The Complete Vs Lunchbox Planner

0
4 unchbox
w e e ks
of l tips &
co m p l e te
recipes,nus!
me The
lunchbox planner
Seasonal recipes and easy menu plans to
inspire you throughout the school year.
by Wendy Blume
Within six months of my
daughter starting school I was
in a lunchbox rut.
CONTENTS
The thought of spending the
next 10 years making the same Term 1 - Summer 4
sandwich every morning filled
me with enough fear to set me Term 2 - Autumn 26
off on a journey to find some Term 3 - Winter 48
serious lunchbox inspiration!
Realistically, modern life leaves
Term 4 – Spring 70
us little time to put towards this
tedious (but important) part of
parenting. So my aim with these
planners was to create simple
menus, with food the kids will
eat, supplemented with
seasonal produce and an easy
weekly recipe that helps to
break the monotony.
Enjoy your year!
Wendy
2
But my kid's don't eat...
While creating this book, I
surveyed many families to work
out the best way to cater for a
huge range of kid's appetites
and tastebuds.
It became clear, pretty quickly,
that no ONE weekly food
planner was going to suit ALL
kids. So use these pages as a
guide. Let them inspire you and
do some of the thinking for you.
The lunchbox menus are
designed to be simple, but
IS YOUR SCHOOL varied, reliant on fresh, seasonal
NUT-FREE? produce to help save you money
Not all schools restrict nut and keep lunchtimes interesting.
products, so they do appear
Modify the plans to suit your
throughout these pages.
Make sure you check your household. Increase quantities
school's policy. and replace items as suits you.
3
Introduction 5
Week 1 – Chocolate chip biscuits 6
Week 2 – Capsicum squares 8
Week 3 – Carrot & muesli muffins 10
Week 4 – Corn relish 12
Week 5 – Pesto pasta salad 14
Week 6 – Spicy chickpeas 16
Week 7 – Sultana & oat biscuits 18
Week 8 – Classic corned beef 20
Week 9 – Grape salad 22
Week 10 – Meatballs 24
TERM 1 Summer
4
TERM 1 January • February • March
Welcome everyone! Isn't the new

school year exciting. Shiny shoes
and uniforms, pristine pencil
cases so gorgeous before the
items all get broken and lost.
Foodwise, this term is a
combination of effortless and
tricky - there is SO much
wonderful produce available,
but sandwich fillings are limited
by the relentless heat. Good
food hygiene is essential – do
pack a coolie brick daily.
Thankfully, later in the term
these problems ease and we
drift back to our standard cold
meats and cheeses. Let's look
forward to a wonderful year!
5
TERM 1 week 1
Home-made choc chip biscuits will ease the first-week stress.
e
e l t s to makip
Use mc (one) ch
cho iscuits!
1 cup self-raising flour b
¾ cup oats
¹/³ cup shredded coconut
50g softened butter
¼ cup grapeseed oil
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
1 egg
A good serving 1 tsp vanilla extract
size |is just one ¼ cup choc chips
biscuit - sorry!
Preheat oven to 180C. Line 2 oven trays with
baking paper.
Sift the flour into a small bowl and mix in the

IN SEASON RIGHT NOW... oats & coconut. In a larger bowl, use hand
held beaters to carefully cream the butter, oil
● apricots ● bananas ● basil ● beans ● capsicum ● cucumber
and sugar. Beat in the eggs and vanilla then
● eggplant ● grapes ● honeydew melon ● kiwifruit ● mango mix in the dry ingredients. Use teaspoons to
divide chunks of mixture onto trays and bake
● peaches ● plums ● rockmelon ● strawberries ● tomatoes
for 15 minutes. MAKES 30.
6
TERM 1 week 1
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Chocolate Apricot Strawberries Apricot Strawberries
Shopping list this week... chip biscuit
Strawberries Grapes Chocolate Chocolate
Grapes chip biscuit chip biscuit
Fresh: apricots, avocado,
grapes, strawberries, plums
For the biscuits: You'll probably Sandwich with Sandwich with Wrap with Wrap with Crispbread
have most of the ingredients in cheese vegemite avocado and
grated carrot
avocado and
cheese
biscuits with
vegemite
your pantry. Apricot Chocolate
chip biscuit Chocolate Grapes Grapes
Sultanas chip biscuit
Plum
RAB
MID-WEEK G
Wraps
FIRST TIMERS
If your little beautiful is starting kindy or prep, this week
will be extremely stressful for everyone. Keep lunches
familiar and simple with easy to access wrapping.
7
TERM 1 week 2
Easy to eat, these capsicum squares are lunchbox yum.
1 large red capsicum

1 tsp red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
2 sheets puff pastry (3rd for decoration,
optional)
1 small carrot, peeled, grated
Handful cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg, beaten, for glazing
Cut the capsicum cheeks off and grill until

Eat these cold or blackened. Cool, then peel, Chop roughly and
reheat in the oven add to a blender or mini food processor. Add
for 10 minutes
vinegar and garlic blitz to a paste.
Preheat oven to 200C. Line a tray with

baking paper. Separate out 2 sheets of
THIS TERM STOCK UP ON THESE... pastry. Slice in half. Spread with the paste,
● Tomato relish ● pickles ● dijon mustard ● almonds then scatter over the carrot and cheese. Fold
over. Cut into squares. Add decoration from
● cream cheese ● cheese sticks ● crackers ● crispbreads
third sheet of pastry (if you like). Place onto
● plain sweet biscuits ● dried fruit & sultanas tray. Brush with beaten egg. Bake for 20-25
minutes until golden. MAKES 16.
8
TERM 1 week 2
Banana Banana Rockmelon Blueberries Rockmelon
Shopping list this week... Cheese stick Pretzels Pretzels Cheese stick, Sultanas
crackers
Fresh: bananas, rockmelon,
blueberries, plums
Capsicum Capsicum Turkish bread Turkish bread Crispbreads
Fridge: cheesesticks, homous squares squares sandwich with with homous with vegemite
homous and and cheese
For the squares: red capsicum, Rockmelon Plum grated carrot
Rockmelon
Banana
puff pastry Pretzels Blueberries Plum Plain biscuit
Extra: pretzels
RAB
MID-WEEK G d
Turkish brea
IT'S WORTH MAKING DOUBLE...

...as the roast capsicum puree is really nice on its own
as a sandwich spread. Try it in wholemeal rolls with
grilled chicken, grated carrot and cheese.
9
TERM 1 week 3
Carrot & muesli muffins are a healthier idea for a lunchbox treat.
lso
h i s mix a 4
T kes 2
ma uffins
1½ cups self raising flour mini-m
¼ cup brown sugar
1 carrot, grated
1 cup muesli
¼ cup grapeseed oil
1 cup milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 overripe banana, mashed
Preheat oven to 180C. Grease/line a 12 hole

Mini muffins cook muffin tray.
in 15-20 minutes
Sift flour into a large bowl. Mix in the sugar,
carrot and muesli.
In another bowl, whisk together the oil, milk,

OTHER MUFFIN COMBINATIONS egg and banana. Pour wet ingredients into dry
This recipe is really flexible. Try replacing the carrot and and mix until just combined.
muesli with grated apple and cinnamon, extra mashed Divide out into muffin tray. Bake for 25
banana and oatbran or raspberries, coconut and walnuts. minutes until golden and a skewer comes out
clean. MAKES 12.
10
TERM 1 week 3
Grapes Banana Melon Apricot Banana
Shopping list this week... Muffin Muffin Muffin Muffin Sultanas
Fresh: avocado, bananas,

cucumber, honeydew melon,
grapes
Sandwich with Sandwich with Sandwich with Rice cakes Rice cakes
For the muffins: carrots, muesli avocado &
chutney
avocado &
cheese
Vegemite with cheese with vegemite
Cucumber Cucumber Melon
Melon Grapes sticks sticks
Grapes
Grapes
RAB
MID-WEEK G
Rice cakes
KEEPING LUNCHBOXES 'SAFE'

Baked items are great for the early hot weeks of Term 1.
Always have a coolie brick or pouch to keep things cold
and leave eggs, chicken & meats for colder days.
11
TERM 1 week 4
This home made corn relish transforms simple sandwiches.
te 2 cobs f
tu o
Substi bout 400g
with aanned corn
¹/³ cup white vinegar
c
¼ cup sugar
1 tsp mustard powder
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp tumeric (optional, for colour)
Kernels from 2 corn cobs
¼ green capsicum, finely diced
Store in sterilised ¼ red capsicum, finely diced
jars and this will ½ tsp cornflour (optional, for thickening)
keep for a month Combine the vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt and
tumeric in a small saucepan. Place over
medium/high heat and bring to a simmer for
2-3 minutes. Add the corn and capsicum and
simmer gently for 10 minutes (canned corn
FRESH VERSUS CANNED will need less time).
No fresh corn? Don't worry, canned corn is a fantastic In a small cup, briskly stir the cornflour with
substitute. Often it will actually contain more antioxidants 2 tbsp hot relish liquid until smooth, then
pour back into the saucepan. Simmer for
than fresh cobs which may have been on the shelf for ages. 1-2 minutes more. MAKES 2 CUPS.
12
TERM 1 week 4
Muesli bar Plum Muesli bar Peach Peach
Shopping list this week... Kiwi fruit Beans & Rockmelon Plain biscuit Cheesestick,
cucumber crackers
Fresh: beans, cucumber, kiwi sticks
fruit, plums, rockmelon, peach
Fridge: ham slices Sandwich with Sandwich with Bread roll Breadroll Breadroll with
ham and relish cheese and with ham, with ham & vegemite
relish cucumber mustard
For the relish: green & red Beans & and relish Kiwifruit
capsicums, corn cobs cucumber Muesli bar Plum
Rockmelon
sticks Beans
Kiwifruit
Extra: muesli bars Sultanas
RAB
MID-WEEK G
Bread rolls
DINNER WITH RELISH

Make extra of this relish and use it for dinner, served
on either barbequed chicken, firm white fish or the
corned beef from page 20.
13
TERM 1 week 5
By mid term, a pasta salad is a nice change.
l s o u se thisat
A ke gre
to ma schetta
1 large clove garlic bru
¼ cup pine nuts
1 bunch basil leaves
5 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup grated parmesan (please don't use the
powdered stuff)
250g pasta spirals
½ punnet cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
Also try adding In a food processor (mini one is best), blitz
feta, olives and together the garlic and pine nuts. Add the
sun-dried tomatoes basil and blitz well. Combine in the oil (a little
at a time). Stir in the cheese. Set aside (all
day if you like).
Cook the pasta according to packet directions.

GARDEN FRESH Scoop out ½ cup of the water and set aside,
Everyone with a sunny spot can grow cherry tomatoes and then drain pasta and return to saucepan. Pour
basil. Even on a balcony you'll get enough of a harvest to over pesto and mix through. Use more oil or
reserved cooking water if too dry. Stir through
make this recipe - deliciously fresh and cheap too! the tomatoes. SERVES 2 ADULTS & 2 KIDS.
14
TERM 1 week 5
Blackberries Apple Cheese stick, Banana Carrot sticks
Shopping list this week... Carrot sticks Blackberries
crackers
Carrot sticks Plain biscuit
Plum
Fresh: bananas, blackberries,
carrots, royal gala apples,
plums.
Pesto salad Pesto salad Wrap with Wrap with Wrap with
For the pasta salad: basil, Dried apricots Plum
roast beef &
tomato
roast beef &
cream cheese
vegemite
pinenuts, parmesan, cherry chutney Apple

tomatoes Dried apricots
Blackberries
RAB
MID-WEEK G wraps
&
Roast beef slices
VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE?

While the comfort of famililar meals can be useful for kids
in transition, once school settles down, push them a little so
that they're comfortable with the idea of new things too.
15
TERM 1 week 6
Spicy and delicious, the kids won't realise these are so healthy.
y th e se for ip
Tr lthy ch
a heaernative.
400g can chickpeas
alt
1 tbsp olive oil
¼ tsp cumin powder
¼ tsp smoked paprika
Preheat the oven to 200C. Line a tray with

baking paper.
Rince and drain the chickpeas. Remove any

Store these in an loose skins. Leave them to totally dry or roll
airtight container them over paper towel.
for 2-3 days Pour them onto the tray. Drizzle over the olive
oil and sprinkle over the spices and toss to
combine.
CHICKPEAS IN THE LUNCHBOX? Bake for 20-25 minutes until slightly crunchy.
Chickpeas (or garbanzo beans as they're called in the USA) Experiment with this recipe and find flavours
that suit your family – other spices to try
are an amazing source of fibre and folate. Smuggle them into include garam marsala, garlic granules, chilli
dinner too - blitz them then add to hamburger patties. powder or sumac.
16
TERM 1 week 6
Apple Spiced Apple Apple Kiwifruit
Shopping list this week... Spiced
chickpeas
Cheese stick, Kiwifruit Plain biscuit
chickpeas Grapes crackers
Fresh: apples, grapes,
cucumber, kiwifruit
For the pantry: tinned salmon Sandwich Sandwich with Sandwich Sandwich with Crispbread
400g can chickpeas with salmon &
mayonaise
salmon &
cream cheese
with vegemite cream cheese
and grated
with vegemite
Grapes carrot Apple
Kiwifruit Cucumber
sticks Cucumber Grapes Sultanas
sticks
RAB
MID-WEEK Gd
Fresh brea
IN SEASON RIGHT NOW...

● almonds ● apples (royal galas) ● banana ● basil
● beans ● blackberries ● capsicums ● carrots ● cucumber
● figs ● kiwifruit ● grapes ● passionfruit ● plums
17
TERM 1 week 7
Sultana & oat biscuits provide this week's 'yum' factor.
These butter-free
biscuits have a more
cake-like texture. s u l ta nas, s
d of isin
Insteaed apple, rsa.
i
try dr or currant
1 cup self-raising flour
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup caster sugar
1½ cups rolled oats
½ cup sultanas
1 egg
5 tbsp grapeseed oil
1 apple, grated
1 tsp vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 170C. Line 2 oven trays with

baking paper
Sift the flour into a large bowl. Mix in the

sugars, oats & sultanas.
IS DRIED FRUIT HEALTHY? In a separate bowl, combine the egg, oil,
Once fruit is dried, many nutrients disappear but the apple and vanilla. Mix into the dry ingredients.
Dollop large spoonfuls onto the trays and
kilojoules stay. But it is a good energy booster for active bake for 15-20 minutes until golden.
children, with a high fibre content. Just eat it in moderation. MAKES 18
18
TERM 1 week 7
Banana Passionfruit Banana Plum Capsicum &
Shopping list this week... Biscuit Capsicum & Biscuit Capsicum &
cucumber
sticks
cucumber cucumber
Fresh: bananas, capsicum, sticks sticks Biscuit
cucumber, passionfruit, plums
Fridge: turkey slices Sandwich with Sandwich with Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll Crispbread
turkey turkey and with turkey, with vegemite with vegemite
chutney cheese &
For the biscuits: apple, oats, Plum chutney Biscuit Plum
sultanas Biscuit
Sultanas
Passionfruit
RAB
MID-WEEK G lls
Wholemeal ro
WHY SO MANY LUNCHBOX TREATS?

Too 'healthy' and lunches are often ignored. So a treat
can lure kids in and provide energy for the afternoon.
Supplement with healthy breakfasts and dinners.
19
TERM 1 week 8
Rediscover the great granny dish - corned beef!
Corned beef needs

60 minutes of cooking
time for each kilo.
c e d beef
ed u
Salt-ressential for
is s recipe
1.5kg salt reduced corn beef thi
Any of the following: bay leaf; peeled onion
studded with 3 cloves; 10 peppercorns; a
teaspoon of coriander seeds and/or mustard
seeds; a cinnamon stick; 2 whole cloves of
garlic; 2 peeled, chopped carrots
Rinse the meat well, place in a large heavy

based saucepan (Le Creuset style if you have
it). Add any of the accompaniments you want
(I like all of them), add water until the meat is
just covered. Cover, bring to the boil then
lower heat and simmer for about 1½ hours.
For dinner serve slices with mash, carrots,

beans and this cheesy mustard sauce;
TAKES TOO LONG? Melt 25g butter in a small saucepan over
This dish does take a bit of time, but having a large slab medium heat. Stir in 1 tbsp flour for a minute,
of cold meat in the fridge will keep you going for days; and then gradually whisk in 1 cup warmed milk.
Add in ½ cup grated cheddar cheese and
it's cheaper than the deli counter equivalent. 2-3 tsp dijon mustard.
20
TERM 1 week 8
Beans & carrot Apple Beans & carrot Apple Kiwifruit
Shopping list this week... sticks
Hot cross bun
sticks
Kiwifruit Cheese stick,
Hot cross bun Hot cross bun crackers
Fresh: beans, carrots, crimson
grapes, apples, kiwifruit
Pantry: wraps Sandwich with Sandwich with Turkish bread Turkish bread Crispbreads
corned beef corned beef, with corned with cream with vegemite
and a spread cream cheese beef & tomato cheese &
of any leftover and grated relish tomato relish Beans & carrot
Extra: hot cross buns cheesy/ carrot
Grapes Grapes
sticks
mustard sauce Dried apricots
Grapes
Apple
RAB
MID-WEEK G d
Turkish brea
CLASSIC NEW YORK-STYLE SANDWICHES

Use corned beef for a classic 'Rachel Sandwich' –
generously layer thinly shaved corned beef onto
rye bread, with coleslaw and swiss cheese.
21
TERM 1 week 9
So simple, so delicious! This grape salad is a winner.
h e g rapes d
T e halve
can bsed whole
Seedless green grapes or u
Seedless red or black grapes
Equal quantities vanilla yoghurt & spreadable,
low-fat cream cheese.
Passionfruit
Place the grapes in a container.
In a small bowl, stir the yoghurt and cream

cheese together briskly until it is smooth and
lump-free. Dollop over the grapes.
Mango goes really
well on this too! Drizzle over the passionfruit.
SPOILT FOR CHOICE

Even the yummiest fruit can seem boring by the end
of the season. Interesting fruit salads served in new fun
containers can renew the kid's enthusiasm.
22
TERM 1 week 9
Capsicum & Banana Cheese item Cheese item, Banana
Shopping list this week... carrot sticks
Sultanas Capsicum &
crackers
Plain biscuit
Plum carrot sticks Apple
Fresh: avocado, apples,
bananas, capsicum, carrots,
plums, rockmelon
Grape salad Grape salad Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll Crispbread
For the salad: green and red Crispbread Cheese item,
with avocao &
tuna
with tuna and
mayonaise
biscuits with
vegemite
seedless grapes, yoghurt with vegemite capsicum &
carrot sticks Plum Rockmelon Plum
For the pantry: tuna in Rockmelon
springwater
Extra: cheese sticks/shapes etc
(something different & fun)
RAB
MID-WEEK G lls
Wholemeal ro
TOFU CREAM
Your kids can't eat yoghurt? Try this...blitz until smooth;
300g firm tofu, 2 tbsp canola oil, 2 tbsp orange juice,
1 tbsp vanilla extract and 2 tbsp maple syrup.
23
TERM 1 week 10
With the weather cooler, meatballs are a delicious lunch option.
f o r chickeneat
Bee is also gr
mince this recipe
500g lamb mince in
2 slices wholemeal bread
1 small red onion
1 zucchini
1 carrot
1 tsp each cumin & coriander powder
2 cloves garlic, minced
Add the lamb to a large mixing bowl. Use a

These will store food processor to blitz the bread into crumbs.
for 48 hours in Add to the bowl. Chop the onion with a pulse
the fridge. function, add to the bowl. Repeat with
zucchini and carrot. Add the spices and egg.
DELICIOUS FOR DINNER TOO Mix well. Wear kitchen gloves and roll into 28
meatballs. Refridgerate for 30 minutes.
These meatballs can be served on rice with chutney and a
Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium
salad made of two grated carrots, the juice of one lemon, heat, cook meatballs on all sides for a total of
half a tsp of sugar and a sprinkling of salt. about 20 minutes until golden and cooked
through. MAKES 28.
24
TERM 1 week 10
Hot cross bun Banana Carrot sticks & Apple Banana
Shopping list this week... Grapes Hot cross bun
tzatziki dip
Cheesestick, Plain biscuit
Grapes crackers
Fresh: bananas, apples,
crimson grapes, carrots
Fridge: tzatziki Wrap with Wrap with Sandwich with Rice cakes Rice cakes
meatballs & meatballs, cheese & with vegemite with jam (last
tzatziki grated carrot tomato day treat)
and chutney chutney Banana
For the meatballs: lamb mince, Dried apricots
Hot cross bun
Apple
red onion, zucchini, carrot Sultanas Carrot sticks
Dried apricots
Dried apricots
Extra: hot cross buns
RAB
MID-WEEK G
Rice cakes
EASTER FUN
Enjoy coloured eggs this easter - combine food colouring
with 1 tbsp vinegar and 1 cup warm water in a mug.
Lower hard-boiled eggs in and leave until well coloured.
25
Week 1 – Anzac biscuits 28
Week 2 – Butter bean dip (plus dukkah) 30
Week 3 – Tuna & vegie fritters 32
Week 4 – Banana, oat & sultana muffins 34
Week 5 – Egg salad 36
Week 6 – Perfect roast chicken 38
Week 7 – Pumpkin dip (plus nuggets) 40
Week 8 – Rice, bean & carrot balls 42
Week 9 – Coleslaw 44
Week 10 – Coconut macaroons 46
TERM 2 Autumn
26
TERM 2 April • May • June
Finally the routines are locked

in, you remember which days
they wear sports uniform and
which day the library books get
swapped. Possibly you're
starting to notice that the kids
have learnt some new stuff. Isn't
education exciting! Which is
lucky, because the days are
starting to get seriously cold
and all of the summer fruit is
gone - always so sad!
On the plus side, food hygiene
gets easier and this term you
can experiment with new
ingredients like eggs and rice,
that would be too risky in the
hotter months. So heads down
kids - it's serious learning time.
27
TERM 2 week 1
The best mix of patriotism and deliciousness, Anzac biscuits.
e
s y ru p is thent,
n i
Goldeional ingred's yum!
1 cup plain flour tradit treacle, it
1 cup traditional oats but try
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup desiccated coconut
125g butter
2 tbsp treacle (or golden syrup)
1 tsp bicarb soda + 1 tbsp water
Preheat oven to 170C. Line two biscuits trays

There's no eggs, but with baking paper.
heaps of butter in In a large bowl sift the flour and mix in the
these, so just eat one! oats, sugar and coconut.
In a small saucepan melt the butter and stir in

the treacle. Mix in the combined bicarb &
IN SEASON RIGHT NOW... water. Stir well (mix might froth slightly). Pour
● apples (all varieties) ● avocados ● bananas ● carrots into the dry ingredients. Combine well, roll
into balls, place on trays and bake for 12-15
● cauliflower ● celery ● eggplant ● kiwifruit ● lemons
minutes until as chewy or crunchy as you like.
● mandarins ● oranges ● pears ● persimmons ● passionfruit
MAKES 32ish.
28
TERM 2 week 1
Anzac biscuit Anzac biscuit Orange Banana Apple
Shopping list this week... Apple Celery & Cheese stick, Anzac biscuit Sultanas
carrot sticks crackers
Fresh: apples, avocado, carrots,
celery, bananas, oranges
Fridge: ham Sandwich with Sandwich with Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll Crispbread
ham & cheese, with ham & with cream biscuits with
avocado avocado & mustard cheese & vegemite
For the Anzac biscuits: oats, chutney avocado
brown sugar, coconut, treacle Cheese stick Anzac biscuit Banana
Banana Celery &
Orange carrot sticks Almonds
Sultanas
RAB
MID-WEEK G lls
Wholemeal ro
THIS TERM STOCK UP ON THESE...

● tomato chutney ● pickles ● dijon mustard ● almonds
● plain biscuits ● dried fruit & sultanas
29
TERM 2 week 2
This butter bean dip is milder than homous but just as delicious.
ay s rinse
Alw ns well.
bea
420g tin butter beans, rinsed, drained
1 clove garlic, crushed
Juice ½ lemon
¼ tsp smoked paprika
Put everything into a blender or mini-food

processor and blitz until smooth.
Tastes even better
the next day! Store Use wherever you would use homous – as a
in the fridge. dip, sandwich spread or as part of a mezze
plate. It's delicious to dip bread into this
then the dukkah (see recipe below).
DUKKAH
Place ½ cup roasted hazelnuts into a food processor. In a pan over medium heat, toast 2 tbsp pinenuts,
2 tbsp sesame seeds, 1 tbsp coriander seeds and 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds. Season well with salt
& pepper. Blitz to a course texture and serve with fresh turkish bread and the butter bean dip.
30
TERM 2 week 2
Orange Butter bean Orange Pineapple Kiwifruit
Shopping list this week... Cheese stick
dip, carrot &
Pretzels Cheese stick, Dried peach
celery sticks
crackers
Fresh: carrot, celery, oranges, Pretzels
pineapple, kiwifruit
Sandwich with Sandwich with Sandwich with Wrap with Wrap with
Fridge: roast beef slices roast beef & roast beef, cheese & roast beef, cheese,
butter bean tomato mustard avocado & avocado &
For the dip: 400g tin butter dip chutney &
Carrot &
tomato grated carrot
beans, lemon. Kiwifruit
grated carrot
celery sticks
chutney
Orange
Sultanas Kiwifruit
Pretzels Dried apricots Plain biscuit
Extra: pretzels
RAB
MID-WEEK G do
Wraps & avoca
ALWAYS FUN, MEZZE PLATES

Complete the middle-eastern theme with other dips
(like caviar), roasted capsicums, olives, felafel and chicken
or beef kebabs. Serve with stacks of turkish bread.
31
TERM 2 week 3
Sneak extra omega 3s into lunch with these tuna & vegie fritters.
s e m ake aith
e
Th dinner w e!
½ cup milk great t chilli sauc
2 eggs swee
400g tuna in water, drained
125g corn kernels, drained
1 zucchini, grated (peeled if need be)
¼ red capsicum, finely diced
Sandwich these ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated
together with 1 tbsp herbs (parsley, dill, chives all good)
cream cheese.
Whisk the milk & eggs together in a large
bowl. Sift over the flour. Mix through with the
tuna, vegies, cheese and herbs.
Heat some oil in a non-stick frying pan over

ARE THERE STILL OMEGA 3s IN CANNED FISH? medium heat. Add ¼ cup dollops of mixture
and cook until starting to bubble. Flip and
Omega 3 fatty acids are found in salmon & tuna even after cook on the other side (total cooking time 4-5
the canning process. Salmon has more, and both retain it best minutes).
when packed in water, not oil which leaches nutrients away. MAKES 20
32
TERM 2 week 3
Passionfruit Banana Orange Passionfruit Banana
Shopping list this week... Muesli bar Sultanas Muesli bar Dried apricots Muesli bar
Fresh: avocado, bananas (buy

extra for next week's muffins)
carrot, cucumber, oranges,
passionfruit Tuna fritters Tuna fritters Bread roll with Bread roll with Crispbreads
with cream with cream ham & chutney ham, cheese & with vegemite
cheese cheese pickles
For the fritters: Cucumber Cheese stick
tuna, corn, zucchini, capsicum Banana Orange sticks Muesli bar
Orange
and herbs Dried pear
Extra: Muesli bars

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MID-WEEK G ham
Bread rolls &
ALL SANDWICHED OUT?

Salads, meatballs and fritters all make nice alternatives
to basic sandwiches. Even if your kids' tastes are basic,
mix it up by serving wraps, crackers and breadrolls.
33
TERM 2 week 4
Banana, oat & sultana muffins are perfect for this week.
o re m ushy
e
The mananas, th
the b better!
1½ cups self-raising flour
½ cup oats
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup sultanas
75g butter, melted
3 mashed bananas (about 2 cups)
2 eggs, lightly whisked
These muffins Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease 12x125ml
freeze really well muffin hole tin.
for up to a month.
Sift the flour into a large bowl. Mix in the oats,
sugar and sultanas.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the butter,

banana & egg. Pour wet ingredients into dry
WHY ARE MUFFINS ON THE MENU SO OFTEN? and mix until just combined. Divide evenly
They're versatile, quick to make and freeze well. And there's into the muffin tray.
a million flavour combos to try. Replace banana in this recipe Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden &
cooked through. Makes 12.
with 2 cups of stewed apples (page 35) for a new version.
34
TERM 2 week 4
Passionfruit Banana muffin Cheese stick, Apple Carrot sticks
Shopping list this week... Banana muffin Kiwifruit
crackers
Dried apricots Passionfruit
Carrot sticks
Fresh: apples, kiwifruit, carrots, Plain biscuit
passionfruit
Fridge: roast beef Wrap with Wrap with Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll
roast beef, roast beef, with roast beef with roast with vegemite
chutney & cream cheese & mustard beef, cream
Pantry: wraps grated carrot & grated cheese & Cheese stick,
carrot Kiwifruit chutney crackers
Dried apricots
For the muffins: last week's Apple Passionfruit Sultanas
leftover bananas
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QUICK STEWED APPLES (makes 3 cups)

Combine 8 apples (peeled, cored & diced), the juice of
1 lemon, ¼ cup water, ½ tsp mixed spice and 2 tbsp
sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes until the apples are soft.
35
TERM 2 week 5
Creamy egg salad is delicious and full of nutrients.
i l l m akes
Eggs are a great d .
protein source for Fresh salad zing
this
meat-hating kids
4 eggs
2 tbsp low-fat mayonaise
Squeeze of lemon juice (I like ½ a lemon)
125g can corn kernels, rinsed, drained
1 tsp fresh dill, chopped
Salt & pepper
Iceberg lettuce
Hard boil the eggs as described left.
Once cool, remove shells (it can be helpful to

do this under running water) and add to a
medium bowl.
Use a fork to mash the egg and mayonaise

together. Add lemon juice to taste. Mix
PERFECT HARD BOILED EGGS through the corn and dill and season to taste.
Put the eggs in a saucepan covered with cold water. Place Serve with iceberg lettuce.
on a high heat. As soon as they come to the boil, set the timer
for 8 minutes. Drain and cool quickly in cold water.
36
TERM 2 week 5
Yoghurt Yoghurt Yoghurt Orange Pear
Shopping list this week... Apple Sultanas Apple Plain biscuit Cheesestick,
crackers
Fresh: apples, oranges, pears
Fridge: tinned salmon
Egg salad Egg salad Sandwich with Sandwich with Sandwich with
For the egg salad: eggs, corn, sandwich sandwich salmon &
mayonaise
salmon &
cream cheese
vegemite
lemon, dill, lettuce Sultanas Pear Apple

Orange Dried peach
Almonds
Extra: yoghurt
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MID-WEEK Gd
Fresh brea
REDUCING KITCHEN STRESS

Invest in a range of kitchen equipment to keep your prep
times speedy. Dishwasher-safe containers and useful
gadgets like salad spinners make healthy cooking easy.
37
TERM 2 week 6
Roast a chook & you've got a cheap, delicious sandwich filler.
rk e d down'are
'Ma c chooks
i
organ reat value.
1.8kg chicken (organic is good) g
1 lemon
Salt & pepper
Olive oil
Preheat the oven to 180C. Place chicken

(breast side down) on a rack over a sturdy
baking dish.
Pour in ½ cup water and juice from ½ lemon

into dish. Push both the squeezed and full
halves of lemon inside cavity. Cover with oil,
season well.
Bake 40 minutes, remove from the oven, turn

over, season more and either baste with pan
DELICIOUS HOME-MADE MAYONAISE juices or pour over more oil. Bake for a further
40 minutes until the juices run clear (push a
Place two egg yolks, pinch salt, 1 tsp dijon mustard & skewer in behind the drumstick to test).
2 tsp lemon juice into a food processor. Blend till starting to
thicken. Gradually stream in 1 cup oil until pale & creamy.
38
TERM 2 week 6
Apple Muesli bar Pear Mandarin Sultanas &
Shopping list this week... Mandarin Dried apricots Cheese stick, Plain biscuit
dried apricots
crackers Cheese stick,
Fresh: apples, nashi, crackers
mandarins, pears
Pantry: tinned salmon Roast chicken Roast chicken Sandwich Sandwich with Crispbread
& mayonaise & cheese with cheese & vegemite with vegemite
sandwich sandwich vegemite
For the chicken: a 1.8kg Cheese stick Nashi
organic chicken, lemon Sultanas Mandarin Muesli bar
Nashi Muesli bar
Extra: muesli bars
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Fresh brea

● apples ● beetroot ● broccoli ● cabbage ● carrots
● cauliflower ● celery ● mandarins ● nashi ● parsnips
● oranges ● onions ● potatoes ● rhubarb ● spinach
39
TERM 2 week 7
This pumpkin spread works as a sandwich spread or dip.
Stores well in the

fridge for 2-3 days in
an airtight container.
o f p u mpkin
ype re.
Any torks well he
w
500g pumpkin, diced (about 4 cups)
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ tsp curry powder
50g mild feta cheese
Boil a saucepan of water. Add your pumpkin

for 10-15 minutes until soft (time will depend
on the size of your chunks). Drain. Toss
through the garlic while still hot.
When cool, blitz well until smooth, adding the

curry powder and cheese. Serve as a dip,
sandwich spread or over chicken nuggets
(recipe left).
BAKED CHICKEN NUGGETS

Slice 500g chicken breasts into even, bite-sized pieces. Mix with the juice of 1 lemon, 2 tbsp soy sauce &
½ tsp paprika. Marinade at least 1 hour, preferrably overnight. Toss in a mix of breadcrumbs and panko
(Japanese breadcrumbs). Spray with oil spray and bake for 25 minutes at 180C, turning once.
40
TERM 2 week 7
Tiny teddies Nashi Mandarin Apple Mandarin
Shopping list this week... Apple Cheesestick Tiny teddies Almonds & Tiny teddies
sultanas
Fresh: apples, carrots, celery,
mandarin, nashi
Fridge: ham Pumpkin dip Pumpkin dip Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll Crispbread
with crackers, with crackers, with ham, with cheese, with homous
celery & carrot celery & carrot cheese & grated carrot
For the dip: pumpkin, feta sticks sticks chutney & homous Carrot sticks
Cheese stick Tiny teddies Apple Nashi Apple

Extra: treat biscuits of your
choice (we like Tiny teddies) Mandarin Sultanas
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MID-WEEK G homous
&
Wholemeal rolls
HEALTHY LUNCH ORDERS

Most canteens have healthy options, but often kids want a
'treat' instead. Avoid arguments – mark one day a month
on the calendar when they can choose for themselves.
41
TERM 2 week 8
Tip into hippy territory with these rice, bean & carrot balls.
Eat these cold or

reheat in the oven for
10 minutes. t
a re a grea.
s
Beanurce of fibre
so
200g packet microwave white rice
125g can 4-bean mix, rinsed and drained
1 carrot, peeled, grated
3 tbsp tomato chutney
½ cup grated cheese
1 egg
1 cup packet breadcrumbs
Preheat the oven to 200C. Line a tray with

baking paper.
Cook the rice according to packet directions.
Add to a food processor (or a stick blender

bowl). Also add the rest of the ingredients
(except breadcrumbs) and blitz to combine.
CONVENIENT, AND HEALTHY
Remove the blade, roll bite sized amounts in
Not all processed supermarket food is bad. Some are nutrious your hands and coat in breadcrumbs. Place on
and save time. Microwave rice, flavoured cous cous, noodles the tray, spray with oil and bake for 15
minutes. Turn and bake for another 10
and tins of tuna can all make life easier midweek. minutes until crunchy. MAKES 28
42
TERM 2 week 8
Celery & Apple Celery & Apple Orange
Shopping list this week... carrot sticks
Sultanas
carrot sticks
Dried peach Plain biscuit
Lamington Lamington
Fresh: apple, carrots, celery, finger finger
mandarins, oranges
Fridge: tzatziki Rice, bean & Rice, bean & Wrap with Wrap with Crispbreads
carrot balls carrot balls tzatziki, grated cream cheese, with vegemite
with tzatziki with tzatziki cheese & chutney &
For the rice balls: microwave carrot grated carrot Celery &
rice, 4-bean mix, carrot, Orange Lamington carrot sticks
finger Mandarin Lamington
breadcrumbs finger Lamington
finger
Extra: lamington fingers
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MID-WEEK G
Wraps
SIMPLE MEATBALLS
Mix 500g beef mince with 1 grated zucchini,
1 tbsp Italian herbs, egg & pepper. Roll and bake for 25
minutes (same is the rice balls), serve together as shown.
43
TERM 2 week 9
This simple coleslaw stores well and gives you a sandwich break.
e
i l d chiness well
M work
ge
cabban this dish.
½ chinese cabbage, finely sliced i
2 carrots, peeled, grated
1½ cups celery, sliced
2 spring onions (optional)
½ cup low-fat mayonaise
Juice of 1 large lemon
3 tbsp olive oil
Mix all of the vegies together in a large bowl

or plastic container. Whisk together the
For extra crunch, top mayonaise, lemon juice and olive oil.
with crispy noodles.
Pour over the salad and toss well until coated.
YOU SHOULD EAT MORE... CABBAGE

In season throughout winter, cabbage is packed full of vitamins and minerals. It has more vitamin C than
oranges and high levels of vitamin K, folate and fibre. Also shown to prevent some cancers.Try to eat it
2-3 times a week either raw in coleslaws or sliced up and sauteed in chicken stock, salt & pepper.
44
TERM 2 week 9
Apple Mandarin Cheese stick Cheese stick, Orange
Shopping list this week... Apricot delight Sultanas Orange
celery &
Plain biscuit
crackers
Fresh: apples, kiwifruit, Apricot delight
mandarins, oranges
Pantry: rice cakes Coleslaw Coleslaw Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll Crispbread
with cream with vegemite biscuits with
Ricecakes with Ricecakes with cheese, grated vegemite
For the coleslaw: chinese cheese slices vegemite carrot & Almonds
cabbage, carrot, celery, spring Cheese stick chutney Apple
Cheese stick
onions, lemon Apricot delight Apricot delight
Extra: apricot delight
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Wholemeal ro
WINTER SOUPS
I've deliberately left out lunchtime soups – too messy for
small kids to manage. Save them for dinner instead! Find
this tomato soup recipe at www.vegiesmugglers.com.au.
45
TERM 2 week 10
Finish the term with a gluten-free sweet treat.
These are
perfect for a fete
or cake stall. g
l e f to ver eg the
Use to make
yolks yonaise on
2 egg whites ma ge 15
½ cup brown sugar
pa
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups shredded coconut
Use a regular mixmaster, or hand held beaters

for this recipe.
Preheat oven to 180C. Line two biscuit trays

with baking paper.
Place the egg whites into a large clean bowl.

Beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add in
the sugar and beat further until you reach the
stiff peak stage.
NUTRITION FACTS - COCONUT Mix through the vanilla extract and fold in the
shredded coconut. Dollop spoonfuls of
Shredded and desiccated coconut aren't so healthy. While mixture onto the trays and bake for 15
they have good levels of dietary fibre, they are also high in fat minutes until golden.
- especially saturated fat, so eat it them in moderation. MAKES 20
46
TERM 2 week 10
Coconut Apple Coconut Orange Apple
Shopping list this week... maaroon
Sultanas
macaroon
Cheesestick, Coconut
Pear Dried pear crackers macaroon
Fresh: apples, oranges, pears
Fridge: roast beef
Sandwich with Sandwich with Sandwich with Rice cakes Rice cakes
roast beef roast beef, cheese & with vegemite with cream
& tomato cheese & tomato cheese
For the coconut macaroons: chutney pickles chutney Apple
Desiccated coconut, eggs, Sultanas
Orange
Cheese stick Coconut Pear
brown sugar macaroon
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MID-WEEK G
Rice cakes
WINTERTIME SNOWFLAKE BISCUITS...

Beat 250g softened butter with 2/3 cup caster sugar until pale. Add in 1 egg yolk, 2 tsp vanilla
essence, 2 cups sifted plain flour and a pinch of salt. Mix to form a dough. Rest 30 minutes, roll out
to 5mm thick, cut shapes and bake 180C for 10-12 minutes. When cool, sprinkle with icing sugar.
47
Week 1 – Little mandarin cakes 50
Week 2 – Sumac roast lamb 52
Week 3 – Roast beetroot dip 54
Week 4 – Spinach pikelets 56
Week 5 – Citrus pasta salad 58
Week 6 – Rhubarb slice 60
Week 7 – Potato salad 62
Week 8 – Tandoori chicken 64
Week 9 – Guacamole 66
Week 10 – Strawberry muffins 68
TERM 3 Winter
48
TERM 3 July • August • September
Term 3 starts out with a hideous

mix of wet school shoes, snot,
grumbling kids, more snot and
huddled cold parents waiting at
bell time for tired, cranky kids.
But stay motivated, by the end of
term, spring is in the air and life
starts once more!
While not as instantly seductive
as the summer produce, there's
a range of winter fruit and veg
for us to work with this term.
Keep the kids' (and your) spirits
up with a range of cheery
lunchboxes and sweet treats.
The silver lining is that on these
cooler days you can send more
adventurous lunches, without
the fear of food spoiling.
49
TERM 3 week 1 PERFECT ROAST LAMB
Ease into the winter term with a sweet burst of mandarin tang.
i x t u re also
m
This a 14x20cm
3 medium mandarins
fills loaf tin
4 eggs
²/³ cup brown sugar
200g (2 cups) almond and/or hazelnut meal
1 tsp baking powder
Preheat oven to 180C. Lightly grease and line

a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases.
Bring a medium saucepan of water to a

This moist simmer. Add mandarins and cook for 1 hour.
cake keeps well Remove. Cool slightly. Cut roughly and discard
for 4-5 days seeds. Blitz to a pulp in a blender.
Add eggs and sugar to an electric mixer bowl.

Beat on medium for 7-8 minutes until pale
IN SEASON RIGHT NOW... and aerated. Add nuts, baking powder and
● apples (fuji & braeburn) ● avocado ● beetroot ● dates mandarin pulp. Fold through until combined.
● kiwifruit ● mandarins ● melons ● nashi ● oranges Pour into tin. Bake for 30 mins. (cover with
foil after 20 mins if burning). Note that cakes
(navel & blood) ● pears ● rhubarb ● silverbeet are dense and don't rise. MAKES 12.
50
TERM 3 week 1
Mandarin Mandarin Dates Fresh pear Apple
Shopping list this week... cake cake
Cheesestick, Dates Sultanas
Dried peach Sultanas crackers
Fresh: avocado, dates,
pears, oranges, apples, carrots
ham and cheese and with ham and with cheese biscuits with
avocado avocado tomato and avocado vegemite
For the cake: mandarins, chutney
almond or hazelnut meal, A cheese stick Apple Carrot sticks Orange
Mandarin cake
eggs and brown sugar Dates Almonds
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51
Bake a mini lamb roast at the beginning of this week.
900g-1kg boneless mini lamb roast

Olive oil
2 tsp sumac
Preheat oven to 180C.
Place lamb in a roasting tray. Pour over a

drizzle of oil. Sprinkle over the sumac.
Massage in.
cook lamb for Roast for 50 minutes for medium, 60

25 minutes minutes for well done. Slice. Enjoy.
per 500g
SUMAC?
Originating in the Middle East, Sumac is a ground berry
with a tangy lemon flavour. Use it liberally on BBQ and
roast meat and sprinkled on homous. Delicious!
52
TERM 3 week 2
Apple Fresh pear Kiwifruit Fresh pear Kiwifruit
Shopping list this week... Cheese stick Mandarin Dried apple Cheese stick, Dried peach
cake (from crackers
Fresh: apple, carrot, kiwifruit, freezer)
pears
Fridge: tzatziki, homous roast lamb roast lamb, cheese roast lamb & vegemite
and tzatiki homous & homous
For the roast: 1kg boneless lamb Kiwifruit
grated carrot Tzatziki &
carrot sticks Mandarin cake
Apple
roast, sumac Dried peach (from the Plain biscuit
Sultanas freezer)
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Wraps
LATER IN THE WEEK FOR DINNER

Leftover lamb can be diced and mixed with cous cous,
and your choice of tomatoes, roasted capsicum, pinenuts,
carrot, mint and parsley (plus the dip from page 54).
53
This beetroot dip can dipped into and dolloped onto anything!
m u g ly to
Fro gous in
gore our!
1h
2 medium beetroots
125g low-fat cream cheese
1 tsp caster sugar
Preheat oven to 180C. Wash beetroot gently.

Trim stems leaving about 3cm. Wrap each one
in foil. Place on tray and bake for 1 hour until
skewer can easily slide through.
Use beans, carrots, Unwrap, cool slightly then peel and roughly
and asparagus as chop. Pop into a stick blender (or food
dippers processor). Blitz. Add rest of ingredients and
blitz until smooth and well combined.
BE PREPARED
Many people avoid cooking with beetroot because of mess.
Keep disposable kitchen gloves handy and you can easily
rub off the skin without leaving stains anywhere!
54
TERM 3 week 3
Beetroot dip Apple Orange Mandarin Apple
Shopping list this week... with carrot &
Sultanas Muesli bar Plain biscuit Muesli bar
cucumber
sticks
Fresh: apple, carrot, cucumber,
mandarins, oranges
Fridge: ham Sandwich with Sandwich with Sandwich with Sandwich with Crispbread
ham, cheese cheese and ham and cheese and biscuits with
and pickles beetroot dip cheese avocado Avocado
For the dip: beetroot, low-fat
cream cheese Muesli bar Cucumber Dried apricots Orange
Mandarin sticks
Dried pear
Extra: muesli bars
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Avocado
MORE BEETROOT IDEAS...

Roast as described on the previous page and stir
through home-made (or store bought) homous. Or grate
it and add to chocolate cake or brownies!
55
These versatile spinach pikelets can be frozen too!
Wrap between sheets

of baking paper
before freezing e r E nglishbeet
h
Eit or silver pe
h ci
spinacs in this re
1 cup English spinach work
1 tsp sumac
Salt & pepper
Just over ¾ cup milk
Butter or spray oil for frying
Serve with : Tomato chutney & cream cheese
Blitz or finely chop spinach.
Sift flour into a large bowl. Add in sumac and

spinach. Mix in the egg and season well. Stir
through enough milk to make a batter.
Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Grease

TRIED AND TRUE with oil or butter then dollop in 1 tbsp
Both sweet and savoury pancakes and pikelets are so amounts of mixture. Turn once bubbling and
versatile and suitable for kids of all ages. Even babies and cook 1-2 minutes either side until brown and
cooked through.
toddlers can enjoy having a suck on these. MAKES 20
56
TERM 3 week 4
Yoghurt Banana Yoghurt Fresh pear Apple
Shopping list this week... Dried peach Almonds Apple Plain biscuit Cheesestick,
crackers
Fresh: bananas, avocado,
pears, apples, carrots
Fridge: turkey Spinach Spinach Sandwich with Sandwich with Sandwich with
pikelets with pikelets with turkey and turkey and vegemite
cream cheese avocado avocado cheese
For the pikelets: English Banana
spinach, eggs, flour, milk Banana Yoghurt Carrot sticks Dried peach
Almonds
Sultanas Fresh pear
Extra: yoghurt
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Fresh brea
A QUICK FIX FOR DINNER..

The spinach pikelets can easily become a quick dinner.
Just top them with diced ham, pizza sauce and some
grated cheese. Grill until the cheese melts & voila!
57
Have some time off sandwiches with this citrus pasta salad.
This will store

for 2-3 days
and can be
microwaved to u s e pennea
warm Also shell past
and
375g pasta spirals
½ punnet cherry tomatoes, quartered
200g mild feta, diced
2-3 tbsp pinenuts, toasted
½ tsp zest of each a lemon & orange
400g tuna in spingwater, drained
Dressing
6 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp orange juice
2 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp sugar
¼ tsp minced garlic
WINTER COUGHS & COLD Cook the pasta according to packet directions.
With spring just around the corner, you’ve almost made it Place all the dressing ingredients in a jar and
through flu season, however a burst of vitamin C will get you shake to combine. Toss cooked pasta with
through to the end of August in good health! other ingredients and the dressing.
58
TERM 3 week 5
Fresh pear Nashi Cheesestick, Fresh pear Nashi
Shopping list this week... Dried apple Sultanas
crackers
Dried apricots Plain biscuit
Dried apple
Fresh: pears, nashis, apples,
carrots
Pasta salad Pasta salad Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll Spinach
For the pasta salad: with roast beef with roast beef pikelets with
pasta spirals, cherry tomatoes, Cheese stick, Apple and tomato and cheese roast beef
crackers
feta, pinenuts, lemons, oranges, chutney
Dried apple
(frozen from
tuna (if using) Carrot sticks
last week)
Dried apricots
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MID-WEEK G olemeal rolls
& wh
Roast beef slices
OTHER PASTA SALAD OPTIONS

Keep the kids happy with a range of pasta salads.
Try other dressing combinations like olive oil, red wine
vinegar, orange juice and minced garlic.
59
A rhubarb slice is a tangy taste sensation this week.
w i l l store
slice n
This 2-3 days i
for e fridge
1 cup flour
th
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup shredded coconut
25 g butter, melted
5 tbsp grapeseed oil
1 bunch rhubarb, washed, finely sliced
(should be about 3 cups total)
2 eggs, lightly whisked
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tbsp orange juice
Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease and line a

lamington tin.
Press the combined flour, sugar, coconut,

IN SEASON RIGHT NOW... butter and oil into the tin and bake for 15
minutes until just golden.
● apples (fuji & sundowner) ● avocado (hass)
Pour over the combined rhubarb, eggs, sugar
● all citrus fruit including grapefruit and blood orange |
and juice and bake 30 minutes until set.
● beetroot ● leeks ● fennel ● rhubarb ● silverbeet
Cool in the tin then cut into squares.
60
TERM 3 week 6
Rhubarb Kiwifruit Apple Orange Apple
Shopping list this week... square
Sultanas cheese stick, Plain biscuit Cheese stick,
Orange crackers crackers
Fresh: apples, kiwifruits,
oranges
Pantry: tuna in springwater, Sandwich with Sandwich with Wrap with Wrap with Wrap with
corn kernels cheese and
pickles
combined
tuna, corn &
tuna, corn &
mayonaise
vegemite and/
or cream
tuna, corn and
mayonaise
mayonaise cheese
For the slice: rhubarb, Apple Dried apricots Kiwifruit
Rhubarb Kiwifruit
shredded coconut, square
grapeseed oil
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Wraps
MAKE STEWED RHUBARB WITH LEFTOVERS

Place 2 cups of chopped rhubarb, ¼ cup sugar, 1 tbsp
water, a cinnamon stick and a 10cm strip of orange zest
in a small saucepan. Stir, simmer for 10 -15 minutes.
61
This delicious bacon, leek & potato salad is a lunchbox pleaser.
Cook a double
quantity so you have
dinner too. Serve with
cutlets & salad l a d topped r
is sa ese o
Try thgrated che eggs
with rd boiled
4 washed potatoes, peeled, ha
diced into bite-sized pieces
1 leek, finely chopped
175g bacon, diced
1-2 celery sticks, diced
Dressing
3-4 tbsp low-fat mayonaise
1-2 tsp dijon mustard
Juice of ¼ lemon
Pepper
Add the potatoes to large saucepan of cold

water. Bring to the boil and cook 10 minutes
until tender, but still firm. Drain.
WHICH POTATO TO USE? Meanwhile, saute bacon & leeks in frying pan
Save yourself stress and just buy good all-round potatoes - over medium heat. When cooked, add to
desiree, pontiac, sebago and golden delight varieties can all drained potatoes along with combined
dressing ingredients. Mix well.
be mashed, roasted and fried.
62
TERM 3 week 7
Muesli bar Apple Fresh pear Fresh pear Apple
Shopping list this week... Carrot sticks Cheesestick, Muesli bar Almonds Muesli bar
crackers
Fresh: carrots, apple, pear,
avocado
Fridge: ham Potato salad Sandwich with Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll Homous
ham and with ham, with cheese with celery,
A cheese stick avocado cheese and and homous carrot and
For the salad: potatoes, leek, Sultanas avocado crispbread
bacon, carrot, celery, lemon Muesli bar Dried apricots dippers
Celery sticks
Orange
Extra: muesli bars
Sultanas
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&
Wholemeal rolls
BUYING AND USING... LEEKS

Choose medium sized leeks with a long white section.
Wash them well as dirt hides in between the layers. Keep
in the fridge for up to 1 week. Cook with the pale part only.
63
A big batch of tandoori chicken brightens up lunch & dinner.
a d e for up
n
Mari 24 hours
to
600g chicken breasts
1 tbsp tandoori paste
100g greek yoghurt
Cut the chicken into 3 or 4 even-sized pieces.

Mix the tandoori paste together with the
yoghurt and coat the chicken well. Cover with
plastic wrap, and refridgerate for 2-24 hours.
Preheat the oven to 200C. Cover a baking

tray with foil, place a rack over the top and
pop chicken on top.
Bake 20-25 minutes until cooked through.
MAKE IT A DOUBLE
It 's easy to make a double batch of this recipe. It will make
enough for dinner and sandwiches for the week.
64
TERM 3 week 8
Fruit cup Apple Orange Fruit cup Fruit cup
Shopping list this week... Dried apricots Sultanas Almonds Dried peach Cheese stick,
crackers
Fresh: carrots, cucumbers,
oranges, apples, avocado
Pantry: wraps Wrap with Wrap with Sandwich with Sandwich Sandwich with
tandoori tandoori tandoori with cheese, vegemite
chicken and chicken, chicken and avocado and
For the tandoori: grated carrot cucumber and avocado tomato relish Carrot sticks
Greek yoghurt, chicken breast, Cheese stick
grated cheese
Fruit cup Plain biscuit Orange
tandoori paste Plain biscuit
Extra: fruit cups
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Wholemeal br
RICE & TANDOORI CHICKEN SALAD

For dinner, mix diced chicken, 2 cups of cooked rice,
1 grated carrot and green beans. Toss with the juice of
1 lemon, combined with 1 tsp sugar and a pinch of salt.
65
A creamy guacamole is a nice change this week.
o n to ast is
do st!
Avocaeat breakfa
a gr
1 avocado
Juice of ½ lime or lemon
¼ cup low-fat cottage cheese
Your choice of
½ tomato, finely chopped
1 spring onion, finely chopped
¼ tsp minced garlic
Coriander
Use crispbread as Use a spoon to scoop out the avocado flesh.

a healthier choice Finely dice and add to a bowl.
to cornchips Mix through the rest of the ingredients. Stir.
AVOCADO TRICKS
Ripen your avocados by placing them in a brown paper bag
with a banana and leaving them in a warm (not hot) spot.
Once cut, lemon and lime juice helps reduce browning.
66
TERM 3 week 9
Yoghurt Orange Dried apricots Cheesestick, Kiwifruit
Shopping list this week... Banana chips Yoghurt Kiwifruit
celery and
Yoghurt
crackers
Fresh: Celery, oranges, Banana chips
kiwifruit
Guacamole Guacamole Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll Crispbread
For the guacamole: and and carrot with cheese with vegemite biscuits with
Avocado, tomato, cottage cheese, crispbread vegemite
limes, spring onions biscuits Kiwifruit Banana chips Yoghurt
Orange
Celery sticks Plain biscuit
Plain biscuit
Extra: yoghurt, banana chips
RAB
MID-WEEK G lls
Wholemeal ro
AN EASY DINNER.
Sandwich tortillas with guacamole, tuna and grated
cheese. Add to a hot frying pan and cook for a couple
of minutes either side for instant quesadillas.
67
TERM 3 week 10T ROAST LAMB
Finish the term with a hint of summer with strawberry muffins.
f re e ze well
th
Thesep to a mon
for u
1¾ cups self raising flour
½ cup brown sugar
¾ cup buttermilk
¾ cup grapeseed oil
1 egg, lightly whisked
Zest ½ lemon
¾ punnet strawberries, diced
Any berry Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease and line a

works well in 12 muffin-hole pan (or use the silicon ones
this recipe that need nothing done at all).
Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl. Add in

the sugar.
In a separate bowl, mix together the butter-

ARE STRAWBERRIES GOOD FOR US? milk, oil, egg and zest. Pour into the dry
The majority of kids adore them, so it's a relief to discover ingredients. Add strawberries and mix (don't
overmix). Divide into muffin holes.
that they are full of vitamin C, folate and fibre. Just make
Bake 20-25 minutes until golden & springy to
sure you remember to wash them well before eating. touch. MAKES 12.
68
TERM 3 week 10
Strawberry Banana Strawberry Strawberries Kiwifruit
Shopping list this week... muffin
Sultanas
muffin
Cheesestick, Plain biscuit
Banana chips Dried pear crackers
Fresh: bananas, kiwifruit,
strawberries
Fridge: roast beef Sandwich with Sandwich with Sandwich with Rice cakes Rice cakes
roast beef roast beef, cheese and with vegemite with cream
and tomato cheese and tomato cheese
For the muffins: buttermilk, chutney pickles chutney Kiwifruit
lemon, strawberries Dried pear
Banana
A cheese stick Strawberry Carrot sticks
muffin Strawberries
RAB
MID-WEEK G
Rice cakes
YOU'RE NEARLY THERE!

By this stage of term, with everyone tired, take-away
food turns up on the menu more often. Try to keep it
healthy with sushi and basic stir-fries (with lots of vegies).
69
Week 1 – Apricot muesli bars 72
Week 2 – Tzatziki dip 74
Week 3 – Perfect poached chicken 76
Week 4 – Pasta salad with peas & bacon 78
Week 5 – Lebanese bread crisps 80
Week 6 – Cheese puffs 82
Week 7 – Sausage & cous cous salad 84
Week 8 – Fruit salad 86
Week 9 – Cherry pikelets 88
Week 10 – Coconut ice 90
TERM 4 Spring
70
TERM 4 Oct • Nov • Dec
Well it's time to wrap up the year

and marvel and how much
change there's been in your little
lovelies in the long months since
January. What new skills do they
have? What new knowledge do
they have (and lecture you on
with an air of condescension)?
Finally the cold days are gone
and we're into the happiest time
of year. SO much excitment with
both the end of year and
Christmas making life frenetic.
Lucky then, amid the craziness,
that the fresh produce starts to
look more lively and full of things
that need little more than a
wash to prepare. So let's get
started into this happy term.
71
TERM 4 week 1
Home-made muesli bars can easily be adapted for your kids.
e
fib re replac es
tra flak
For ex of the cornakes
1½ cups cornflakes some ith branfl
1½ cups rolled oats
w
½ cup Allbran
1 cup shredded coconut
¼ cup dried apricots
125g unsalted butter
¹/³ cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 tbsp honey
Slice small Preheat oven to 180C. Line a lamington tray

squares as this with baking paper.
is a treat! In a large bowl mix together the cornflakes,
oats, Allbran, coconut and apricots.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low

IN SEASON RIGHT NOW... heat. Mix in the sugar and honey and stir to
● blueberries ● grapefruit ● oranges ● passionfruit ● pineapples combine well. Pour into dry ingredients. Press
firmly into the tray and bake for 20 minutes.
● strawberries ● tangelos ● asparagus ● avocado (hass)
Cool in the tin before cutting.
● broadbeans ● green beans ● peas ● sugar snap peas
MAKES 24.
72
TERM 4 week 1
Muesli slice Muesli slice Pineapple Orange Strawberries
Shopping list this week... Dried peach Sultanas Cheese stick, Dried apricots Sultanas
crackers
Fresh: avocado, carrots,
oranges, pineapple, strawberries
ham & cheese & with ham & with cheese & biscuits with
avocado avocado tomato avocado vegemite
For the muesli bars: cornflakes, chutney
oats, Allbran, shredded Cheese stick Strawberries Carrot sticks Orange
Muesli slice
coconut, dried apricots Pineapple Almonds
RAB
MID-WEEK G lls
Wholemeal ro

73
Classic tzatziki is easy to make and great on everything.
1 small lebanese cucumber

200ml greek yoghurt
1 clove garlic
2 tsp olive oil
Half the cucumber lengthwise. Scoop out

the seeds. Grate (I like to leave the skins on
for a bit of texture).
Tastes even better Add to a bowl and mix through the yoghurt,
the next day! Store garlic, vinegar and oil. Season to taste.
in the fridge.
TZATZIKI VARIATIONS
For something a bit more interesting, roast beetroots in foil until
tender, puree and mix through for a pink 'girlie' dip. Also in
season, cooked broadbeans can also be blitzed and added.
74
TERM 4 week 2
Orange Pineapple Rockmelon Pineapple Rockmelon
Shopping list this week... Cheese stick Pretzels Pretzels Cheese stick, Dried peach
crackers
Fresh: carrot, oranges,
pineapple, rockmelon
Fridge: roast beef slices roast beef & roast beef and cheese roast beef & vegemite
tzatziki dip tzatziki dip & tomato
For the dip: cucumber, Rockmelon
grated carrot Carrot sticks chutney Orange
Greek-style yoghurt Dried peach Rockmelon Plain biscuit
Pretzels
Extra: pretzels
RAB
MID-WEEK G
Wraps
LATER IN THE WEEK FOR DINNER

Combine 500g lamb mince, ¾cup breadcrumbs (just blitz a crust of bread), 1 whisked egg, 1 clove
garlic, 1 zucchini, grated, 100g crumbled feta, oregano leaves and black pepper. Roll into balls, spray
with olive oil and bake at 190C for 30-35 minutes (turning once). Serve with tzatziki in wraps.
75
TERM 4 week 3
Perfect poached chicken creates a sandwich classic.
n
th e chicke
Trim f fat first.
o
6 cups water
Add a bayleaf to 2 chicken stock cubes
the stock for extra 10cm piece lemon rind
flavour (use a peeler to get this)
10 peppercorns
Handful parsley & thyme (optional)
500-600g chicken breasts, cut into
3-4 even sized pieces
Place all of the ingredients (except the

chicken) in a medium-sized saucepan and
bring to the boil.
Remove from the heat and quickly slosh in the

chicken pieces. Cover with a lid and leave for
20-25 minutes.
FOOD HYGIENE – Don't panic about cooking and storing
Remove the largest piece and slice in half to
chicken - just make sure you refridgerate the cooked chicken check that it's cooked through. Leave for
quickly. And dig out the coolie brick to pop into the lunchbox longer if necessary.
to ensure that sandwiches are still fresh at lunchtime. Remove all when cooked & refridgerate.
76
TERM 4 week 3
Strawberries Banana Orange Strawberries Banana
Shopping list this week... Muesli bar Sultanas Muesli bar Plain biscuit Muesli bar

carrot, cucumber, oranges,
strawberries
Chicken Sandwich with Sandwich with Turkish bread Turkish bread
For the chicken: sandwich
(see below)
chicken and
cheese
cream cheese sandwich with
cheese and
with vegemite
500g chicken breasts Cucumber avocado Orange

Almonds Strawberries sticks
Dried apricots Dried pear
Extra: muesli bars
RAB
MID-WEEK G d
Turkish brea
PERFECT CHICKEN SANDWICHES...

Combine chopped chicken with low-fat mayonaise,
finely diced celery, cucumber and avocado.
77
TERM 4 week 4
Bacon and peas are the real lure in this pasta salad.
Eggs are a great

protein source for
meat-hating kids a s a re fun .
pe ith
Freshds to cook w
for ki
500g pasta
¼ cup low-fat mayonaise
200g bacon (middle bacon is best), diced
2 spring onions, sliced
1 clove garlic
1 cup peas (thawed)
1 tsp herbs (dill, chives or parsley)
Hard boiled eggs (optional)
Cook the pasta according to packet

directions. Drain and mix through the
mayonaise. Set aside.
Cook the bacon, spring onions and garlic in a

small frying pan over medium heat. Pour into
FRESH VERSUS FROZEN pasta mix.
As gorgeous and fun as fresh peas are, by the time you buy, Stir through the peas & herbs. Top with the
egg (if using).
store and cook them, you'll probably find that frozen ones will
offer you more nutrition - and there's no wastage. SERVES 2 ADULTS & 2 KIDS
78
TERM 4 week 4
Yoghurt Banana Yoghurt Tangelo Rockmelon
Shopping list this week... Cucumber Almonds Rockmelon Plain biscuit Cheesestick,
sticks crackers
cucumbers, rockmelon, tangelo
Fridge: roast beef slices Pasta salad Pasta salad Sandwich with Sandwich with Sandwich with
roast beef & roast beef & vegemite
Banana Yoghurt avocado cream cheese
For the salad: pasta, bacon, Sultanas Dried peach
Banana
spring onions, peas Cucumber Dried peach
Almonds
sticks
Extra: yoghurt
RAB
MID-WEEK Gd
Fresh brea
THE EASIEST PASTA SALAD?

For a quick lunchbox fix, toss together cooked pasta,
tinned tuna, peas and corn kernels. Dress it with bottled
Italian dressing and you're done in a flash.
79
TERM 4 week 5
Use stale lebanese bread to create a crunchy chip alternative.
ro w stale
th
Never reads away
flatb again!
Lebanese breads
Olive oil spray
Suggested seasonings:
Salt & pepper
Garlic salt
Italian herbs
Sumac
Zatar
Store these in air-
tight containers for Preheat the oven to 180C.
a couple of days. Spray the bread with oil and shake over your
seasoning of choice.
Bake for 5-7 minutes until crispy.
NOTE: Once cooked, these snap and crumble

COTTAGE CHEESE SALAD in a fun, messy way, but if you want more
To go with the chips, mix a ½cup of cottage cheese, predictable chips, cut them up before baking.
½ cucumber, diced, ¼ capsicum, diced, ½ carrot, peeled

and grated, and a 125g can of 4-bean mix.
80
TERM 4 week 5
Blueberries Banana Cheese stick, Watermelon Carrot &
Shopping list this week... Watermelon Blueberries
crackers
Dried apricots
capsicum
sticks
Cucumber
Fresh: bananas, blueberries, sticks Plain biscuit
carrots, watermelon..
For the cheese salad: cottage Cottage Cottage Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll
cheese, capsicum, cucumber, cheese salad &
bread chips
cheese salad &
bread chips
with turkey &
tomato
with turkey &
cream cheese
with vegemite
4 bean mix chutney Cheese stick,

Dried apricots Watermelon Carrot sticks crackers
Pantry: lebanese bread Blueberries
RAB
MID-WEEK G emeal rolls
whol
Turkey slices &
LEBANESE BREAD PIZZA

The thinnest and crispiest base of them all! Top the
bread with store-bought pizza sauce, cherry tomatoes,
ham, capsicum, pineapple and mozzarella cheese.
81
TERM 4 week 6
My favourite lunchbox recipe of all time! Cheese puffs.
re c o oking, st
Befo ix is almo
this ma paste!
½ cup milk (soy is fine)
1 egg
½ tsp smoked paprika
1 zucchini, grated (peeled first if your kids
hate green)
2 spring onions, finely chopped
2 cups grated cheese (cheddar is best)
Preheat the oven to 190C. Line a baking tray.
In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and

egg. Add the paprika, zucchini, spring onions
and cheese.
Sift over the flour. Mix well. Dollop out

WHY ARE THESE MY FAVOURITE? portions. Bake for 20-25 minutes until deep
Not many recipes are easy to make, easy to store, golden brown and cooked through.
great for lunchboxes and also good as a side dish at Store in the fridge in an airtight container for
several days. MAKES 16
dinnertime. Oh, and, they're YUMMY.
82
TERM 4 week 6
Banana Cheese puffs Banana Banana Rockmelon
Shopping list this week... Rockmelon Sultanas Cheese stick, Plain biscuit Cheese stick,
crackers crackers
Fresh: bananas, rockmelon
Pantry: tinned salmon
Cheese puffs Crispbread Sandwich Sandwich with Crispbread
For the cheese puffs: zucchini, Carrot sticks
with vegemite with salmon &
mayonaise
salmon &
cream cheese
with vegemite
spring onions (and cheese of Rockmelon Banana

course!) Dried apricots Rockmelon
Almonds
RAB
MID-WEEK Gd
Fresh brea

● banana ● blueberries ● cherries ● melons (honeydew
and rockmelon) ● mango ● pineapple ● strawberries

● watermelon ● cucumbers ● peas
83
TERM 4 week 7
Leftover sausages can make a great cous cous salad.
d i e n t s are t
ingre e wha
Thesetional - us mily
all op its your fa
1 cup cous cous su
1 cup beef stock
6 cooked sausages, chopped
Handful green beans, finely chopped
½ punnet cherry tomatoes, quartered
½ red capsicum, finely diced
No sausages? Try 125g tin corn kernels
leftover roast meats or 2 spring onions, finely sliced
week 3's chicken. Parsley, chopped
Place the cous cous into a heatproof bowl.

Pour over the stock. Cover with cling film and
leave for 5 minutes. Flake with a fork. Pour
into a bowl and mix through the rest of the
WHAT IS COUS COUS, EXACTLY? ingredients.
A staple from northern Africa, cous cous is a grain made Store in the fridge in an airtight container for
from rolling and sieving semolina flour. Traditionally women 2-3 days.
would spend hours slaving over it - I prefer the supermarket! SERVES 2 ADULTS & 2 KIDS
84
TERM 4 week 7
Muesli bar Pineapple Watermelon Chopped Watermelon
Shopping list this week... Blueberries Cheesestick, Muesli bar
mango
Muesli bar
crackers Almonds
Fresh: blueberries, carrots,
mango, pineapple, watermelon
Fridge: ham Cous cous Cous cous Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll Homous
salad salad with ham, with cheese & with carrot &
cheese & homous crispbread
For the salad: cous cous, Cheese stick Muesli bar chutney dippers
sausages, beans, cherry Watermelon
Pineapple
Blueberries Chopped
tomatoes, carrot, capsicum, mango
spring onions
Sultanas
Extra: muesli bars
RAB
MID-WEEK G homous
&
Wholemeal rolls
CRUNCH & SIP

Most schools encourage a fresh fruit break each day.
Carrots, cucumber, capsicum and beans can be prepared
at the start of the week, refridgerated and used for variety.
85
TERM 4 week 8
Make the most of the influx of summer fruit with a fruit salad.
ple,
So simicious!
so del
Any fruit that looks good when
you're doing the shopping!
Take a bit of care to cut your fruit into delicate

pieces, so that you can scoop up a few
flavours at once.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for

several days.
Here are some dressing ideas:
Mint & icing sugar
Honey & lime juice
SEEMS OBVIOUS? Apple juice & maple syrup (equal parts)
I design these planners to focus on seasonal food and simple

recipes. Fruit salad fits the bill perfectly – so take this week to
reaquaint yourself with the delicious fruit that's in store now.
86
TERM 4 week 8
Celery, Fruit salad Celery, Pineapple Honeydew
Shopping list this week... capsicum &
Sultanas
capsicum &
Dried peach
melon
carrot sticks carrot sticks
Cheese stick,
Fresh: capsicum, carrots, celery Plain biscuit Lamington crackers
finger
For the salad: rockmelon,
honeydew melon, strawberries, Fruit salad Wrap with Turkish bread Turkish bread Crispbreads
pineapple (and anything else Wrap with
vegemite & vegemite with cream
cheese &
with vegemite
that looks good) cream cheese Lamington Honeydew tomato relish Celery,
finger melon capsicum &
Plain biscuit carrot sticks
Pantry: wraps
Lamington
Extra: lamington fingers finger
RAB
MID-WEEK G d
Turkish brea
FRUIT-TASTIC
Make a large quantity and serve this fruit salad
on cereal, with yoghurt at lunchtime or with crepes
and icecream for dessert. Too much is never enough!
87
TERM 4 week 9
Celebrate the season with these delicious cherry pikelets.
e ch erries
th e
Chop hatever siz
to w ou like.
1 cup self-raising flour y
1 tbsp brown sugar
²/³ cup milk
1 egg, lightly whisked
¾ cup chopped pitted cherries (you can also
use bottled Morello cherries - just add a little
more sugar to offset to sourness)
Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl. Mix

through the sugar, egg and cherries. Pour in
These freeze well the milk in a few batches to until you get to a
for up to a month. good batter consistency (about the same as
thickened cream).
Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium/low

heat. Dollop in spoonfuls of mixture. Once
TASTES LIKE CHRISTMAS bubbling, flip and cook other side until golden.
Cherries are produced throughout Australia and come into MAKES 24
season during November. They're at their best until just after

Christmas - leaving us to yearn for them the rest of the year.
88
TERM 4 week 9
Cherry Cherry Cheese stick Cheese stick, Celery,
Shopping list this week... pikelets pikelets
Celery,
celery & capsicum &
crackers carrot sticks
Rockmelon Banana capsicum &
Fresh: avocado, bananas, carrot sticks Banana chips Plain biscuit
capsicum, carrots, celery,
mangos, rockmelon
Sandwich Sandwich Wholemeal roll Wholemeal roll Crispbread
For the pantry: tuna in with tuna,
mayonaise &
with vegemite with avocao &
chutney
with vegemite biscuits with
vegemite
springwater avocado Carrot sticks Chopped
Cherry pikelet mango Chopped
Celery sticks Banana chips mango
Extra: banana chips Banana chips
RAB
MID-WEEK G lls
Wholemeal ro
CHERRIES ARE GORGEOUS FRESH, BUT ALSO...

try a clafoutis or stewed with a splash of brandy. Saute
with red wine for a meat sauce or mix through a
baby spinach salad with hazelnuts and goat's cheese.
89
TERM 4 week 10
Coconut ice is perfect party food. Try it in school colours!
t i c e balls
u
Cocon ke a cute at
ma mas tre
2 cups icing sugar Christ
3½ cups desiccated coconut
300-330g sweetened condensed milk
Splash vanilla essence
Food colouring
Sift the icing sugar into a large mixing bowl.

Mix the coconut through. Add enough milk to
get the mixture forming into a dough like
Wrap in consistency. You want all the dry ingredients
cellophane for absorbed in, but stop adding milk before it
cute presents becomes too sticky.
Divide out portions of mixture and colour as

you like. Strong school and christmas colours
are fun. Press the coloured layer into a
CHRISTMAS CRAFT tuperware container layered with baking
Package a few pieces of coconut ice into cellophane and tie paper. Press a white layer over the top.
up with curling ribbon. Attach home made mini-snowflake For the balls: roll walnut size amounts in your
cards. Looks cute, and keeps the kids busy for a bit. hands and roll in coconut (which can also be
coloured for added effect).
90
TERM 4 week 10
Coconut ice Banana Watermelon Watermelon Rockmelon
Shopping list this week... (just 1 piece)
Sultanas Dried pear Cheesestick, Plain biscuit
Rockmelon crackers
Fresh: bananas, rockmelon,
strawberries, watermelon
Fridge: roast beef Sandwich with Sandwich with Sandwich with Rice cakes Rice cakes
roast beef roast beef, cheese & with vegemite with cream
& tomato cheese & tomato cheese
For the coconut ice: chutney pickles chutney Rockmelon
Icing sugar, desiccated coconut, Dried pear
Watermelon
Cheese stick Coconut ice Carrot sticks
sweetened condensed milk. (just 1 piece) Coconut ice
Strawberries Strawberries (maybe 2
pieces - it's
the last day
afterall!)
RAB
MID-WEEK G
Rice cakes
CHRISTMAS FOR THE ADULTS - RUMBALLS

Crush 1 packet of plain sweet biscuits. Mix through 3 tbsps cocoa powder, 1 cup desiccated coconut,
395g sweetened condensed milk & 3-4 tbsp dark rum. Roll into balls and cover in extra coconut.
Refridgerate for a week or two, or you can freeze these for a month or more! Merry Christmas!
91
Congratulations on making it through the whole year!
Enjoy this Christmas break with your family.
This e-book is written,
designed and photographed
by Wendy Blume
The stories, suggestions and

opinions of the author are
her personal views only. Due
diligence and thorough
research is always
recommended. The
publisher has taken care in
researching and preparing
this book, but accepts no
responsibility for any claims
arising from the material
within this book.
All rights reserved. No part

of this publication may be
reproduced, transmitted in
any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without the prior
written permission of the
publisher. The moral right of
the author has been
asserted.
Text and food photography

© Wendy Blume. Additional
images on pages 39, 56,
Want more recipes? Visit...
59, 63, 67, 68, 69, 79, 88,
89 from www.istockphoto.
com. Extra props supplied
by www.lunchboxeswithlove.
www. .com.au
com.au
92

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Welcome everyone! Isn't the new

Sift the flour into a small bowl and mix in the

1 large red capsicum

Cut the capsicum cheeks off and grill until

Preheat oven to 200C. Line a tray with

IT'S WORTH MAKING DOUBLE...

Preheat oven to 180C. Grease/line a 12 hole

In another bowl, whisk together the oil, milk,

Fresh: avocado, bananas,

KEEPING LUNCHBOXES 'SAFE'

DINNER WITH RELISH

Cook the pasta according to packet directions.

pinenuts, parmesan, cherry chutney Apple

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE?

Preheat the oven to 200C. Line a tray with

Rince and drain the chickpeas. Remove any

IN SEASON RIGHT NOW...

● beans ● blackberries ● capsicums ● carrots ● cucumber

● figs ● kiwifruit ● grapes ● passionfruit ● plums

Preheat oven to 170C. Line 2 oven trays with

Sift the flour into a large bowl. Mix in the

WHY SO MANY LUNCHBOX TREATS?

Corned beef needs

Rinse the meat well, place in a large heavy

For dinner serve slices with mash, carrots,

CLASSIC NEW YORK-STYLE SANDWICHES

Place the grapes in a container.

In a small bowl, stir the yoghurt and cream

SPOILT FOR CHOICE

Add the lamb to a large mixing bowl. Use a

Finally the routines are locked

Preheat oven to 170C. Line two biscuits trays

In a small saucepan melt the butter and stir in

THIS TERM STOCK UP ON THESE...

● cream cheese ● cheese sticks ● crackers ● crispbreads

● plain biscuits ● dried fruit & sultanas

Put everything into a blender or mini-food

ALWAYS FUN, MEZZE PLATES

Heat some oil in a non-stick frying pan over

Fresh: avocado, bananas (buy

Extra: Muesli bars

ALL SANDWICHED OUT?

In a separate bowl, whisk together the butter,

QUICK STEWED APPLES (makes 3 cups)

Hard boil the eggs as described left.

Once cool, remove shells (it can be helpful to

Use a fork to mash the egg and mayonaise

lemon, dill, lettuce Sultanas Pear Apple

REDUCING KITCHEN STRESS

Preheat the oven to 180C. Place chicken

Pour in ½ cup water and juice from ½ lemon

Bake 40 minutes, remove from the oven, turn

Extra: muesli bars

IN SEASON RIGHT NOW...

● cauliflower ● celery ● mandarins ● nashi ● parsnips

● oranges ● onions ● potatoes ● rhubarb ● spinach