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Back to School... Lunchbox Basics!

With a little planning, it's a snap to pack a delicious, nutritious and safe lunch for your kids.  Let them help and soon they'll be packing their own lunches!

The Night Before:

• Wash hands!  Safe food begins with clean hands.
• Prepare and refrigerate any perishable foods.
• Use an insulated lunchbox.  If the lunchbox can fit in the fridge, consider putting it in the fridge with the lid open to pre-chill.
• Freeze water bottles or juice boxes; as well as any freezer gel packs.

In the Morning:

• Put freezer gel pack and frozen water/juice in Ziplocs to prevent consensation from wetting other items.  Wrap the bottles in a paper towel before bagging and your kids will have a "wet" towel to use for their hands! 
• Place a gel pack on the bottom of the cooler and put the most perishable lunch items directly on top.
• Use a cloth napkin or paper towel to cover lunch items, and then put snack items on top.  This helps to keep the cold air in with the lunch items when the lunchbox is opened for snacktime.  Tell your child to leave the napkin in place until lunchtime.
• If you are packing hot items in a thermos, consider sending that separately.
• Place frozen water/juice in with the snack on top.  This will keep the snack cold as the drink  thaws.
• Be sure the lunchbox is well closed.

After School:

• Lunchboxes can be a breeding ground for germs.  Clean out your child's lunchbox daily with a disinfectant and soapy water and let air dry.

Click here for more information on packing a safe lunchbox and well as some healthful lunch ideas!

Eat Pray Love...

The movie Eat, Pray, Love opens tomorrow.  Not that we typically plug movies but this is a book that most of us at Dinner Done read and really enjoyed…  Needless to say we are looking forward to seeing the movie! 

In honor of the “Eat” portion of the book, which takes place in Italy, we’ve put together this

Italy-Inspired Dinner Party Menu:

Antipasti

Bruschetta -and- Parmesan Cheese with Balsamic Reduction

Primo

Spaghetti All’Amatriciana

Secondo

Beef Brasato

Contorni

Salad

Dolce

Tiramisu

Click here for a printable version of all this menu, recipes and tips!

Want to throw a dinner party but don’t have the time or energy to do it all yourself?  Check out our  Grab & Go selection – it can be viewed by clicking the link on our home page, www.DinnerDone.com.   We have plenty of great options available!

Grab & Go - Brandon

Last Updated:  9/4/2010

Our Grab & Go entrees tend to sell quickly and the variety is always changing.  If there's something in particular you'd like, feel free to give us a call at 813.684.6900 and we'll be happy to make sure it is still "in stock" and to set it aside for you.

Please note that we are closed on Sundays and Mondays throughout the summer months!

Entrees.  Petites (serve 2-3): $10.95.  Family Sized (serves 4-6): $21.95

• Greek Style Shrimp with Pasta --- (QuickThaw/Skillet)
• Cashew Chicken Over Rice --- (QuickThaw/Skillet)
• Chops with Roasted Red Peppers Bruschetta --- (QuickThaw/Skillet)
• Double Stack Beef Quesadillas--- (Freezer to Oven)
• Glazed Pork Tenderloin & Orange Jalapeno Mojo--(Freezer to Oven or Thaw & Grill)
• Portabella Picata Chops---(Freezer to Oven)/StovetopCombo
• Baja Chicken---(Freezer to Oven)
• Filet of Beef with Tuscan Salad--(Freezer to Oven or Thaw & Grill)
• Catalina Chicken--(Freezer to Oven)
• Margarita Chicken Kabobs---(QuickThaw/Saute or Grill)
• Pull Chicken with Honey Chipotle Sauce---(QuickThaw/Crockpot)
• Grilled Chicken with Corn salsa---(Freezer to Oven)
• Crab Cakes---(Thaw and Saute/Freezer to Oven)
• Chicken Tetrazzini---(Stovetop/Oven Combo)
• Italian Chops---(Thaw and Bake)
• Pork Tenderloin with Apricot Mustard Sauce---(QuickThaw to Grill/ Freezer to Oven)
• Baked Penne with Meatballs---(Freezer to Oven/ Microwave Option)
• Parmesan Chicken Fingers---(Freezer to Oven or Thaw/Saute)
• Everything Chicken---(Freezer to Oven)
• Grilled Beef with Sofrito---(QuickThaw/Grill or Freezer to Oven)
• Peanut Crusted Chicken with Thai Chili Sauce---(Freezer to Oven)
• Caribbean Tilapia ---- (Freezer to Oven)

Sides.  $5.25 each unless otherwise specified.  Serves 3-4.

• Roasted Red Pepper Mashed Potatoes  ---  (Freezer to Oven)
• Spinach Soufflé --- (Freezer to Oven/Thaw to Oven)
• Honey Carrots  --  (Freezer to Oven or Freezer to Skillet)
• Asian Style Green Beans --- (Freezer to Skillet)
• Sweet Corn Mashed Potatoes --- (Freezer to Oven)

Desserts:

• Walnut Brownies 

Brunch: 

• Quiche Florentine
• Ham & Cheese Croissants

Appetizers:

• Hot Artichoke Dip
• Spinach Artichoke Dip

If you'd like for us to make sure a particular item is "in stock" or to have us set something aside for you, please give us a call (813.684.6900) or email us: Brandon@DinnerDone.com.   We'll be happy to help in any way we can!

We are currently on summer hours and closed Sundays and Mondays.

Free Delivery Days!

Save a little extra time - and gas - by taking advantage of our Free Delivery Days! If you live in one of our Free Delivery Day areas, simply schedule your Delivered Session for the appropriate date and select the Free Delivery Day Menu.  The $25 delivery fee will be automatically waived - so you'll just pay the standard ToGo Package price.

Free Delivery Day Zones:

• South Tampa & South Pinellas (south of Ulmerton).  
• Citrus Park, Westchase, Odessa & North Pinellas (north of Ulmerton)
• Lutz, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel
• Riverview, Bloomingdale, Lithia, Fishhawk

Free Delivery Days appear on our In-Kitchen Session Calendar (they are noted on Saturdays!) and also on our Current Menus page. 

Order from the Carrollwood Kitchen for delivery to all areas except the Riverview/Bloomingdale area.  Order from the Brandon Kitchen for the Riverview/Bloomingdale areas.   Or just give us a call at 813.264.7700 and we'll be happy to place your order for you.

Don't live in one of the Free Delivery Day areas or prefer another date? With a minimum of only four orders to the same neighborhood, we'll be happy to set up a Free Delivery Day for you and your friends!

Call 813.264.7700 or email info@dinnerdone.com for more information or to set up your Free Delivery Day!

Kids in the Kitchen!

We are often asked if a parent can bring an older child to Dinner Done.  As parents ourselves, we love to see kids learning how to prepare healthy meals!   An added benefit is that kids are much more likely to try new foods when they've had a hand in preparing the meal.

Mom & Me Sessions

We have a special "Mom (or Dad) & Me" Session the last Saturday of each month.  This is a great time to bring a child with you!  Space is limited in these special "Mom & Me" Sessions, so please reserve early.  We'd love to have you!

Other Session Times

Bringing an older child to work with you in the kitchen during any Dinner Done session is no problem, provided the following safety guidelines are met:

·         Your child must be able to work with you the duration of the 2-hour session.  We also ask that no more than two people (per reservation) be working in the kitchen - your child will be your partner!

·         Your child must be tall enough to work with you.  Our counters are standard kitchen-counter sized.  For safety reasons children may not stand on stools in the kitchen, nor are strollers allowed in the kitchen.

·         Your child must follow all normal guidelines in the kitchen – thoroughly washing hands between each table, using spoodles and spoons to work with ingredients, etc.

·         Your child must not be allowed to touch or work with any items that may be dangerous to him or her.  Dinner Done is a working kitchen. It is up to you to ensure your child is with you at all times and is properly supervised. 

        Although kids are welcome in any Dinner Done session, private parties are also great fun!  Consider arranging a parent-child private party. Your group gets the kitchen all to yourself and everyone takes home a complimentary dessert!  Click here to learn more about our Private Sessions.

As always, please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any questions.  We hope to see you in the kitchen soon!

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