’vu-i?: ? vw'b. 86-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 5, 1987 Perk Up Packed Lunches A new school year signals the start of morning rush hour in many households. The kitchen is often the scene of family traffic jams as students gobble down on-the-run breakfasts while mothers hastily pack lunches. To put an end to some of the morning confusion and to meet the challenge of crea tive, nutritious lunches, here are some suggestions: —Create a packed lunch menu that allows you to shop and plan ahead for supplies. This enables you to incorporate supermarket specials, leftovers and foods from the freezer into tempting, well balanced box lunches. —Spread butter or mayonnaise right up to the edges on both slices of bread to prevent sandwich fill ings from seeping through and jell ies and jams from “weeping.” —Spread bread slices or buns on the countertop and, using a large spoon, spread the mayon naise. Then fill the sandwiches assembly line fashion. —Stack sandwiches and cut all at one time. —Make sandwiches ahead and freeze. Frozen items will thaw in time for lunch. Pack separate bags of tomatoes, lettuce and other gar nishes to add at lunch time. —Pack chips, cookies and other snack items one week in advance then store baked items in the freez er and salty snacks in an air-tight container. —Fresh fruit that needs no pre paration except washing makes preparation easy. Not only does it save time but fruit is more nutri tious than other desserts. When fresh fruit is hard to find, try dried fruit Some mothers ask how those prepackaged fruit rolls compare with dried fruit. Fruit rolls are higher in sugar and low in other nutrients. A recent issue of "Nutri tion Action Healthletter” sums up the situation by saying: “Fruit rolls arc to dried fruit what American cheese food is to cheddar.” Now that you know all these hints, you’ll want some new ideas for lunch box specials. When noontime rolls around, the sand wich still rules supreme. But find Ed Potter, Certified Culinary Chef, from Stewartstown, demonstrated to 800 Ag Progress visitors each day. Potter made quick and tantalizing beef, veal and pork entrees which were then sampled by the crowd. Bone On The Range mg the same old thing day after day is likely to turn off even the most easily satisfied eater. Here’s a new idea for sandwich lovers: Loaf-In-A-Round To make this hearty sandwich, cook meatloaf formed in the same size as a large round loaf of French bread. Slice bread in half horizon tally. Pull out soft center from each half, leaving walls 'A —l-inch thick. Make bread crumbs from bread that has been removed and use in your meatloaf recipe or save for another use. After the meat has cooked, stuff it into the hollowed out bread load and weigh the load down with a plate or heavy object. This forces the meat’s juices into the bread which helps it hang together. Cool loaf at least 20 minutes before cutting. Freeze in sandwich portions for easy morn ing packing. YUMMY GRAHAM CRACKER BARS 'A cup butler, melted 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar 2 cups graham cracker crumbs 2 cups flaked coconut 'A cup milk 36 (2 'A -inch squares) graham crackers 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese 2 tablespoon butter A teaspoon vanilla I'A to IV, powdered sugar Heat and mix butter, brown sugar, graham cracker crumbs, coconut and milk together. Arrange whole graham crackers in a single layer to cover bottom of 9x13 pan. When coconut filling is thick, spread quickly over whole graham crackers. Top with remaining whole crackers, press ing them lightly into coconut fill ing. Cool. ' Soften cream cheese. Stir in but ter and milk. Stir in powdered sugar until it makes a thick, smooth frosting. Frost bars. Cut into bars and freeze until ready to pack lunches. CARROT-OATMEAL BARS 2 cups grated carrots 'A cup butter 'A molasses Lunch packers will love this sandwich. Make It ahead and freeze for easy lunch packing. Look for the recipe, Loaf-ln-A-Round, in this section. A cup sugar 2 eggs A cup dry milk powder 'A water 1 cup rolled oats 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda A teaspoon cinnamon A nutmeg 2 tablespoon orange juice (optional) 1 tablespoon grated orange rind (optional) 1 cup raisins or broken nuts (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash, scrub and grate carrots. Combine butter, sugar, carrots, eggs, dry milk, water and rolled oats. Beat well. Add remainder of ingredients. Bake 30 minutes. Let cool before storing in an air-tight container. f# X If you have recipes for the topics listed below, please share them with us. We welcome your recipes, but ask that you include accurate measurements, a complete list of ingredients and clear instructions with each recipe you submit. Send your recipes to Lou Ann Good, Lan caster Farming, P.O. Box 366, Lititz, PA 17543 Sept. 12- 19- 26- “You don’t have to be a professional chef to make delicious and interesting meals,” according to Ed Potter at the “Mealing Place” red meat exhibit at Ag Progress Days, Rock Springs in August. Thousands of visitors converged on the “Mealing Place” where Potter, a Certified Culinary Chef and Certified Culinary Educator transformed light pink to bright cherry red meats into tantalizing entrees. Sizzling cajun and delicate herb fragrances mingled with the mouth watering sjpells of beef, pork, lamb and veal during the three-day show. Potter demonstrated just how easy the new cook ing methods and recipes are . . . even for the novice. The featured recipe was prepared at “The Mealing Place” by Ed Patter. VEAL FRANCHAISE Prep, time 15 minutes. Makes 4 servings. 1 lb. veal cutlets, cut in 2 oz. portions flour, as required 4 eggs, beatened 14 cup white wine 1 TBL lemon juice 14 cup salad oil 1 tsp. garlic, minced 1 TBL butter, clarified 1 TBL parmesan cheese, grated Vi cup chicken stock £ 1 TBL parsley, chopped season to taste g'■ » I' A I I JM I Flatten cutlets. Dredge in flour, then dredge in beaten egg. Saute in oil until light brown. Reserve meat, discard oil. Add wine. Return meat to pan, add cheese and stocks. Simmer until liquid is reduced in half. Season and serve v t '" Recipe Topics Irresistible Breakfasts Oven-Ready Dinners Apple Lovers’ Recipes Featured Recipe ** X Sv «■ #■ N^r ' ar#