Craving Cottage Cheese

Tomorrow's Lunch will be fat-free cottage cheese with Life Cereal. I have sides of sliced kiwi and apple slices with peanut butter. This maybe breakfast and lunch or lunch and snack. Technically, there are 2 servings of cottage cheese in the compartment.

*I did not realize that this picture turned out really dark. I already packed up my lunch box and refuse to take it out for another pic. I am not that obsessive......Maybe if it were earlier.

Spaghetti Squash

Why have I never had spaghetti squash before? It was fast and easy. Ok, it is easy, but not so fast - you have to bake the squash for an hour. After the effortless baketime, it is fast and simple.....And so delicious.

I decided to make Spaghetti Squash with Garlic for dinner after watching Everyday Food. I used minimal oil, but added back the fat with fresh shavings of parmesan cheese. I am most impressed with nature. With the flick of my wrist, the flesh of the squash easily formed the spaghetti like strands.

*Per serving: 166 calories; 7.8 grams fat; 2.6 grams protein; 25.4 grams carbohydrates; 5.4 grams fiber

* Adding cheese changes the posted nutritional information.

Radish Tea Sandwiches

We received our first Community Sustained Agriculture organic food box today from EatWell Farm. I love it and should have taken a picture of all the awesome produce. Currently, we will receive our locally grown produce every other week. I think we may have to switch it to a weekly box. Unfortunately, I typically let produce go to waste before I use it. My plan is to incorporate more produce into my diet on a daily basis and with CSA I will always have a variety of produce available to me.

For lunch, I will be having Radish Tea Sandwiches. Yes, I know they have butter in them...I used a very small amount. Additionally, I am having a CSA madarin orange and some dry cereal that I mixed in Craisins and almond slivers. We received adorable baby heads of lettuce in this box. Although, this salad is made from our former lettuce.

Red Pepper Risotto

Lunch will be a homemade Red Pepper Risotto (recipe below) with a salad, baby carrots, and 1/3 cup of craisins. The dressing is Annie's Naturals Low Fat Gingery Vinergrette.

I would definately categorize this lunch as part of the Slow Food Movement.

Red Pepper Risotto

1. Chop 3 Large Red Bell Peppers *, set aside
2. Heat Olive Oil (I used less than 1 TBSP). Add 3 cloves thinly sliced garlic and 1-14 oz can diced tomatoes. Simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Add the Chopped Bell Peppers and 2 Bay Leaves and simmer for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
4. Add 2 1/2 cups Arborio Rice to the vegetable mixture and cook over gentle heat for 2 minutes.
5. In a seperate pan, bring 5-6 cups of vegetable stock to a simmer.
6. Add 2 ladles of the stock to the vegetable mixture and cook until all the stock has been absorbed into the rice. Continue adding the stock in this manner, until the rice is tender.
7. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Remove pan from the heat, cover and let stand for 10 minutes.
9. Stir in 6 fresh basil leaves, snipped.

*It is best to use or roast your own Red Peppers, however, I omitted this step and the Risotto is still very good.

It's kinda healthy.....

I had to post my lunch. I am addicted to posting these. First, the healthy stuff. I have a salad and newly in-season and locally grown strawberries. The mini-bagels aren't awful: 140 calories per bagel. In fact, I am only bringing one and half mini-bagels to work tomorrow. When I attempted to close the lunch box with 2 they would not fit. I still think the pair makes a better picture. Now for the really bad item-Oreo Jello Pudding. I thought it was a good idea at the time. The pudding looks unnaturally glossy in the photo and has hydrogenated oils in the ingredients. Hey, at least it is made with skim milk. Kidding. (It is made with skim milk, but that doesn't make up for trans fat. I think it is about 120-140 calories per serving as well.)

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

I will admit it. Tomorrow's lunch did take some work. However, I do have leftovers to share with my boyfriend for dinner. I tried a new recipe for Skewered Chicken with Peanut Dipping Sauce. The chicken is excellent, however, the peanut sauce is a little too spicy for my taste. Next time I will be reducing the Thai red curry paste. My lunch also includes organic soba noodles, mango drizzled with lime juice, and red bell pepper slices.