Thursday, March 11, 2010

The best tuna you've ever laid lips on...

The other day a friend of mine asked me what I eat for lunch. That's a great questions. Lunch can be a difficult time for mom's. We're usually so focused on what we're feeding our kids that we don't think too much about ourselves. Often we end up just eating processed junk or snacks to get us through to dinner. So over the next few weeks I hope to share with you some easy, healthy, and delicious ideas for "mom's" lunch. Who knows...you may be surprised that your kids like them too.

When I was in elementary school my mom would pack me a lunch every day. It usually consisted of a sandwich, chips, fruit/veggies and a drink. I faithfully took my lunch everyday, but I had a little secret. I hated sandwiches. So when lunch time arrived, I would each my chips, fruit and drink, then throw my sandwich away. I don't know why...but I didn't want my mom to know that I hated sandwiches. I didn't want to hurt her feelings.

This went on for a few years, when finally around the 3rd grade I came out of the sandwich closet and admitted my disdain for anything smashed between layers of bread. My poor mom was devastated, not because I didn't like her sandwiches, because I had been starving myself for so many years. From that time forward she started packing me crackers and cheese, chicken salad, nuts and other non sandwich foods full of protein to get me through the day.

I've grown up sense then and I now occasionally like a good sandwich. But I'm still not a huge fan and I'm pretty picky about what I will put between bread. This is one recipe that is sandwich approved for me. However, most days I still prefer to eat it with crackers. It's more "carb" friendly that way. But any way you choose to eat it...it just may be the best tuna you've ever laid lips on.


TUNA SALAD
(Mindi Original)

¼ C. green onion; diced (about 2 or 3)
½ C. celery; diced (1 large stock)
½ C. slivered almonds
2 (5 oz.) cans Albacore tuna; drained
¼ to ½ C. mayo* (to your liking)
1 t. lemon juice
2 t. dill weed
½ t. garlic powder
½ t. celery salt
1/8 t. paprika
salt & pepper to taste

1. Combine the onion, celery, almonds, and tuna; mix well.
2. Add the amount of that you prefer. (I usually add less, but my husband likes more…it’s up to you.)
3. Add all the remaining ingredients; mix well. Add the salt & pepper last. Season to your taste.
4. Serve with crackers, in puff shells, or as a sandwich with bread of choice.
5. Serves 4 as salad and 4-6 on sandwiches.

*I use low fat or light mayo. My favorite is the new Kraft Olive Oil Mayo. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend you do. It has a wonderful flavor with half the fat and calories of regular mayo.

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5 comments:

sandals said...

I remember you let me try this when we had lunch together at ZSC! It is AMAZING! It's weird that you would post this because on Monday I was making tuna and I thought to myself, "I should email Mindi and ask her for that one recipe with dill weed". Yippee! Now I have it! Thanks, Mindi!

skr said...

What a nice post in your history, I love homemade stories ;] Like the previous comment, it's funny I read this post of yours although mine has to do with chicken. I find it hard at times to eat "Right" at work and just recently discovered a chicken salad I adore (which includes almonds & tarragon). It's simple, healthy and is the best Ive found (Im quite picky when it comes to chicken salad) Thanks again for the awesome post ;]

Mindika said...

S.
oh the good old days of ZSC! I can't believe you remember that. What has it been...like 8 years ago. Remember that time that you brought a can of tuna for lunch and tried mixing it with mustard packets. I think of that when I make tuna...I now know that mustard is not a good mix.

Kathy said...

Sounds delicious! Can't wait to try...and really looking forward to "mom" lunches...I am totally guilty of feeding the kids and not thinking about myself, then eating a whole bunch of processed junk for the rest of the day.

Debbie said...

It does sound delicious. and I like mine with crackers too.

When my middle son was in the 5th grade, (he is now 26) I went on a field trip with his class, and we had takend sack lunches. while we were eating our lunch one of the other boys asked me why Dustin always came to school with "bread only" sandwiches.
I had thought he was old enough to make his lunch, but while his brothers had been putting peanut butter or whatever between their bread, he just stuck two peices of bread in a sandwich bag.

I FELT AWFUL!! LOL

I can't wait to try the olive oil mayo.

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