packin' (lunches) and doin' it French style

Get your minds out of the gutter.  The French stuff is at the end. and about bread.  I've been married over 11 years with 3 kids, what d'ya expect?  Maybe I'll surprise you one day.  Probably not.  Anyway, a while back I had posted about a couple of giveaways, (found here).  I happened to win the one for the EasyLunchbox System (giveaway hosted by Food, Fotos and Fun).  I haven't started packing school lunches yet (it won't be long!), but I have used them a couple of times for Mr. Terrible Two.  That's the thing about having a child with food allergies, you have to pack "safe" food whenever you go somewhere, b/c you never know if there will be anything he can eat.  I will be so glad when he outgrows his egg allergy!! (supposedly he will)  Anyway, I love these little lunch boxes! 

As you can see, they came as a 4 pack (with a cooler bag!).  I like the fact that I will not have to buy thousands of plastic bags, that end up in the trash (except for my 9 year old - who saved hers and put in a recycling bin at school! Such a smart baby girl!) and they have large compartments with a tight fitting lid.

Check out the website here, they are also on Twitter and Facebook, to see all the details about the product (like they are BPA free!)  So anyway, that is my PSA for my 12 followers :-D 

On to a different subject...but as always, food related...I have had a bread machine for a few years now, but I always use the same setting.  The other day, I was having baked spaghetti, and I did not want to go to the store to get french bread.  And you know you have to have BREAD with SPAGHETTI - these carbs go hand in hand...why? I'm not sure.  I use a high protein pasta (Barilla Plus? I think) - so my (diabetic) husband can have some, and with all the cheese added to it...it will take a while for those carbs to work their way into his bloodstream.  (fat slows the process down)  Of course, it has eggs in it, so the Little Man can't eat it.  Anyway, getting off track. 

 

My point was, I made French Bread in the bread machine!

It had a crispy outside, and soft center.  It was a little more dense since I used 1/2 whole wheat flour.  Always trying to get more whole grains in!  The recipe came from BigOven.

Ingredients

1 1/3 cups warm water

1 1/2 T. olive oil

1 1/2 t. salt

2 T. sugar

4 cups all-purpose or bread flour (I used 2 cups wheat and 2 cups bread flour)

2 t. yeast (I used Bread Machine Yeast - I don't know if there's a difference)

Add ingredients in the order listed above and set bread machine to french bread setting.  That's it.  That's why I heart my bread machine!  No fuss.  I hate kneading, rolling, etc. (I never claimed to be a chef)

It went well with the spaghetti, and also makes a yummy cinnamon toast!

Something my little man will (and can) actually eat!