The Lunchbox Gourmet

Thermos Lunches

• Easy Fixes
• Five-Minute Soups

Easy Fixes

Ramen and Vegetables: Combine half a package uncooked ramen with 1/4 cup tvp granules, 1/4 cup thawed frozen vegetables, and 2 tbsp powdered soup. Pour boiling water overtop to fill thermos, seal and go.

Canned Soup: Heat your favourite variety of canned soup for 3-5 minutes over medium-high heat, until heated through. Pour into pre-heated thermos, seal and go.

Easy Cheezy Pasta: A handful of cooked pasta, reheated and then tossed with 1 tsp of melted margarine and a sprinkling of nutritional yeast. Stir well and pack into thermos while hot.

Mix and Match Mac and Cheese: 1 frozen macaroni and cheese microwave meal e.g. lean cuisine type OR a serving Easy Cheezy Pasta mixed with a handful of frozen peas and one of the following: shredded carrot, handful of cooked ground meat or veggie ground round, 1/2 can flaked tuna/chicken/ham, diced cooked hot dog.

Meatballs and Rice: Prepare some couscous or Minute rice in the microwave. Meanwhile, put some frozen meatballs (meat or veggie version) in small pot with stir-fry sauce to half-cover. Simmer five minutes. Pack rice or couscous into thermos and top with hot meatballs.

Beans and Rice: As above, except use canned baked beans in sauce, instead of meatballs.

Beans and Baked Potato: Cut a cooked baked potato into quarters or large chunks and layer in bottom of pre-heated thermos. Top with hot baked beans in sauce. Variations: stir in some chopped spinach, or throw in a handful of grated cheese before sealing the thermos.

Easy Indian: Microwave canned chickpeas with the sauce of your choice for about a minute, toss with chopped spinach and cooked, cubed potato. Pack into thermos and go!

Quick Chili: In small pot, toss 2 cups tomato sauce with a handful each of cooked ground meat or veggie ground round, canned or cooked beans, and frozen hash brown potatoes. Simmer five minutes.

Quick Thermos Cabbage Rolls: Bring half a can condensed tomato soup and an equal amount of water to boil. Reduce to simmering heat and add in equal amounts (1-2 handfuls of each) cooked ground meat or veggie ground round, and shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix. Simmer 1-2 minutes and pack into pre-heated thermos.

Five-Minute Soups

These recipes are a 'convenience' alternative to canned soups. If you have a stocked freezer, these really do take five minutes to throw together. I rely on having certain dry, frozen or canned ingredients ready to go: frozen vegetables, and small containers of shredded cooked chicken, cooked ground meat or meat substitute, and canned or cooked beans.

To make each of these recipes, just toss all the ingredients into a pot, bring to a quick boil and them simmer gently for 3-5 minutes. Ingredient amounts are approximate. You'll get 2-3 servings from one can of soup broth, depending on the size of your thermos.

Beef Vegetable Soup: Simmer tomato soup, 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, 1/4 cup minute rice and 1/2 cup cooked ground meat or veggie ground equivalent.

Chicken Noodle Soup: Simmer chicken stock, 1 cup frozen stir-fry vegetables, 1/2 package ramen noodles and 1/2 cup cooked chicken, cubed or shredded.

Chicken and Rice Soup: Simmer chicken stock, 1/4 cup Minute rice (or half cup cooked rice), handful of cooked, cubed chicken and handful of shredded carrot.

Chicken Vegetable Soup: Simmer chicken stock, 1/2 cup frozen mixed vegetables, 1/2 cup frozen hash brown potatoes and 1/2 cup cooked chicken, cubed or shredded.

Tuscan Chickpea Soup: Simmer chicken or vegetable stock, 1/2 cup chickpeas, 1/4 cup couscous, 1/4 cup canned spinach (diced) and 4 tsp lemon juice.

Italian Wedding Soup: Simmer chicken or vegetable stock, 10 frozen meatballs or vegetarian 'meatballs', 1/4 cup couscous and 1/4 cup canned spinach.

Easy Lentil Stew: Simmer chicken or vegetable stock, 1/2 cup canned or cooked lentils, 1/2 cup frozen hash brown potatoes and 1/4 cup canned or frozen diced vegetables.

Hearty Tomato Stew: Simmer Simmer chicken or vegetable stock, 1/2 cup canned or cooked lentils, 1/2 cup frozen hash brown potatoes and 1/2 can diced tomatoes.

Pasta Fagioli Stew: Simmer chicken or vegetable stock, handful of frozen tortellini or ravioli or other filled pasta, 1/2 cup cooked or canned beans and 1/4 cup tomato sauce.

Sweet Potato Soup: Simmer chicken or vegetable stock, 1 cooked and mashed sweet potato, 1 cup cooked or canned carrots or butternut squash. Puree with immersion blender before pouring into thermos.