers was filled with watermelon in the double snack pod (blue, one the left), yoghurt in a Sinchies pouch (under the caterpillar) and a juice popper/box.

Details of my tools & toys can be found on this page.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. This post may contain affiliate links.

Double Zecora - Two for One Nori Cutting!

 Miss M was working through the alphabet at Prep and came to Z . . .obviously for Zecora of My Little Pony fame!

I made this Easy Lunchbox for her with nori cutting and FooDoodler cheese. I tried to emulate Zecora's cutie mark with the mandarin and cheese 'swirl'. What do you think? Did it pass? There's some yoghurt in the red container as well.

I realised after I'd done the nori cutting that I'd accidentally made another perfect opportunity for lunch! The next day Miss M had the offcuts of the original design with some quickie rockmelon slices and a yoghurt pouch below the sandwich.

Brain break was packed separately both days.

Details of my tools & toys can be found on this page.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. This post may contain affiliate links.

Muesli Bites Recipe & Easy Peasy Sushi Maker

I promised a recipe for the Muesli Bites in this previous post so before I forget, here it is!

I didn't actually change the original too much.

In a blender (I don't own a food processor) mix together 2 cups of your favourite toasted muesli, 1 cup pitted prunes, 1/4 cup honey and 50g melted butter. Use an Easy Peasy Sushi maker to hold into logs. Roll these in some extra muesli before placing in the fridge to firm up. Slice into bite sized pieces.

My poor old blender is on it's last legs and couldn't quite cope with the thick prune mixtures. You can see a few mangled spares sitting to the side here.

Details of my tools & toys can be found on this page.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. This post may contain affiliate links.

Cake Stall Bento

Our local Playgroup had a Barefoot in the Park celebration for Under 8s week recently and when they asked for donations to go towards the cake stall I knew I had to spread a little more Loving Lunches love around :-)

The afternoon before the big day I cut made some Vegemite dolphin and some Honey elephant sandwiches. I also assembled some mandarin/grape flowers and made some mini bread & butter puddings from some of the bread offcuts. The sandwiches stayed on the bench overnight while the fruit & pudding were tucked away in the fridge. In the morning it was a simple task of assembling in their disposable containers and popping them in cooler bags while I did the school run.

I had a stall at the Fun Day too and this is the Yumbox I packed for Honey to share with her friend while she had a playdate at the event.

Their favourite wafer biscuits, some muesli bites (recipe soon), cheese stick, bread & butter puddings and cucumber.

Details of my tools & toys can be found on this page.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. This post may contain affiliate links.

Kung Fu Panda Lunches of Awesomeness Mantis

I am so stoked with how Mantis turned out in this lunch!

Made from snow peas, asparagus and brussel sprouts with cheese eyes. Held together with cheese spread. I do love his little moustache, don't you?

His apple self though. . . not so pretty. It looks more like a freaked out frog to me, but Miss M didn't complain :-)

Details of my tools & toys can be found on this page.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. This post may contain affiliate links.

Mexican Vegetable Soup Maker Soup

 I had the idea a few weeks ago that a Mexican inspired soup would be just the thing, and this is what I came up with.

1 jar of salsa
500g frozen peas/carrot/corn/capsicum mix
1 - 2 cups beef stock

Pop it all in the Kambrook Soup Simple on 'chunky' setting and wait for lunch to cook itself!

 I took some to work for a light evening snack with some rice crackers and a few TicTacs for after :-)

Served in my Compl-Eat Energy Booster.

Details of my tools & toys can be found on this page.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. This post may contain affiliate links.

Bread Repurpose - Meat Balls

Earlier this week I shared how simple it is to make breadcrumbs from your bread scraps (see this previous post) Now, I've been meaning to share this recipe for *ages* and admittedly I've changed the recipe a little each time I make these. But here's a good start!

Grate or finely dice one onion, one carrot, one stick of celery and a clove or two of garlic to taste.

Combine with one egg, one cup of breadcrumbs, and around 500g of your chosen mince. Beef or pork & veal are our favourites.

Roll tablespoonfuls into balls and place onto a lined, greased baking tray.

I julienned the carrots for this batch, but tend to grate them now.

Bake for around 20 minutes at 180 degrees until cooked through. You can glass with BBQ sauce for a tastier morsel.

I tend to serve with fettuccine, store bought pasta sauce and parmesan cheese. Also great for a leftovers lunch.










Details of my tools & toys can be found on this page.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. This post may contain affiliate links.

Bread Repurpose - Japanese Slow Cooker Curry

In yesterday's post I shared how I often make crumbed chicken with my bread off cuts. Well, here's something I make with the crumbed chicken!

I used to make this in the frypan and still do on occasion, but I love walking into a house filled with aroma of this curry cooking. So now I like to make it in our Kambrook Quattro Multicooker.

First brown some onion in a little oil.






 Then add some celery & carrot and cook until it begins to soften.












Next add some capsicum, broccoli and cauliflower. I've added potatoes at this point as well, but this day I didn't.












Not-so-Secret-Ingredient time. My sister put me onto this curry base which I've found at Woolworths, Coles & IGA. It comes in mild, medium & hot. For us I use a pack of mild & a pack of medium.








Break apart & add to the pot.

Next add 2 cups of water. I realise this is half the amount the packet recommends, but I prefer a thicker curry.








Stir and bring to the boil. At this point if you are using a frypan continue to simmer until all the veggies are cooked through and the sauce has thickened. If you're using a slow cooker, now's the time to cover & walk away.









Come back in 4-8 hours depending on your machine to a house full of gorgeous curry fragrance.











Now add your leftover crumbed chicken and heat through.

Serve on a bed of rice alongside some seasonal greens (let's just pretend they're hiding at the back here ^-^)

Details of my tools & toys can be found on this page.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. This post may contain affiliate links.