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Share a Spoon: Let's Have Lunch

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Think Tank Momma




Welcome Smackers!



Let's Share a Spoon and Warm some Bellies with great food!




Today we are talking lunch Smackers. Thanks to Alicia from It Ain't Easy Being Cheesy for today's theme.  It's often difficult to know what to do for children for lunch during the summer months.  It's easy to throw a couple of bags of chicken nuggets in the freezer.  Keep a package or two of hot dogs in the refrigerator or that old staple mac n' cheese, you know, out of that blue box.  YUCK!  I won't eat that stuff.  So why then would I feed it to my kids?  Most of it is because, well, it's easy, and because that's what we ate when we were little.

Really though, it's easy to do something else.  Kids do like variety, believe it or not.  My little Kamden would eat Peanut Butter and Jelly everyday if I made it, but when I give him something else he loves it.  There are two resources that I found to help with trading in the old standards for something more adventurous.   And by adventurous I mean healthy!

First is the Kraft Foods site.  They have all sorts of recipes for lunch and other meals.  Ways to decorate that make the food, well, FUN.  I mean really how cute is that bagel?  Kids love this sort of thing.  At least mine do.

The next resource is a blog. Amanda over at Lunchtime Limbo post the prettiest lunches.  She is a frugal mom trying to go organic, according to her site.  But the lunches she packs are truly delightful and inspiring.  I encourage those moms looking for some healthy fun eating to check out Lunchtime Limbo.  Just look at what I mean.  Flower sandwiches?  Aren't they cute?  I would totally eat those and I am a grown up!

My lunch recipe for today is my chicken salad.  I don't have photos of it this week.  (Slacker!)  If you have picky eaters they may look at it and say "I don't like it."  Mine said that.  I make them at least try everything though.  Once they tried it, they loved it!


Ingredients:
2-3 chicken breast baked and diced (I often use a large Rotisserie chicken for this.  I just use the white meat and save the legs for a lunch later in the week.)
1 cup diced celery
1 cup dried cranberries
1 shallot minced finely
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 c. lowfat mayo
1 tsp. celery salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. season salt
1 tsp. paprika
I sprinkle the whole thing with celery seeds as well.

Directions:
In a large bowl, add the diced chicken.  Mix in the shallot, celery, cranberries and nuts.  Stir all the base ingredients well.  Add the spices and coat all the salad.  Add mustard and mayo and stir until incorporated.  If the salad looks a little dry just add a bit more mayonnaise.  Sprinkle the salad with celery seeds.  I serve this on croissants or potato dinner rolls.  It pairs nicely with a fresh fruit salad.

This recipe is a big hit at bridal and baby showers.  I often serve it on crackers for those events.
Well there you have it Smackers!  My lunchtime share.  Please share your favorites with us!  Just grab the code and come back and link up!

If you need recipes, have a special occasion, meal, or just need some new takes on chicken let me know.  We will theme a week for you.  Leave it in the comments or email me!
As always, LOVE!





26 comments:

June said...

The chicken salad with cranberries sounds really good! Adding it to the list of recipes to make.

Travis said...

I got your back this week. I made some soup. Hell, I didn't name it though, I'm leaving that up to the readers.

Anonymous said...

'Tis the season for chicken salad!

This sounds scrumpdillyicious! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

This always makes me ungodly hungry!!!!

My Mercurial Nature said...

Yummy! And I'd eat those flower sandwiches, too...they're so cute.

Kimberly said...

I think I'll have to try the cranberries in it, I never thought of that...I think it would make a nice touch.

Aunt Juicebox said...

I LOVE the Kraft website. I also like Betty Crocker. They have so many easy recipes. Yum.

Anonymous said...

Sounds delish! My picky butt kids wouldnt try it but that would just leave more for me!! =)

Holly Lefevre said...

Cranberries...yummy! I love a good chicken salad....I never make it. Now I have a recipe to try. Thanks. Sorry...I am not lining up this week...it was my sanity of another post...I choose my sanity for the kids sake...and I suck at lunch.

Salt said...

I've never heard of cranberries in chicken salad before! Yum!!

One of the things I'm looking forward to about being a mom is making food into cool shapes like that for my kid. Is that weird? I might as well start practicing now.

Mama-Face said...

Your lunch recipe is Dinner Tonight!!!

Never had a child who would eat celery though. He can just pick it out, right.

Now I feel guilty about all the boring lunches my child will eat this summer. Not guilty enough though. :)

Tamara Dawn said...

Late in the game, but I am showing some linky lovin'! =)

KristinFilut said...

I love me some chicken salad with cranberries... I love me some cranberries!

Macey said...

This is weird because I've been on the lookout for a good chicken salad! We have tons of rotisserie chicken we need to use up!
Would it taste weird with raisins in it do you think?? I don't have cranberries.

The Random Blogette said...

I love this idea. I need to start getting in on this. I am obsessed with the Kraft Foods website. I get most of my recipes there. Since I am trying to lose weight now I have found some great recipes in the Hungry Girl cookbooks too. And some of them are actually pretty good!

Buffee said...

Celery seeds? Hmmmm. . . . heard of this I have not. Try I must!

I almost posted my chicken salad recipe, glad I didn't!

Request for next weeks post. . . ideas for Memorial Day cookouts?

The Queen said...

The chicken salad ,, without the chicken.. sounds really good..

I just stopped in for a spot inspection of your kitchen..

You passed.... the drink please!

Gabi said...

This is so fun!
I have never been able to make a good chicken salad, for some reason. Can't wait to try this recipe.
Thanks.

Lothiriel said...

Another easy one! I love chicken salad!!!

Kristen said...

I don't have kids... but I will make this for myself... it sounds delicious!!!

Thanks for the tasty recipe!

Alicia said...

mmmmmm i'm totally making this!! thanks for another delish recipe mama!! sorry i'm so late to the party...dang kids taking up all my time.

Liz Mays said...

I love the addition of cranberries in the chicken salad. That sells it for me!

Ducky said...

Seriously? Here either? I'm really wondering if there is some kind of conspiracy...for realz. I can't believe none of my comments have posted!

They were AWESOME too!

Melanie's Randomness said...

aww this is so cute!! At Williams Sonoma they have lil dinosaur cutters too so you can make a sandwhich in the shape of a dinosaur!! =)

I took your button too!!

gayle said...

Can't wait to try your chicken salad!!! I usually buy mine but it is so expensive!!

I would love more chicken and Kids ideas! My grandson is 3 and my daughter has to pack his lunch everyday for preschool!!

Amy @ Marvelous Mommy said...

Yummy!

I was stopping by to let you know I nominated you for The Versatile Blogger Award!!

http://marvelousmommyamy.blogspot.com/2010/05/versatile-blogger-award.html