Teacher Appreciation Week

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, so I decided that the best way to show my appreciation for my daughters teachers is to cook for them.  I asked them if I could bring them lunch today and they said they never turn down food, so it was on.  I thought about what I wanted to make them for lunch, I wanted to make some sort of salad, lemon bars (I have a ton of lemons right now), some sort of fruit and some bread.  I also needed some sort of container to put the lunch in that I didn't have to get back.  I went to Beverly's the other day to pick up some fabric for a baby blanket that I am making, and I noticed while I was there that they had cute little paper boxes in a few different sizes and they were very inexpensive.  So I picked up 2 big ones and 4 smaller ones, some ribbon and some stickers that said Thank You (to seal the boxes).

For the salads I decide to make what I call a Cafe Salad, it is a play on a Nicoise salad.  My salad has in it mixed baby greens topped with a can of tuna (in water, drained), garbanzo beans, hard boiled egg, and some boiled new potatoes and served with a homemade Garlic Thousand Island dressing (the container for the salad dressing I got at the deli in my grocery for free, just ask they will often give you boxes and other containers).

I made lemon bars using a recipe that I have used before.  I got the recipe from Cooks Illustrated magazine.  They turned out very yummy and tart.

For the fruit I made my version of a melon ball salad.  I use a melon baller and scoop out the watermelon into a bowl.  I add to it some chopped fresh basil, and mint.  Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, juice from 1/2 a lime and crumbled feta cheese.  This salad is a great side dish at BBQs, it is very refreshing and different.

I added into the lunch a hunk of fresh bread that I bought at the store and a bottle of water with a crystal light packet.  I also lined the box with the salad and watermelon with some parchment paper, and the lemon bars had cupcake wrappers on them since I didn't really know how clean the bottom of the boxes were and I also didn't want there to be any leaks.  I wrapped the boxes in ribbon to make it look pretty and delivered it to the school right before lunch time.  The whole lunch for 2 cost me under $25 to make, and I still have half a watermelon and half of a pan of lemon bars.

After school, both of the teachers came out of the classroom to thank me and told me it was the best lunch they have eaten and they were so full.  They said all the other people in the staff room were jealous of their delicious looking lunch and then they asked me where I bought it.  When I told them I made everything, but the bread they asked for my Watermelon Salad recipe.  

It totally made my day!  I love cooking for others and it makes me happy to hear that they enjoyed what I made for them.  I think from now on I will be making all my kids teachers lunch one day during Teacher Appreciation Week.  

What do you like to do for your children teachers?