Newsletter: In the Kitchen: Back-to-school edition

Cookie cutters can mold the boring PB&J into fun shapes. To make them even more exciting, try other nut butters or even homemade.

Sept. 9, 2015 12:05 AM PT

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Greetings, fellow survivors,

Summer is nearly over. Labor Day is past. We’ve put away our white shoes and we’re ready for the bracing chill of fall (and perhaps a little rain). But we Southern Californians know better. Here, summer is just hitting its stride. We’re likely to see temperatures in the 90s through the first part of October, even if apples replace the peaches at the farmers market and the kids are back in school.

So with that in mind, we’d like to offer some stories that reflect this very confused state.

— Russ Parsons

Stuff this in your lunch bag

One aspect of the calendar you just can’t argue with is the start of the school year, with all of those battles over what to pack in your kids’ lunch. Test Kitchen Director Noelle Carter comes to the rescue with her tips for 10 packable lunches your kids will actually eat. Without complaining. A miracle? No, just tasty quesadillas, calzones and onigiri.

And because you can’t have a school lunch without a cookie, here’s what just might be the best recipe ever: the Compost Cookie from Momofuku Milk Bar in New York. Chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, oatmeal, potato chips, ground coffee and pretzels — it comes by its name rightly. But wait until your kids (and you) taste it.

(Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

And if you're as good a parent as Valerie Bertinelli, you’ll be preparing this easy-to-make turkey meatloaf while Wolfie ponders his geometry homework (or practices shredding his guitar).

Apple for teacher? Or puff pastry?

I'm not so sure about how effective the old apple-for-teacher ploy actually is. But if you want to try it, we've got a rundown of what varieties are best for what uses. And I can tell you that were I a teacher and a student left one of Nancy Silverton’s apple borsellinis on my desk, I think someone would be very happy with their grade on the next pop quiz.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Now you need a drink?

We're definitely going to need a glass of wine for all of this, and of course S. Irene Virbila has some great bottles specially chosen for this transition time. They come from Italy, Napa, Spain, Mendocino and even Morocco. Added bonus? They’re all under $16. And if your fall resolution will be to get more serious about wine, she’s also got a couple of interesting new wine clubs that will help you make smarter selections through the rest of the year.