Masonable Mondays #1 - Sushi Inspired

The #Masonable is getting so much attention right now. Everyone is sharing it on Pinterest, Facebook, on their blogs and YouTube. There was even a news station in Arizona that did a segment on their midday news. It is so exciting that everyone loves the idea and wants to share it or put their own twist on it or maybe I should say in it.

In light of all the buzz and attention the #Masonables have been getting I have decided to run a post every Monday with a new idea, tip or trick using those wonderful mason jars and fruit cups. This will be the very first #MasonableMondays of many more to come. 

This Monday I got inspiration from Sushi and the tasty eats from Japanese restaurants. I made a few classics in a jar like Miso Soup, Gyoza and a Salad with Ginger Dressing. Then I made 3 jars that you would never see in a sushi restaurant. It is not sushi, it is "Sushi-ish". A real sushi roll uses seasoned rice to keep all the tasty ingredients in a nice neat bite. I am using rice crackers to make a stack-able sushi bite. Any one jar would make a great snack. Pack any two or heck more depending on your appetite for a great lunch. So read on for 6 Sushi Inspired Masonables.

California "Sushi" Masonable

The first masonable I decided to make was inspired by a California Roll. This roll is probably one of the most popular on sushi menus. It is cool and refreshing with avocado, crab and cucumber. My version is also crunchy with rice crackers as the base of each bite. Like sushi these California stacks are best consumed in one big bite.

California "Sushi" Masonable
Serves 1

Supplies

1 wide mouth pint Mason jar
2 empty fruit cups

Ingredients

8 round rice crackers
8 slices of imitation crab or crab sticks
8 slices of English cucumber
1/2 an avocado, pitted, peeled and diced
1/4 tsp. wasabi
1/4 tsp. light soy sauce
1/4 tsp. rice vinegar
Furikake*

Directions

In a small bowl combine wasabi, soy and vinegar. Mix until wasabi is dissolved. Add avocado and stir or mash until avocado is well coating in the wasabi mixture. Set aside.

Fill mason jar with slices of crab stick and cucumber. Place one fruit cup in the top of the jar and spoon in the avocado mixture. Sprinkle top with Furikake*. Place lid on top of the cup. Stack rice crackers on lid. Place fruit cup inverted on top of crackers and lid. Add mason jar ring to secure everything in place. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

*Note: If you cannot find Furikake you can garnish with sesame seeds and finely sliced nori (dried seaweed).

Philadephia "Sushi" Masonable

This might be my favorite of the "Sushi" Masonables. I am a sucker for smoked salmon and cream cheese. In fact this combination would make a delicious appetizer for a party. It does take some patience to layer the cream cheese and wasabi. Make sure the cream cheese is softened to make it a bit easier to spread. This one does have a bit more wasabi but it is not too much, just stick to the one big bite rule and all the flavors will combine into a perfect bite.

Philadephia "Sushi" Masonable
Serves 1

Supplies

1 wide mouth pint Mason jar
2 empty fruit cups

Ingredients

8 round rice crackers
8 slices of smoked salmon
8 slices of English cucumber
2 oz. light cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp. wasabi
1/4 tsp. light soy sauce
Furikake*

Directions

In a small bowl combine wasabi and soy. Mix until wasabi is dissolved. Set aside.

Fill mason jar with slices of salmon and cucumber. Place one fruit cup in the top of the jar and spoon in half of the cream cheese. Spread into a smooth flat layer. Top with wasabi soy mixture. Top with remaining cream cheese and spread smooth. Sprinkle top with Furikake*. Place lid on top of the cup. Stack rice crackers on lid. Place fruit cup inverted on top of crackers and lid. Add mason jar ring to secure everything in place. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

*Note: If you cannot find Furikake you can garnish with sesame seeds and finely sliced nori (dried seaweed).

Miso Soup in a Jar

I love miso soup! I have been buying the instant packets for years. I just recently started making my own with instant dashi and miso paste. I usually make it in a mug under my keurig. Sometimes I include small cubes of tofu. But on this trip to the store they were out. It is still deliciously savory and warm. A perfect compliment to any of the "Sushi" Masonables.

Miso Soup in a Jar
Serves 1

Supplies

1 wide mouth pint Mason jar
1 empty fruit cup

Ingredients

3/4 tsp. miso
Tofu, finely diced (optional)
3/4 tsp. instant dashi
2" x 3" piece of Nori or Wakame, broken or sliced

Directions

Fill mason jar with miso and tofu if using. Place one fruit cup in the top of the jar and fill with dashi and nori. Place lid on top of the cup. Add mason jar ring to secure everything in place. Refrigerate until ready to serve. To serve remove jar from refrigerator and let jar come to room temperature. This is very important you do not want to add hot water to a cold jar. It will break. Add contents of fruit cup to jar and cover with 8 oz. hot water stir to combine and dissolve the miso. You can place jar on a Keurig and run without a pod on the medium setting. Again stir to combine and dissolve the miso and enjoy!

Gyoza in a Jar

This Gyoza in a Jar made me want a bigger jar! In fact I think I am going to have to buy the pint and a half jars (24 oz) now. Just so I can pack more Gyoza. I love these little dumplings and that dipping sauce is AMAZING! I used frozen dumplings in a bag this time. But I think I am going to make some homemade real soon. I need a Gyoza jar for each day of the week. Really I DO!

Gyoza in a Jar
Serves 1

Supplies

1 wide mouth pint Mason jar
1 empty fruit cup

Ingredients

3 or 4 frozen or homemade dumplings
Sesame Soy Dipping Sauce*

Directions

Cook dumplings according to package directions. Place dumplings in jar. Place one fruit cup in the top of the jar and fill with dipping sauce. Place lid on top of the cup. Add mason jar ring to secure everything in place. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

*Note: I made an individual serving of the sesame soy dipping sauce. I used 1 Tbsp. each soy sauce and rice vinegar, some green onion tops and just a smidge of all other ingredients. Many frozen dumplings come with a dipping sauce. If you are short on time feel free to add it to your fruit cup instead.

Salad Jar with Ginger Dressing

I always enjoy the salads at Japanese restaurants, it is definitely the dressings. You don't find ginger or miso dressing just any where. So I wanted to include a salad jar in the line up of sushi inspired jars. It turned out so good. The dressing is the star here as well. Check out the link below to the dressing I made. I love the tangy sweet flavor. Who knew ketchup, ginger and lemon played so nice together.

Salad Jar with Ginger Dressing

Serves 1

Supplies

1 wide mouth quart Mason jar
1 empty fruit cup

Ingredients

1/2 roma tomato, diced
1/4 cup cucumber, diced
2 Tbsp. shredded carrot
1 green onion, sliced
2 cups torn romaine lettuce
3 Tbsp. Ginger Dressing*

Directions

Layer mason jar with tomato, cucumber, carrot, green onion and lettuce. Fill the fruit cup with ginger dressing and place in the top of the jar. Place lid on top of the cup. Add mason jar ring to secure everything in place. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

*Note: I made half a recipe of a ginger dressing I found on YouTube. But if you are pressed for time you can use any store bought Asian dressing.

Spicy Cucumber Tuna Salad Masonable

I can't believe I almost forgot to share this one with you. That would have been a complete shame. This is the second time I have made this salad. I normally make a mayo based spicy tuna salad. But this one might be a little better. It is so good! I have also made it with leftover salmon too. Just as yummy! I love the sweet mirin with the spicy sriracha. The cucumber adds a little crunch and the sesame oil and seeds gives it a nutty finish. It is such a light and fresh twist on tuna salad.

Spicy Cucumber Tuna Salad Masonable
Serves 1

Supplies

1 wide mouth half pint Mason jar
1 empty fruit cup

Ingredients

10 round rice crackers
5 oz. can light tuna in spring water, drained
1/2 cup cucumber, diced
1 green onion, sliced
2 tsp. mirin
1 tsp. sriracha
1/2 tsp. sesame oil
1 tsp. soy sauce
Black and white sesame seeds

Directions

In a small bowl combine tuna, cucumber, green onion, mirin, sriracha, sesame oil and soy. Stir until well combined. Fill mason jar with cucumber tuna mixture. Garnish with sesame seeds and a dot of sriracha. Place lid on top of the jar. Stack rice crackers on lid. Place fruit cup inverted on top of crackers and lid. Add mason jar ring to secure everything in place. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

*Note: The cucumbers in this salad will weep so if you want to make it a day or two in advance, leave the cucumber out. You can serve it similar to the California Sushi Masonable and slice the cucumbers.

Linking to:

Tumbleweed Contessa: What'd You Do This Weekend?

Stone Cottage Adventures: Tuesdays with a Twist Link Party

Masonables

I think we already discussed that an empty Fruit Cup + Mason Jar = delicious snacks and lunches! And even breakfast or dessert! Well now introducing the Masonable! It is the Mason Jar equivalent to a Lunchable. Check this out those fruit cups fit on top of a wide mouth Mason jar too. Now you can pack your crackers on top of your Tuna Salad, Chicken Salad, Egg Salad, or Deli Meat and Cheese. You can make your own Mason jar lunchable or a Masonable.

You might ask why not just put your crackers in a food storage bag? Well they could easily be crushed by a heavy soda can or bottle of water in your lunch bag. With the mason jar and fruit cup they have their own protective bubble. The crackers arrive to your lunch destination in their original shape. Doesn't that make meal prep a little exciting? 

Well when I started thinking about lunches that included crackers, the first lunch that came to mind was tuna salad. So that is what I did first. It worked perfectly! I used our family recipe but you could use any recipe you like. Just fill the jar, top with the lid, stack up round crackers you love, cover with an inverted fruit cup and the ring. You are ready to go. So easy!

Tuna Salad Masonable
Serves 1

Supplies

1 wide mouth half pint Mason jar
1 empty fruit cup

Ingredients

8 round crackers
1 cup Tuna Salad

Directions

Fill mason jar with tuna salad. Place lid on top of jar. Stack crackers on lid. Place fruit cup inverted on top of crackers and lid. Add mason jar ring to secure everything in place. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Guess what! You can use two fruit cups with each mason jar. One inside the jar and one on top. The ring still secures the jar. Now you can pack crackers and a sauce. Think about what that could do for Mason Jar Salads? You can have your salad, dressing and crackers or croutons too! Am I too excited? I might be. Anyway...

Many, many years ago when Lunchables first came out, dear sister's favorite was one that came with a little packet of herb mayo. They do not sell anything like that today and she still mentions it now and then. So when I was thinking about making these Masonables I wanted to include one with a sauce. So here it is a Ham & Cheese Masonable with a Dill Mayo. This mayo is delicious with ham and cheese. The dill and mustard makes it zesty. It is also great with turkey and cheese too.

Ham and Cheese Masonable
Serves 1

Supplies

1 wide mouth pint Mason jar
2 empty fruit cups

Ingredients

8 round crackers
2 slices of cheese, quartered
4 slices of ham, halved and folded
Dill Mayo (recipe below)

Directions

Fill mason jar with slices of ham and cheese. Place one fruit cup in the top of the jar and spoon in the dill mayo. Place lid on top of the cup. Stack crackers on lid. Place fruit cup inverted on top of crackers and lid. Add mason jar ring to secure everything in place. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Dill Mayo
Serves 1

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. Mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. grainy Dijon mustard
1/8 tsp. dill, dry

Directions

Combine well and serve. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

I hope this meal prep idea will help you with your future lunches. Don't forget to pack a fruit cup too! You need more empties to make more Masonables. And watch out for more Masonables in the future. I have at least four more ideas to try out.

Linking to:
Tornadough Alli: Throwback Thursday Link Party
Love Bakes Good Cakes: Freedom Fridays with All My Bloggy Friends

Tuna Puttanesca Spaghetti Squash

I must be going through a spicy phase. Today for lunch I made a spicy puttanesca sauce to pour over spaghetti squash. The first time I heard of puttanesca sauce was on a Rachael Ray show. She had a colorful story about how certain ladies would put a pot of this intoxicating sauce in the window to draw people in. Traditional puttanesca sauce begins with melting anchovies, garlic and red pepper flakes into olive oil. It is delicious! But it was also Rachael Ray who I first saw substitute tuna for the anchovies. It bumped up the protein in the sauce, by the way also delicious. I have been making both for years. I have made Rachael Ray's recipes, I have made my own one pot pasta, I even made a Tuna Salad Puttanesca Style. It was just recently that I thought about serving it over spaghetti squash. I made it chunky style using no salt added diced tomatoes with garlic, oregano and basil. After all the other ingredients like tuna, olives and capers will add a saltiness to the sauce. It turned out delicious. I used 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes and it is nice and spicy. If you are sensitive to spicy you might start with 1/4 teaspoon and add more after tasting. I love the vermouth because it adds a herb note in the background, but you can always use a little white wine if that is what you have on hand. Don't be afraid of the tuna; this sauce is not fishy, it is just spicy, savory and delicious. I hope you will give it a try. Besides you never know who might follow the aromas to your kitchen?

Tuna Puttanesca Spaghetti Squash

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

1 small spaghetti squash

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (to taste)

2 garlic cloves, minced

5 oz. can tuna, drained

1 oz. vermouth

14.5 oz. can no salt added diced tomatoes with garlic, oregano and basil

2.25 oz. can sliced black olives, drained

2 tsp. capers, drained

Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Parmesan cheese, shredded

Directions

To prepare spaghetti squash: Cut squash in half. Scoop out seeds and discard. Place cut side down in a microwave safe dish, add 1/4 cup of water and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave for 7 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes. When squash is cool enough to handle, pull the squash into spaghetti like threads. Season with salt and pepper.

Heat a 2 quart saucepan over medium high heat. Add olive oil, red pepper and garlic; sauté until fragrant. Add tuna and stir breaking up any large pieces. Add vermouth, tomatoes, olives and capers. Season with black pepper and simmer about 10 minutes. Serve over spaghetti squash and garnish with parmesan cheese.

Linking to:
Dizzy Busy & Hungry: Wine'd Down Wednesday
Love Bakes Good Cakes: Freedom Fridays with All My Bloggy Friends
The Diary of a Real Housewife: Friday Favorites
Ms. enPlace: See Ya in the Gumbo
Creating Silver Linings: Corn-free Every Day Link Party
Anyonita Nibbles: #tastytuesdays
Back to the Basics: Tuesdays with a Twist

Nori Spicy Tuna Salad Wrap

I think I mentioned that I tried some other bloggers recipes recently. The first was a Nori Salad Wrap that Aylin at Glow Kitchen shared on her blog. Such a smart idea. I loved the salty sea flavor of the nori with the salad ingredients. But the best part was the drizzle of the soy and tahini. I LOVED IT! The sesame soy combo was so good. It made a great toasty and salty dressing for this wrap. I will definitely make this wrap again and again.

The second blogger recipe I tried was a Spicy Tuna Salad that Caroline shared on her blog Pickled Plum. I was looking for a a new protein for another Sushi Salad. This did not disappoint. I love her spicy twist on tuna salad. It really elevated plain canned tuna. It would be great in a sushi salad, a lettuce wrap, sandwich, stuffed into a tomato or just with crackers. I am definitely going to make another sushi salad soon with this as the star ingredient.

But first I was inspired to mash up these two great recipes into my own Nori Spicy Tuna Salad Wrap. I used some leftover grilled tuna from my Baja Beach Fish Tacos. I mixed it with mayo, Sriracha, sugar, rice vinegar and a touch of sesame oil for my filling. Then I wrapped it up with crisp veggies in a nori sheet. It was delicious! Spicy, salty, fresh, crunchy and a little messy. That last two bites of each roll was all over my fingers. It's okay, it is a finger licking good wrap. So no worries, just sit down with a stack of napkins.

Nori Spicy Tuna Salad Wrap

Serves 1

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. mayonnaise

1 to 2 tsp. Sriracha sauce, or to taste

1/2 tsp. sugar

Splash of rice vinegar

1 or 2 drops sesame oil

5 oz. canned light tuna or leftover grilled tuna

1 green onion, chopped fine

1 nori seaweed sheet

1 romaine lettuce leaf

Carrots, shredded

Cucumber, julienned

Directions

Mix mayo, sriracha, sugar, vinegar and sesame oil together in a small bowl. Add tuna and green onion stir to combine.

Place nori shiny side down on a flat surface. Place lettuce leaf on the bottom of the nori. Top with carrots, cucumber and tuna mixture. Roll up, cut in half and serve.

Linking to:
Ms. enPlace: See Ya in the Gumbo
Jam Hands: Recipe Sharing Monday
The Tumbleweed Contessa: What'd You Do This Weekend?
Carole's Chatter: Food on Fridays - Leftovers

Tuna Salad

I know everyone has a recipe for Tuna Salad. And their recipe or family recipe is the best. But if you are looking for something different, here is a twist on another family recipe. This is pretty much how my Mom makes tuna or chicken salad. The only difference is I add sweet pickle relish and use Jane's crazy salt. I like the extra sweetness from the relish. I also like the herbs the Jane's crazy salt adds. This recipe work for almost any protein too. I have used shrimp and ham, both were delicious. Be sure to be patient and let it chill in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes to let the flavors blend. It is great as a sandwich or with crackers. I really like to stuff a tomato with it or put a big scoop in a lettuce cup. It makes for a great lunch.

Tuna Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients

12 oz can of chunk light or white tuna in water, drained and flaked

2 eggs, hard boiled and diced

2 green onions, sliced

1 rib of celery, chopped fine

1 heaping tsp dill pickle relish

1 heaping tsp sweet pickle relish

1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

2 Tbsp light mayonnaise

Jane’s crazy mixed up salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes to taste

Directions

Place eggs in a small pot cover with cold water. Bring to boil over high heat. When rapidly boiling turn off heat but leave pot on the burner. Set timer for 12 minutes. Meanwhile place other ingredients except seasoning in a mixing bowl.

When 10 minutes has passed, rinse eggs with cold water. Add ice cubes to pot and fill with cold water to cover. Let rest 5 minutes, then drain and they should peel very easily. Dice or smash eggs with the tines of a fork. Add to mixing bowl.

Mix well and season with salt and peppers to taste. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes to blend flavors. Serve on bread for sandwiches, with crackers or stuffed in a ripe tomato.

Variations:

Substitute can or cooked shredded chicken, shredded turkey, can salmon, crab, shrimp, or finely diced ham for tuna.

Add chopped parsley.

Substitute chopped chives, shallots or purple onions for green onions.

Linking to:
Ms. enPlace: See Ya in the Gumbo

Mommy on Demand: Create it or Bake it
Anyonita Nibbles: Tasty Tuesdays
Carole's Chatter: Food on Fridays - Tuna
My Pinterventures: Summer Salads Party