Good lunch to prepare for coworkers?

[frannn]

Each Monday, one of our department of seven people bring in lunch for all of us. We have enjoyed stewed chicken with rice and beans a few times, chicken with roti, shrimp scampi, curry, meatballs, and oxtail. This Monday is my turn again and I want to make something that will be delicious, but will be easy and inexpensive. I was thinking maybe a spiral ham or shephards pie. One girl doesn't like fish and one doesn't eat beef, so that limits the choices. The ham is on sale this week and would be easy to prepare, but I would have to think of a good side and how to serve. Or, I could do shephards pie with ground turkey or chicken, but need to figure out how to get it to taste as good as beef would, as the poultry makes it a bit dry and gamey. We usually heat in the microwave, so I wouldn't be able to cook in a disposable tin...any ideas? Maybe something yummy I'm not thinking of?

 

[dgthree]

Each Monday, one of our department of seven people bring in lunch for all of us. We have enjoyed stewed chicken with rice and beans a few times, chicken with roti, shrimp scampi, curry, meatballs, and oxtail. This Monday is my turn again and I want to make something that will be delicious, but will be easy and inexpensive. I was thinking maybe a spiral ham or shephards pie. One girl doesn't like fish and one doesn't eat beef, so that limits the choices. The ham is on sale this week and would be easy to prepare, but I would have to think of a good side and how to serve. Or, I could do shephards pie with ground turkey or chicken, but need to figure out how to get it to taste as good as beef would, as the poultry makes it a bit dry and gamey. We usually heat in the microwave, so I wouldn't be able to cook in a disposable tin...any ideas? Maybe something yummy I'm not thinking of?

Ham & pineapple stuffing would be my thought. Maybe see if you can find a recipe for the mustard they serve alongside ham at Boma?

Keeping with the Disney food theme, maybe turkey bobotie? =)

 

[whatname]

I assume you have thought of cooking in the crock pot? How about a lasagna in the crock pot? Could be made with ground turkey. You could add some bread and salad. There are a lot of good soup/casserole recipes for the crock pot. I believe I have even seen shepherd's pie for it.

 

[meliss8599]

One of the ladies at our work makes a fantastic veggie "pizza". I'm not sure of the exact recipe, but I'm sure you can find it or something similar on allrecipes.com.

In general, it's made in a large baking pan. She rolls out crescent roll or biscuit dough in the bottom of the pan and bakes it. Then she spreads a cream cheese or cream cheese mixture on top of that and chops up various raw veggies (red and yellow peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, etc.) to top it off. It's a HUGE hit.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I would pass on the ham since Sunday is easter and many will be having ham for dinner.

What about soup? Or chicken noodle or minestrone? Or chicken cacciatore?

 

[bbak30]

I often cook for my coworkers and my favorite is pulled pork with rolls and pasta salad. Gets devoured every time and is super easy!

 

[maslex]

For our Christmas party at work, the boss brought in a crockpot filled with cut up/shredded up turkey & gravy. On the bottom was stuffing, then the turkey & gravy. People ate it just like that (with other things that people brought) or they just took a scoop of it and put it on a roll. It was actually really good. My previous boss used to always make (in the crockpot) a sausage, potato, onion & pepper dish. It was really good too.

You could also do a chili (turkey or chicken) with cornbread and lay out some onions, cheese, fritos, etc to put on top.

If you did do a ham, there are recipes out there for mac & cheese in a crockpot. Throw it together when before you leave work and then plug it in about 2 hours before lunchtime.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Why not do a breakfast casserole. Here is a recipe that you can put together ahead of time and then cook in the morning before going to work. I am assembling this tonight to cook tomorrow for Easter brunch with my family.
http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/cheesy-potato-egg-bake/ac8e5e04-1be2-41de-ab54-8973474d5447

If you have a crockpot here is another breakfast recipe you can make
http://www.jimmydean.com/recipes/breakfast/slow-cooker-sausage-breakfast-casserole

 

[TwoMisfits]

Do the ham (not everyone celebrates Easter and not everyone who celebrates has ham). To be a little different, I'd serve the ham as warm ham sandwiches (and have pretty rolls, a nice mustard, and a nice jus if you wanna go all out) and I'd serve it with a fruit salad (or sliced strawberries/sliced pineapple) and either a potato salad, roasted spring veggie salad, or chips (depends how "healthy" your coworkers eat - do you work with meat and potato people or more veggie-focused people?.

 

[pjlla]

I've made broccoli cheddar soup for 40 before.... I could share the recipe if you would like. That being said, it was difficult to keep warm, as it wouldn't even fit in my crockpots if I had used all 5 I own! I had to cook it in a big stockpot at home, bring it to temperature, and then wrap the pot in towels to insulate it and drive it quickly to the site and serve it immediately. Served it with oyster crackers, but sliced bread would be nice also........................P

 

[tarheel618]

How about a taco bar?

 

[clh2]

What about taco soup:

From Penzey's.

1 lb. ground beef or ground turkey (omit for vegetarian)
2 15-oz. cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 14.5-oz. can corn, drained
1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes
1-3 tsp. TACO SEASONING
1 16 oz. container salsa

Garnishes:
1 Cup tortilla chips, crumbled
1 Cup shredded cheddar, Jack or mozzarella cheese
1⁄2 Cup sour cream

1. In a soup kettle, brown the ground beef or ground turkey and drain any fat.
2. Add the black beans, corn, tomatoes (with the juice), TACO SEASONING and salsa. Water may be added to make it a little soupier as desired.
3. Cook over medium-low for 20-30 minutes.
4. Serve with garnishes.

Serves. About 8-10

It is a great soup, and easy to make, could easily be kept warm in a crock pot, or heated in a microwave.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I wouldn't do ham people will probably have ham on Easter.

 

[Mizzoufan]

My suggestion would be Baked potato bar. You could put the potato in a crockpot and have toppings. So easy and filling.

 

[tluvstink]

I was going to suggest a baked potato bar too.

Terri

 

[RN2003AZ]

My shepards pie uses ground pork/veal/beef mixture (or just ground pork) and sweet potatoes. Super quick to cook and reheats great. PM me for the recipie if you'd like!

 

[Karlzmom]

Honey Garlic or Honey Sriracha Meatballs w/rice. Can use frozen Turkey meatballs. Super easy, super tasty and budget friendly!

 

[frannn]

Thanks so much for all the tasty replies! I ended up making a ham (I guess I cheated because its a spiral pre-cooked one)... and twice-cooked sweet potatoes. I'm going to serve it with dinner rolls, and mini donuts for desert. I forgot the mustard, so hopefully I can find some in the house. I was hoping the posters who posted their ideas can post the recipes, as I'd like to try some of these for dinner and for the next time my turn at work rolls around. Especially the honey garlic and honey siracha meatballs, shepards pie with sweet potatoes, and of course, everything else posted . Happy Passover/Easter everyone!

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

Shredded chicken tacos

So super easy.

Chicken
Taco seasoning packet
jar of salsa

Spray inset of crock pot with cooking spray. Lay upto 2 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breasts or tender in crockpot. Sprinkle all chicken with taco seasoning, using fork to move chicken around and ensure all is covered. Pour entire jar of salsa over top chicken.

Put on lid, crock for 4-6 hr on LOW.

You can either shred the chicken on a cutting board with two forks, or sometimes I just mash the fork down into the chicken in the crockpot. Let all the juice re-absorb into the chicken for 5-10 mins.

Sometimes I do this with just 1 lb of ckn, use less seasoning and less salsa, mine are done in 4 hours on LOW. If I do 2 lbs, I buy the larger jar of salsa.