Old Faithful Igloo Cooler

 It's that time of the year when many will be enjoying a late summer lunch at the beach or a tailgate party. If that's the case then it's time to bring out the Igloo Cooler These are perfect for toting food and drink to wherever you want to go.

The Bento boxes in yesterday's post made me think of my sturdy and trusty Igloo Cooler.

I bought mine at Stop & Shop years ago and it has lasted me though countless beach seasons and long trips down to other parts of New Jersey. It's also a great one to take to work regardless of the season.

What I also like is its roominess too. A small hero or large sandwich along with a soda and a bag of chips can fit easily into it.it's also great for bags of veggies and fruit slices too along with dressing. Unfortunately Igloo discontinued this style but there are some other great totes and lunchpails that could easily be subbed in.  There are also hard plastic coolers for  drinks and ice too, if you;re planning on a big tail gate party.

Igloo totes are the perfect carry all to the beach or a tailgate party. Pick up one for the late summer .They're a great addition to any event.

A Quick Halloween meal

 Halloween can be a fun day but it can also be nightmare for parents trying to plan lunch or dinner. It's hard to eat let alone cook between answering the door and taking the kids trick or treating. what to do? Think simple.  A simple meal is a b ig help here.

Sandwiches are the way to go for lunch. Have cold cuts and bread or rolls on the ready. Use leftover chicken or roast beef from Sunday's lunch for a delicious lunch. Make yourself a hearty one if you're planning on heading house to house afterwards. Think a hero stuffed with not only your favorite slices of ham or salami but also with different cheeses like Provolone and mozzarella. Add tomatoes and pickles too. Extras like chips or pretzels can round it out. A hot lunch on a chilly day is a boon because you'll feel warm afterwards. If you're ambitious then spend tomorrow making a homemade soup that can easily be served on Monday. A good cauliflower or potoato one is not only filling but also delicious too. Round out the lunch with toasted cheese rounds using Italian ro French bread crisped up in an air fryer and a salad. Kids may just want to skip lunch and get to the trick or treating. Don't allow this to happen. Pack a favorite sandwich and a juice box if they refuse to eat at home. Take along napkins and wet wipes so there are no grubby or dirty little fingers begging for candy.

Another meal that will be affected by the holiday is dinner.Again you could also use Sunday's leftovers for Monday's supper. Cook extra pasta or sides to stretch the meal. That way you can concentrate on handing out treats. If the family still wants a hot dinner, consider take out. The addition of pizza , Chinese or burgers only adds to the excitment of the holiday. However if you feel the need to cook something fresh, then think easy. Pasta is a snap to boil and serve with a variety of sauces. Dont go homemade. There are plenty of good commercially made ones that can fill the bill. Acme and Stop & Shop have a wide range of tasty sauces,  Get a tomato basil or a four cheese one. Again make an easy garlic bread in the air fryer to sop up the sauce. A French dip sandwich is another tasty warm meal that's easy to make.Buy sliced London Broil or roast beef and long rolls. Use already made gravy and heat it up in the miicrowave. The result is a hot sandwich that will keep you filled long after the last trick or treater has gone home.

Don't let Halloween trick you into skipping lunch or dinner. Have a full meal before trick or treating or handing out goodies. It's a treat that will keep you going all day.

A Different July Fourth

This is by far the strangest July Fourth weekend any of us have experienced. As the past few months have taught us anything is that we need to care for our families and others. How do we do that? By offering good food, whether homemade or restaurant bought.

Families can still have barbecues even if they're socially distanced.It can be done. Even if it's just the immediate family there's still can be hot dogs and hamburgers, graced with sides of macaroni and potato salads. If more people are coming then check out Melissa Clark's article in Wednesday's New York Times Food section about a barbecue in the age of Covid 19, There won't be shared ribs or s'mores but you can have delicious grilled chicken that everyone can take off the grill themselves, along with bags of chips and homemade  no bake butterscotch custard. You can still have beach and park picnics if you're six feet apart from everyone. Some snack bars may be closed yet there may be food trucks offering everything from burgers to taco in the beach and park parking lots. If not, then get out the cooler and stuff it with picnic classics. Think hero sandwiches, chock full of such treats as mortadella and prosciutto , graced with tomatoes lettuce and some kind of dressing. For a more sophisticated vibe try pan bagnat the Provencal classic that has everything in it from hard boiled eggs to anchovies in it along with tomatoes and Dijon mustard. Have bottles of sparkling mineral water to wash it down along with flavored seltzers.

If that's not your style, then eat out. Many restaurants and even diners are now offering outdoor dining, perfect for the evenings. Event tents are popping up in their parking lots , protecting tables and customers. They're worth visiting (although if it looks too crowded, think about ordering the food and bringing it home). There's something about dressing up after three months of lock down wearing ratty clothes and actually eating something you personally haven't slaved over. It's time to get that shrimp cocktail with the giant shrimps or the filet mignon with pomme frites. Better yet it's ordering all the fun food like pot stickers or mozzarella sticks , washing them down with fancy drinks or large refreshing glasses of iced tea. For those who love the different ethnic cuisines, it's spending a warm night enjoying pasta under the stars or chicken curry amidst balmy breezes. Take advantage of the coffee shops and bakeries too.  Some also have tables and chairs set up on their sidewalks too. Meet friends for iced coffee and cupcakes and catch up on what's been going on.

Yes, this will be a July Fourth for the books. Make the most of it. Use it as a template for the holidays to come. Just remember to care for family and friends. Offer them good food, whether from your grill or your favorite restaurant,

Super Healthy Snacks For The Suoer Bowl

The Super Bowl is always a day geared towards snacking .There are platters of buffalo wings, endless pizzas and plates of sliders or pulled pork.These may be tasty but they,re a fumble diet wise.You can still score, but with healthier sandwiches and treats.They're the touchdowns of the day! One of the healthiest game day treats is a sub sandwich.You can start with a base of whole-wheat bread and then add on healthy lean meats like chicken or turkey.For even more of a bonus, think soy cold cuts.These come in a variety of flavors,from pepperoni to baloney and taste pretty much like the real deal.Make a simple dressing of just oil and red wine vinegar as you also layer on shredded lettuce, onion slices and low fat Provolone and American cheese.A warmer dish is vegan chili.This can be made solely with a variety of beans or again with a soy version of beef.You can make it as hot or mild as you want.Serve with polenta, brown rice or whole-wheat tortilla chips. Pizza is another Super Bowl fave.You can make your own with pita bread and fresh tomato quarters along with a minimum of mozzarella cheese. Add some heart healthy toppings such as mushrooms, scallion, artichoke hearts and olives. bruschetta, usually reserved for more formal affairs is another great nibble.Again go for whole wheat Italian bread and mix tomatoes capers and bell peppers to create a topping.You can serve them hot with a light sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.Prefer more South of the border?Then think chicken or tilapia tacos with guacamole and minced fresh veggies to put on top.Hold the sour cream and pour on the home made salsa . finish with fresh fruit kabobs, made from apples, oranges and grapes.Serve these with a honey sweetened Greek yogurt. Make your game day a winner with healthy nibbles and bites.Serve dishes that are bursting with vitamins and minerals.You're sure to touch down with high points for staying away from all that grease ,salt and fat!

Flipping Meals

Sometimes winter weekends can be topsy turvy.It's a fun way to vary the schedule with something wild and unexpected happening.You can do the same with meals.Why should steak be just for dinner? Or a sandwich for lunch.Mix up your meals on a sleepy Saturday or Sunday .It'll make mealtime more exciting and chase away those winter blahs. Starting the day off with a sandwich can bring about a few smiles.You can buy pre made ones from Marie Callendar or Jimmy Dean.You can also make them yourself.Try mini omelets or scrambled eggs with cheese and Taylor ham on either croissants or biscuits.Both breads easily can be baked in the toaster oven.You can also slice up hotdogs and add them to scrambled eggs for some fun.Another idea is an oatmeal salad.Slice up bananas ,apples,pears and oranges.Make a "dressing " of hot oatmeal to pour over it. Try a light supper menu for lunch.Think about chili served over rice or polenta rounds.You could also make a roast chicken with stuffing and veggies for a Saturday lunch.It's a nice reward after a morning of shoveling snow or cleaning house.Also spaghetti is always a good choice too and a fun way to break up a Saturday or Sunday. For a lazy Saturday or Sunday nigth dinner.think waffles or pancakes.Both are filling and a nice departure from the ordinary.Another flip meal is French toast.It's easy to make and always gets a smile.You could also go. With omelets and bacon too.Just as easy is making a lunchtime sandwich.Try creating a hero.Use Italian cold cuts like salame and prosciutto along with shredded lettuce and tomatoes.Another tasty one is a meatball sub.It's filling and hot ,the perfect dinner for ending a busy day.If you've eaten too much ,then go with that mid day favorite ,soup and salad.You can make a creamy bisque or chowder and serve a hearty mixed greens plate with it.You could also just serve a soup, with hot crusty rolls or a big chef's salad with breadsticks. Flipping meals are a fun way to mix up a weekend.It keeps the family happy and it also satisfies picky eater.Try serving a breakfast for lunch or launch for dinner to keep it interesting.

Eating Through A Heat Wave

Doing anything during a heat wave is a chore. This includes cooking and eating. Yet you have to sustain yourself despite the high temps? What to cook and eat? The easiest, lightest foods you can think of making and eating. There are some tasty dishes that are a cinch to create and are as light as air.

Think salads during these impossible days. Put a spin on the original by using Spring greens or spinach as the base.Add much needed protein with bacon, hard boiled eggs and cheese. Use cold cuts or already cooked bacon (or you can just microwave it). A chef salad is the perfect hot weather dinner , with various cold cuts such as chicken roast beef, and ham tossed over Cobb lettuce. You can also throw in julienned cheeses such as American , cheddar and Swiss. Served with a homemade French or a simple vinaigrette along with breadsticks,Another is the famed French Salad Nicoise. This is made with tuna fish and anchovies along with hard boiled eggs, and capers with tomatoes and greens. It's a refreshing alternative to the classic dish.

As much as grilling is a part of summer it is also hot. Who wants to stand over an inferno for half an hour in 100 degree temps?. Go cold with sandwiches. The best kind is an Italian hero. These are easy and fun to make. Get a variety of different sliced meats such as morta della, cappicola and salami. Shred lettuce and slice tomato to layer on the bread along with mozzarella or Provolone slices. You can make a dressing using oil, red wine vinegar and rosemary. Heroes can also be stuffed with homemade chicken , tuna or egg salad Remember to make the salads as close to dinner time as possible This ensures freshness and are free from the threat of food poisoning and salmonella.

During these impossible times. you have to eat. Make the lightest and easiest foods with the least minimum of fuss. They'll get you  and your through these hellish times

Snow Fun A Day Off Cooking And Baking

This is January and that means there will be snow days.With parts of the country under as much as two to three feet of snow,there will be more kids off with nothing to do.Well, if you're home with them ,then you can introduce them to cooking and baking.It's a chance to let them find their inner chef as well as learning about health. And nutrition. Start with simple dishes.Rice or mashed potatoes.These are easy as pie to whip up and also you and the kids can create variations.Add some garlic and/ or herbs for extra flavor.Another fun dish is a Dagwood sandwich or a hero Subway style.Kids can add healthy pre sliced tomatoes and peppers along with turkey or chicken slices(or last night's leftovers ).You can also have your Tweens and teens help in making more sophisticated dinners such as spaghetti or even risotto. As far as baking what better to bake on a snowy day than a pizza.Use whole wheat instead of white flour.Of course use tomatoes ,but try fresh ,organic ones instead of annex sauce although that one is good for you too. let them have fun with toppings.If they want to add pineapple or even barbecue sauce, let them(however don't throw those two together).Also baking wholesome oatmeal raisin cookies is a fun way to pass the time. you can also make a yummy chocolate chip too with brown sugar and walnuts. A snow day can also be a learning factor too.Show your kids how to cook and bake.It's better than them trooping in slush all day.