{LunchBox Life}

Earlier this week I posted this photo on my Insta feed and part of the caption read: "Today's 'shop the pantry' adventures." I wanted to bake some treats, but not go to the shops for anything.

I am often appalled by the price it costs to feed a family these days, and the more I talk to friends, I am convinced the feeling is also mutual. I have found that shopping at Aldi for most of our groceries has slashed the price significantly. However, my 8 and 5 year old boys are eating a lot and we haven't even hit 'teenager-land' yet! 

I whipped up these snacks briefly in the kitchen and it lasted us a whole week of lunchboxes, afternoon treats and even some lunches. Here are the details:

1. Zucchini Slice: {link to recipe here}

Now, my kids don't think they like zucchini, but I call it quiche and they love it! If the green bothers them, you could always peel it beforehand. You could also add grated carrot or corn into the mix too for a variation. I line a baking dish with baking paper to make it easy to lift out, then cut into squares. I froze half and put the other half into lunchboxes with some salad for a sandwich alternative.

2. Cheesy-mite Scrolls:

There is a "proper" way to do this using dough Details are {here} if you have time, but my life right now is all about making things as easy as possible and store bought puff pastry works fine.

Just spread a sheet of puff with vegemite, sprinkle a good amount of grated cheese on top and roll. Cut into pieces and then lay on tray and bake till golden. Simple!

3. Homemade "LCM's":

I had some cheerios and rice bubbles in the pantry that my boys were not that fussed with. So, I dug around to find something to create with that I had on hand and ended up making a sort of 'LCM' style bar equivalent that my boys now love! You can set into a baking dish and cut into squares or simply scoop into cupcake cases. No oven required, a few ingredients and so cheap and easy! I kinda winged it but found an official recipe for you guys to follow {recipe here}

4. Banana Bread:

A favorite in our house and the link is in the menu bar to the right under my favorite sweet recipes. But I'll also put it here too {recipe}

5. Choc Cupcakes:

I always have a cupcake mix on hand for those emergencies. It has saved me many times. I am not talking top shelf here, its a bag from woolies on the bottom shelf that only costs about 80 cents. I simply made this up to instructions, chucked in a mashed banana and some choc chips I had and Voila!

So, there are 5 easy things to add to your kids lunchboxes this week that wont break the bank. 

Hit me up on here in the comments below or on the Homemade FB page {link here} as to your favourite lunchbox winners! 

Lauren x

{Lunch Box Jokes}

My 6 year old is about to finish his first term of year one.
Recently his teacher has unfortunately had a few weeks off to have an operation. Whilst my son is normally well adjusted, this change has been a somewhat difficult one for us to adjust to.

So, to help him get through the day I have started occasionally (about every second day) popping a handwritten joke in his lunchbox with his sandwich. For him, having this surprise pop up half way through the day "reminds me of you mum...and it's really funny too".


It doesn't take much time, costs nothing and is a great way to touch base with your kids during the day, even when your not there. Simply google some kids knock knock jokes and you'll find a whole bunch that you can choose from. Above are some examples of how I themed the jokes for Easter last week. Even if your kids aren't having any 'settling issues' per say, What kid wouldn't love to open their lunch box to a funny lunchbox joke?! 

Submit your best kids joke ideas here in the comments section or on the homemade facebook page. 
Lauren x

{Wheat Bran Muffins}

I bought a packet of wheat bran in a recent grocery shop but didn't know what to do with it. I set myself an assignment to make some sort of healthy muffins for school lunches. It annoys me how so many muffin recipes may as well be cupcakes with their sugar content. Are we just trying to avoid guilt by re-naming it...I'm not buying into it. These were healthy enough that you could even use it as part of an on-the-go breakfast I reckon. 

I tried this recipe and it was met with much delight by my boys. They practically inhaled them for a rainy afternoon tea treat. They have been requested again since. So, I adapted a few different recipes to come up with this one. 

Here is the recipe that you can customise to your tastes. Ours were banana flavoured which is always a favourite in our house.

{The Lunch Box Life :: Menu Ideas}

So, we have almost reached the end of term one for kindergarten. WOW! I know I had two days a week at prep last year with my 'big' boy to practice this new 'lunchbox life' idea. But the five days a week was definitely a new idea. And I am LOVING it!

Each day I have to pack lunch and what his school calls "Fruit Break". This has to be fresh fruit/ veg as a snack at 9:30. It has helped students attention and healthy intake also.
This is a typical example:

{Rediscovering a Childhood Favourite : Honey Jumbles}

I used to love these at my grandma's house. When I stumbled across this recipe on taste, I just had to try them. These are now requested by my boys and they are a delicious time warp!


Ingredients:

60g butter, chopped
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons milk

Icing:

1 eggwhite
1 1/2 cups pure icing sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Pink food colouring

Method:

1. Combine butter, honey and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until butter has melted. Bring to the boil. Remove from heat. Set aside for 10 minutes.

2. Sift flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger, mixed spice and cloves over butter mixture. Add milk. Stir to combine. Cover. Set aside for 1 hour or until mixture has cooled and thickened.

3. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Line 2 large baking trays with baking paper. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead lightly. Divide dough into quarters. Roll 1 portion into a 25cm-long log shape. Cut into 5cm-long pieces. Place on prepared trays, leaving room for spreading. Using a wooden spoon, flatten each piece of dough until 5mm-thick. Repeat with remaining dough portions. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden. Stand on tray for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Make icing Using: a whisk, beat eggwhite in a bowl until foaming. Gradually beat in icing sugar until combined. Stir in lemon juice. Spoon half the mixture into another bowl. Tint pink with food colouring. Spread half of the biscuits with pink icing. Spread remaining biscuits with white icing. Set aside for 30 minutes or until set. Serve.

{The Lunch Box Life}

{image}

A discussion with a friend the other night had us thinking about lunch boxes. As both of us have an "L-Plates" on with this, it was nice to share ideas and as with everthing, I love learning from others.
I thought I would share the fillings that so far have been winners here. The way that the lunchbox is set out has 3 little sections in the lid and a bigger section underneath. So, I usually put 3 (small portions) of the morning tea choices in the top lid, 1 for after lunch, and a lunchtime choice with his water bottle.

Morning Tea Options so far:
- Air popped corn
- Berries (when in season)
- Carrot and celery sticks (often with a little pot of homemade hommous)
- Cheese and crackers
- Grapes
- Melons cut into pieces
- Mandarins (I peel and segment to make it easier)
- Mini homemade muffins
- Cherry tomatoes
- Yoghurt
- Fruit puree
- Sometimes homemade biscuits or slices that are somewhat healthy like these

Lunch Ideas So Far:
- Wraps (avocado spread with cheese, turkey and baby spinach)
- Sandwhiches (cheese sandwhiches have always been a plus. I don't use tomato as it goes soggy)
- Cold Pizza (wholemeal english muffin with tomato puree, slice of turkey, basil, couple of pineapple slices and a cheese slice/ grated cheese. Grill and cut into quarters)
- Healthy pasta salad in container
- Little thermos with chicken nuggets (heat it up with hot water and then dry. place warm chicken nuggets inside to keep warm. Help them practise using at home first).


When I asked what his favourite thing in his lunchbox and he said "when you write me letters mum" (awwwww). I would love to hear what you use and what are your favourites, comment below or even on facebook).

Lauren x

{Yummy & Healthy Lunchbox Treats}

My 4 year old started prep school last week (a pre-school style program on the primary school campus). It is just a wonderful idea as it prepares and eases the students (and the parents) into school life. So because of this preparing lunchboxes are now a part of my week. I love finding treats that are healthy yet delicious for snacks at home, but things that are transportable and will cope in the heat and being tossed around in a school bag are now on my agenda.


Here are two recipes that I found in my recent Super Food Ideas magazine that were tried and tested today and both of my boys asked for seconds and thirds :) The best thing is these recipes are very simailar in ingredients so they are easy to make together.




Museli & Fruit Slice

1/2 cup chopped dried apple
1/2 cup sultanas
1/2 cup dried cranberries (gosh i love these)
1/2 cup self rasing flour
1/2 cup wholemeal self rasing flour
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 cup nut free museli (if taking to school, you can't have nuts these days anywhere!)
1 cup reduced fat plain greek style yoghurt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup of olive oil (i used rice bran oil i had on hand)

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180' fan forced and spray oil spray in tin and line it with baking paper.
2. Place apple, sultanans, cranberries, flours, sugar and 2/3 cup museli in a bowl. Stir to combine.
3. Whisk yoghurt, egg and oil together in another bowl.
4. Fold through the fruit mixture until just combined.
5. Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle remaining museli on top.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Stand in pan for 5 minutes and then turn it onto a wire rack to cool. Cut into rectangles to serve.





Chewy Raisin and Oat Biscuits

1 cup raisins
1 cup cornflakes
3/4 cup of rolled oats
1/2 cup of self-raising flour
1/2 cup wholemeal self-raising flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 olive oil (again, i used rice bran oil)
1 egg

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180' fan forced and line a tray with baking paper
2. Comine raisins, cornflakes, oats, flours and sugar in a bowl.
3. Whisk oil, egg and 1/4 cup of cold water together in another bowl and stir into the raisin mixture.
4. Using floured hands, roll into balls and place a few cm apart. Flatten slightly and bake for 12-14 mins or until golden. Cool on tray.