Finger foods / lunchables?

[Diana Cda]

Can anyone recommend recipes for finger foods or "lunchables" that one can make? I'm more or less okay with lunch at work. Salads and stuff are easy to eat as there's a cafeteria. But it's tough when you're on the road on the weekends doing grocery shopping, etc. It would be nice to have something raw but not cookies and such. I'm thinking finger foods, like nuggets of some kind. A little container of sauce is easy enough to carry around and it's easy enough to eat something like this as you don't need to find a table in a packed mall! <g>

But there might be other good things, too. Anyway, any recipes and ideas really, really appreciated! Tx. :)

[Rawbin]

Veggy sticks are always good or fruit- especially seedless grapes or berries. You could try stuffing mushrooms with a dip or other veggies. This is a tiny bit tricky on the run, but I like to stuff a bell pepper with sprouts and diced veggies. A final though- a baggy of nuts and driued fruit could be easy.

[Mookie]

There is chicken finger recipe in Alissa's book.
I have not tried them yet, but they looked really good in the picture that LIVINGATTHETOP posted. (The picture is not there anymore)

[heabrook]

Raw nut balls. They are filling and relatively not messy when eating as a finger food.

[tvillemom]

How about some crackers with guacamole or another pate to dip them in? I did that the other night in the car....crackers were in a bag, and guac. was in a plactic container, and it was dinner on the road for me!
Wendi

[vickiesltw]

I fix burritos mixes. The ones you usually put in cabbage or lettuce leaves and send those to work with either leaves or a spoon. My husband says their great, cause the get better as they marinade.

Also, Falafel, and hummus. But, he gets tired of veggie sticks.

His typlical lunch is:

banana
apple
nut butter or hummus
real toast (juliano's cookbook)
either a burrito or falafel
a bag of gorp--banana chips, raisans, carob, sunflowers

He typically brings a little home with him

Hope this helps

Lil' Brat

[juliebove]

Sprouts are nice. Like lentils, peas or chickpeas. You can eat them like popcorn. I also like a mix of nuts and seeds with a little dried fruit thrown in.

[heabrook]

I fix burritos mixes. The ones you usually put in cabbage or lettuce leaves and send those to work with either leaves or a spoon. My husband says their great, cause the get better as they marinade.

Also, Falafel, and hummus. But, he gets tired of veggie sticks.

Lil' Brat

Where did you get the burrito and falafel recipes? I would like to have them... I send my husband lunch too, and would love to have some new ideas!

[vickiesltw]

Where did you get the burrito and falafel recipes? I would like to have them... I send my husband lunch too, and would love to have some new ideas!

I got the burrito recipes from Juliano's here are the modified ones. Have to look up the falafel again. Will send in a little bit


Here is the slightly modified recipe for the Bella Burritos. (he way over seasons) If hubby doesn't like spice leave out the jalapeno has a nice heat mild heat without it. If you let this marinade a hour or even over night it gets better. Just slip it ino lettuceor cabbage leaf.

Veggie Marinade:

1 cup chopped mushrooms
1/3 cup Namo shoyu soy souce
1 c diced red bell
2/3 c diced tomato
3/4 tspn garlic
1/2 tsp minced ginger
1/2 tbsp minced jalapeno
1/2 cup olive oil
2/3 cup chopped onion
1/8 c lemon juice
1/8 cup basil
1/2 tsp rosemarry
2 tbsp black olives pitted and chopped
1/4 c sun dried tomato chopped

Another that is really good

1/8 c mint
2 cups avocado
1/8 cup Namo shoyu
1/4 c onion
1/2 tbsp rosemarr
1 1./2 tsps curry chutney (curry and dired lime mixed together. If you do not have this put 1 tsp curry and a little chunk of lime in the blender for acouple of seconds)
2 tsp kelp
1/8 lime juice
1 tsp jalapeno
mix by hand. When all combined put in cabbgage or lettuce leaf

Hope this helps
Lil' Brat

[rawpriestess]

This is what I do when I'm on the go,

I take
2 bananas, in a plastic container (I don't peel them, but you could cut them if you like and add some lemon or orange juice to keep them white)

I cut up pineapple, kiwi strawberries, oranges, plums, peaches, pears, melons, what ever they have at the store,

I also buy grapes and raisins, nuts (soaked, the dehydrated) and then I put then in individual plastic baggies then in one big plastic container that is hard sided.

I used to also take one small container of almond butter and some flax crackers.

you can also take any kind of veggie sticks, carrots, celery, peppers, cauliflower broccoli, etc.

and then I just eat what ever I choose

[aromaticwings]

When I was at work I brought oranges apples and bananas.. carrot sticks, celery sticks and tahini.. sometimes I mixed cinnamon in my tahini. I brought the tahini in a small container..

I did not put my stuff in the refrige..but could have... I had a small soft cooler to bring stuff in. You could use those freezer blocks in the coolers to keep cool. I have heard some people bring coconut water to work to drink...

I also made my own "bars" to bring to work.. actually they were not bars they were..like crackers only thicker..made with banana, flax, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, oatmeal.( I know not raw).. cacao, dates, goji berries.. mixed all together and dehydrated til dry. also brought flax crackers..

Some days I had all of the above.. and could not eat it..gogi berries are also good snacks.. I used to drop some in my water too to let them soak while working and drink the water...that was an energizer...

Hope this helps

[sport]

Soak almonds and then dehydrate them and carry in a plastic bag. What could be simpler and they will not damage or break (bananas and crackers).

[levamssg]

An easy packable is: cut a red pepper in half, stuff with your favorite pate or chopped vege mixture. Then put a piece of wax paper or plastic wrap over the top of one of the halves ... put the halves together and slip into a sandwich baggie.

Easy to eat -- no silverware required, just pick up and eat. They are quite filling too. If you use a vege mixture, a small container of dressing or sauce is nice poured over the stuffing mixture.

[vickiesltw]

Where did you get the burrito and falafel recipes? I would like to have them... I send my husband lunch too, and would love to have some new ideas!

Oh the Falafel is Juliano's recipe. I would check for a better recipe, cause my hubby will eat almost anything. I know that it has a very sharp bitter taste. I would try and find a milder version. I know that while hubby is finishing what we made cause it took so long he asked it not to be made again from that recipe.

Check maybe Alissa's cookbook. I do not know if she has one but she may.

My rule of thumb for his food is anything I would serve him at home I can send with him. He also likes the burritos and such because he does not feel like his food is different. If that is making since.

Lil' Brat

[vickiesltw]

Soak almonds and then dehydrate them and carry in a plastic bag. What could be simpler and they will not damage or break (bananas and crackers).

Why do you soak the nuts and then dehydrate them again?

Lil' Brat

[levamssg]

you soak the nuts to get rid of the enzyme inhibitors ... you can eat them that way without dehydrating them.

I dehydrate them to get back the crunchy texture ... I like that crrrrunch!!!

Also, when you dehydrate them, you can add spices such as onion, chili powder, garlic .. and make a different tasting snack.

[vickiesltw]

you soak the nuts to get rid of the enzyme inhibitors ... you can eat them that way without dehydrating them.

I dehydrate them to get back the crunchy texture ... I like that crrrrunch!!!

Also, when you dehydrate them, you can add spices such as onion, chili powder, garlic .. and make a different tasting snack.

What are enzyme inhibitors??? And why do we get rid of them???

Never thought about the spices that sounds good, how long does it usually take to dehydrate them

[rawpriestess]

you might try this link

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11764&highlight=enzyme+inhibitors

[Cinnamon]

This is something I take for a lunch on the run... Alissa's Nacho Cheese (yes, I do eat a lot of this!) and some veggies.

[heabrook]

That looks great. I haven't tried her nacho cheese yet!

I love cucumbers :D

[Diana Cda]

All these ideas sound great but I've tried most of them. I guess I'm thinking that something like nuggets would be easy with a sauce. I have mason jars with decorative metal lids that hold a sauce easily without dripping.

Does anyone have a nugget recipe? I found a spinach nugget one and made that once a year or so ago, but didn't care for it.

Does anyone have that chicken nugget recipe and can they share it? That sounds like an ideal type of nugget/croquette.

A favourite snack, though not a food, is spiced nuts. My favourite is just to soak/dehydrate sunflower seeds then coat with an oil/lemon juice mixture then dehydrate. After drying, it's easy to toss with barbeque and other spices. Delicious!

Fruits and veggie sticks I'm very sick of <lol>. Even with dips I'm just tired of them, that's why I'm looking for something else.

Thanks loads everyone for the ideas. I have a falafel recipe somewhere, I'll have to find it.

Cheers! :oD

[Diana Cda]

Can anyone share that nacho cheese recipe?

Thanks. :)

[Cinnamon]

This is one of my favorites, it has been posted on other threads so I will just paste it here for you. Enjoy!

Rich Cheddar Sauce
From Rejuvenate Your Life by Serene Allison

1 large red bell pepper
¼ c. water
¾ c. raw cashews, sunflower seeds, or almonds (I use 1 c.)
1 T. tahini
3 T. nutritional yeast (I use 2 T.)
1 ½ tsp. sea salt
2 tsp. onion powder (I use a small slice of onion.)
1 clove garlic
2 T. lemon juice
Whiz in blender until creamy. Add more water if it is too thick.

[Rawkinlocs]

And you can convert this recipe to a "nacho cheese" recipe by adding in some jalepeno!

Sweetgoddess posted a nugget recipe here once...here it is as she posted it:

In a food processor, blend a red pepper, a small head of cauliflower, a large stalk of broccoli, a quarter of a sweet onion, 3 carrots, 1 cup soaked almonds, 1 cup soaked sunflower seeds, 1/4 cup sesame seeds,3 cloves garlic, 2 Tbsp Braggs or namu shoyu, any herbs or spices you like, 1 tsp cumin.
Form this mixture into nugget shapes ( like chicken nuggets) and dehydrate on teflex or parchment covered trays until a little crispy. Flip after 4-5 hours.
Serve with honey-mustard dipping sauce ( blend mustard powder into raw honey)

*to see a photo of them, follow this link: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=52218&highlight=nuggets#post52218



This is one of my favorites, it has been posted on other threads so I will just paste it here for you. Enjoy!

Rich Cheddar Sauce
From Rejuvenate Your Life by Serene Allison

1 large red bell pepper
¼ c. water
¾ c. raw cashews, sunflower seeds, or almonds (I use 1 c.)
1 T. tahini
3 T. nutritional yeast (I use 2 T.)
1 ½ tsp. sea salt
2 tsp. onion powder (I use a small slice of onion.)
1 clove garlic
2 T. lemon juice
Whiz in blender until creamy. Add more water if it is too thick.

[wyjoz]

Here is: BBQ Chicken Fingers by Alissa
by Raw Food Author & Educator, Alissa Cohen | featured by greenchefs.tv
http://www.welikeitraw.com/rawfood/recipes/index.html
Ingredients

Batter
2 Cups Carrots
2 Cups Sprouted Lentils
3/4 Cup Orange Juice
1/4 Cup Onion
4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Honey
1 1/2 Tablespoons Curry
1 Tablespoon Poultry Seasoning
2 teaspoons Sea Salt
Instructions
The Raw Version of Imitation Chicken, These are spicier than my Chick-Un Patties, and are delicious served with honey-mustard sauce.

First in a food processor, not a Vita-Mix, process the carrots until diced.

Second, add in all of the other ingredients, then blend until well blended. (These should not be completely smooth, but more grainy looking). Then pour onto a Teflex on some Teflex sheets, which fit on top of a mesh dehydrator screen. Pour into ablong 2x4 mound shapes.

Now, dehydrate at 105 degrees for 10 hours. ( flip half way through if possible)

Notes: These will seem a little soupy before you dehydrate them, just pour them out and try to build them up as much as possible, you don't want them to be paper thin. It is very important to use the right amount of orange juice.

[Diana Cda]

You guys are the best! Thanks for all the recipes. I bought some large bags of cashews and almonds yesterday so I can experiment with a few things today and having two nugget recipes, not just one, is fabulous!

I had a typical raw food meal on-the-go last night after movies with a friend! It was all so delicious but, as always, _heavy_. That's what I'm trying also to get away from. Because I gave up plastic for the most part a few years back, the only alternative I've ever found is mason jars of various sizes with the metal lids. I have the pretty jars with designs and the tops with different pictures, so the jars are lovely, it's just that they're heavy. Perfectly fine when going to work because a) I only have to carry to and from and not worry about weight unlike when I'm running around on the weekends on the bus going shopping. Weight then is a problem because I have to carry around with me and makes problems with shopping I must also carry, and b) cafeteria at work allows me to eat lunch without problems whereas on-the-go I must hunt around for suitable places with tables to eat, i.e., food courts in malls.

All these food ideas above will help avoid these things. I can see easy meals in one of my light-weight enamel containers with just a small mason jar with sauce and I just have to find a chair somewhere to eat. Could even eat on the bus, if need be.

Thanks loads!