2016 School Lunches 133-144

All the lunches in this post are packed in  Yumboxes. I seem to use our boxes in shifts. 

Crackers

Cheese

Pepperoni

Cucumber

Apples

Chocolate Chips

MYO Vanilla Extract

MMM, vanilla. 

I love using vanilla beans, vanilla paste, vanilla powder, vanilla extract, ground vanilla. I never measure, I just pour or scoop it in. You can't get enough good vanilla.

Recently I ran out of vanilla extract, and I've seen this make your own extract all over Pinterest. So I thought I'd give it a shot. Even if I still have to go buy a bottle of extract until this is ready to use.

I didn't have a dark glass jar or vodka. So I found this little bottle of vodka at the store and decided to use it. Even if it's clear, light glass. I store my vanillas in a cool dark place, so I wasn't too concerned. 

Just about all of the posts I read said any cheap vodka will do. Some said bourbon and some said rum were good also. I picked vodka because I liked this bottle, I know right? I also needed some to make pasta sauce. So that's why some of this is missing out of the bottle.

I think I'll modge podge something on the bottle, a label. But I'm not sure yet.

Other than the waiting 4-6 weeks to use this stuff, it's really easy to make. 

2011 Bento 98, 99, 100! Back to SCHOOL

WHERE did the summer go!? Where did my babies go?! There is a little hiding behind her sisters that is still home with me, but she's not so much baby either! *Sniff*

I can't believe summer went by so fast. I remember when we had long summer breaks and long winter breaks.

 Second grade.

 Kindergarten. First year at the same school as her sister, since we moved here. We found out that their classes are right next door to each other at the open house. She looks so grown up!

These bentos are out of order since I have a few more I haven't posted from summer. But here we go. I wasn't prepared. I'm usually not, but more so today since I didn't go grocery shopping this weekend. Hurricane Irene gave us lots of rain and some businesses closed down. 

I packed the Yubo box for Piglet. I did a review on this box HERE.

Challah french toast

Hard boiled egg- molded, the molds I use don't work as well as ice cream sandwich molds.

1 piece of sausage

Cherries

syrup and salt.

No vegetables. We'll have a salad tonight.

 Planet box for Diva, here is my review on them.

I used the lock and lock for Pixie. I sometimes pack her lunch if we're headed out or just to eat at home.
Free back to school signs printed from Iheartnaptime.com

Challah- Bread Machine

I adapted this recipe from HERE. I use my bread maker/bread machine for the dough. I tweaked the recipe a little bit. I add vanilla if I am going to make french toast. I know it's not traditional, neither is the wheat gluten. Spices can be added to the dough. Cinnamon sugar can be swirled into the braid.

This bread is perfect for grilled cheese, french toast, toasted, not toasted, with Sunbutter and jelly... it's just good.

Caramel French Toast

This is some seriously FANTASTIC French Toast. Everyone here loved it. LOVED IT. So very easy to make too. I realize that this picture could have been set up differently, a little powdered sugar to make it pretty. But I didn't want to add more sugar to a caramel crusted French toast. Summer berries would be wonderful on this, fresh whipped cream also, or fruit compote. I use Challah but a French or Italian loaf would be fine.