“More Greens” Doesn’t Have to Mean “More Salad”

March 30th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (Comments Off on “More Greens” Doesn’t Have to Mean “More Salad”)

We just said goodbye to the last of our friends from a good sized potluck dinner gathering here tonight.  Lots of good food with good friends – the only green leafy food in sight tonight came from the Spinach Artichoke Dip that I made, but it was devoured before I even remembered to get out my camera for the picture I’d planned to take.

Before there were friends and food tonight, there was lunch this afternoon.  Knowing we had a big dinner party ahead of us, I kept lunch on lighter and greener side.  I’ve got a long run on the agenda for tomorrow for half marathon training, and so my favorite day-before-a-long-run salad was in order!  Read more...

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Different Strokes

March 26th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (14 Comments)

This is quite possibly the greenest lunch I’ve eaten all month. It might even be the greenest lunch I’ve ever eaten.  Like, ever ever.

Tuna and Pickle Sandwich

My dad reads the blog and sometimes he calls to comment on cute baby pictures or if I made something that looked appealing to him.

But the other day he called to ask me what the heck I was thinking putting carrots in chili. Carrots and beef are for meat sauce, not chili! He’s not the only one who’s questioned my recent approach to chili – someone else said that chili without beans is not chili, it’s meat sauce.  Read more...

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It’s Easy Being Green

March 7th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (1 Comments)

I am smack dab in the middle of a string of crazy days here.

Not hard days, just very full days.  This morning started out with a 4 mile run, then it was a few hours at home to get some work done around here before taking the girls to an afternoon class while Kaz and I ran a bunch of errands.  Then it was off to pick up Zak at work and head to dinner with family for some birthday celebrations.   I think it’s the hauling around of kids that ups the intensity of a full day by about 300%.  Now we’re home again and I’m about to post a picture of lunch before then diving head first into bed.  Read more...

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Saturday Greenery

March 2nd, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (6 Comments)

It’s Day 2 of The Greener March Challenge! Here’s today’s lunchtime salad – KAPOW!

Saturday Salad

Oh, wait. I mean, Hi! Did you eat something leafy and green yesterday? And today already too? High five!

If you’re about to become a lean green eating machine for the next 30 days or so, we should talk about salad sooner rather than later.

If you’re already a salad shooting pro, please share your salad secrets with us!  But if salad is something you’re only feeling so-so about, let’s talk about how to make salad time quick and easy. Because when it’s quick and easy, it’s more likely to happen.  Read more...

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These are a Few of My Favorite Greens

February 16th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (1 Comments)

At this very moment, my house is quiet.

Zak is at drum practice, the girls are off on a mini-adventure with a beloved aunt, the boy is napping.

I can hear crickets.

Yes, crickets in the winter. Hard to believe, eh?

Well believe this – I just finished this kick-ass salad for lunch.

Bleu Cheese and Salmon with Arugula

The ass-kicking was thanks in part to the pile of arugula I added to the greens mix.

Arugula

Arugula, spinach and red leaf lettuce, tossed in a little olive oil and balsamic.

Spinach Red Leaf Lettuce and Arugula with balsamic and olive oil  Read more...

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A Cheese Omelet That Makes All the Other Cheese Omelets Jealous

February 8th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (6 Comments)

QUICK! Go get your grocery list!

I’ll wait.

Cream Cheese Brick

Add cream cheese to the list.

(I’ll wait.)

It turns out there’s more than one good place to smear cream cheese.

Like a bagel? That’s one.

Cream cheese frosting? Why not.

For cheesecake? Getting my fork…

And how about into an omelet?

Sneak Peek Cream Cheese Omelet

Yes, please!

This fantastic cheese omelet idea is thanks to:

1.) the brick of cream I bought for a recipe but didn’t end up using  Read more...

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Always Bet on BLAC

January 16th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (6 Comments)

A lunch time quickie today!

When I was a vegetarian, I truly didn’t miss meat.  Truly.

But now that I’ve been eating some meat again, I must admit.  It’s good.

Especially bacon.

When I get good quality bacon from the local markets – or in this case, from Zak’s mom and step dad who raised their own pigs last year – I dig it.

I’ve been cooking 10 – 12 strips at once to make homemade bacon bits for salads.  Fry it up, trim most (but not all) of the fat, move to a few paper towels to soak up the grease, chop and store in the fridge to use on salads over the course of a few days.  Read more...

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Lunch Lately

January 10th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (8 Comments)

Today I’m here with a couple of my recent lunch time regulars.

Some days I eat lunch all by myself. When the big kids are at an afternoon class and the baby is napping, I get to eat late lunch in peace and quiet with just myself and maybe a literary friend too. I’m re-reading (/ skimming) The Primal Blueprint – I’m finding it more relevant now that I’m eating meat again.

Turkey Burger Lunch

A turkey burger with provolone on top of greens, shredded carrot and celery tossed in olive oil and balsamic. I am now one of those people who eats their burger without a bun. Some of the time, anyway.  Read more...

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I Have Something To Tell You About Butternut Squash

October 8th, 2012 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (6 Comments)

This is Butternut Squash #3 in my kitchen this fall.  My skin is turning more orange by the minute.  Stinking beta carotene.

That’s actually not what I wanted to tell you.

Halved Butternut Squash

No, what I wanted to tell you is that when butternut squash is peeled, cubed and roasted in coconut oil, it reminds me a heck of a lot of a roasted sweet potato.

But that’s not the good part.

Compared to a sweet potato, butternut squash has nearly 100 fewer calories, half as many carbs and 9 fewer grams of sugar per 1 cup serving.  Read more...

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Homemade Salsa for Lunch (with a birth story too)

August 15th, 2012 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (3 Comments)

Since new baby = fewer trips to the grocery store, we’ve been visiting our weekly, neighborhood farmer’s market a bit more regularly this summer than we have in the past.

Farmers Market

For the last couple of years the CSA has served most of our local, seasonal produce needs. I didn’t sign us up this year because I didn’t know how much I would be cooking, I also didn’t want to have to worry about waking any babies from afternoon naps in order to make it in time for pick up. WHO CARES ABOUT VEGETABLES!  WE’VE GOT A SLEEPING BABY HERE!  Read more...

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