Ok, so lunch meat is killing Canadians, how do I make my own?

Question

With the Maple Leaf food recall list growing everyday and including products by Schneiders, Compliments and even No Name what are we supposed to send with our kids to school now?

I'm not willing to take chances with any processed meat at this point and even some cheese is iffy. I know that if I buy something that is on store shelves right now, by tomorrow the news will be telling me it's been added to the list of things to throw away.

We're not allowed to send peanut butter. Have our options been reduced to jam? Yeah...that will fly real well.

So, I have a turkey in the freezer. If I cook it, can I refreeze the cooked meat for use in sandwiches as we need it?

Do you have any other ideas for lunches?

Answer 1

You choice are growing more and more thin and with all the peanut allergies PB & J (we use Jam here in the Great White North), egg salad with the weather cooler, tuna (not Tunafish), homemade things like roast beef, turkey, ham and chicken salad or sliced, this issue will clear in the next few weeks if it has not killed everyone first.

I am a former chef and as the list grows I find I have consumed 4 or 5 of the product on the recall list, I hope I do not develop the same issues as the lady in Ottawa did on the Homepage article, I am 6"4" and weight 300 lbs that would be alot of fluid if I broke out with the issues she had.

I would try not to panic, and just make things you know the kids will eat, I myself and going on a bread and water diet for the nest few months.

Answer 2

Yes the turkey will work well, You could also make it even more special by sending along some stuffing to go in the sandwich or on the side. This of course is only if your child has access to a microwave, or like cold stuffing.

Roast beef is good and you can also use it up for dinner first, then slice very very thin and there you go.

Pork loins would also be yummy in a sandwich. It is best warm so if your child has access to a microwave just send the sandwich essentials and then let him/her warm up the meat and build the sandwuch at school

You can also roast a whole chicken, or cook up some b*****s to make chicken salad with.

How about cooking your own ham? You want one that is not already fully cooked though just to be more aware.

I was going to also suggest egg salad but with kids being so mean to one and other and knowing what eggs can do (stinky farts) I would stay away from egg salads for the most part.

Is canned meat a problem? That stuff was usually done so long ago that any problems now shouldn't be an issue. SO what about tuna fish or crab and shrimp salads?

You can also talk to a local farmer about purchasing 1/2 or 1 whole pig. They do everything, take him to the bitcher etc... and call when you need to come pick it up. You get ham, pork chops, pork roasts, bacon, sausage etc... And then it's not coming from a mass producer, and the best part is you usually get to kind of pick what you want done with your share of the meat, and even better is that it is usually MUCH cheaper than buying at the store.

Answer 3

wow, i didn't know that our fellow north americans were having such trouble with recalls.  i think your idea about the turkey is very good, and yes, after it is cooked it can be refrozen.  also you can do a roast beef and a pork roast and also a smoked ham.  make sure to slice them very thin like cold cuts and double up on the zip loc bags.  this way your child will have a variety of lunch meats available.  egg salad is another alternative as well as hard boiled eggs and fresh fruit and crackers.  if you need any more ideas, just email me.

Answer 4

There is a great recipe for Crisp Apple Tuna Salad on

http://allsecretrecipes.blogspot.com

If you can send your child to school with a coldpack in his/her lunchbox, tuna could work.  

I tried the recipe yesterday for lunch, and my 2 and 4 year olds gobbled it up.  :)

Good luck.

p.s. sending something like string cheese and granola bars is also a good idea -- or maybe yoghurt?

Answer 5

make a roast beef, fresh ham and turkey in the oven

slice thin with meat slicer

Answer 6

I know, it's so scary now.

Yes, roast the turkey, then cut it up and freeze portions for sandwiches! They are yummy! That's actually a good idea, I was just going to roast a chicken, but a turkey will make more!

I planned on roasting a chicken, a beef roast, and a pork roast - cutting them up thinly and using them.

Also, egg salad and tuna sandwiches.

Sounds like you're dealing with a nut-free school. Now that our son is up in grades, they can now use nut products. But there is a product out there called Peabutter - and it is actually fairly good in a sandwich.

Otherwise for sandwiches, my son likes sliced cucumber with salt and pepper on buttered bread - just for a different idea. There's not much cheese in cheese slices (lol!), so using them and sliced pickles, either dill or yumyums. Or just cheez-whiz.

Cream cheese and jam is good.

Yup, just more challenges for us. Actually, doing the roasted meat at home is so much healthier for them anyway, it's just getting it done!

Good luck!

Answer 7

Most ant meat you cook for dinner tonight can be used for sandwiches for tomorrows lunch.Baked chicken,roast beef,roast turkey,baked ham,meatballs,etc....You can roast the turkey you have and refreeze it for sandwiches but it should be used within 6 weeks.Other options for lunches is to buy a Thermos and fill it with soups or stews or even casseroles.Use a cold pack and send salads for lunch.You don't really have to have meat for lunch.What about fruit and veggies with dips.Just a few ideas.Hope this helps you.