Not so Boring Homemade Lunch Ideas

There is no doubt that bringing your own lunch to work will save you money, but it also allows you to eat more healthier. Brown bagging it to work does not mean your lunch has to be the same old boring sandwiches, there are many great tasting homemade lunches you can make, that will have people saying "Wow that looks and smells great". A couple of the recipes are to be prepared the night before, and will require some assembly prior to eating lunch to ensure everything stays fresh and crisp.

1. Chicken Wrap

Ingredients:
1 10 inch flour Tortilla (any flavor)
2 Cooked chicken tenders (prepared how you like them breaded or grilled)
1 Leaf of lettuce (washed and dried)
Diced tomato
Diced onion
Ranch dressing
1 Bacon cut into pieces
*When placing the ingredients onto the tortilla, leave an area of about 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches from the bottom free of ingredients to ensure you can properly fold and roll the tortilla.

Place onto the counter a large piece of wax paper that is about four inches larger then the tortilla. Place the tortilla onto the wax paper, and place in order the following ingredients: Lettuce, chicken, tomato, onion, ranch dressing, and bacon. To close the wrap, fold up the bottom of the tortilla so it over laps the ingredients, bring in one edge and roll tightly to finish. To secure the wrap in the wax paper, repeat the steps for folding the tortilla. Secure with a piece of scotch tape. The wax paper can be unwrapped at the top and peeled away as needed.

2.Overloaded Nacho This homemade lunch requires the ingredients to be prepared the night before. The tortilla chips, turkey, beans, salad mix, salsa, and sour cream are to be placed in separate small containers. This meal requires assembly prior to eating to ensure the tortilla chips stay crisp, but is well worth the time.

Ingredients:
1 C Mexican flavored turkey (cooked the night before)
1/2 C Refried beans
1/4 C Lettuce (Shredded)
1/4 C Diced tomato
1/4 C Diced onion
1/4 C Shredded cheddar cheese
2 T Diced green chilies
1/4 C Salsa
4 T Sour cream
Tortilla chips

Place a hand full of tortilla chips into a large shallow microwavable bowl, and top with the following ingredients: Cooked Mexican turkey, beans, lettuce, tomato, onion, diced chilies, salsa, and shredded cheese, microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes. Top with sour cream and enjoy.

3. Kielbasa and Potatoes

Ingredients:
1 Turkey kielbasa (cooked)
2 Sliced russet potatoes
1 Can or pouch of sauerkraut
Salt and Pepper to taste

Peel and slice the potatoes, place into a frying pan coated with a little bit of oil, cover heat for about ten minutes. In separate pan, cook kielbasa according to instructions on package. When the kielbasa is cooked, remove from pan and slice into 1/2 inch pieces, add to potatoes. Next, add to the sauerkraut to the potato and kielbasa, mix well, and cook over medium heat for 30 minutes. Placed desired serving into a microwavable bowl for lunch and reheat on high for 2 minutes.

4.Not so Goulash This meal is prepared the night before, and can be eaten warm or cold.

Ingredients:
Italian flavored ground turkey
Macaroni elbow noodles
1 can of peas
1 can of corn
1 can Italian stewed tomatoes

In a skillet, cook the Italian ground turkey over medium low heat until thoroughly cooked. Prepare the elbow macaroni according to package directions for the quantity servings you desire. Once the turkey and elbow macaroni are done, place into a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and mix well. Place into a microwavable bowl the quantity of goulash you wish to have for lunch, sprinkle with Parmesan. At lunchtime, you can eat it cold or microwave on high for two minutes.

5.Garlic Olive Oil Spaghetti with Garlic Knots

Ingredients:
2 C cooked spaghetti
2 T Olive Oil
2 1/2 t minced Garlic
1 to 1 1/2 T Italian Bread Crumbs
1/4 C Parmesan
Ground Black Pepper to taste

Place into a large bowl the cooked spaghetti. Next, add the olive oil and toss with two forks to mix well. Sprinkle over the spaghetti the 2 1/2 T of minced garlic, 1 T Italian bread crumbs and toss with the forks to mix. Sprinkle over the top the 1/4 C of Parmesan, and desired amount of pepper, toss with forks to mix well. Chill in the refrigerator overnight. The next day simply add to a bowl the desired amount of garlic olive oil spaghetti you desire for lunch, add one garlic knot to your bag and enjoy.

Garlic Knots:

Ingredients:
1 C warm water(110 degrees)
2 1/2 t yeast
1 T Olive Oil
1 t granulated garlic
1 t salt
1 T sugar
1 C all purpose flour and 1 to 1 1/2 C high gluten flour

Topping:
2 T melted better
1/4 t Granulated garlic
Parmesan

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Place the warm water into a large mixing bowl, sprinkle yeast on top of water and let sit until foamy. Next, add the following ingredients in order: Olive oil, granulated garlic, salt, sugar, 1 C all purpose flour and 1 C high gluten flour. Turn on your mixer to medium and let it knead the ingredients for ten minutes. While the dough is kneading, you can add more flour if you notice the dough is becoming too sticky. After the ten minutes, place dough into a lightly greased bowl, set in a warm place to rise for about 40 minutes, or until doubled in size. Once the dough is doubled, remove the dough from the bowl and place onto a lightly floured board. Using a knife you want to cut the dough into ten equally sized balls, place these balls onto a plate. Take one ball roll it onto the floured board between the palm of your hands to form a rope about 6 inches. Pick up the rope, fold one end under the other to form a knot. Place onto a cookie sheet and repeat with remaining dough balls. Once all knots are formed, place cookie sheet into oven and bake for 7 to 8 minutes. While the knots are baking, melt 2 T of butter in a microwavable bowl, add 1/4 t granulated garlic, mix well and set aside.
After the knots are done, brush the butter mixture over each knot, then sprinkle the Parmesan generously over the knots.

These are the top five home made recipes that my spouse enjoys taking to work for his lunch. To save a little more money while brown bagging it, we also have a stainless steel water bottle which he fills with milk, water, or different flavored iced teas to enjoy with his meal.