Now that we have entered the back-to-school portion of our annual program – we as a society, that is, not we as A Clean Bake readers – it seemed only fitting to pay homage to the chronically-under-appreciated school lunch. Is bringing your own lunch to school still kind of a lame thing to do? It was when I was in school, especially in high school where the buffet of fatty, salty, processed, cheesy and utterly delicious lunch options was seemingly endless. But now it seems like things have changed, if the current trend of Moms Spending Way Too Much Time Planning, Prepping and Assembling a Varied, Nutritious and Aesthetically Pleasing Kids’ Box Lunch trend is any indication. (Example: This instagram account. It’s mesmerizing.)

 

Personally, I was more the American-cheese-on-white-bread-with-butter-every-single-day-for-6-years kind of kid. That’s just how I roll.

 

Since entering the workforce, um, you know, a few years ago (move on.) I have become obsessed with bringing awesome lunches. Those kids who are eating all those Insta-Perfect box lunches can’t honestly appreciate them as much as I would. Please, Weelicious, make me lunch? Since she hasn’t started yet, it’s up to me to make my own vibrant (and healthy and tasty) lunches, and I have to tell you, this egg salad hasn’t let me down yet.

 

Egg salad may have a reputation in some circles as lame or boring or, worse, not delicious. I can assure you that, if made right, it is none of those things. It’s all about the flavor, and most people’s gobs ‘o mayo recipes just don’t cut it. Creamy does not mean flavorful, flavor is what produces, well, flavor. So, in this recipe, I cut out the mayo, and replaced it with tons of flavor and texture from whole grain mustard, lemon juice, salty capers, and tons of herbs and spices.

 

You can serve it on toasted bread (I like this one, but gluten-eaters with whom I may or may not share a home raved about this one) or on top of a salad, but straight, topped with an extra sprinkle of fresh dill, is my favorite way to devour this dish.