Fast & Easy Brown Bag Lunch Ideas

What's in your lunch bag today? Check out these tasty, healthy on-the-go meal suggestions that are incredibly easy to prepare!

Muskoka Cocktail

Only a few more weeks to enjoy lazy summer days at the cottage. Give this awesome cocktail a try--the maple syrup gives it a true Canadian touch. Cheers!

Muskoka Cocktail

Ingredients

1/2 oz. Lemon Juice

1/2 oz. Scotch

1 1/2 oz. Canadian Whisky

1 tsp. Maple Syrup (or sugar syrup)

1 oz. Orange Juice

Dash Grenadine

Directions
Mix all ingredients with cracked ice in a shaker or blender. Strain into a chilled Whiskey Sour glass.

Vodka-Thyme Lemonade

Yum! We spotted this recipe on the Martha Stewart Living website and just knew it would be a real winner for an after-work cocktail. Invite some of your pals over and enjoy these last few days of summer!

Vodka-Thyme Lemonade

Serves 8

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
12 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more for garnish
4 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 24 lemons
2 cups vodka

Directions
1. In a small saucepan, combine 2 cups water with the sugar and thyme; bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat; let cool to room temperature.

2. Pour mixture through a fine sieve into a large glass measuring cup; discard thyme. You should have 2 cups syrup. Cover with plastic; chill.

3. In a large serving pitcher, stir together lemon juice, vodka, and chilled syrup; garnish with thyme. Divide evenly among eight tumblers filled with ice; serve immediately.

Gina's Morning Glory Cocktail

Here's a lovely cocktail by Gina Neely, co-host of Down Home with the Neelys on the Food Network. Makes for a great drink to serve not only to countdown the end of the work week, but at Sunday brunch too!

Gina's Morning Glory Cocktail

Prep Time: 5 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients
1/2-ounce orange liqueur
1/2-ounce cherry brandy
Splash pineapple juice
Champagne
Strawberry, for garnish

Directions
Fill champagne flute with orange liqueur, cherry brandy and a splash of pineapple juice. Top with champagne. Add strawberry for garnish.

Godiva Ice Cream Soda

For these hot summer days, there's nothing like a cold treat to cool us down. Try this yummy recipe tonight!

Godiva Ice Cream Soda

Yield: 1 serving
Difficulty: Easy
Preparation: 5 minutes

1 1/2 ounces Godiva Liqueur
4 ounces cola
1 scoop vanilla ice cream

Pour Godiva Liqueur into tall glass. Add cola. Stir. Top with ice cream.

Long Island Iced Tea

Long Island Iced Tea is a classic cocktail that's a trusty favourite all year round. Look forward to the weekend by mixing up this popular drink tonight!

Ingredients:
1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz tequila
1/2 oz light rum
1/2 oz gin
1 dash Coca-Cola
Twist of lemon peel (or lime)

Directions:
Mix all contents in a highball glass and sitr gently. Add dash of Coca-Cola for the colouring and garnish with lemon or lime twist.

Dolce Vita's Surubao

There's still an entire month of summer left for enjoying delicious drinks on the patio! Here's a fabulous cocktail by David Rocco, host of David Rocco's Dolce Vita on the Food Network. Cheers!

Dolce Vita's Surubao

Yield: 1

Ingredients:
10 x fresh raspberries
1 tbsp raspberry syrup
1 tbsp sugar
1 x lime, freshly squeezed
1 oz vodka (or 2 ounces if you prefer)
4 ounces cranberry juice
crushed ice
A slice of lime to garnish

Directions:
1. In a large sturdy glass, combine raspberries, raspberry syrup, sugar and lime juice. Use a pestle to gently crush and mix ingredients. Then add vodka and cranberry juice.

2. Add ice and shake vigorously using a cocktail shaker. Pour back into the glass. Garnish with a slice of lime. Serve immediately.

Crazy for coconuts

If you're a fan of tropical fruits like pineapple and coconut, then a piña colada is just the frosty treat you need to cool you down on a hot summer day. Enjoy!

Piña Colada

Yield: 2 drinks

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup ice
1/2 cup diced pineapple, frozen
2 ounces pineapple juice
2 ounces coconut cream
1 1/2 ounces white rum
1 ounce dark rum
Pineapple slices

Directions
Put the ice, frozen pineapple, juice, coconut cream, and the white and dark rums into a blender. Blend until smooth and frosty. Pour the drink into 2 glasses and garnish the rim with pineapple slices.

Soaring high

We discovered this cocktail on favourite recipe site epicurious.com. Another yummy gin concoction, this time combined with maraschino liqueur, and topped off with a homemade maraschino cherry. We're sure this is one cocktail that'll be a sky-high hit with your tastebuds. Cheers!

Aviation

Yield: Serves 1

Ingredients
2 tablespoons (1 ounce) fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup (2 ounces) gin
1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) Maraska maraschino liqueur
1/4 teaspoon simple syrup
1 cup ice cubes

Garnish:

homemade maraschino cherry* or pitted fresh cherry

Preparation
In cocktail shaker, combine lemon juice, gin, maraschino liqueur, and simple syrup. Add ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into chilled coupe glass and drop in cherry.

Recipe by Eben Freeman, head bartender at Tailor Restaurant (525 Broome St, New York, NY)

*Bartender's note: To make homemade maraschino cherries: Fill a mason jar or sealable crock with pitted Bing cherries, add Maraska maraschino liqueur to cover, seal the jar, and let stand at least 3 months and up to 1 year.

Blueberry Collins

Berries of any kind in a cocktail are just what's needed to instantly add natural sweetness and a vibrant touch of colour to the drink! See for yourself what we mean by mixing up this fresh twist on the classic Tom Collins:

Blueberry Collins

1. Add 12 fresh or frozen blueberries to a tall glass and crush them with a muddler or the back of a spoon.
2. Top the glass up with ice and pour in 1 1⁄2 oz. Tanqueray gin, 2 oz. lemon juice and 2 oz. simple syrup.
3. Stir, add a splash of soda and garnish with a few more blueberries.

For more delicious cocktails, visit lcbo.ca!

Guy Fieri's Silver Sangria

Guy Fieri, host of Guy's Big Bite on the Food Network, concocts recipes that are fun and fearless which is why we simply had to try his awesome sangria that's loaded with fresh peaches and apples (green and red!), a medley of liqueurs and, of course, white wine. Delicious!

Guy Fieri's Silver Sangria

Prep Time: 20 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients
6 cups ice
6 ounces light rum
1 (750-ml) bottle Sauvignon Blanc
3 ounces peach schnapps
3 ounces sour apple liqueur
6 ounces fresh lime juice
4 ounces fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
6 ounces lemon-lime soda
6 ounces soda water
1 green apple, peeled and cut into small pieces
1 red apple, peeled and cut into small pieces
1 peach, peeled and cut into small pieces
6 fresh lemon wheels, for garnish

6 fresh limes wheels, for garnish

Directions
In a pitcher add ice and stir together all the ingredients except for the garnishes. Serve drinks over ice garnished with lemon and lime wheels.

Ina Garten's Fresh Whiskey Sours

We are adoring fans of the cheerful Ina Garten aka the Barefoot Contessa, chef and host of a Food Network show by the same nickname. We've taken a particular liking to her whiskey sour recipe which we think is a perfect after-work cocktail. So gather your career gal pals together after 5 and enjoy one today!

Ina Garten's Fresh Whiskey Sours

Prep Time: 5 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 cocktails

Ingredients
3/4 cup whiskey (recommended: Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (4 lemons)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (4 limes)
2/3 cup sugar syrup*
Ice cubes
Maraschino cherries

Directions
Combine the whiskey, lemon juice, lime juice, and syrup. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and pour in the drink mix 2/3 full. Shake for 15 seconds and pour into glasses. Add a maraschino cherry and serve ice cold.

*Note: To make the sugar syrup, bring 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar to a boil, and simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved. Chill before using.

Christine Cushing's Apricot Bellini

Christine Cushing is a Canadian career gal who we admire for making a mighty fine living for herself using her fabulous culinary skills. We recently discovered this delightful nectar-based cocktail recipe of hers and knew it was just the drink we needed after a long day at the office.

Christine Cushing's Apricot Bellini

Ingredients:
1 oz apricot nectar (30 ml)
Prosecco, to taste

Directions:
Pour apricot nectar into a champagne flute. Top with Prosecco.


Casting call alert! Cushing is currently working on development of a new show called "Fearless in the Kitchen". Want to be on her show? Click here for casting call info. To download the application form, click here!

Bob Blumer's Chocolate Martini

You really can't go wrong with chocolate and vodka, can you? Wind down to the end of the work week by sipping this sweet treat created by Bob Blumer (aka The Surreal Gourmet)!

Chocolate Martini
Yield: 4

Ingredients:
6 oz vodka
3 x clear crème de cacao
1 tsp Cointreau, or triple sec (This adds an extra dimension, but just omit it if you have none on hand.)

Directions:
Fill a martini shaker or a large glass with ice. Add all ingredients and shake or stir. Strain into chilled martini glasses.

Garnish: An unwrapped Hershey’s Kiss or a single Rolo (or any small chocolate candy).

Cherry Cooler

This refreshing and fruity non-alcoholic drink is a great way to cool down after a long work week!



Cherry Cooler

1/2 pound pitted cherries
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup strong hibiscus tea

Extra pitted cherries for garnish

Puree 1/2 pound pitted cherries, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 cup strong hibiscus tea. Serve over ice and garnish with cherries.

Click here for 49 more summer drinks from Food Network Magazine!

Seaside Lemonade

The easy, breezy summer days of lazing around are almost here. Get a head start on chilling and relaxing with the summer's ultimate drink...lemonade!

Seaside Lemonade

1 oz gin
1 oz Limoncello liqueur
¼ oz Campari
½ oz lemon juice
3 to 4 oz lemon-lime soda or Italian lemon soda
Fresh sprig of basil

To a wine goblet, add gin, Limoncello, Campari, and lemon juice. Top with soda and garnish with a fresh sprig of basil.

From the LCBO Food & Drink magazine, Early Summer 2009 issue

Everything’s Zen

The long weekend is just one day away. Kick it off by getting yourself in a Zen state with this fresh twist on a classic.

ZEN Mojito

Ingredients:
1 oz. ZEN Green Tea Liqueur
1 oz. Havana Club® Añejo Blanco
½ oz. fresh lime
½ oz. simple syrup*
Club soda
Mint leaves

Directions:
Muddle mint leaves, lime and simple syrup in a cocktail glass. Add ZEN, Havana Club® and ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

*To make simple syrup, in a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup white sugar and 1 cup water, bring to a boil, and stir until sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool. Makes 1 1/3 cups.

Click here for more ZEN cocktail recipes!

Bobby Flay's White Peach-Silver Tequila Cocktail

With shows like the Emmy-winning Boy Meets Grill, Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Grill It! with Bobby Flay, Bobby Flay is by far one of our favourite Food Network chefs. Not only is Flay a grill master extraordinaire, he comes up with some pretty darn good cocktails too.

Give Bobby's White Peach-Silver Tequila Cocktail a throwdown tonight!

Ingredients:
2 ripe white peaches, peeled, pitted and chopped
1/4 cup silver tequila
1/4 cup peach liqueur (recommended: Creme de Peche)
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons simple syrup
Ice cubes
Slice peaches, for garnish
Mint sprigs, for garnish

Directions:
Place the peaches in a food processor and process until smooth. Pass through a mesh strainer into a bowl.

Combine the peach puree, tequila, liqueur, lime juice and simple syrup in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve over ice in rocks glasses. Garnish with a slice of peach and mint sprigs.

Prep Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 2 servings

Granville Room's Satin Doll Cocktail

This groovy cocktail is just one of many delicious concoctions on the drink menu at Vancouver hot spot Granville Room. We don't all live on the west coast so the next best thing is shaking up this doll-licious drink at home ourselves. West coast or east coast, career gals everywhere will enjoy this drink for its mild rose colour as well as its soft and subtle taste. Cheers!

The Satin Doll Cocktail

1 oz gin
1 oz Gifffard Grapefruit Liqueur
2-3 dash Fee brothers orange bitters
1 oz egg white

Instructions
Combine ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake hard and strain into a chilled martini glass.

Michael Smith's Homemade Pineapple Vodka

Homemade Pineapple Vodka

This yummy recipe from Chef at Home's Michael Smith is definitely worth a try! Smith himself advises the drink maker to experiment and personalize to your own tastes by adding more or less of ingredients or even making substitutions. Make this recipe your own and enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 x pineapple, trimmed and cut into small pieces
1 1/2 litres vodka
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Directions:
1. Place pineapple chunks in a large jar or resealable container.
2. Pour in vodka and store in the refrigerator for 7 days.
3. Place the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil until the sugar has completely dissolved.
4. Set aside to cool and then refrigerate until ready to use.
5. Strain the vodka from the pineapple into a clean jar, pressing down on the fruit to extract every bit of juice.
6. Pour in the syrup and refrigerate for 30 days.