Mason Jar Salads and More + Strawberry Walnut Breakfast Smoothie Recipe

I mentioned earlier that my husband has been on a weight loss/healthy body mission. Going to the gym every day at lunch has helped him lose close to 30 pounds this year. Something new that he is doing is packing his lunch to take in every day also. I've had to get creative with dinners lately, learning how to make extra for left overs for him to take in the next day. Some days that just doesn't pan out, and he is left packing a boring sandwich to take in.

Most of you know that I am a cook book junkie, and when I was offered a copy of Mason Jar Salads and More: 50 Layered Lunches to Grab and Go, I knew this was a perfect solution for those days when my husband needs a tasty lunch when left overs aren't an option.

Imagine leaving the house each morning for work with a healthy and delicious lunch in tow—no morning prep required!

Introducing “Mason Jar Salads and More,” a new cookbook that will show you how to create fun and easy layered lunches, snacks and more. This book will inspire endless on-the-go meal possibilities with its 50 recipes and gorgeous full-color photos.

Thanks to the glorious Mason jar and smart layering techniques (dressing on the bottom!), you can make delicious dishes ahead of time and spend no more than 30 seconds grabbing them from the fridge on your way out the door.

Sip on a Mango Smoothie for breakfast, be the envy of your coworkers with Asparagus Risotto for lunch, and enjoy Spicy Hummus and veggies for an afternoon snack… You’ll never be disappointed with your weekday meals again!

My husband never thinks of a salad as filling, but looking over the recipes, I knew putting a few of them together for him to try would make him change his mind in a hurry! The Mixed Greens with White Beans sounded like a great way for him to add protein after his workouts. The BLT Panzanella looked like a great combination of flavors he loves. And the Guacamole salad was one I knew he would like because he really enjoys snacking on avocados.

There is a section in the front of the book that explains how to properly layer the salads to keep the ingredients tasting their best while they are being stored. Also, there are great tips on how to reheat your food in the jars. Even better, the book is filled with beautiful color photos of the salads.

Jason has also been waking up early to eat breakfast before leaving for work. Sometimes I don't wake up early enough to make him a hot meal, but there was a breakfast section in the book that gave me some great ideas for breakfast smoothies that he can make the night before, then grab on his way out the door in the morning. This basic oats and fruit almond milk smoothie was a great base for one of my new favorite breakfast smoothies. It combines 1 cup of rolled oats, 1 1/2 cups plain almond milk, honey, and berry or nuts for topping.

I have taken this recipe a step further and combined frozen strawberries and a handful of walnuts into the mix for a hearty breakfast smoothie to eat on the go.

Strawberry Walnut Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats

1 1/2 cup of plain almond milk (or any milk of your choosing)

2 tbsp honey

1/2 cup frozen strawberries

1/4 cup walnuts.

Directions:

Combine the rolled oats and milk into a mason jar. Seal, then refrigerate over night.

In the morning, pour contents of the mason jar into a blender. Add in the honey, berries and walnuts. Blend until combined.

Serve immediately.

Mason Jar Salads and More not only has some fabulous recipes to spice up lunch time, but it provides inspiration to create even more salads your family will enjoy!

More about the book:

Author- Julie Mirabella

144 pages

ISBN Number-  978-1-61243-289-2

Published by Ulysses Press, May 2014

Mason Jar Salads and More can be purchased at Amazon, as well as most major book sellers nationwide.

*Disclosure- I received the above mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was provided. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.