With the children going back to school tomorrow, it is back to making packed lunches! I am always looking for recipes and packed lunch ideas to make sure that my children have something that they like, tastes good, but does good too. After being off school for two months, making sure that they have enough energy is definitely a priority, as well as food to keep them healthy and well; there is still an ongoing pandemic after all.
We have been trying out Hovis Best of Both recently, and it has been working well for sandwiches at home, that I know it will also work well for lunch boxes. The children like to have Best of Both bread, as it isn’t just wholemeal or full of ‘nuts’ as my children call it (they actually mean seeds in granary bread). Hovis Best of Both is a mix of specially white and wholemeal flour so it is a texture that they like to eat, but has the goodness of both flours.
The mix of the two flours also makes for a tasty loaf, but I also really like that it is a source of other goodness too.
Hovis Best of Both contains calcium which is such an important mineral for us all, but especially for children, as it helps out teeth and bones. The bread is also rich in vitamin D, which is important for our immune system. The bread is also a source of fibre, and is low in sugar and fat. If that wasn’t all, it is also vegan!
Here are three tasty recipes that we’ve been trying out with Hovis Best of Both and they are all a great combination! It would be great to hear what you think.
Falafel, Hummus, and Aubergine Salsa Sandwiches
This might sound like a bit of an interesting combination for some, but is a winner with my daughter and I (both veggies). I used an aubergine dip, but something like salsa could work well too, jut for extra flavour, or perhaps a bit of harissa for taste. You could also leave it plain with just the falafel and hummus.
Ingredients:
- hummus, to spread
- three falafel, halved
- spoonful of aubergine dip (or salsa)
- 2 slices of Hovis Best of Both bread
The hummus is used instead of butter, spread onto one slice of bread. The dip or salsa is spread onto the other slice of bread. Put each halved falafel onto the hummus side of bread, and then make your sandwich with your other slice of bread. The bread could be toasted before making too, if you’re looking for a sandwich with a crunch.
New York Deli-Style Pastrami and Pickle
We honestly can’t get enough of pickles in our house, and as they work well with things like pastrami and mustard, they make a great sandwich. My son particularly loves this combination, being the meat-eater in the house.
Ingredients:
- 2 slices of Hovis Best of Both bread
- 2 slices of pastrami
- butter or mayonnaise, to spread
- pickles, havled
- rocket
- mustard (optional)
Using butter or mayonnaise, spread on each slice of bread. Layer the pastrami on one slice, topping with the pickles, rocket, and mustard, if using. Serve and enjoy!
Vegan Tuna Mayo
I have been vegetarian for three years now, and one thing I would probably say I miss the taste of is tuna and cucumber sandwiches. Thankfully, I have found recipes that help to give the taste and texture of tuns, just without the actual tuna! For this, you could also add in sweetcorn or red onion, whatever you like to have with your tuna mayo.
Ingredients:
- 2 slices of Hovis Best of Both bread
- 200g tin of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- juice of 1/4 lemon
- 2 tbsp vegan mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp white miso paste
- cucumber slices
- salt and pepper
Mash the chickpeas in a bowl with a fork or small masher, until you have a texture that you desire. Stir in the remaining ingredients, other than the cucumber, and make sure you season with salt and pepper. Spread on one slice of bread, topping with cucumber slices. Add you other slice of bread on top and you are good to go. If you double up the recipe, then it will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for about a week (works well as a vegan jacket potato topping too).
You can buy Hovis Best of Both in most supermarkets, but I bought it online at Tesco.
What are your favourite sandwich combinations in your house? Have you tried the new recipe Hovis Best of Both yet? It would be great to hear what you think.
*this is a collaborative post with Hovis, but all words and opinions are my own.
