The BAT with Chipotle Garlic Mayo on Nature’s Pride Country White Bread

Nature’s Pride is offering a chance at hotel and airfare for Foodbuzz’s fantastic festival. Well, so I hear it’s fantastic, as every one of my blogging buddies who went last year bragged about it for the next month.

Sadly, I was not there. I felt happy for my friends, but completely green with envy at the same time. I badly want to go this year and am crossing my fingers and toes that I get picked for this opportunity.

Besides, I really want to share this sandwich with everyone I know. It’s swoon worthy. Or maybe that’s just the bacon talking. Either way, I love to share and would have a chance to do so at the festival if picked.

So here’s my entry. Nature’s Pride you make a darn good bread, and I’m hoping this little sandwich is tasty enough to make the cut.

I have a feeling there are going to be a ton of fantastic entries. Please keep your fingers crossed for me! And maybe your eyes, and your toes…

The BAT with Chipotle Garlic Mayo on Nature’s Pride Country White Bread

Printer Version

1 1/2 pounds applewood smoked thick cut bacon

Chipotle Garlic Mayo, below
1 to 2 tomatoes, sliced and squeezed of some of the juice
2 avocados, sliced

8 slices Nature’s Pride Country White Bread

Fresh ground pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place half the bacon on the foil side by side and bake until the top starts to brown. Carefully flip the bacon and cook until the bacon is done to preference.

2. Carefully move bacon to a paper towel covered plate and blot off grease. Repeat with the rest of the bacon. Cut the bacon in half and set aside.

3. Make the Chipotle Garlic Mayo. Spoon sauce to taste onto one or both pieces of bread per sandwich. Layer the sandwiches with tomato, avocado, bacon and season with pepper. Top with bread slice and cut in half to serve.

Makes 4 sandwiches. Total time 25 minutes.

Chipotle Garlic Mayo
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (from a 7 ounce can)
1 tablespoon adobo sauce (from the can)
Juice of ½ a lime
1 clove garlic
1 cup mayonnaise
½ tsp salt

Combine ingredients in a small or mini food processor. Pulse until smooth and well blended. Taste for spice. Add another chipotle if desired.

Recipe and photographs by Laura Flowers.

Clara's Cold Lunch Corner Week 5

Me-“Clara do you want me to pack a few extra cookies to share with friends on the bus?”
Clara-“Yeah, Ok Mom.”
Me-“You promise you’ll eat your lunch first, right?”
Clara- “Yeeeeaah.”

Let’s just say an 8-year-old has hoodwinked me. I had to pick Clara up a couple times from school last week only to discover she’s been a typical kid and eating her dessert and fruit for lunch and sharing the rest of her meal after school.

All I could do was bust out laughing. I mean really, this is my doing. I've learned something though. From now on I’m only packing her a small treat.

At least the bus kids are getting some healthy food. Hey, someone has to eat it!

Clara's Cold Lunch Corner Week 5
Week of May 17th-May 21st 2010.
Clara was getting tired of change for her main meals, so I’ve started repeating her favorites. It’s kind of sad when a child has to ask for a pb&j sandwich!

1. Laptop
Large covered container- Spaghetti with grilled veggie marinara sauce & Parmesan.
On the side- Sandwich bag with red grapes, 1 fortune cookie.
Water

2. Metal Lunchbox
Sandwich bag- Peanut butter & huckleberry jam sandwich
Foil- 1 large carrot, not cut up.
Packet of freeze dried apples
Snack bag with mini pretzels
Water

3. Laptop (Picture above)
Large covered box- Spinach with baked & chopped MorningStar Farms Chik Patty & cheddar cheese.
Small uncovered box- Grapes
Small uncovered box- Mini covered container of bleu cheese dressing. Mini covered container shelled sunflower seeds.
Water

4. Laptop
Large covered box- Peanut butter and huckleberry jam sandwich
Small covered box- Red, white & blue yogurt pretzels
Small covered box- Dill pickle chunks
Tucked on the side- Stretch Island Fruit Leather
Water

5. Laptop
Medium covered box- Mini bagel with ham.
Medium covered box- Banana slices and grapes layered with plain yogurt mixed with huckleberry jam.
Small covered- Carrot sticks
Small covered- Vanilla wafer cookies
Water

Clara’s Cold Lunch Corner Week 4

This week I have little to offer except Clara’s menu. You see, I have something up my sleeve that I won’t share yet. I usually look around to see what’s going on in the lunch world, but I’ve been working nonstop and my brain is mush. In fact, I think it might be seeping out of my ears. I just hope I have enough brain cells left to get this project finished.

I made Twinkies last week and froze a few of them for Clara’s lunches. She really enjoyed them and kept asking for more. It was also the Twinkies that saved me late last night after I'd worked for about 16 hours straight. I had no idea what to pack! Consequently, lunch number five is one of those haphazard mother has gone crazy lunches, but I think she’ll enjoy it today. It has a Twinkie in it, of course she will.

Hopefully this makes up for the leftovers I sent with her to school. I did try to break up the monotony of the same meal by spacing them two days apart. That seemed to help some. Although really, all Clara wanted was those darn Twinkies!

Clara’s Cold Lunch Corner Week 4

Week of May 10th-May 14th 2010
1. Laptop
Medium uncovered box- PB&J sandwich on homemade whole wheat bread & huckleberry jam. Cut in half and placed in two snack bags.
Medium covered box- Strawberries
Small uncovered box - cheese sticks cut to fit and wrapped in a snack bag.
Small covered box- Red, white and blue gummy bears.
Water

2. Laptop
Large covered box- Kid Caesar Salad: Chopped romaine, Parmesan cheese and garlic croutons.
On the side of the Laptop Lunchbox- Caesar salad dressing in small dip container, 1 homemade Twinkie in a snack bag, 1 small box dried cranberries, 1 snack bag with shelled sunflower seeds.
Water

3. Laptop (Picture above)
Medium covered box- Molded deviled eggs sandwiched back together. A sandwich bag with ice tucked inside kept them cold.
Medium covered box- Carrot sticks with bleu cheese dressing in small covered container
Small covered box- Galia melon chunks
Small covered box- Whole grain cheddar fish shaped crackers
Liquid thermos- Smoothie with soymilk, plain yogurt, mango juice & leftover fruit

4. Metal Lunchbox
Food thermos- Roasted carrot pasta
Sandwich bag- Orange wedges
Sandwich bag- Peanuty Butterfinger Chip Fudge Cookies (Will write up the recipe soon)
Liquid thermos- Smoothie with soymilk, plain yogurt, mango juice & leftover fruit

5. Metal Lunchbox (This is the “what the heck am I going to pack?” lunch!)
Wrapped in foil- 2 biscuits with ham & American cheese
Bag of Garden Veggie Straws
Stretch Island Fruit Leathers
Snack bag- 1 homemade Twinkie
Water

Clara’s Cold Lunch Corner Week 3

Let me run off topic for a minute before I get started. I’ve been getting a lot of questions about photography lately and I had an idea that might help. If you have questions would you post them in the comment box please? If there are enough questions I’ll devote a post to tackling as many issues as I can. I don’t promise to have all the answers, but I’ll give it my best.

I’ve only been shooting food for two years and I’m still learning. Food is quite difficult compared to taking pictures of people, landscapes, or prop photography. It’s a huge learning curve for me, and probably the biggest challenge I’ve taken on with photography so far. But, I think that’s what draws me to food work; it makes me use my brain on a very regular basis. I need that! It would rot out of my head otherwise.

Now I’m left guessing why they never taught us food photography in college. They just sort of let us pick our subjects. I wonder if any university helps their students focus on learning food photography? There must be one somewhere.

I’ll stop rambling now and get to lunch. Clara only had three days of school due to service days, so the list is short this week. Also, Laptop Lunches has their monthly newsletter out. They’ve been such a great resource for information it’s worth a quick read.

We made homemade crunchy granola bars for lunches this week. I can't believe how stinkin' easy they are! Five minute prep tops. It's no wonder these big companies put so much marketing into getting us to buy their stupid bars. They're terrified we'll figure out they're crazy easy to make at home and they'll go out of business! They freeze well too, and most of them are packed away in a bag in the freezer waiting to be used in future lunches.

If you make the Playgroup Granola Bars watch them closely near the end. I think I pulled them out 5 minutes early, right before they started to burn. Once they burn you'll have to start over, there's no way to salvage them.

Clara’s Cold Lunch Corner Week 3
Week of May 3rd-May 7th 2010.

1. Laptop
Large covered- Boiled hotdog wrapped in American cheese and a homemade tortilla (in foil), 1 cheese stick, freeze dried strawberries, 4 Hershey’s Kisses, 1 small covered container bleu cheese dressing (for carrots).
Small covered- Matchstick carrots
Small covered- Kumquats
Water

2. Metal Lunchbox
Food thermos- Bison Potato Soup with Bacon & Veggies.
Two small pieces cheese bread wrapped in foil.
Apple
Snack bag of walnuts.
Hershey’s Chocolate Bar
Small liquid thermos- Milk

3. Laptop (Picture above)
Large box uncovered- Bagel with cream cheese & ham, wrapped in foil. Two small homemade crunchy granola bars in a snack bag.
Small covered- cantaloupe
Small covered- Carrot sticks
Water

Picture by Laura Flowers.

Clara’s Cold Lunch Corner Week 2

See that plain looking lunch up there? It's good enough to eat, but now I'm inspired. Totally and completely inspired by ABQ Bento Mama’s lunches. Does that mean I’ll do anything cool like her? Um, probably not, I’m not that talented! But her children have the coolest mom around. They get clowns, monsters, pirate chips, monster trucks, and princesses in their lunches! How the heck can one person be so darn talented? God, I’d hate to be the poor kid sitting next to Bento Mama’s kids with my plain old PB&J!

I try to do a little variety, and some substance, but Clara’s lunches will never be as cool as Hello Kitty, or an apple frog eating corn dogs. I’ve spent hours marveling over this woman’s handiwork. She’s brilliant.

So my question this week is, what do you do to keep your children’s lunches or your own lunches interesting? I’m finding myself doing a lot of repeats lately and could use some inspiration.

As for last week’s contest, my sweet geeky husband did the random number thing and Robin was picked. Congratulations Robin you get the food thermos and food guide.

Last thing before I go, Laptop Lunches is currently having a closeout on original bento boxes if you like the smaller size bentos.

Clara’s Cold Lunch Corner Week 2
Lunches are large enough to finish up as a snack on the bus ride home.

Week of April 26th-April 30th 2010.
1. Laptop (Picture above)
Medium covered- ½ bagel with cream cheese.
Medium covered- Carrot sticks, mini container of bleu cheese dressing, 1 strawberry.
Small covered- Pistachios
Small covered- Oregon Fruit Combo Berry Compote
Water

2. Laptop
Large uncovered- Whole grain hot dog bun with mustard, mayo, ham & cheese. Carrot coins in a snack bag. 1 Fairytale Brownie. Thanks Tricia for the brownies!
Small covered- Strawberries
Small covered- Peanuts, organic raisins and mini pretzels.
Water



3. Laptop
Medium covered- Grapes with berry sour cream dip in covered mini container. (Berry jam pureed with sour cream.)
Medium covered- Sandwich bites on homemade simple whole wheat bread with cream cheese & huckleberry jam.
Small covered- Homemade graham crackers
Small covered- Garden Veggie Straws (Costco)
Water

4. Laptop
Medium covered- MorningStar Farms Chik’n Nuggets. Mini container organic ketchup.
Medium covered- Watermelon chunks
Small covered- Annie’s White Cheddar Bunnies crackers
Small covered- Organic sour gummy cubs
Water

5. Laptop
Medium covered- Two mini samosa tacos with homemade tortillas.
Medium covered- Organic whole grain pretzel sticks (Costco). Small covered container stone ground mustard.
Small covered- Cashew clusters (Costco).
Silicone cupcake cup- Cutie Clementine
Tucked in side- Two Stretch Island Fruit Leathers (Costco again)
Liquid thermos- Cold milk

By Laura Flowers.

Welcome to Clara's Cold Lunch Corner

I’ll start off with the giveaway so you can skip the article if you’d prefer. Leave a comment about your favorite school lunch as a kid, or your child or grandchild’s favorite school lunch for a chance to win “The Laptop Lunch User’s Guide” and a Laptop Lunch Food Thermos. The thermos is too big for one person, but would be great for a picnic for two. Winner will be announced next Friday at the second post for Clara’s Corner.

Clara is my 2nd grade daughter and this series is a peek into her lunches, tastes, likes, and dislikes. We try to stay on the healthy side, but treats and some processed food are often part of the meals. Clara’s eating reflects mine of course, and she likes a lot of vegetarian and vegan foods. These lunches are a fun journey and they evolve as her tastes change. Right now she’s at a neat age where she likes adult food, but doesn’t shy away from fun kid food.

I don’t expect you to take my ideas and use them directly, as we all have different tastes and notions of what our children should be eating and what they like. What I do hope is this opens up a forum for sharing what works and what doesn’t. Most importantly, I want this to be fun.

This series isn’t necessarily about recipes, but more about concepts and ideas. Not everything is homemade, but like most parents I’m slightly discriminating of the processed food I buy. I tend to shop at Costco and my local Co-Op so you’ll probably recognize that. This is a private and honest view into our food life and I hope I won’t be too embarrassed along the way. Please go easy on me!

I’ll be posting Clara’s Cold Lunch Corner each Friday for as long as this idea remains relevant. They’ll be patches of missing time over the summer of course, but I still expect to post a shortened version as Clara has summer day camp a couple days a week and will be bringing lunch.

Welcome to Clara’s Cold Lunch Corner! I hope you’ll come back and participate.

Clara’s Lunch Hardware
This part is expensive and I've slowly collected these pieces over time. I consider them essential tools for lunches and they cut down package waste. They’re good quality items and should last for years. Never stick thermos and water bottle caps in the dishwasher; they can get water under the seals.

10 ounce food thermos/container (Preheat with boiling hot water 10 minutes before packing hot food)
Small liquid thermos for hot or cold liquids, (Not one with a straw)
Standard size metal lunch box
Laptop Lunch System (Needs extra containers, below. We don’t use or like the included water bottle.)

Bento Buddies (These are necessary extra containers with lids for Laptop System)
12 ounce Klean Kanteen with flat plastic lid for water. (The metal lids leak in case you're tempted to buy one.)
Cup-A-Cake Container for cupcakes and frosted muffins.

Clara’s Cold Lunch Corner
Clara's lunches are a bit large because I pack extra food for her to eat and share with friends on the bus ride home.

Week of April 19th-April 23rd 2010.
1. Laptop
Large uncovered box- 2 Kraft cheese slices, blue cheese dip in small container, carrot sticks in snack bag, cutie orange, 4 chocolate gold coins to share.
Small covered box- Two Oberto Beef Pepperoni sticks, sliced.
Small covered box- Keebler Club Crackers

2. Laptop (Pictured above)
Large covered box- Kid Caesar Salad: Chopped romaine, Parmesan cheese, and garlic croutons. Caesar salad dressing in small dip container tucked inside.
Small covered box- Diced watermelon
Small covered box- Mini Nilla Wafers

3. Laptop
Medium covered box- Leftover fried vegetable brown rice with egg.
Medium covered box- Cauliflower pieces with small dip container of bleu cheese dressing.
Small uncovered box- Snack bag with organic sour gummy cubs. Snack bag with organic raspberry yogurt covered pretzels.
Small box area- 1 Cutie Clementine

4. Metal Lunch Box (Cold rainy day here)
10 ounce food thermos- Annie’s Organic All Stars Pasta in Tomato & Cheese Sauce
Snack bag- Bite size carrot pieces
3 Stretch Island Fruit Leathers
Sandwich bag- 2 homemade chocolate chip cookies
Liquid thermos- Homemade hot cocoa

5. Laptop
Medium uncovered box- PB&J sandwich on homemade whole wheat bread & huckleberry jam. Cut in half and placed in two snack bags.
Medium covered box- Cauliflower pieces with small covered container of bleu cheese dressing.
Small covered box- Mini pretzels
Small covered box- Split ½ dried apricots ½ organic raisins

By Laura Flowers.

Sale Alert! I got a nicely timed email yesterday-> Receive 20% off all items at www.laptoplunches.com with coupon code earth2010. Today through Sunday (4/25) only!