Crunchmaster Winner!!!

And the winner of the Crunchmaster  case is comment #8 from rescueweims!!! Keep an eye out for an email from me so I can get your info. to Crunchmaster to send out your crackers. I will have another great giveaway coming this week!!

Crunchmaster Review and Giveaway!!

Happy Holidays everyone!! I have a great product to share just in time for all your holiday lunches and parties! They are called Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers and I really liked them!! I was given the opportunity to try and share these with you because I am a Moms Meet Blogger . If you are interested in trying great "green" products with your Mom's group or to share on your blog make sure you check them out!

A few weeks ago we celebrated my daughter's 8th birthday and my Dad's b-day as well. He'd probably prefer I leave out his age,lol!!  Anyway we had everyone over and I decided to whip out the Crunchmaster crackers to see how they went over with a very diverse crowd. I had White Cheddar flavor as well as Sea Salt. We used them with both warm and cold dips and spreads as well as cheese. Everybody seemed to really like them and nobody complained that they were too healthy,lol! My daughter is the only one who said they were only so-so, but even she ate alot of them so she couldn't have disliked them that much! I personally think they are great and have continued to enjoy my leftover samples with all of the great holiday dips and spreads I have been making.

One of the great things about Crunchmaster crackers is that they are Gluten free. I have alot of friends and family who are gluten-free and they are always looking for tasty and affordable gluten-free options. They have a great crunchy texture and alot of flavor!

Crunchmaster crackers are also made in the USA with whole grain ingredients and only 3grams of fat per serving size of 15 crackers. That's 65% less fat than typical crackers!! So if you are watching what you eat, like I am, these are a great choice! 

If you'd like to learn more about the other flavors available or where you can find them near you visit the Crunchmaster website. You can also find a $1 off coupon there as well. And don't forget to like the Crunchmaster Facebook Page too!!

Now for the fun part!! Crunchmaster and Moms Meet want to give you a case of Crunchmaster crackers!! That's right, a whole case!!  You will need to leave a separate comment for each thing you complete. Make sure you leave an email so I can contact you.  Here is how you can win:

1) "Like" Crunchmaster on Facebook

2) Visit the Crunchmaster website and tell me what product you most want to try

3) "Like" One Cool Lunch if you already do that counts too!

4) Follow my blog via GFC, if you already do that counts!

5) "Like" Moms Meet on Facebook

Contest is open to US residents only. Contest ends Dec. 16th at 11:59 pm. Winner will be announced on or around  Dec.17th.

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of

the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received

it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I

agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My

opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media

Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

We have a winner!!

I used random.org to pick my winner and the winner is Rachel!! Congrats Rachel, check your email! And thank you to everyone who entered. 

Remember you can find Lunchbox Love at your local Michael's store, Pottery Barn Kids or Learning Express. you can also purchase them online from Say Please. 

Have a great day!!

Jen

Lunchbox Love Review and Giveaway!!

I am very excited to tell you about these great little lunchbox notes called Lunchbox Love.  Lunchbox Love are adorable little notes that you can put in your child's lunch. They are printed with messages of love and encouragement on one side and fun facts on the other. They even include a few blank ones for you to write your own special messages as well. They also have a holiday collection! And it's not surprising that 2 moms are behind this great idea!

I was sent Vol. 1-4 to take out for a test run. I thought they were really cute and make it quick and easy to put a little note in your child's lunch. Last week I started putting them in my daughters lunchbox. She loved them and said her friends enjoyed reading the facts on the back as well. She even brought them back to keep in her room. Here are a few of the lunches I sent the cards in:

These would also be great to tuck in a coat pocket or backpack as well! These notes are available on the website as well at local stores such as Michael's, Pottery Barn Kids and Learning Express. They retail for around 2.99 a pack.

Now for the best part! The folks at Lunchbox Love have given me a Seasonal Lunchbox Love combo to giveaway to one lucky winner!! Here's how you can win!

1. "Like" Lunchbox Love on Facebook
2. Visit Lunchbox Love and tell me why you think your children will like these.
3. Follow this blog ( if you already do that counts)
4. "Like" One Cool Lunch on Facebook

Leave a separate comment for each thing that you do and make sure to leave an email address so I can contact you if you win. Contest will end at 9am Oct. 19th so that I can get the notes to the winner in time to use the Halloween ones! *US residents only*

Good Luck!!

Jen






** I was not paid to do this review. I was sent a sample of this product and all thoughts, ideas and opinions expressed are mine and were not edited or changed by anyone.**

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

One of my all time favorite cookies to make are Pumpkin Chocolate Chip ones! They are super yummy. So good in fact that because I forgot to take a picture right after I made them I have no picture to share since we only have a few left,LOL! Anyway the recipe is too yummy not to share and next time I will take a picture before they are gone!

2 sticks softened butter

1 Cup granulated sugar

3/4 Cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 Tablespoon pure vanilla

1 Cup pumpkin, from can

3 1/4 Cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 oz bag chocolate chips or chunks

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs and vanilla until well combined then add pumpkin.

2.  Place flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon into large bowl; mix to combine then slowly add to wet ingredients then add chocolate chunks or chips.  Mix only until just combined.

3.  Scoop medium cookie scoop of dough onto a  parchment lined baking sheet, about an inch apart.  Bake for 9-11 minutes or until edges just begin to brown.  Let cool on pan for 5 minutes before removing.

Enjoy!!!

I will be posting a giveaway tomorrow, so make sure you come back so you don't miss it!!

Have a great day!

Jen

Discount!!

The fine folks at Kids Konserve are offering readers of this blog a 15% discount on their entire order until Halloween! That's a great deal! Kids Konserve offers lots of great waste free lunch products and they are not just for kids, moms and dads will love them too! My current favorite item are the ice packs with the sweat-proof covers!! Make sure you like them on Facebook too and tell them One Cool Lunch sent you!

To get your discount simply use the code BLOG15 at checkout.

Have a great Tuesday!!

Jen

Let's Go Tigers!!

If you are a Yankees fan, well, I'm sorry. Here in Michigan we like our sports teams and yesterday was a stellar day. Tigers, Lions and Red Wings all won!! Heck the Lions are now undefeated, proving miracles really do happen!! Since the Tigers are in the playoffs, today was Tiger's day at school. My daughter wore her  t-shirt and orange leggings and I made a lunch fitting for the occasion!

I used mini chocolate chips for the eyes and nose of the tiger and then used my food writers for the other details. I found the Detroit Tigers pick at my local cake and candy supply and placed it on a Halloween whoopie pie we made this weekend. We did shooting stars since the Tigers are our stars this week and mandarin oranges because they are orange and she wanted them,lol! She also wanted and orange yogurt smoothie so that's in there too. Usually I don't let her see the lunches before lunch time at school but today she helped me make it and told me it was "AWESOME". Mission accomplished!

Now go get those Yankees, boys!! GO TIGERS!!

Jen

Pumpkin Spice Treats

During the same stop at Wal-Mart that produced the dolphin cutter, my daughter found Pumpkin Spice marshmallows and had to have them. They are orange and pumpkin shaped, very cute. I instantly had thoughts of wonderful lunch box pumpkin patches! Of course my dreams were shattered when we got home and she declared that she did not like them :(  Too much spice she said.

So on the back of the bag they said to use them for rice cereal treats. So I was back in business for cute treats. The bag recipe said to make them in the microwave but I did them the old fashioned stove top way as I think they turn out better. I cut mine into Halloween shapes and added Halloween sprinkles to half the batch since not everyone in my family is a sprinkle fan. To do that I just pressed the sprinkles into the top of one half of the treats while still warm before I cut them.

Since my daughter didn't like them, I made them for my husband to take to work. However my daughter tried the treats and said they tasted pretty good so we kept a few at home for her ;)  They were a huge hit at work and I think they would make a great alternative to traditional cereal treats that always turn up at school parties. I also threw a few of the marshmallows in my latte and it was pretty tasty. I think they'd be great in hot cocoa too!

Have a relaxing Sunday!

Jen

Dolphin Tale

This weekend my daughter will be going to her BFF's b-day party. They will be going to the movies to see Dolphin Tale. So when I stumbled upon a dolphin sandwich cutter the other day, I knew I had to do a lunch to honor her b-day.

I used the Goodbyn Bynto for this one. We have dolphin ham sandwiches for which I used my food writers to add eyes and a mouth. Fish butter cookies that have chocolate on the back for a treat, and a beach umbrella in the red peppers. I think it turned out cute.  Here is what the cutter looks like:

I found the cutter by accident at my local Wal-Mart store when I ran in for a few things. As we waited in the 10 items or less line I noticed some things hanging behind the counter by the cigarettes and low and behold they were sandwich cutters. I have no idea why they were hanging there, it's not like they are high ticket theft items, it was only $1.98!! And I am not sure how they go with cigarettes either, but it just goes to show you always have to have your eyes open for cool stuff!

Goodbyn Bynto Review

When the great folks at Goodbyn asked me to do a review of their new smaller version the Bynto I was obviously very excited!  I have a Goodbyn original already and have been pretty happy with it. The only downside was sometimes it was just too big for our needs. The Bynto looked like a great alternative for days when we didn't need so much space.

First let me tell you a little about Goodbyn. They are made in the USA and we all know how important that is and how hard it is to find products made here. They are free of BPA and Phthalates, so they are safe for you and your children. They are 100% recyclable and help you create a waste free lunch which is good for the Earth! And last, but most important to busy moms, they are top drawer dishwasher safe ;)

For my review I received a strawberry colored Bynto, a large ice pack and a pack of limited edition stickers as seen here:

All Goodbyns will come with stickers to decorate your Byn and the Byns come in a variety of colors and with or without ears too. The stickers pictured here are in addition to the ones that already come with your Bynto. Goodbyn offers additional packs of stickers by different artists and you can check them out here . The stickers are also dishwasher safe as well, bonus! My daughter loved decorating her Bynto, and we had more than enough stickers to do so and you can even use the stickers on other containers or water bottles you may have. I like that you can create your own personal lunch box style! Here is my daughter's Bynto.

Next it was time to pack a lunch. The Bynto also comes with it's own water bottle so you don't have to worry about that either. I found the Bynto to be a good size for my daughters lunch. Wasn't too big but wasn't too small. It might be too small for older kids but for lower elementary it seems to be a good size. The key to the Bynto is making sure you the top on tightly. Do a few practice runs with your child and they will be an old pro after just a couple times. The Bynto is not leak-proof so you wouldn't want to try putting soup in there! But it does seal nicely and I have never had a leaking problem if the lid was on correctly. Here are a couple we did.

Goodbyn does not make an insulated bag for their products, yet. But I have heard they are working on it and hope to have one out in 2012. I use bags that I already have on hand. The Goodbyn  ice pack was very nice quality and only filled with water so it is safe to use in your lunch. It was the perfect size for the Bynto.

If you would like a Goodbyn original or a Bynto  you can purchase one for yourself from the Goodbyn Store or you can look for a retailer new you. I know in my neck of the woods Whole Foods carries them. You can also "check out the Goodbyn  Facebook page too!

*This is not a paid post. I received a Goodbyn Bynto for the purpose of review. All opinions and ideas expressed are my own. This post was written by me and not edited by anyone.*

Happy Birthday Johnny Appleseed!

On Friday my daughter brought home a note saying they would be celebrating Johnny Appleseed's b-day on Tuesday. The teacher asked if parents could send a note on Monday if they could bring an apple related treat. I tried to think of what I could make and then life happened and I got busy. Sunday night it crossed my mind again and I figured she'd probably get tons of volunteers so it would be fine.

So yesterday she comes home from school and tells me I MUST make a treat as only 2 treats were coming. UGH!  So after searching the internet world for the perfect kid friendly apple treat , I settled on a cake from one of my favorite people Paula Deen.  The recipe I chose was Uncle Bob's Fresh Apple Cake .

I used Honeycrisp apples because they are my favorite and I had just gone to the apple orchard on Sunday to get them, so they were nice and fresh! I also peeled my apples and left out the walnuts to make it more kid-friendly. If I made this just for my family I would have added the nuts and kept the peel on to save time. This recipe is super easy, great for kids to help make and it turned out super tasty. I will definitely be making it again. It also would be a perfect fall treat for your lunch box as it's a dense cake and travels well. You could add orange food coloring to the icing to make it even more fun and great for holiday gathering.  Here's what mine looked like:

Strawberrylicious!!

As you may have figured out I love strawberries! Not only are they sweet and tasty, but they work well for fun lunches and snacks.  Yesterday in my Mommy Digger guest post I had some of my ghost strawberries. Ghosts are not the only fun Halloween shape that you can turn a strawberry into. They make great Jack O Lanterns as well. Here is a plate I made for my daughter's class Halloween party last year.

These are so cute and were a hit with the kids and the parents! It's also a great way to sneak some fruit into a holiday filled with too much candy and junk food! These are made the same way as the ghosts except you use orange colored chocolate. You can even find orange flavored chocolate as well to make if you want to make it even more fun. I hope you will  make some of these great strawberries this Halloween for a lunch, a snack, a party or all of the above!

Next week I will be bringing you a lunchbox review and I am also working on some other reviews and a few giveaways for the weeks to come.  Please be sure to be a follower and to share my blog and FB Page.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Jen

Halloween Lunch

Hi everyone! If you are a fan of  Halloween like I am, you are probably already decorating and getting ready. I think Halloween is such a fun holiday and there are so many fun things you can do with it. I hope you will all visit Mommy Digger and see my special guest post featuring a really fun Halloween lunch idea.  Tonight or tomorrow I will be posting a fun treat you can use for lunches, parties and just for fun. Stay tuned....

And the Winner is...

Our giveaway ended this morning and Jennifer Green won!! Congrats to Jennifer and make sure you check your email. Thank you to everyone who entered. I have lots of fun stuff in store for y'all, so stay tuned!

Giveaway!!

I promised that after I reached a 100 "likes" on Facebook I would do a Halloween giveaway so here it is.

My little Halloween package will include pumpkin picks, a  package of silicone pumpkin shaped bake cups and some cute Frankenstein picks too. Great items to get you started on a some fun Halloween lunches.

There are 3 ways to enter:

1. Follow my blog. Just click the button on the sidebar.

2. "Like" me on Facebook

3. Tell me what you'd like to see on the blog.

 Please leave a separate comment for each and make sure to include an email so I can contact you. Contest will end Monday Sept. 19th at 8am eastern time. I will use random.org to pick a winner. Good Luck!!

Mice

Yesterday I made this cat and mouse lunch for my daughter. The mice are one of her favorite fun things that I make.  And they are super easy!! 

You Need:

Strawberries

Mini Choc Chips

Choc. Chips

Red or Black licorice laces

First hull your strawberries and cut in half. Use mini chips for the eyes and nose and large chips for the ears. You can also use jumbo sprinkles in heart or confetti shapes. I used heart ones for the ears in the lunch above. Next cut  apiece of the licorice string and make a tail. I try to stick the licorice into the strawberry to keep it secure but you can also just simply sit the strawberry on top.  Strawberries and choc. chips also make great ladybugs as well. And since I know everyone will ask the lunchbox is a My Square Meal box .

Where do you get?

I get that question all the time! Where do you get your lunchboxes, where did you get those picks, and where did find that?! The answer is really everywhere. I am always looking and thinking how can I use that in a lunch. I know it's a little obsessive and as you can see I have alot of stuff and you really don't need all those things to do a fun lunch. In fact you probably have some things at home right now that you could use.

A really easy way to jazz up a lunch is to use silicone cupcake liners. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors and are pretty reasonable. They are also reusable making them earth friendly too, which to me is very important. If you don't have the silicone liners you probably already have a variety of the paper liners in your cupboard, those work great as well, and are good for the little ones who like to throw everything away!

Another thing I use almost everyday are picks. You can find these just about everywhere and you can even make your own. I find them by the cake decorating things, holiday items, drink accessories ( think little umbrellas) and I order often from allthingsforsale.com. All Things For Sale is an online bento supply  store. Proceed with caution as everything is cute and you are likely to get a long wish list that is not pocketbook friendly, so don't say I didn't warn you!

To make your own picks, simply take a toothpick, stickers of your choice and put one sticker on each side of the toothpick, back to back. And there you have it, a fun little lunch pick. You could even go as far as using your computer to print out labels and such of your own design to put on the toothpicks.

Lastly is cutting things into shapes. You can buy expensive sandwich cutters and there are lots of cute ones out there. But for the most part I use cookie cutters. They are reasonable, easy to find, come in all shapes and sizes and you probably already have a ton lying around your kitchen right now!

Those are just a few of the basics to get those creative juices flowing! I hope I have inspired you to go through your stuff and keep your eyes open when you are out shopping. And hit those dollar stores, I find some of my best stuff there ;)

Welcome!

Welcome to One Cool Lunch!!  My  actual lunch journey starts a few years ago when my daughter was in first grade. Like many of you I was not happy with what the school offered for hot lunches. They were not healthy and often not even appetizing. So each day I got up and began the chore of lunch making. I found that even when I packed her favorite things they weren't getting eaten and traditional lunches and boxes weren't working for us. There had to be a better and much more fun way of doing this.

The first step was to research and find the best lunch box out there. While I haven't found the perfect box yet , I have found some that come pretty close. You will see those in my daily lunches and I'll give more information as I use them.

The next thing was to make it fun, for us both! This is the easy part. All you need is a little creativity, imagination and some inspiration. I find inspiration everywhere and you and your child's unique interests and personalities will make it that much more fun. I am happy to report that lunch making is no longer a chore and they usually come home empty now!

I hope you enjoy the blog and I hope you can bear with me as I figure out how this whole blogging thing works,LOL!

Have a great day!!