School Lunch and Bento Box Recipes 4

• Combine olive oil, soy sauce, lime, honey, spices and salt. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag and add the chicken. Seal the bag and marinate the chicken in the refrigerator, turning once, for 1 hour. The chicken can be marinated for up to 4 hours.
• Heat the grill or broiler to medium high. Arrange the chicken on a broiler pan skin side down and broil until brown and crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Flip the chicken and broil until cooked through (to 165 F), about 10 minutes longer.
• While chicken is cooking, make the Green Sauce. To make the Green Sauce, place all the ingredients in a food processor and combine well.

• In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, marinade spices and garlic until smooth.
• Cut the chicken thighs into 1-inch pieces. Sprinkle with the salt, pepper, and remaining marinade ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
• When ready to cook, heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. When the oil is hot, carefully add the chicken pieces (do not pour remaining marinade into pan). Cook (in batches if necessary), stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Add a little more oil to the pan if necessary and add the garlic and the onions. Cook, stirring, until both are lightly browned, about 1-2 minutes. Return the chicken to the pan, along with any juices on the plate. Stir in the tomatoes, heavy cream, spices, sugar and water. When it simmers, reduce the heat, cover, and cook for 20 minutes; stir in more water, ¼ cup at a time, if the sauce becomes too thick, letting the sauce cook for a few minutes before adding more.

• If using canned beans, skip to step 4.
• Pick, rinse, and soak beans in cold water for 30 mins.
• Change water, and soak in cold water for another 30 mins.
• Brown sausage in a large pot on the stove
• If using canned beans, rinse well. Remove sausage from large pot and add beans. Add chicken stock and 2 cups water.
• Bring pot to a boil over medium-high heat. Add cumin, vinegar, and the bay leaf to the pan, stir and continue to simmer for about 15 more mins and reduce to a simmer.
• In a separate pan, add bacon over medium to high heat, and cook until lightly browned or bake in oven.
• Add olive oil to the skillet, then the onions and sauté until the onions are transparent, 2-3 mins.
• Add the garlic to the skillet, stir and sauté until fragrant and lightly golden.
• Add the contents of the skillet into the beans, return sausage to pot, stir and simmer until desired thickness is reached. Remove bay leaf. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve warm with rice.

Prepare the dressing

• In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients

Prepare the slaw

• Prepare each of the slaw ingredients as described. It is easiest to use a food processor, if available, to shred jicama and cabbage.
• Add slaw ingredients to a large bowl. When ready to serve, toss slaw with dressing. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

• In a large bowl, whisk together yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper. Add the chicken, celery, red onion, parsley, tarragon and lemon zest. Set aside.

Prepare the Dressing

• In a blender or food processor, combine tahini, water, lemon juice, minced garlic, cumin, cayenne, and salt. Blend until smooth. Set dressing aside until ready to use. Dressing can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Prepare the Seasoned Chickpeas

• Rinse and drain chickpeas. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Once oil is hot, add drained chick peas. Add spices to skillet. Stir and continue to sauté until the outside of the chickpeas are slightly brown (around 5 minutes). Season with salt to taste.

Prepare the Salad

• Slice cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, and chop parsley. In a large bowl, place tomato, cucumber, seasoned chickpeas, cooked farro and parsley. Toss with dressing.

Prepare the salad

• Chop all veggies up super small so its easier for your kiddo to eat. Finely chop romaine (if using) bell pepper and cherry tomatoes, and thinly slice green onion. Combine with black beans, corn, and grated cheese. (Add seasoned ground beef here if using) Toss gently to combine.

Prepare the dressing

• In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients EXCEPT milk.
• Blend until well-combined.
• Continue blending and add milk in small amounts until desired thickness is reached.
• Refrigerate avocado dressing in an airtight container up to 5 days.