Happy Halloween!

We hope everyone at University Club has a safe and happy Halloween! 

 

10 Halloween Themed Snacks

Do you need to make Halloween themed snacks for a party?  Check out these ten great recipes below. They are simple to make and come out perfect for any occasion.   What are you making this year?  Learn more at money crashers.

1. Witch Hat Cookies

Decorate your Halloween party table with fun Halloween-themed accessories. Attach plastic spiders to napkin rings, use black paper bats on top of cookie plates, and place orange votive candles around the table for a spooky good time.


Witch Hat cookies charm party guests and work well with your Halloween-themed decor. Even the most inexperienced chef can make these easy, no-bake cookies. A Hershey kiss is placed on top of a store-bought cookie, and wrapped with a little icing to create a tiny witch hat.
Ingredients

• 1 package of Hershey’s Kisses
• 1 package of round chocolate covered cookies
• 1 small container of chocolate icing
• red decorator’s gel icing pen

Directions

1. Lay one cookie on a flat cooking surface.
2. Unwrap a Hershey’s Kiss. Place a small amount of chocolate icing on the bottom of the Hershey’s Kiss and press it onto the center of the cookie.
3. Use the squeezable icing to create a ring around the kiss, like you would see around a hat. Repeat for each cookie.

Pro Tip: Run the icing tube back and forth in your hands for a few seconds to warm the icing. This makes the icing easier to apply to the cookies.

Witch Hat Cookies - Cheryl’s Crafty Jewelry

2. Spooky Chips and Dip

You can use Halloween cookie cutters for more than just making cookies. You can also use them to make tortilla chips, which you can pair with some red salsa for a festive snack. Create ghoulish notes describing your Halloween treats. Cut out paper jack o’ lanterns, bats, or skulls, and use them to display creepy goodies like Spooky Chips and Dip.
Ingredients

• 1 package of white flour tortillas
• cooking spray
• 1 jar of salsa

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place a tortilla on a flat cooking surface. Press the cookie cutter into the tortilla and gently pry the shape free.
3. Spray each side with cooking spray and place on a cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining tortillas.
4. Bake for six minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for an additional seven minutes, or until brown.
5. Season with salt to taste.
6. Serve alongside the salsa.

Pro Tip: If you have trouble getting the cookie cutter through the tortilla, heat the tortilla in the microwave for a few seconds. This makes the breading softer and easier to cut.

Spooky Tortilla Chips and Guacamoldy Dip - Veronica Benzing

3. Brain Punch

Grocery stores and hobby and craft retailers sell molds in the shape of brains during the Halloween season. Use these cheap molds to make an easy theme punch.
Serve the punch in ghostly cups that you make at home. Using ordinary paper, plastic, or Styrofoam cups, and use a black Sharpie marker to draw faces on each of the cups. You can also paste paper pumpkin cut-outs to the cups when serving brain punch to guests.
Ingredients

• 1 package of strawberry JELL-O
• 1 container of frozen fruit punch

Directions

1. Mix the JELL-O according to the package instructions.
2. Pour the JELL-O into the mold and allow it to chill completely.
3. Fill a punch bowl with the fruit punch mix and water. Place the fruit punch in the fridge and allow it to chill.
4. Immediately before serving, slowly lower the brain mold into the center of the fruit punch.

Pro Tip: Do not overfill the punch bowl. Make sure you allow for enough room for the top of the brain to rest on top of the punch.

Human Brain Dessert - Emma’s Thoughtful Spot

4. Severed Fingers

You can quickly turn a few almonds and some crescent roll dough into creepy severed fingers to serve at a Halloween party. Once baked, you can arrange these around a bowl of dip or piled onto a serving plate. They look pretty realistic.
Black, orange, and silver dishes all work well on your Halloween party table. During September and October you can also find Halloween-themed paper plates at party stores to display your Severed Fingers.
Ingredients

• 1 package of pre-cut crescent roll dough
• 1 6-ounce container of sliced almonds

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Unroll one crescent roll square onto a flat cooking surface.
3. Grab one of the longer ends and gently roll the dough into a finger shape.
4. Press a sliced almond into one end of the dough with the white side facing outward, to make a fingernail.
5. Use a butter knife to cut small lines slightly below the almond and across the middle of the dough, to create knuckles.
6. Place the dough on a cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining dough squares.
7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until slightly brown.

Pro Tip: You can use red food coloring to dye the almonds. The red food coloring makes the almond look like a painted fingernail.

Severed Finger Cookies - Living It At Home

5. Mini Mummies

With mini bagels and a few ingredients, you can create spooky toasted pizzas that look like mummy faces. Prepare Mini Mummies ahead of time, and then pop them into the stove to bake during the party. That way, everyone can enjoy the tasty treats right out of the oven.
Ingredients

• 1 package of mini bagels
• 1 jar of premade pizza sauce
• 6 to 10 mozzarella cheese sticks
• 1 jar of stuffed green olives

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Slice a mini bagel in half and lay the bagel on a flat cooking surface.
3. Spread one tablespoon of pizza sauce across the inside of the bagel half.
4. Pull a cheese stick into strings. Starting at the bottom, lay the pieces of cheese across 2/3 of the bagel to look like bandages.
5. Slice a green olive into flat pieces. Place two green olives near the top of the bagel to look like eyes.
6. Place a few more cheese sticks just above the eyes to look like head wrappings.
7. Place the bagel half on a cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining bagel halves.
8. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is slightly melted.

Pro Tip: Leave a small amount of space between each cheese strip. After the cheese melts, the tiny slits will look more like bandages.

Mini Mummy Pizzas - Busy Little Kitchen

6. Frozen Ghosts

Bananas, icing, and chocolate combine to make these frozen ghosts on sticks. Best of all, this no-bake recipe is kid-friendly, so your little ones can help out in the kitchen, too. Frozen Ghosts have to chill out for a total of five to six hours, so make them the night before the party.
Ingredients

• 6 ripe bananas
• 1 package of vanilla icing
• 12 ounce bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 12 Popsicle sticks

Directions

1. Peel the bananas and remove any excess strings.
2. Cut the banana in half and push a Popsicle stick through the cut end, being careful not to push the stick all the way through the banana.
3. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper and place the bananas on top.
4. Freeze the bananas until solid, about two and a half hours.
5. Remove the frozen bananas. Use a butter knife or spatula to cover each banana with vanilla icing. Add three chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth.
6. Place the bananas back on the cookie sheet and put them in the fridge until chilled, about three hours.
7. Serve cold.

Pro Tip: You can substitute brown decorator’s icing gel for the chocolate chips.

Frozen Ghosts - Teach Mama

7. Chocolate-Coated Spiders

These snacks are addicting and simple to make. All you need is chocolate, peanut butter, and pretzels to create these realistic looking spiders. Chocolate-coated spiders need to rest in the fridge for four hours before you can serve them, so make these the night before your party.
Ingredients

• 12-ounce package of semi-sweet chocolate baking squares
• 2/3 cup smooth peanut butter
• 8 cups of pretzel sticks

Directions

1. Combine half the chocolate baking squares and the peanut butter in a microwave-safe dish.
2. Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until the chocolate and peanut butter melt and blend.
3. Break up 4 cups of the pretzel sticks and add them to the chocolate and peanut butter mix. Blend well.
4. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Drop a spoonful of the mixture onto the wax paper to create the spider body.
5. Microwave the remaining chocolate squares in a microwave safe dish until melted.
6. Dip one end of a pretzel stick into the chocolate. Gently press the coated end of the pretzel stick on to the body of the spider to create a leg. Repeat for the other seven legs.
7. Pop the finished cookies in the fridge until firm, about four hours.

Pro Tip: Sort the pretzel sticks before adding them to the chocolate and peanut butter mixture. Some of the pretzel sticks will break in the bag, so this way you can reserve the full sticks for the legs.

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Spiders - Not Just a Housewife

8. Dirt Pails

Pudding dirt and worm cups are a much beloved kid’s favorite, mostly because they look gross and a little creepy. However, they’re also a tasty theme snack for an adult’s Halloween party. Repurpose plastic cups into individual serving dishes for this recipe. Add googly eyes to the outside of the cups to up the level of creepiness in your Dirt Pails.
Ingredients

• 1 package of chocolate pudding mix
• 2 cups of milk
• 1 package of Oreo cookies
• 1 package of gummy worms
• 12 plastic cups

Directions

1. Mix the pudding mix and milk according to the package instructions. Set aside.
2. Use a food processor or a cooking mallet to crush the Oreo cookies into fine pieces that resemble dirt.
3. Mix one cup of the Oreo pieces into the pudding mixture.
4. Fill 3/4 of a plastic cup with pudding and top with crushed Oreo cookies.
5. Place 1-3 gummy worms on the top of the cup.
6. Place the cups in the fridge until chilled, about two hours.

Pro Tip: To make the gummy worms look more authentic, press half the gummy worm into the Oreo cookie mixture to give the appearance of a worm crawling out of the dirt, or hang a worm off the side of the cup.

Dirt Pails with Gummy Worms - Healthy Today, Healthy Tomorrows

9. All-Seeing Eye

You can create a quick and spooky centerpiece with a pie from your local bakery store. A bit of decorator’s icing turns the pie into a giant eye that follows your guests around the buffet table. The whipped topping needs to thaw and the pie needs to chill before serving, so make this All-Seeing Eye at least one hour before guests arrive.
Ingredients

• 1 banana cream pie
• 1 container of frozen whipped topping
• 1 kiwi
• 1 maraschino cherry
• 1 tube of red gel icing

Directions

1. Allow the whipped topping to thaw, about 30 minutes.
2. Cover the entire pie with the whipped topping to create the surface of the eye.
3. Peel and slice the kiwi.
4. Place one kiwi slice in the center of the pie.
5. Place the maraschino on top of the kiwi and hold in place with a toothpick, to look like an iris and pupil of the eye.
6. Using the red gel icing, draw squiggly lines from the kiwi out to the edge of the pie, to look like a bloodshot eye.
7. Serve chilled.

Pro Tip: Use a vegetable peeler to peel the kiwi. The peeler will allow you to keep most of the fruit intact and circular shaped, while a knife creates pointed edges.

Halloween Eyeball Cake - Cakefullness

10. Grave Robber Chili

A coffin made from cornbread and stuffed with chili makes up this perfectly themed Halloween dish. Begin making this Grave Robber Chili two hours before the party begins, then stow the dish in a warm oven to serve when guests arrive.
Ingredients

For coffin:

• 2 packages of cornbread mix
• 2/3 cup of milk
• 2 eggs
• black food coloring
• ketchup

For chili:

• 1/2 pound of hamburger
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup pinto beans
• 1/2 cup black beans
• 1 4-ounce can of tomato paste
• 1 packet of chili seasoning
• 2 cups of water

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Mix the cornbread mix, milk, eggs, and 3-4 drops of food coloring in a medium bowl until moist and sticky.
3. Pour the mixture into a 9 inch by 5 inch bread loaf pan.
4. Bake the cornbread for 30 minutes, or until cooked entirely.
5. Shred the hamburger into small pieces.
6. Cook the hamburger in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink.
7. Add in the onion, bell pepper, pinto beans, black beans, tomato paste, chili seasoning, and water. Reduce the heat to a simmer.
8. Allow the cornbread to cool for 15 minutes before cutting. Cut off the top of the corn bread loaf with a butter knife to create a coffin lid. Set it aside.
9. Scoop out the cornbread from the remaining loaf to create the main part of the coffin. Leave a 1/2 inch thick edge and bottom.
10. Drain any excess water from the chili. Pour the chili mixture into the coffin.
11. Use the ketchup to write “R.I.P” on the top of the coffin lid.
12. Place the coffin lid over the chili mixture. Serve warm.

Pro Tip: Use a toothpick to test the cornbread. If the toothpick pulls out clean, the cornbread has finished cooking.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Indoor Plant Hangers

Posted by Club Pacifica on 10:14 AM

Are you a fan of indoor plants?  Organizing them throughout your apartment can be a complicated process.  Check out these great indoor plant hangers from apartment therapy.  There are various costs and sizes to fit your needs and tastes.

I love indoor plants, and I love finding interesting vessels to put them in. Currently geometric hanging planters have been catching my eye. Here are 5 of my favorites.
 
1. Geometric Hanging Planter, $130 from MFEO: crafted from sustainably harvested maple Europly, finished with Danish oil and paired with brass hardware. Made in Los Angeles, California.
 
2. Geometric Pattern Design Black and White Carved Hanging Planter, $34 from Half Light Honey Studio: hand pinched and decorated earthenware hanging planter. Made in Asheville, North Carolina.

 

3. Brass Himmeli Hanging Planter, $87 from HRUSKAA: modern twist on the classic vintage macrame plant hanger. Features a delicate himmeli brass tubing accent which has been intricately strung into thin black cording. Made in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

4. Yellow Diamond Hanging Planter, $50 from Raw Dezign: individually cast by hand in a natural pigmented resin with an internal layer of white resin. Hung with leather cord. Made in Birmingham, UK.

5. Geometric Hanging Porcelain Planter with Leather Cord, $42 from Revisions Design: white geometric porcelain planter features a faceted surface and brown leather cord. Made in Marquette, Michigan.

Plannning for Your Affordable Vacation

Do you travel often?   Here is a great guide to plan your vacation from the University of Maryland. 

Different cities require different amounts of planning for your ideal vacation.  Take a look at these great city guides, that can help you decide what to see in each city.  There are tons of guides for different cities throughout the United States.  You can also check out grandparents.com for more info.

Atlanta

From the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, Atlanta has always been a city rich in history. Explore all of this and more as you sip on a Coca-Cola (first sold in Atlanta in 1886), or take a walk through Centennial Olympic Park. Find travel information about Atlanta here >>

Austin

This capital city in the heart of Texas is known as the Live Music Capital of the World, drawing international crowds for festivals like South by Southwest and Austin City Limits. But all visitors will find Austin is full of “weird” surprises! Find travel information about Austin here >>

Baltimore

Baltimore is the perfect place for grandchildren who are boat and water lovers! Founded in 1729, it’s home to the largest seaport in the Mid-Atlantic United States. So brush up on your “Bawlmorese” and visit Charm City! Find travel information about Baltimore here >>

Boston

Historic and modern, educational and fun, Boston offers something for everyone in the family. It also happens to be one of the most “kid-centric” locales in the country. Trace our national heritage from Back Bay to Beacon Hill and points beyond. Find travel information about Boston here >>

Chicago

With its scenic skyline and riverfront, the Windy City is must-see destination for grandparents and their families. From the popular Skydeck Chicago to a Super Dawg meal, your grandkids will enjoy the old-school meets new-school attractions. Find travel information about Chicago here >>

Cleveland

To the world, Cleveland is The Rock and Roll Capital, C-Town, and home of the sports greats. To Clevelanders, however, this is just home. But don’t let the quiet reserve fool you. This city is full of great history and culture. Find travel information about Cleveland here >>

Las Vegas

Whatever happens in Vegas with your grandchildren, will follow you for the rest of your life. That’s because there’s more to this city than the glitz, glitter, high rollers, and fast pace that meets the eye. Find travel information about Las Vegas here >>

Los Angeles

The City of Angels offers countless options for a family getaway. The glitz and glamour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills are irresistible, but so are funkier enclaves like Koreatown and the breathtaking views along the Pacific. Find travel information about Los Angeles here >>

Minneapolis

The City of Lakes and City of Nature — better known as Minneapolis — is a wonderful place to experience the great outdoors. The city’s parks department has been called one of the best-designed and best-maintained in America. Find travel information about Minneapolis here >>

New Orleans

As one of the oldest cities in the country, New Orleans is steeped in history, art and Southern Hospitality. Its diverse fabric has given birth to cultural icons and structures, such as the French Quarter and Garden District, and of course hip-swinging jazz. Find travel information about New Orleans here >>

New York City

New York City is often called the center of the universe, and for good reason! There’s always something happening in The Big Apple, whether it’s a magician doing card tricks in Washington Square Park or a mariachi band performing in a subway car. Find travel information about New York City here >> 

Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s pivotal role in the founding of our nation makes it a rewarding destination for families. Nestled on the shores of two rivers, Philadelphia is unmistakably urban, but the countryside is only a short drive from Center City. Bring on the cheese steak! Find travel information about Philadelphia here >>

Providence

As one of the first cities in the U.S., Providence has a lot of history, culture and water. Providence, Rhode Island, will provide much for your grandkids and you to sea and do, including the Rose Island Lighthouse in Newport and Waterplace Park in Downtown. Find travel information about Providence here >>

San Diego

With its beautiful beaches, amazing attractions (like the famous San Diego Zoo), and mild temperatures, San Diego has all of the ingredients for a great family vacation year-round. Find travel information about San Diego here >>

San Francisco

The City by the Bay has lured adventurers to its shores even before the fabled Gold Rush. Today, its reputation lies in its status as the epicenter of innovation. The kids will love the city's diversity, from the great outdoors to its cultural institutions. Find travel information about San Francisco here >>

Seattle

Rain or shine, Seattle is the most vibrant and interesting city in the Pacific Northwest. While its a safe bet to expect a few gray days during your visit, there is plenty of outdoor and indoor fun to be had. Find travel information about Seattle here >>

10 Easy Meals to Make Between Classes

Are you in a time crunch between classes, jobs, and activities?  Check out these ten great meals that you can make in under ten minutes.  You can learn more about quick easy meals at The Kitchn.

 
1. Quick and Easy Fried Rice: Fried rice can come together even faster than 10 minutes if you happen to have a good selection of leftovers floating around. It's the end-all recipe to using up leftover rice and is tasty enough to eat for any meal of the day — yes even breakfast.

2. Apple-Arugula Salad Wraps: Although wraps seem more like a lunch food, for a quick dinner they can contain actual food groups and even do away with dishes if needs be. Perfect, no clean up!

3. Thai Crab Salad with Chili, Ginger, and Coconut: Since this meal merely needs to be chopped and tossed, it's quick to throw together and has big bold flavors that will satisfy without a laundry list of ingredients.

4. Miso Soup: Miso soup is perfect for those worried about over cooking tofu as it simply warms in this rich broth and suddenly, dinner is served! Check out this version with a poached egg — extra tasty!

5.The BEST Pancakes Ever: Pancakes might traditionally be breakfast food, but they're perfect for any meal in fact... we want some right now!

6. Egyptian Tomato Soup: This recipe just barely passes the 10 minute mark, but it can be made entirely from your pantry so there's minimal chopping or prep — making it a winner in our book!

7. Friday Night Slow-Cooked Brisket and Onions: So technically speaking this meal takes 5-8 hours to make, but there's really only 10 minutes of prep work involved. Make it before you head out the door to work and when you return dinner is already done for you!

8. Spicy Grilled Shrimp: These shrimp get a quick brine before hitting the grill, but since they cook up so quick, we're willing to overlook the extra brining time (only 30 minutes). Just make sure to drop them in the brine the second you come home from work or possibly lessen the salt and brine them while you're away (so they don't get too salty) to make things extra easy.

9. Thai-Style Omelet (Kai Jeow): This recipe comes together in less than 10 minutes which might even leave you time to walk the dog or check your email before dinner!

10. Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Corn, Goat Cheese, and Oven-Roasted Tomatoes: This meal is labeled as a 10 minute dish and mixes up with many things that you probably already have on hand.

What are your favorite no-time, extra-quick weeknight meals?

Here Are Some Great Moving Tips

Are you moving into Club Pacifica Apartments soon?  Check out these great resources for relocating to a new city. You can learn about the area, research public transportation, and find items on Craigslist.  Keep reading to learn more, and you can check out apartment therapy for more moving tips.

During my recent move across the country from one city to a new one, I can't count how many times a website or app totally saved my life...or at least made it significantly easier. I thought I'd share some of the tools that helped me get to my new home and get settled in, and exactly how I used them during my cross country trek...

• Google Maps: I have put every single feature of Google Maps to the test in my new city. The ability to switch between public transit, biking, and walking directions is a godsend. Google's biking and walking recommendations are smart enough to take into consideration bike paths, trails, busy streets, etc. — all the things you don't know about when you move to a new place. The public transit directions are also amazingly accurate, which can be hard to come by when you're dealing with unpredictable buses and trains.
  
  
• Getaround: I am car-less in my new city, but there are a few occasions that I've needed to move some suitcases or a piece of furniture I bought. Getaround allows car owners to make their cars available to rent by folks like me at whatever rate they choose. Getaround also handles insurance and all that stuff, and it's free to get started.
• Craigslist: Of course, Craigslist is a good old standby, but its value can't be oversold. I've used Craigslist to facilitate every part of my move, from selling furniture to finding a place to live to re-buying new furniture for my new home. Craigslist easily wins the "most essential" title.
• Forecast.io: As fall is starting to settle in, so has my anxiety over what the weather is going to be like and whether or not I'm prepared for it, since my new adopted city's weather is much different seasonally than where I used to live. Forecast.io looks great on my computer or phone, and helps me quickly figure out what's the current weather, what to expect in the coming hours/days, and if I should really be so worried about the clouds I'm staring at here in Portland.
• Local websites and apps. I find it's important to find some time getting familiar with a new city's culture and events. In my move to Portland, PDX Pipeline has been a must for finding out about events and concerts in the city. The PDX Bus has been a great app to help with transit planning, and Cart Compass has helped me find the best gourmet food out of a truck in the city. I found most of my Portland-specific websites and apps from googling or talking to locals, and I'd highly recommend anyone moving to a new place do the same (Jason's ongoing series of roundups of specific destination travel guide apps is a good place to start).

What are some of the first techie things you look for or set up in a new city?

Clean Your Apartment in Five Minutes

Do you ever get the text or phone call that says you will have unexpected company in five minutes?  Check out these great tips on how to make your house appear clean even when you do not have time.  You can learn more great apartment tips at apartment therapy.

So you get a text message that tells you company is dropping by and they're only 10 blocks away. Don't panic. Take a deep breath, now panic and check out these 5 tips for making your house appear clean in a flash. That's right, I said appear. Who has time to really clean in 10 blocks?

1. Clean the Three T's: Toilets, Tabletops, the Television. What? The television? Yup! Most living rooms are centered around your tv and the amount of dust that hangs on it, your netflix stack and dvd box set pile that's off to one side could be tell tale signs of why the rest of your house isn't exactly spotless. Plus if you sit chatting in the living room, you'll be staring at it wishing you would have moved it. Toilets and tabletops are a bit more self explanatory, but important none the less.
 
2. Stash with Efficiency: When company drops in we've all been in a situation once or twice where things get tossed in a basket and shoved in the spare bedroom or closet. It's a quick solution, but it can be done with more efficiency so you can find your stuff later on. Add things to your basket according to the room they go in. That way when company leaves, you can remove the items easily without making 100 trips across your house or apartment to put things where they belong.
 
3. Pet Hair: Even if you have a sparkling clean house, if your sofa is covered with a layer of dog or cat fur, it suddenly looks less tidy. Keep a rubber glove or your favorite pet hair busting product on hand to knock it all down in a few sweeps.
 
4. Dishes Be Gone in Seconds Flat: Please don't judge me for this tip. Admitting that I've done it more than once is punishment enough alright? So here goes. Put your dishes in your oven. Wait, what? If you pile your dishes in the sink then it looks like you threw them all in there at the last minute as everyone knows you can't really wash dishes in that manner and you'll still look like a slight slob, even though you have clean counters. Instead, grab a baking sheet and stack like items together and slide them in the oven. They'll slide right back out, be prestacked and ready to be washed so you can recover from the guilt you just gave yourself for following through with this tip. Side note: don't preheat your oven... even by accident... until they're removed.

5. Spend 5 Furious Minutes on Your House Everyday: Isn't that cheating? We're talking about last minute company here, not preparing all week long for them to come! True, but think about how much you can clean in those few minutes before they arrive. 10 blocks isn't much. With traffic and parking and walking up your stairs, 5 minutes is a safe estimate. Bring that panic to your life every day and clean with the same intensity for just 5 minutes and your house will always look better for it. Plus, you still have time to watch Raising Hope without telling yourself you'll pick up on commercials.

Packing Over Buying

 Everyone wants to buy lunch everyday at school.  There is always a variety to choose from, and it tastes delicious.  However, packing your lunch everyday can save you money and it can be healthy.  Check out The Kitchn and keep reading for more lunch packing tips.

The act of bringing my lunch to the office ebbs and flows to some unidentified beat: sometimes I'm great at packing my containers and bringing snacks and other times I catch myself buying everything from coffee to salads and soups. The first obstacle is that I work within walking distance of many pretty good take-out restaurants. But the real barrier to transforming into a brown bag expert? Planning ahead.

Yes, I'll admit, I'm not much of a master meal planner. And I'm less than realistic about what I'll actually eat. Should I pack lentil soup four days in a row? Sure, I'll eat it! I think, until I decide to just save the soup in the back of the office mini fridge, day after day, while running out to buy lunch, until the soup meets its eventual trash can demise.

So, from me to you (and with a little help from Mark Bittman), here are a few tips and recipes for starting up a brown bag habit:
 
1. Be Realistic - You know what you like, so why trick yourself into thinking you'll be fine with a few carrot sticks and hummus and no mid-afternoon snack (a must in my workday)? Think of packing for your inner kid: lunches you can look forward to with even better snacks.
 
2. Plan and Plan Again - Browse the grocery aisles with lunch targets in mind: a variety of sandwich or salad toppings, for example, and some so-called emergency granola bars or fruit that can be there when the planning fails (or hangry time kicks in). Set aside a Sunday and cook food to freeze for lunches (and dinners, too) later on.
 
3. Always Think Leftovers - My all time favorite packed lunch in school was a slice of cold Domino's pizza. Seriously. Cold noodle salads are ideal for bringing for lunch as well, and even if you plan on warming last night's dinner up in the microwave, think ahead to make it into a meal. Order an extra portion to take home, or, cook a few extra servings.