Lunch Ideas - Taming Twins

Pizza Bagels {Oven, Grill or Air Fryer}

Sarah Rossi — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 09:30:00 +0000

Cook these delicious Pizza Bagels in the oven, grill or air fryer and you have a meal that feels like a treat, in less than 15 minutes. The whole family will love these!

Everyone loves a homemade pizza takeaway (you loved my French Bread Pizza, Puff Pastry Pizza and Naan Bread Pizza!) so here’s another that I often turn to for a quick lunch.

These Pizza Bagels have the flavour of the real thing, without the cost or waiting time of a takeaway pizza – plus you can customise your toppings.

Why you’ll love this Pizza Bagel recipe

Easy cook in the oven, grill or air fryer

All the flavours of pizza with melted cheeeese

Family friendly treat ready in minutes

Pizza Bagels Ingredients Notes

Bagels – Choose 1 each (or as many as you like) and go for your favourite kind in the supermarket. Plain is usually best
Sauce – Passata (sieved tomatoes), garlic granules and dried oregano
Grated mozzarella – I prefer this here rather than buffalo mozzarella, as that can need longer cooking as it can be quite wet
Your chosen toppings

How to make Pizza Bagels

1. Halve the bagels and mix the sauce ingredients together.

2. Spread the sauce evenly on top of the bagels.

3. Sprinkle the cheese evenly between the pizzas and add your chosen toppings.

4. Cook (as per the recipe timings below) until golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Topping ideas

This is all down to your personal preference and what you have available. Here are some that I like and that work well:

Pepperoni
Chicken
Sweetcorn
Onions
Chilli
Mushrooms
Ham
Olives
Peppers
Basil
Fresh tomatoes

More easy but special sandwiches…

Under 15 minutes

Best Ever Tuna Melt {10 Minute Meal}

Lunch Ideas

Coronation Chicken {Easy Recipe}

Under 15 minutes

Philly Cheesesteak {15 Minute Meal}

Under 15 minutes

Picnic Loaf {Muffaletta}

Leftovers

In the fridge Leftovers are great cold for lunch (mmm cold pizza!) Keep covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.

In the freezer These are definitely best fresh, but I would also freeze them rather than letting them go to waste.

Reheating You could reheat this in the microwave but it won’t be very crispy. You could also try reheating in the oven or air fryer, but be careful not to overcook them.

FAQs

What should I serve with Pizza Bagels?

If you’re in a hurry, these are great on their own or with a quick side, like my cucumber salad.

But if you’re cooking these as part of a bigger meal, you could serve up Homemade Chips too.

Do I need to use ready-made pizza sauce?

Nope. Value-for-money passata wins out every time here, and all we have to do is season it well and mix in a few herbs for an instant pizza sauce that’s has no added sugar or other ingredients.

How many Pizza Bagels can I cook at once in my air fryer?

It depends on the size of your air fryer. I can fit two in mine at a time. Just make sure they’re not on top of each other.

Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the below.

Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).

Easy Pizza Bagels {Oven, Grill & Air Fryer}

What’s better than a quick cheat’s pizza for dinner? Cook these delicious Pizza Bagels in the oven, grill or air fryer and you have a treat style meal in minutes. The whole family will love these!

Course Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine Family Food

Between 3-16, depending on method: 10

Total Time 10

Servings

Calories 504kcal

Author Sarah Rossi

Ingredients

4 Bagels
250 g Grated mozzarella

For the sauce:

250 g Passata
1 tsp Garlic granules
1 tsp Dried oregano
Sea salt and freshly round black pepper

Toppings of your choice

Metric – Imperial

Instructions

Halve the bagels and put them on a baking sheet.
Mix the sauce ingredients together in a bowl and spread the sauce evenly on top of them.
Sprinkle the cheese evenly between the pizzas.
Add your chosen toppings.

To oven cook

Bake for 14 – 16 minutes in a preheated oven at 180C/350F until golden brown and the cheese is melted.

To grill

Cook for 3 – 5 minutes until golden brown and the cheese is melted.

To air fry

Cook for 5 – 6 minutes at 200C/400F until golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Notes

Storing: Leftovers are great cold for lunch (mmm cold pizza!) Keep covered in the fridge for up to 3 days

Nutritional value: The above nutrition count is without the toppings taken into consideration

Optional topping ideas: Pepperoni, chicken, ham, mushrooms, sweetcorn, peppers, onion, tomatoes, basil

Nutrition

The post Pizza Bagels {Oven, Grill or Air Fryer} appeared first on Taming Twins.

Chicken Quesadillas

Sarah Rossi — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 09:30:00 +0000

Always a big hit with big and little family members, this ultra easy Chicken Quesadilla recipe is tasty, healthy and ready in 15 minutes. Oh, and did I mention CHEESY?! It’s so good.

Having a recipe for quesadillas up your sleeve is always a good idea because they’re such a midweek saviour.

And while you can really customise the whole thing to suit what you love / have in the cupboard, this simple Chicken Quesadilla recipe will guide the way if you’re not familiar with how to make them.

These have been my go-to no-trouble dinner since my children were toddlers, and I often make them with tuna or ham too. For this recipe we’re using chicken (cooked, leftovers or make your own), plus beans for fibre, and – obviously – cheese to melt.

Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas are perfect for a quick lunch, a no-fuss dinner or for when you need a meal on the go – you can make them ahead of time and wrap up for picnics or lunch boxes.

Why you’ll love this Chicken Quesadillas recipe

Versatile for different kinds of meals and flavours

So easy, so quick (ready in 15)

Ideal for using up leftover chicken

About this recipe for Quesadillas

As I’m sure you already know, a quesadilla (pronounced kes-a-di-ya) comes from Mexico and is in the same family as fajitas, tacos, burritos and enchiladas. However, it’s more of a snack-style parcel. Its name literally translates as ‘little cheese thing’ – it’s really a Mexican cheese toastie!

Tortillas with a cheese filling (plus other ingredients usually), sandwiched together and then fried or grilled until it’s melted, gooey, golden and crispy.

My way of cooking a Chicken Quesadilla is to use two pans to get that golden finish, which is really quick and less messy.

This is my take on how to make a quesadilla, with speed and convenience in mind. If you’re looking for something a little more authentic-to-its-roots, try out this recipe from the Hispanic Food Network.

A note on the chicken – we’re using precooked chicken here for speed. You can either buy this in a packet or use leftovers from a roast chicken or air fryer chicken (win!) But you also have the option of cooking your own for this recipe. It will just slightly alter the cooking time.

Aim for about 300g/11oz for this recipe (approximately 2-3 breasts). Or, use something completely different if you prefer, like ham!

Chicken Quesadillas Ingredients

Cooked chicken – Leftover, shop-bought or cook your own
Black beans – Drained and rinsed
Sweetcorn – Tinned
Red onion
Fajita seasoning – From a jar rather than packet
Sunflower oil – Or olive oil
Large flour tortillas
Grated mozzarella

How to make Chicken Quesadillas in a pan

Mix the chicken, beans, sweetcorn, onion and fajita seasoning in a bowl together.

2. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat, and place a wrap in.

3. Sprinkle over some of the cheese.

4. Next, sprinkle over a quarter of the filling evenly.

3. Sprinkle more cheese (approx 25g/1oz) on top of that.

4. Using a second clean pan, weigh down the quesadilla and cook for about 3 minutes on each side.

Hint: You will have to work relatively quickly making the quesadilla up to make sure it doesn’t burn underneath | Repeat the process for the other quesadillas and keep them warm on a plate covered with foil, or in the oven on a very low heat.

Substitutions

Vegetarian quesadilla recipe – You can omit the chicken and make this a veggie meal no problem. Use whatever fillings you prefer instead – roasted vegetables work well.
Wraps – I am using large flour tortillas here because they’re easy to get hold of and work really well, however if you’d prefer to use corn (which are more authentic to this recipe) then go ahead.

Leftovers

In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat before serving or enjoy them cold.

In the freezer I wouldn’t recommend freezing this recipe as they will go soggy after defrosting. If you do, make sure you pop them in the oven to crisp them back up.

Recipe Tips

How to fold a quesadilla

If you’re on TikTok, you may be aware of the viral ‘TikTok Tortilla Hack’, which involves folding one tortilla within itself with fillings in four sections, to create a multi-layered quesadilla.

Honestly? It sounds like a bit of a faff and I think it is. It’s messy and the ingredients don’t heat evenly and in my opinion it’s just not necessary.

So in my version, no folding is needed. Simply sandwich your filling between two wraps and fry. Done!

Quesadilla fillings

The world really is your oyster. You can use beef, ham, bacon, tuna, turkey, different cheeses and vegetables… give anything a go!

How to make Quesadillas in the oven

If you’d prefer to make this in the oven instead, I have created a GIANT quesadilla recipe, which basically involves laying all of the wraps together on a baking tray, adding all of the filling inside, then folding the wraps to cover it all up. Then you bake it in the oven for 25 minutes and slice into squares to serve.

See the recipe for my Oven-Baked Quesadilla here.

FAQs

What’s the best cheese for quesadillas?

It’s your choice but basically anything that melty is good. I have used grated mozzarella for this recipe to get that cheesy stretch, but you can add some cheddar in there for flavour too if you prefer. Add it in grated so it’s nice and even.

What should I serve with quesadillas?

I serve them as a complete meal as they include fat, protein and carbs. I serve some of the salsa on the side for dipping and I often serve sour cream or yoghurt with them too.

You could, of course, add Nachos or Skin-On Fries if you fancy, or perhaps a simple Cucumber Salad or Mexican Salad.

Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the below.

Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).

Chicken Quesadillas {Easy & Delicious}

These easy 15-minute Chicken Quesadillas are perfect for a quick meal or snack for the whole family. Full of flavour, melted cheese and a golden brown crunch, they are totally satisfying and delicious.

Course Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings

Calories 696kcal

Author Sarah Rossi

Ingredients

300 g Cooked chicken Approx 2-3 breasts.
400 g Black beans Drained and rinsed.
340 g Sweetcorn 1x tin. Drained and rinsed.
1/2 Red onion Peeled and finely chopped.
2 tsp Fajita seasoning
2 tsp Sunflower oil
8 Large flour tortillas
200 g Grated mozzarella

Metric – Imperial

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix the chicken, beans, sweetcorn, onion and fajita seasoning.
Preheat 1/2 tsp of the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat.
Sit one tortilla in the pan, sprinkle over a small amount of the cheese (about 25g/1oz – no need to weigh but just as a guide!)
Spoon on a quarter of the chicken and bean mixture. (You’ll need to work reasonably quickly here so the bottom doesn’t start to burn.)
Sprinkle another 25g/1oz of cheese on top and sit another tortilla on top. Use the bottom of a clean saucepan to weigh down the quesadilla.
Cook on that side for 3 minutes, then remove the saucepan and carefully flip over. Cook for another 3 minutes.
Repeat this process to cook all of the quesadillas.
While you are cooking them, keep the others warm on a plate covered with tin foil OR keep warm in the oven on a very low heat.

Notes

Chicken: Use precooked chicken for speed, leftovers, or cook your own. If cooking your own before making this recipe, 300g/11oz is about 2-3 chicken breasts. Or use other cooked meat, like ham.

Nutrition

The post Chicken Quesadillas appeared first on Taming Twins.

Best Ever Tuna Melt {10 Minute Meal}

Sarah Rossi — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

The classic sandwich, but make it a little special . This Tuna Melt Bagel is quick, delicious and includes a portion of vegetables. Ready in under 10 minutes, it makes a super speedy lunch or dinner.

This Tuna Melt is the ULTIMATE bagel – a tuna sandwich with bells on.

It’s an amazing snack, lunch or quick dinner that takes almost as much time and effort as a regular sarnie, but it’s like heaven to eat.

Of course, if bagels are not your thing, you could use the same ingredients and method on another vessel instead, from regular bread to a baguette, pittas or sourdough.

Or even serve it all up on a jacket potato.

Why you’ll love this Tuna Melt recipe

Super quick and very easy

Budget-friendly

Comfort food in a sandwich!

How we came up with this recipe

A Tuna Melt is so satisfying and delicious, and it’s a great recipe to use when you want to make something quick but a bit more special than a regular cold sandwich.

I wanted to make a Tuna Melt on a bagel instead of bread, because it adds a bit more robust texture and it feels more like a full meal.

There’s also a choice of bagel flavour so you can customise it a little. An onion bagel or wholemeal bagel will work well.

More easy (but special) sandwich ideas…

Under 15 minutes

Philly Cheesesteak {15 Minute Meal}

Lunch Ideas

Coronation Chicken {Easy Recipe}

Under 15 minutes

French Bread Pizza

Light Bites

Pizza Bagels {Oven, Grill or Air Fryer}

Tuna Melt Ingredients

Bagels – Choose whichever type of savoury ones you like best
Tinned tuna – I prefer in spring water, but choose whichever is your preference
Mayonnaise – I use reduced fat, but it’s up to you
Red onion – You could use spring onions if you prefer
Sweetcorn – Tinned sweetcorn is fine for this
Grated mozzarella – Or you could use any other cheese that melts well

How to make Tuna Melts

1. Mix the tuna, sweetcorn, onion, mayo and plenty of salt and pepper together in a bowl.

2. Cut the bagels in half and toast the outer side of each under a medium grill.

3. Turn the bagel halves over, top with the tuna mixture. (I use a fork to press it down).

4. Sprinkle over the cheese and pop under a medium grill for 5 minutes until the cheese is melted.

Substitutions

Bread – Feel free to change the bagel for normal bread or another kind of bread you like

Leftovers

Tuna Melts are best eaten immediately, when they’re still warm and the cheese is gooey. However, if you don’t manage that, you could:

In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat it in the oven before serving.

Be aware that if you heat it in the microwave it might be a little floppy. You can also eat it cold.

In the freezer I wouldn’t recommend freezing this recipe as it’s definitely best eaten straight away, however, if you do, make sure you reheat it fully in the oven, covered in foil.

Top tip

You could add chilli sauce or chilli flakes on top for a bit of heat should you prefer it spicy.

FAQs

What’s best to serve with Tuna Melt?

If you’d like to make this as a main meal, you could serve it alongside a bowl of hot Tomato Soup, or even some Homemade Chips.

For a lighter meal, go for a simple side salad or coleslaw.

Do you have any other tuna recipes?

Yes! Try out my Classic Tuna Pasta Salad or my Tuna Pasta Bake.

Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the below.

Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).

Best Ever Tuna Melt {10 Minute Meal}

This easy and delicious Tuna Melt Bagel is a comforting classic with a twist. It’s ready in about 15 minutes and is perfect for an impressive lunch or a simple dinner.

Course Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine Family Food

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Total Time 10

Servings

Calories 561kcal

Author Sarah Rossi

Ingredients

4 Bagels
290 g Tinned tuna (2x tins) 105g drained weight
75 g Mayonnaise I use reduced fat
1/2 Red onion Finely chopped
340 g Sweetcorn (1x tin) 285g drained
150 g Grated mozzarella

Metric – Imperial

Instructions

Cut your bagels in half.
Toast the outside of each bagel half under a medium grill until golden brown.
Mix together your tuna, sweetcorn, red onion and mayonnaise in a large bowl.
Spread the tuna mix equally between the 8 bagel halves.
Top with grated mozzarella and grill until the cheese is golden and bubbling.

Notes

Extra toppings: You could add chilli sauce or chilli flakes on top for a bit of heat should you prefer it spicy

Bread: Feel free to change the bagel for normal bread or another kind of bread you like

Tinned tuna: I prefer in spring water, but choose whichever is your preference

Leftovers: For best results, eat straight away. However, you can store leftovers in the fridge or freezer too

To serve: Enjoy on its own or alongside a bowl of soup or homemade chips

Nutrition

The post Best Ever Tuna Melt {10 Minute Meal} appeared first on Taming Twins.

Cheese & Asparagus Puff Pastry Parcels

Sarah Rossi — Fri, 26 May 2023 09:30:00 +0000

These little parcels of joy are the taste of early summer – they’re quick and super impressive too! Rustle these Asparagus Puff Pastry Parcels up when cooking for guests or for an easy lunch treat, as a starter or a simple vegetarian family meal.

I absolutely LOVE asparagus season.

If you live in the UK and drive along in the countryside during May and July, you’ll sometimes see stalls by the road selling bunches (or failing that it will usually be on special offer at the supermarkets at this time!)

British Asparagus, grown in this country, is very different to the type you can buy all year round that’s imported. It’s tender and the taste is almost indescribably unique.

But it can get lost and overcooked in sauce dishes and it deserves to be far more centre stage than a soggy side on its own… welcome to asparagus in puff pastry!

These Cheese & Asparagus Puffs are SO delicious, a bit special and ridiculously easy to make.

Why you’ll love this asparagus recipe

Impressive bake in under 30 minutes

Simple 4-ingredient treat

Perfect for summery starter, side or lunch

What are Cheese & Asparagus Puff Pastry Parcels?

This recipe basically gives us an asparagus tart in nibble form.

They’re so simple to make, with just 4 ingredients needed, and all we have to do is lay out the ready-made puff pastry, lay the ingredients on top and then fold them together before baking.

These really come in handy when you want to make something a little special and homemade but don’t have a lot of time and don’t want any hassle.

They’re ideal for smart picnics, when you need to contribute to a summer buffet, if you’re cooking a nice light lunch or if you have vegetarians attending a garden BBQ.

If you love asparagus, I think you’ll be making this a staple nibble recipe!

Asparagus In Puff Pastry Ingredients notes

Puff pastry sheet – Get the ready-made kind. I like to buy sheets already rolled as they are such a super shortcut
Garlic and herb cream cheese – Any type is fine, but a luxury one like Boursin adds richness
Grated cheese – I like to use cheddar but it’s your preference on which cheese
Egg OR milk – This is for brushing on top of the pastry to make it nice and golden and crunchy

How to make Cheese & Asparagus Puffs

1. Boil the asparagus according to the recipe below. Drain and rinse in cold water.

2. Cut and lay the pastry into six squares, on baking paper, on a baking sheet. Add a dollop of cream cheese in the middle, followed by asparagus and cheddar.

3. Fold the uncovered diagonal corners into the middle, pressing them together over the asparagus.

4. Brush with egg wash or milk and bake as per the recipe below until golden brown.

Substitutions

Additions – These are pretty versatile nibbles. You can add anything you like in addition to the filling. How about prosciutto or parma ham if you don’t need it to be vegetarian?

Leftovers

In the fridge These are best eaten on the day they’re made, but they will last for up to 2 days in the fridge if necessary. You can ‘refresh’ them a little by popping them in a hot oven for 5 minutes before eating.

In the freezer You can freeze these, unbaked, after step 8 in the recipe below. Then, when it’s time to eat them, defrost them fully and bake as normal (they may need an extra minute or two if they’re very cold).

Top tip

How to remove the ends of asparagus

Remove the tough ends by snapping the asparagus with your hands – simply gently bend and it will break in the natural place it needs to. This works better than trying to guess and cutting with a knife!

FAQs

Can I make other puff pastry nibbles this easily?

Yes! There are so many ways to use ready-made puff pastry so you can experiment.

Everyone LOVED my Christmas Canapés in my house, which involves simply adding brie and cranberry sauce inside puff pastry squares, and baking them in a muffin tin. You could do with SO many different fillings.

There’s also my classic Puff Pastry Tart recipes to try too. Again, so many topping variations!

I urge you to also give my Greggs-Style Cheese and Onion Pasties a try. Heaven!

How do I stop the base of the puff pastry parcels from going soggy?

Be sure you’ve preheated your oven so it’s scorching hot.

Also, put the parcels into the top shelf of the oven if possible.

Finally, use a good quality heavyweight baking sheet as they transfer heat more effectively I find.

Can I make these as gluten free Asparagus Puffs?

Yep. Jus Rol now make a ready-made gluten free puff pastry too.

Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the below.

Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).

Cheese & Asparagus Puffs {Pastry Parcels}

These Cheese & Asparagus Puff Pastry Parcels are the ultimate summery snack – perfect for when the day calls for slightly special and impressive nibbles, sides or starters. Quick, light and delicious.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack, Starter

Cuisine Family Food

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Servings

Calories 456kcal

Author Sarah Rossi

Ingredients

300 g Asparagus Tough ends removed
150 g Garlic and herb cream cheese
150 g Grated cheddar cheese
320 g Puff pastry sheet
1 Egg Beaten OR 1 tbsp milk

Metric – Imperial

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F.
Boil a large saucepan of water with plenty of salt in and add the asparagus for 2 minutes.
Drain and rinse in cold water.
Lay the puff pastry out and cut into 6 squares.
Put onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper, not greaseproof paper. (If your puff pastry came on a sheet out of the packet, you can use this.)
Add a dollop of the cream cheese to the middle of each one. Lay asparagus on top, diagonally across the squares, sprinkle the cheddar on top.
Fold in the uncovered, diagonal corners, and press to join them on top of the asparagus.
Brush with the egg or milk.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until crisp and golden.

Notes

Removing asparagus tips: Remove the tough ends by snapping the asparagus with your hands – simply gently bend and it will break in the natural place it needs to. This works better than trying to guess and cutting with a knife!

Filling options: These are pretty versatile nibbles. You can add anything you like in addition to the filling. How about prosciutto or parma ham if you don’t need it to be vegetarian?

To freeze: You can freeze these, unbaked, after step 8 in the recipe below. Then, when it’s time to eat them, defrost them fully and bake as normal (they may need an extra minute or two if they’re very cold).

Temperature: To make sure the base of the parcels don’t go soggy, be sure you’ve preheated your oven so it’s scorching hot, put the parcels into the top shelf of the oven if possible, and use a good quality heavyweight baking sheet as they transfer heat more effectively.

Nutrition

The post Cheese & Asparagus Puff Pastry Parcels appeared first on Taming Twins.