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Display Name: thesamanthafiles
Member Since: 9/1/07
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@Engineergirl - My husband and I use the boxes from Laptop Lunches http://www.laptoplunches.com/. Perfect for this sort of lunch... helps with portion sizes too!


Tips for a Better Solo Lunch Cooking for One
3/14/12 2:40 PM

@Rucy - So glad you brought up Bread and Jam for Frances. I love that book (loved it as a child and still love it today). An excerpt for those folks who have never read the book (This is Frances' friend Albert eating his lunch) :

"He took a bite of the sandwich, a bite of pickle,
a bite of hard-boiled egg, and a drink of milk.
Then he sprinkled more salt on the egg and went round again.
Albert made the sandwich, the pickle,
the egg, and the milk come out even.
He ate his bunch of grapes and his tangerine.
Then he cleared away the crumpled-up waxed paper,
the eggshell, and the tangerine peel.
He set the cup custard in the middle of the napkin on his desk.
He took up his spoon and at up all the custard.
Then Albert folded up his napkins and put them away.
He put away his cardboard saltshaker and his spoon.
He screwed the cup on top of his thermos bottle.
He shut his lunch box,
put it back inside his desk, and sighed.
'I like to have a good lunch,' said Albert."


Tips for a Better Solo Lunch Cooking for One
3/14/12 2:39 PM

(Well, not powder - just much smaller bits)


How Can I Make My Granola Chunkier? Recipe Questions
3/8/12 4:23 PM

I'll echo grinding some of the oats. I've had great success with the granola recipe from Traveler's Lunchbox - http://www.travelerslunchbox.com/journal/2007/6/9/the-lip-ladys-secret-granola.html

Hmmm, I think I need to make a batch of that olive oil granola now, grinding some of the oats into powder. Mmm!


How Can I Make My Granola Chunkier? Recipe Questions
3/8/12 4:22 PM

Another shout-out for Laptop Lunches. http://www.laptoplunches.com/

My husband and I use ours daily, and they can't be beat. We have the Bento Box 2.0 with a Bento Buddies set.


Looking for a Bike-Friendly Lunch Box
Product & Shopping Questions

2/24/12 11:04 AM

I like to dice it up and store it in the freezer (a Ball canning jar with a plastic lid works really well). Then you can use a bit at a time.

As for uses - scrambled eggs or a frittata, a root vegetable hash, a quinoa pilaf, sauteed greens (especially hearty ones like collards and kale), any sort of bean soup, anything with potatoes.


What Can I Make With Cured Chorizo?
Good Questions

1/18/12 10:28 AM

Made this last night, and it was fantastic! I used frozen spinach and light coconut milk, both of which worked perfectly. And the sweet potatoes really brought the whole dish together.

Looking forward to making it again soon. Next time I might use coconut oil to saute the onions, would nicely boost the coconut flavor.


Recipe: Braised Coconut Spinach & Chickpeas with Lemon
1/18/12 9:32 AM

Awesome! Just pledged. I would use this quite a bit. Maybe not to send neighbors home with leftovers, but certainly for baked goods - those last few biscuits or cookies.


PlateTopper: Makes Saving a Plate Easier (& Greener)
11/11/11 5:12 PM

This is a great book: Mary Bell's Complete Dehydrator Cookbook. Lots of tips and recipes, worth checking out. Good luck!


Help! I'm Disappointed With My Dehydrator
Good Questions

10/17/11 11:11 AM

Wow! These look fantastic, I might need to make them tonight!


Snack Recipe: Peanut Butter & Jelly Icebox Cookies
8/25/11 11:35 AM

@sunandtea LOL!!! :D


Lunch Surprise: Write a Secret Message on a Banana
8/22/11 2:35 PM

While we do always have tomatoes on hand, and I am a fan of Marcella's butter sauce, I am pro-jarred sauce. Either Raos or Trader Joe's (Rustico - if that's the chunkier sauce with vegetables).

If my husband and I are totally wrecked after work, using jarred sauce and boiling some pasta is better than take-out.


What Kind of Jarred Red Sauce Do You Use?
8/17/11 4:24 PM

Adding mint - brilliant! Oh darn, I see more shrubs in my future.


Drink Recipe: Elderberry Shrub
8/3/11 4:51 PM

And you know, I make them a little differently (as per Serious Eats - http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/06/cold-processed-berry-shrub-recipe.html)

The cold process really keeps the fruit tasting bright and fresh.


Drink Recipe: Elderberry Shrub
8/3/11 4:04 PM

I have been loving shrubs this summer. I have cherry, blueberry, peach and raspberry in my fridge. Now I need to find some elderberries!


Drink Recipe: Elderberry Shrub
8/3/11 4:02 PM

I'm sold too. Also love the introductory video on their website.


Kinfolk: A Guide for Small Gatherings
7/27/11 9:15 AM

I love cast iron, but it does require upkeep. And we've been moving away from non-stick at home too. We lucked out and got 2 All-Clad stainless skillets from William Sonoma during a 2 day sale they had online, and LOVE them.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/all-clad-stainless-steel-french-skillet-set/?cm_src=hero

My husband makes eggs in them almost every morning, and they perform better than our old non-stick pans. Just a spritz of cooking spray, and they slide right out. Easy to clean, nice heavy (but not too heavy) pans, they're perfect.

It is a bit of an investment, but if you cook a lot you'll wonder why you waited so long (that's what we keep thinking!).


Should I Buy a Cast Iron or Stainless Steel Skillet?
Good Questions

7/25/11 9:53 AM

Boy, I think I might have to make lentil walnut burgers for dinner now. And I always forget to use lentils in tacos... making a mental note.

Some more ideas here: http://www.101cookbooks.com/ingredient/lentil

I love the Lively Up Yourself Lentil Soup (I usually use a package of cooked lentils from Trader Joes - the one near the produce).


Creative Ideas for Cooking Lentils?
Good Questions

6/20/11 9:45 AM

One of my favorite lentil recipes is from the Hungry Tiger -http://redfox.typepad.com/hungry/2005/05/lentil-snacks.html
The recipe uses red lentils, but any other kind would work as long as you cook them until they're very soft.

I also like to make chili with lentils instead of, or in addition to, beans. Great texture.


Creative Ideas for Cooking Lentils?
Good Questions

6/20/11 9:38 AM

Oh, I just planted one of these this year! It is already growing fast, it's in one cage but I've already ordered another cage to stack on top of it.


Black Krim Tomato Plant from Sweet Corn Organic Nursery
Daily Find

6/10/11 11:27 AM