I love having lunch with friends. There is always lots of learning about one another, laughter and sharing. Friendships can be strengthened and encouraged through this simple act of sharing a meal. At this point in my life, I am very fortunate to get to share lunch with my best friend almost everyday of the week. My husband comes home for lunch most days, giving me the opportunity to cook more.
I know that few people often prepare meals at lunchtime and instead just resort to the plain deli-meat sandwich, leftovers or fast food. I know that I am often even guilty of serving my husband and eating food that has already been prepared for my midday meal. I know, however, that when we invite friends into our home for the lunchtime meal, we want to show off our best hosting selves and prepare a delicious meal for our guests. Since this is a meal we do not often cook, we do not always have lots of recipes or ideas of things to prepare. So I thought I would share some of my favorite recipes for simple, quick and delicious light lunch fare that I get to share with a dear friend of mine.
Sandwiches are great lunch fare, perhaps that is why three of the recipes I am going to share are sandwiches. Sandwiches can become monotonous, especially ones with deli meat, and while I have not invented the wheel with my recipes, all of my recipes are spiced-up variations on classics. One of my husband’s favorite lunch meals is my BLT wraps. This recipe moves these classic ingredients from sandwich bread to a tortilla and adds a new flavor with barbeque sauce. Another favorite is my chicken salad recipe. My simple recipe with green grapes and almonds can be served on your favorite bread for a light, refreshing meal. Another delicious sandwich is a tuna pita melt. For this simple dish, make your favorite tuna salad and put it on top of a pita. Add a slice of provolone and put in the oven until the cheese is melted. Serve with sliced tomatoes and onions for a new take on tuna. Not everyone is as fortunate to be able to make lunch at home everyday, but the BLT wraps and chicken salad can be prepared the night before (this works especially well while you are cooking dinner) and packed in the morning for a lunch on the go.
While my final lunch recipe cannot be as easily eaten fresh on the go, it can still be made ahead of time and eaten as leftovers for a light lunch. My spaghetti and cheese is flavorful and quick to prepare with the only downfall being the 30-40 minute cook time. However, if you have the time, I highly recommend this dish, as it strays away from the traditional lunch fare. Now it is your turn to invite a friend or two over for lunch, enjoy each other’s company and wow them with these delicious recipes.
