You don't know what you want 'til it's got.

I did some highly rewarding work for some friends recently. Afterward, they surprised me with a gift -- the handsome lunch box pictured above. I am in love with it, if one can be in love with partially-transparent molded plastic.

The "Box Appetit" is by black + blum. It features a little divot in the lid for soy sauce, a sauce container, a separate (microwavable) compartment for other foods, a plastic fork/knife, a holster for chopsticks, and a really sleek design. Why, there's a whole 5-minute video online about how stylish it is.



Okay, the video's a little silly. But this lunch box is seriously sweet. It slips right into my purse and makes my leftovers look beautiful. Why, it gets compliments just sitting quietly in the work refrigerator. I love it!

I'd like to be paid in lunch boxes from now on, please.

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Quesadilla of the Day

Urban Rustic
236 N 12th St 
between Driggs Ave & Union Ave)
(718) 388-9444 
 www.urbanrusticnyc.com        


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Lunch Club Round-Up: Week four

Due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, last week was a four-day work-week at our office. It was for this reason (and also because Jeremy hurt his back) that just four of us (rather than five) got together, under Jane's direction, to observe another Lunch Club series. Here's what we made and ate:





Tuesday - Greta
(I found the orange in my purse)
Full disclosure: I did not eat any cornbread because I got full.







Wednesday - David G.





Thursday - Me
(salad recipe here)







Friday - Jane

Lunch Club round-up: Week 3

I participated in a third round of Jane's Lunch Club at work, but I failed to have my camera in with me for two days' worth of the lunches. Rats! Everything was really tasty.

Here's an incomplete breakdown of the week:




Monday - Jane
Mollie Katzen's solyanka and beets





Tuesday - Ethan
5-alarm veggie chili and jalapeno cornbread.



Wednesday - David
(sadly, not pictured)
Squash and olive lasagna (the olives were inspired) and salad with homemade dressing.



Thursday - Sarah
(sadly, not pictured)
Many-vegetable curry with rice and a tangerine.





Friday - Me
Many-vegetable soup (see CSA post), Napoli Bakery baguette, cheddar cheese, and salty brownie.

Lunch Club round-up: Week 2

Lunch Club continues to be a hit at work, and though I am not participating every week (too many leftovers to consume on my own), I will share with you the weeks that I do partake.

This week, we lunch-clubbed-it for four days (Tuesday - Friday). I took Tuesday.



Tuesday - Me.
Turkey Chili with cornbread and caramel apple cheesecake bars.




Did you hear me?




I said, caramel apple cheesecake bars!!





Wednesday - Erin.
Baked macaroni and beef (I admit to picking around the beef), tomato and bean salad with homemade dressing, and a brownie.





Thursday - Dave.
Pasta with tomato sauce and chicken, served with Parmesan cheese and homemade chocolate chip cookies. I use the plural because I had two.





Friday - Jane.
Sandwich of turkey, bacon, tomato, lettuce, white cheddar cheese, mustard, mayonnaise, and avocado. Plus, a peach!

Lunch Club round-up: Week 1

My coworker Jane came up with the idea to have Lunch Club at the office. She got 5 of us together (one vegetarian and 4 non-vegetarians) to make it happen for a trial week. Each day, one of us made five identical (more or less) offerings to share at work.

All five of the lunches were amazing, if you ask me. Let's look back.




Monday - Jane
Vegetable lasagna and chocolate pudding with whipped cream. The secret ingredient in the lasagna is nutmeg!





Tuesday - David
Spicy curry with broccoli, tofu, potato, bell pepper, peanut, onion, and red/brown rice.





Wednesday - Dave
Penne with tomato sauce and roasted vegetables, served with Parmesan cheese.





Thursday - Jeff
Sandwich of tomato, mozzarella cheese, basil, and garlic dressing.





Friday - Me
Bouchons au Thon (meant for the four non-vegetarians, though one of us was not interested); tomato stuffed with corn, jalapeno, and buttermilk dressing (this recipe, without bacon, for our vegetarian member); green bean salad with soy-glazed almonds (recipe in this post), onion bread from the corner store, and Jimmy's Pink Cookies.

The bouchons and the cookies were made with recipes found in the book A Homemade Life, by Orangette's Molly Wizenberg. I've mentioned this book before. Delicious! I'll be making both of these recipes again. And again.

Poetry Tuesday: Lunchcrostic

An Acrostic

Lasagna rests in portions, pudding waits
Under five minds' eyes and five pink plates.
Noon comes and I have pulled my portion near,
Chanting thanks to Jane, who cannot hear.
Heating in the microwave expands the cheer.

Cool-whip beckons me; I am in Noodle Town,
Lunch Club sweet'ning these five days, and counting down
Until my Friday turn, knowing that I must plot.
Brick, David, Dave, and Jane will share the lot.