Yesterday I mentioned that I am one of the contributing authors in the new Cooking With Trader Joe’s Cookbook: Easy Lunch Boxes, which was just released this week.
And I’m giving away a copy of the book for one lucky reader.
The book is the brainchild of author Kelly Lester, mom of three, avid Trader Joe’s fan, and creator of the ingenious EasyLunchbox System. Kelly and the book’s co-authors share their stories, favorite recipes, and time-saving tips to make lunch-packing madness a thing of the past.
Here is one of the recipes I contributed
Holy Frittata: Spinach and Red Pepper Frittata
There are over 80 recipes for easy-to-prepare meals and snacks that will appeal to both kids and adults, such as Holy Fritatta!, Mangia Muffins, Work it out Veggie Wraps, Ham and Cheese Hug-a-bles, All Thai’d Up at the Office, Reuben Pasta Salad, Guyana Finish That Rice, Slap Yo Mama Vegan Burger, Caprese Heaven, Husband-Tested Chicken, Cauli-fornia Dreamin’ Pizza, Salad You’ll Swim Upstream for, Pasta-tively Delicious, and many more.
Nutritional information is provided throughout and the book includes gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and kid-friendly chapters, as well as substitution ideas for nut, dye, and other allergies.
And like the other books in the Cooking With Trader Joe’s Cookbook series, the ingredients are wholesome, no-fuss, and come from Trader Joe’s, but can be substituted with products and ingredients from other grocery stores in case you’re not fortunate enough to have a TJ’s in your area.
My fabulous friend and photographer, Marla Meridith, did an amazing job with the photography and the book includes gorgeous full-color photos for every recipe.
When I pack lunches, I generally like the food to have crunch, texture, or have an accompanying sauce or dip. Here are some items that I’ve made recently that I enjoy tossing into lunches:
Cinnamon Sugar Chocolate Pretzels (no-bake, vegan, GF)
Cheese and Crackers with Roasted Grapes and Balsamic Reduction
Banana Bread with Vanilla Browned Butter Glaze
Tempeh and Cucumbers on a Stick with Brown Sugar Balsamic Reduction Dip (vegan, GF if GF tempeh is used)
Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds (vegan, GF)
If you’d like to enter to win a copy of the Cooking With Trader Joe’s Cookbook: Easy Lunch Boxes, comment below to enter the giveaway.
1. What’s a favorite food that you like to include in the lunches you pack? (recipe links welcome)
Or
What’s your favorite cookbook of all time and why do you love it so much? (links welcome)
Or
What are a couple of your favorite Trader Joe’s products?
2. For a second entry, Twitter Follow @AverieCooks and and then tweet the following:
I entered to Win the new Cooking With Trader Joe’s Cookbook in the @AverieCooks Giveaway https://tiny.cc/rkznkw
3. For extra entries and you must leave a separate comment for each (please don’t do these ‘just’ for the giveaway and then unsubscribe or unfollow immediately):
Subscribe to Email Updates from my blog (upper right hand corner of screen – enter your email address and confirm subscription)
Get the Averie Cooks RSS Feed
Pinterest Follow & Re-Pin Something of Mine
Facebook Like Easy Lunch Boxes
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or post this Giveaway on your blog
Contest ends Wednesday, September 19, 2012 and winner will be chosen randomly. Open to continental U.S. residents only.
It’s almost impossible to choose just a couple of favorites from Trader Joe’s, but we do love their bacon ends and pieces, their Orange Cream Soda and their beer batter Vidalia onion rings.
I LOVE Trader Joe’s! Every time I have new foods to share to friends, I am like a walking advertisement for them! =) So many favorites it’s hard to pick, but my new obsession is honey roasted almond slices & nonfat greek frozen yogurt. Chocolate almond spread, chocolate powerberries, & Joe Joe’s = Choco YUM!
I LOVE Trader Joe’s! Some of my favorites are sweet potato chips, peanut butter, naan bread, nuts & of course wine!
I tweeted! @bluetamarai
So many favorites from Trader Joe’s, but the primo has to be the honey sesame almonds. I put them on top of my fruit and yogurt and they give a wonderful crunch and protein kick!
Just for the heck of it, my favorite cookbook is Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything (I think that’s the title)–the recipes always work.
i alwayssss love a pb & j!
My #1 fav at TJ’s — Sunflower butter…..,also…frozen mango chuncks, Chicken Satay and finally mynts!
Some of my favorite Trader Joe’s products are:
1. Unsalted pb with flaxseed
2. Spices (can’t beat the 1.99 price)
3. Frozen, microwavable spinach and artichoke dip…. Seriously so good.
My favorite snack to include in packed lunches this time of year is apple chips. They are healthy, crunchy, and scream fall!
I instagram follow you!
How awesome you are in the cookbook! And who doesn’t like Trader Joes?! I follow you on FB and newsfeed!
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with crackers!
I like you on facebook.
I follow you on pinterest
I could use this for some new lunch ideas…I pretty much eat a PB sandwich and apple every day at work! I love it but could branch out!
I am so excited! They are finally opening a Trader Joes in my area by the end of next year. I love the tomato less corn salsa. I add it to quinoa, beans and avacado for a lovely salad.