This post is sponsored by PackIt. I developed the recipe for a Western Baked Omelet in partnership with them, but all opinions, recipes, and photos are my own.
While everyone is starting the inevitable wind-up for back to school time, I’m over here taking a breather and being grateful I don’t have to pack any more lunches for a long time yet. It’s one of those homeschool fringe benefits. So why was I packing lunches at all? My youngest son just completed a 5 week ballet intensive that was one and a half hours from home. To and from which we drove an hour and a half every day of those 5 weeks, minus Saturdays and Sundays. He was at the studio from 9 am to 6 pm for the first two weeks, then 9 am to 4:30 for the remaining 3 weeks. This homeschooling mom finally got a glimpse into what most parents have to do most of the year, and I have to say, I’m impressed anyone can keep that up all school year! Because my son’s ballet conservatory insists on nutrition as part of the fitness regimen for their dancers, I had to pack his lunches with an eye toward healthy choices. It makes sense, really, since these kids and their world class teachers are very serious about their art. Sugary foods were out, mega carbs were out, and protein was highly desired. I was happy to oblige. This meant, though, that I had to develop some excellent packed-lunch skills in very short order. And because I was spending 3 hours a day in the car as a ballet chauffeur, the recipes had to be uncomplicated and quick. My Western Baked Omelet fit the bill all the way around. Fluffy, soft, studded with melted cheese, delicious sautéed onions, bell peppers, and a wee bit o’jalapeno*, these Western Baked Omelets are perfectly good all by themselves, but taste extra special when topped with plain Greek yogurt, avocados, hot sauce, and cilantro.
*Where’d the Irish come from on a Western Baked Omelet? No idea. I’m sure there were some Irish who helped settle the West, though… And I’m willing to bet they would’ve dug this Western Baked Omelet.
The Greek yogurt in the Western Baked Omelet provides extra protein, but also helps guarantee that fluffy, soft, golden-delicious end product. Many cooks are intimidated away from making traditional omelets, but there’s no fear-factor involved Western Baked Omelets. You simply sweat some chopped onions, bell peppers, and jalapeno, stir into some beaten eggs with some other goodies, and pour into a well-greased cake pan to bake. It’s really that simple! At home, we top this as described above, but when we pack it for lunches, we cut the squares a little smaller, chill them well, and pop them into reusable containers or zipper topped bags.
Here’s the thing, though. For the first couple of weeks of the intensive, I was struggling mightily with the whole ice pack in an insulated bag routine. By the time little man’s lunch was packed, driven to Buffalo, and parked in the un-air conditioned boys’ dressing room while he took his morning classes, the ice packs had given up the ghost and he had a lunch that was rapidly assuming room temperature. I know enough about food safety to have been a little concerned by that.
Enter PackIt: stage right. Being a newbie at lunch-packing, I wasn’t familiar with PackIt before I entered this partnership with them, but they sure did impress me quickly. There’s a good chance you’re more up on this than I am, but in case you live in a cave (NOT LITERALLY, I mean, I know I’m in the middle of nowhere, but I do have a toilet.) like I do, let me enlighten you. PackIt are freezable lunch bags. You freeze them overnight and they keep the food inside of them chilled all day. I got a solid 6 hours of chill and at least 1 more hour where things were a-okay from our PackIt and that was fantastic. Even better, they fit everything into them that we needed. Along with the Western Baked Omelet in the reusable container, we could fit a container or two of Greek yogurt, a full sized kombucha or water bottle, a reusable container each of salad and fruit, a couple little bottles of hot sauce, a cheese stick or two, and an electrolyte drink box. Those PackIt are like Mary Poppin’s bag. They fit everything in and keep it just so. Practically perfect in every way.
To celebrate our partnership, PackIt has offered an exclusive coupon code for Foodie with Family readers. Please check out all the amazing things they have to offer (*cough cough* They also offer wine and picnic bags! Visions of chilled Pinot Grigio under a tree on a picnic basket are dancing in my head!) Simply enter “FOODFM15” at checkout to get 15% off of your order!
Scroll below the recipe for a chance for one lucky reader to win a $100 credit toward purchasing whichever fabulous PackIt gear they’d like!
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Author: Rebecca Lindamood
Ingredients
nonstick cooking spray
3 green onions, green parts only, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon butter
¼ cup chopped yellow onion
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup chopped bell pepper, any colour
1 jalapeno pepper, stem and seeds removed and diced
5 large or extra large eggs
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon dried oregano
¾ teaspoon chili powder
4 ounces crumbled feta, diced Cheddar cheese, or a combination of the two
Optional, but tasty toppings:
Plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
sliced or diced fresh avocado
fresh cilantro leaves
lime wedges
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F. Spray an 8-inch by 8-inch cake pan generously with non-stick cooking spray. Scatter the sliced green onions over the bottom of the pan and set aside.
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium low heat. Add the onions and kosher salt, stir or toss to coat. Sweat the onions over the medium low heat, stirring frequently, until they are fragrant and transparent at the edges . Add in the bell pepper and toss again to coat. Sweat the bell pepper for 2 minutes. Stir in the jalapenos and cook for 30 seconds. Scrape the sweated vegetables on top of the sliced green onions.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, Greek yogurt, milk, oregano, and chili powder until even in colour and no pockets of yogurt remain. Stir in the crumbled feta and/or diced Cheddar cheese. Pour over the vegetables. Stir very slightly just to distribute. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the edges are puffy, the top is lightly golden, and the omelet is set in the center. Remove the pan from the oven and let rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing into 4 large squares or 9 smaller ones. Serve hot or room temperature with optional toppings as desired, or wrap tightly with plastic wrap to pack for lunches.
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Comments
Thanks for the quick & easy recipe, and……….PICK ME! PICK ... by Mindy
I usually do leftovers and add a fruit by LaTanya
I've never considered baked eggs for school lunch. Thanks for ... by Katie
I try and pack lunches for me and the hubster. He has a ... by Rie
This looks absolutely wonderful! We own chickens and are always ... by wildchildt
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