Julie’s Lunchbox Take Out

My theory is to always take food with you. 

You never know what you may encounter, and you shouldn’t be at the mercy of having to settle for something you don’t want, or need to eat, just because it is available and you are hungry.  Or worse, you may not have access to food at all when you need it.

Packing a lunch, based on your likes and tastes to me, is the best lunch you can eat.

Also, when you prepare your own food you know exactly what you put in it.  I view eating out as a treat, not a daily occurrence. 

Here are a few examples of my fun lunches that I take with me.  I didn’t intend for them to be of an Asian theme, that’s just how it has turned out.

Julie

A Candle and Fortunes

P.S.  I hope to add to this page as time goes by.

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Coffee, Before I Hit The Road…

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Let’s See:

I have to go into Tampa,

Drive into the (Military) Base,

Pick up my Prescriptions,

Fill the Car with Gas,

Shop at the Exchange,

Run into Class 6 (Base Liquor Store),

Shop at the Commissary,

And, Shop at the Commissary AGAIN.

(I run in the first time for toiletries, household items, etc.

and I run into the Commissary the second time, for Food.)

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Seeing as how this is going to be one of my big days,

I need to bring a nice lunch, and a snack or two with me, as I head out the door for the day.

There is always a Purse, and a Lunch Tote, and Plenty of WATER!

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If I Don’t Take Food With Me,

Then I End Up Picking At A Chicken From The Deli While Driving Home,

Which We All Know Is Kinda Gross.

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I Think Leftover Asian Food Makes Great Take Out Lunch

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Asian Soup To Go

W/ Mushrooms, Chives, Black Meatballs, and Kimchi!

(If you are wondering how Soup can be ‘Take Out,’ that is because it is generally quite hot before you leave the house, or you are able to keep it hot with good insulation, or you are able to heat it up while you are out and about.  Either way, it is possible.  Also, lukewarm is also acceptable sometimes.)

 

Don’t forget the Sanbai-Zu, (Sweet Vinegar Sauce)

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A Taste of my Easy Asian Soup

Chicken Stock, Asian Noodles, Fresh Chives, Sauteed Mushrooms, and Sanbai-Zu

Cooking the Noodles in the Chicken Broth…

then adding the Mushrooms, Chives, and the Black Meatballs.

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The Black Meatball Recipe will be coming this way eventually. 

Or at least the link to click on for the recipe.  Check back later on.

Julie Whann’s Asian

This will be where the above recipes will be posted.

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Dry Top Ramen Snack

The keiki’s (Kids) in Hawaii always keep a pack of Top Ramen in their pockets to snack on while they play outside. 

 Sometimes I will grab one to snack on while I’m driving and on the go.

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Another Fun Lunch For Me

Egg Rolls, Bao Buns, Spring Onions, and Chili Sauce

(I save the portable Chili Sauces from various Take Out foods that I have eaten over time.)

Again, you can keep your food warm with good insulation.

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My Tasty Asian Seaweed Dip/Spread

If You Would Like The Recipe…

Click Here For:  A Tasty Asian Summer

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I love these Asian Crackers:

Seaweed and Onion, and Shallot

They are large, and very sturdy.  I also like that they are packed in a plastic container, and wrapped with about 4 to a pack. 

They don’t come all broken as our crackers do here in America.

Here I have placed my Seaweed Dip/Spread into a small Bento Box with the Crackers, for a Take Away Snack

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Once Again, Out For The Day

This Time, I Just Needed A Snack

Taking My Aloha Snack Mix

The reason I named this my Aloha Snack Mix is that I had geared it more towards Hawaii than I did any Asian creation I might have come up with. 

Hawaii does have a large Asian influence.  But, it is a tropical Polynesian/Asian influence here.  

(Recipe Down Below)

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My Monochromatic Fortune Cookies

I Love Fortune Cookies!

I love that they are a nice crunchy cookie treat that isn’t very sweet.  I love the cute little message inside every cookie.  I also love that we can easily dress them up, and enhance them to make them even better.  Here is what I did to these Fortune Cookies…

You can find Fortune Cookies in the Ethnic Isle of your local supermarkets, usually.

 But if not, you can always shop the Asian Supermarkets near you.  

Ingredients:

Plain Fortune Cookies

Dark Chocolate, and White Chocolate Melting Wafers

Sesame Seeds:

Black, White, and Tan Sesame Seeds

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This is very simple to make:

You just want to melt some of the Chocolate Wafers in Microwave Safe Bows…

..and then dip one side of the Fortune Cookie into the melted Chocolates….

..and then, dip that chocolaty side of the Fortune Cookie into the Sesame Seeds.

Quite Beautiful and Tasty Too!

Just Allow Them To Cool and then Store in an Airtight Container

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Just a Sidebar Here….

Fortune Cookies, and Green Tea Ice Cream go very well Together  🙂

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Fortune Cookies, and Crumbs

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Made in Japan, Purchased in Vietnam…

..by my cousin Susan Keith when her husband Joe was injured during the Vietnam War, and Aunt Margie and Uncle Ray paid to fly Susan over to see Joe while he was in the hospital. She bought two sets.  One red, and one black.  She gave Aunt Margie the red one.  I then asked for it when Aunt Margie died, and Susan let me have it.  I love it!

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My Asian Salad, with a Ginger Dressing

I am one who enjoys taking a Salad for Lunch

I Love The Leftovers!

Especially With Chopsticks!

(Recipe Down Below)

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My Asian Salad (from above) To Go! 

With Dressing And All The Crunchies!

Sometimes a Snack of Scorpion Pepper Pistachio’s is a nice ‘out the door’ Treat!

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The Take Out Line Starts Here

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Asian Soup To Go

(I have that recipe above, and the link to click on for the Black Meatballs.)

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My Asian Salad, with a Ginger Dressing

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While a lot of people may not think of taking a salad with them to eat in the car for lunch, I do.

It’s not only healthy for you, but delicious.  I especially love that crunch, and the tanginess of the Ginger Dressing.

My Salad Ingredients:

1 Bag of Chopped Asian Salad, Readymade

Chopped Red Cabbage

Shredded Butter Lettuce

Stick Carrots

Sliced Crinkled Radish

Snow Peas

Crinkled Cut Multi-Colored Carrots

Jicama, Cut into Chunks

Mushrooms, of Your Choice

Ginger Dressing

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Everything Washed, and Drying

My Mushrooms, I purchased them from the Asian Supermarket

Everything Thrown Together in a Bowl For Dinner

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Readying The Salad Leftovers For a Lunch Treat on the Road

I LOVE the Crunchy Things!

Crunchy Beets

La Choy Chow Mein Noodles

Sesame Sticks

Crunchy Fried Won Ton

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Throw Everything Together in a Lunch Tote, Add a few Fortune Cookies for Good Luck!

Don’t forget the Ginger Dressing!

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My Aloha Snack Mix

I wanted to create a snack mix which reminds me of Hawaii.  After all, we lived in Hawaii for 13 years.  Hawaii is still with us, we carry that Aloha Spirit every day.  It may look Asian to you.  Hawaii is made up of many different cultures, some Asian as well as Polynesian.  I based this on what I think the average local Hawaiian resident would like to snack on.

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The Ingredients:

The ingredients are more of an Idea, and a Suggestion, but nothing is written in stone here.  You can change things up a bit if you like.

I wanted to make this mix in the same style that I do when I would make my beloved homemade Chex Party Mix. 

So, I am giving you the ideas, and you can go forward with the experiment.

La Choy Chow Mein Noodles (I used a bag and a half.  I believe the bags were about 16 oz. each.)

2, Top Ramen Dry Noodle Soups (I am using a Chicken Flavor, but not using the seasoning packet.  I am only using the dry noodles.)

Plain Almonds

Sesame Sticks

Dry Roasted Peanuts

Sunflower Seeds

Black Sesame Seeds

(The amounts of the above ingredients are up to you.)

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1, 1/2 Cups Tahini (Tahini is 100% Ground Sesame Seeds)

8 T. Fish Sauce

1/2 Cup, Aloha Soy Sauce

1/4 Cup Hawaiian Teriyaki Sauce

Water, To Help Thin Out The Wet Ingredients

(Wasabi Peas ended up being a Side, and not in the Mix)

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You will need a large baking pan, and a wooden spoon.

Adding Our Dry Ingredients First

Chow Mein Noodles, Sesame Sticks, Almonds, Dry Roasted Peanuts, Sunflower Seeds, and Black Sesame Seeds

Break up your Top Ramen Noodles, and add to the Baking Pan

Black Sesame Seeds

The Amounts For All of the Above are up to You

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In a Medium Sized Bowl….

Adding 1 1/2 Cups of the Tahini

Adding 1/2 Cup of Aloha Soy Sauce, 8 T. of Fish Sauce, and 1/4 Cup of Hawaiian Teriyaki Sauce

Stirring All The Wet Ingredients Together

(I wish that I had thinned it out more than I did.)

The Sauce is Still a bit Thick

It was good though!

I was experimenting and adding more of this, and more of that. 

However, I do give you the totals that I used in the recipe ingredients listed above.

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I Stirred Everything Together

Turn Your Oven on 250F

I decided to bake these along the same lines as I do when I make Chex Party Mix.

Into The Oven

Remove after 15 minutes and then stir together.

Then place the mix back into the oven for another 15 minutes.

Remove and stir together.

Then put it back into the oven for a last 10 – 15 minutes.

Remove and stir together.

Allow To Cool

I’m Cooling The Mix On Parchment Paper

Aloha Snack Mix w/ Wasabi Peas on the Side

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If you would like to view our other Asian pages:

Click Here For:  Whann Way Asian

AND,

Click Here For:  Whann Way Asian, E Ho ‘Omau (Continues)

AND,

Click Here For:  Julie Loves Asian

AND,

Click Here For:  Asian Edible Gifts

AND,

Edible Gifts of the Asian Variety

(Note:  Edible Gifts of the Asian Variety is the same post as Asian Edible Gifts.  I have both listed here for accuracy, but one is a Page and the other is considered a Post.  Confusing, I know.)

AND,

Click Here For:  Our Asian Easter

AND,

Click Here For:  Whann Way Sushi

AND,

Click Here For:  My Love Affair With All Things Asian

AND,

Click Here For:  Asian Steamed Buns:  Bao and Manapua

AND,

Click Here For:  Our Purple Sweet Potato and Taro Stuffed Steamed Buns and Asian-Pacific Sliders

AND,

Click Here For:  Our Asian Inspired 4th. of July

AND,

Click Here For:  Gordon’s ‘Year of the Tiger’ Sauce and Nam Jim Jaew

AND,

An Oriental Jezebel

AND,

Asian Inspiration

AND,

Chisana Atsukau (Small Treats in Japanese

AND,

The Year of the Rabbit (2023)

AND,

Japanese Girl’s Day (Hawaii Tradition)

AND,

Asian Eats (More Great Recipes to Enjoy)

AND,

Julie Whann’s Asian

AND,

Julie’s Lunchbox Take-Out

AND,

A Tasty Asian Summer

AND,

Plum Cake for Isabelle

 

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