Back To School Essential: Sandwich Kabob Packed Lunch

Once you've said it, there's no turning back. It's out there. So here I go, about to say those fateful words that I used to curse my Oma for saying that first week of August every year growing up...it's almost back to school time. There. I said it! It doesn't feel good, but I said it! Even though I'm not preparing to go back to school this September, and as much as I love the Fall season, I really do dread the end of Summer. Though I'm not looking forward to scarves, boots, and the constant feeling of shivering, I do like looking at September as a fresh start, and one of the best fresh starts the Fall season brings is reinforcing good habits.

There are a lot of good habits that I try and commit to all year long, but there's nothing like taking advantage of a fresh season to jumpstart good patterns and routines. A habit that I am always looking to improve on is to commit to doing a daily fridge dive and clean to make use of any and all ingredients that need to be used up to reduce food waste in our home. For Chris, I know a habit that he wants to improve on is committing to bringing a homemade lunch into work every day. With these two goals in mind, I came up with a solution that allows me to use up different types of ingredients that need to get eaten, as well as give Chris tasty packed lunch ideas that he can rotate and customize every day.

Introducing the Sandwich Kabob! Essentially a charcuterie board on a stick, sandwich kabobs are a quick and tasty way to use up any leftover deli meat, cheese, vegetables, bread, pickles, and more to create an easy to transport and eat lunch, that your co-workers will be envious of! I like to lay out all of my ingredients that need to be used up, and pair them up as though I was building flavours in a sandwich. From there, simply skewer them on your kabob stick or spear and pack them up. While we're sure to be seeing a lot of Sandwich Kabobs in our very adult household over the coming months, I also love this idea for parents preparing lunches for their kids!

Sandwich Kabobs are a fantastic way to provide your kids with variety in their lunches, as well as giving them an opportunity to get involved to help mom and dad make their lunch, and start playing around with creating their own flavour combinations. More than that, I also think this welcomes a great opportunity to introduce new flavours to your kids palate. Try skewering on new types of meats, cheeses, and vegetables that they may have previously shied away from. While a pickle may ruin an entire sandwich for a kid who may not like pickles, if you try skewering a pickle on a Sandwich Kabob, they have the opportunity to try it, and if they don't like it, it can be easily removed without impacting the other ingredients.

As I often say with my recipes, I encourage you to play around with this one! As you can see in the photos, I used an assortment of different types of meats, as well as skewering on some simple sliced wraps. This is a particularly good idea for kids who tend to like having options in their lunch, and may get sick of any one particular flavour, as I often did growing up. You can also play around with creating more fancy sandwich kabobs, using more gourmet ingredients and serving them at your next gathering with friends and family as an appetizer or hors d'oeuvre. I'd love to know what types of flavour combinations you and your kids create in your own home! Tell me about it in the comments, or share a photo with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram @gingerrosefood.

Ingredients:
All ingredients listed are merely suggestions to inspire you to create your own!
Metro Irresistibles Artisan Seasoned Angus Roast Beef, sliced
Metro Irresistibles Artisan German Salami, sliced
Metro Irresistibles Artisan Oven Roasted Seasoned Turkey Breast, sliced
Metro Irresistibles Canadian Lactose Free Swiss Cheese, cut into chunks
multigrain bread, cut into large chunks
aged cheddar cheese, cut into large chunks
Metro Irresistibles Traditional Prepared Dijon Mustard
flour tortillas
cherry tomatoes
pickles
cucumber, sliced or peeled into ribbons
kabob sticks or other form of spears
mayonaise

Directions:

1. Lay out all of your ingredients that you intent to use (I prioritize ingredients that I know need to get eaten up first) and start building flavour combinations.
2. Skewer your ingredients on your kabob sticks or other form of spears and pack up for lunch!
3. Prepare small containers on the side for dips such as mustard, mayo, or aioli. 

This post was created in partnership with Metro Ontario. 

Listening To:
Ben's My Friend - Sun Kil Moon

How To Be A Food Hero - Make French Toast with Old Hot Dog Buns

The other day I posted an Instagram Story of me making Hot Dog Bun French Toast. That's right. No challah. No brioche. No fancy bread from some cute bakery. We're talking dirty, Wonderbread hot dog buns, bought on sale, and stale as shit. So appealing, right? 

I know it's not the most glamorous of dishes, but guys, this is straight up real life! This is how you live on that Budget-Life (can I get an *amen* emoji!), cut down on food waste, and get food in your belly when it seems like there's nothing to eat. This is also how I cook a lot of the time. 

I remember making this for Chris years ago when he first moved into the condo that we now live in together with his then roommate, Adam. They didn't have a ton of food in the fridge and pantry, and would often make due with cereal, cans of tuna, hot dogs, and takeout. When we would get hungry when I was over and I would offer to cook something, I was often met with "there's nothing to eat and nothing to make it with." Little did they know, they were dealing with a food hero! 

I remember seeing the look of amazement on Chris's face when I first macgyvered together french toast using old, stale hot dog buns. Just five minutes prior he was convinced there was no food, and was about to throw out those old hot dog buns. No, it was definitely not the best french toast ever, but yeah, it was good! Dunk anything in custard, fry it in butter, and top it with maple syrup and you'll be a happy camper! 

This time I also had some overripe strawberries that were about to go mouldy that elevated the humble hot dog bun french toast even further. Hell, I bet you can't even tell how shameful the bread is in the photo, it turned out so good! It's funny that I've been using these food waste tricks and hacks for years, but have kept many of them to myself, scared that people may shame me for breaking the rules or using less-than-popular food ingredients and products. I'm so glad that this time I decided to not give a shit, and just put my real self out there, because this seems to be what my viewers/readers really respond to! I was amazed at how many people replied to my story, telling me how much they hate food waste, how creative they thought that idea was, and encouraging me to post more! That was very cool! 

So the next time you're clearing out your kitchen, and tossing anything deemed "inedible," please take a moment to reconsider what you're doing. Ask yourself, "can I use this item in any other way before it turns to garbage?" Not only could you end up creating something delicious (and potentially genius!) you will also be able to rest easy knowing your hard earned money was well spent, and the good food that we are so fortunate to be able to have did not go to waste! 

What items do you find yourself wasting the most in your kitchen? Let me know in the comments below and maybe I'll have a solution for you! Also be sure to follow me on Instagram to watch more of my food waste tips and tricks on my Instagram Stories! 

Listening To:

Study & Creativity Concentration Music