Uber-Cute Bento Bundles

I got my latest order from Japan today! Included were items to complete my Kiki bento and the hubby's Totoro bento (the two wraps and the two chopstick sets). I of course had to use these to create the uber-cute bento bundles you see above. I also had a bit of time so I made quite a few little items for these bentos. Mine started off identical to the hubby's...but I knocked it off the cutting board and had to begin again (clumsy me!). So, below, is the hubby's bento. The bottom tier holds carrots with tarragon "butter", rosemary and garlic roasted potatoes, and some spiced purple yams. The top tier is strawberries and kiwis, some honey graham bunnies, some raw pepitas with dried currants, and some blueberries.

My bento is quite similar to the hubby's--carrots with tarragon "butter" and the spiced purple yams, but then I got a baked buttercream potato. In my top tier, I got cashews with goji berries, some of the honey grahams, and a yummy little fruit salad.

Spring Rolls and Delicious Fruit

I was feeling like a really "fresh" bento so I made the fruit a bigger part of the bento for tomorrow. I added some cashews with chocolate chips, and some cucumbers with a side dish of vegan ranch for the hubby. The "main course" is the strawberry-chile springs rolls I'm so fond of. I ate poorly today so this lunch should help me get back on track! :o)

Justice League Bento

Tonight I spent too much time searching for a book on the supreme court at Borders so I had to throw together quick bentos when we got home. I made a quick tomato sauce with shitakes (my poor basil plant has slim pickings at the moment, as you can see) and cooked up some spaghetti. Applesauce and some veggies on the side (I got cashews and chocolate chips instead of the veggies...but the hubby's watching his sugar intake so none for him). I'm feeling a bit like spring rolls tomorrow...I guess we'll see how much time I have :o)

Veggie Sushi and Blueberry Muffins

Well, I didn't make cupcakes...but I did make lemon-glazed blueberry muffins (of the oat/hemp seed variety). They're just too cute! I also made some brown rice veggie sushi (not as cute) with carrots flash-sauteed with a bit of sesame oil, shitakes cooked in soy sauce, tons of yummy avocado, and a bit of chili-garlic sauce (and sprinkled with black sesame seeds). I stuck a little packet of soy sauce and a miso soup packet in with the sushi. In the top tier I have a tangerine, a little blueberry muffin, some wheat soup crackers for the miso, and some raw cashews. Now, to bed...early day tomorrow!

P.S. Sorry for such a bad photo...very bad lighting, I will do better! :op

TGIM?

Monday's bentos, yum! Pineapple/coconut soy yogurt, a shitake salad, a twice-baked potato with rosemary and garlic, strawberries and kiwis, banana chips with cashews, and pickles for the hubby with a mango pudding for me. I stuck a mint in each as well. The potatoes are a sweet variety called Buttercream Potatoes, how kewl is that? I plan on making sushi tomorrow for Tuesday (and maybe some muffins or cupcakes, too?)...stay tuned! :o)

Not a bento...or a cupcake

Completely unrelated to my blog...but I made a Tenorikuma purse this weekend! I love Tenorikuma, but there just isn't much stuff I have found with him...so I decided to make my own merchandise! :op It's made entirely of felt (except for the straps) by ME!! Yay!!! Uber-cute AND glittery!!!

Sweet, Sour, Salty, Spicy = Balance = YUMMY!

The hubby and I bought some superhero sandwich boxes at the Marukai 98 last night--and to my delight my square cupcake liners were a perfect fit inside! I spent a bit of time on these bentos; I wanted to balance my flavors well and create something really yummy. So I have roasted taro root (my new favorite starch--so yummy!) with a lemon basil infused mirin/tamari reduction (in the flower); a kiwi and strawberry fruit salad; a sesame tofu salad with fresh chiles; and an arugula salad with a lemon vinaigrette. I also stuck a packet of almond Pocky in with the bento (not pictured). The combination of flavors is this bento should make it delicious :o) The roasted taro root with the sweet reduction; the sweet and tangy fruit salad, the spicy and smoky tofu salad, and the sour vinaigrette with the bitter arugula. Yum! I want to eat it for dinner! :o)

PB&J Bentos

Well gee...I spend all my time shopping for bentos and not actually making them! We went down to a Marukai 98 in Cypress tonight, so bentos had to be a fairly fast process when we returned. I did PB&J sandwiches accompanied by banana chips, cashews, kiwi, strawberries, tomatoes, some Coffeebeat, and a mint. Now time to get ready for bed--still a bit tired from being sick, bleh!

Getting better bento

I'm feeling better today, but still not great. I was craving pita and hummus so I decided to make tomorrow's bentos include these. Hummus (dressed with black sesame seeds, a dash of paprika and some olive oil) with rice crackers for the hubby, and with sprouted tortilla rounds for me. We both got tomatoes, banana chips, cashews, strawberries, and a little mango pudding. The hubby got a small pineapple cake (from Kiki's bakery--how cool is that??), and I got a few Coffeebeat candies. I really enjoy the created compartmentalization of one-tier bentos...I will be looking into purchasing different single tier boxes soon! :o)

I'm sick, bleh!

Well bentos for tomorrow are boring because I've been sick the past two days :o( I made a quick curry with assorted veggies and udon noodles, then threw some tomatoes, tapioca soy yogurt and fruit in the top tier. Hopefully tomorrow I'm feeling better!

Valentine's Leftovers

I made homemade angel hair pasta with pesto for dinner tonight; leftovers went into the bentos for tomorrow. The hubby didn't think tomatoes on the pasta were enough visually...so we added some pickles and a little onion...he thought this was fantastic--a "little garden" in his bento. At least I don't have to eat the pickle pasta :op I gave him some banana chips, a tangerine, and some cashews as sides. For dessert, one of his V-Day cupcakes--vegan boston cream vanilla cakes with chocolate ganache. The wrappers I used were too annoying, though...they folded in on themselves like crazy (I even tried them in larger cupcake pans, to no avail). Oh well, they were yummy :oD

Valentine's Bentos

I had my Valentine's bentos mostly planned in my head, but one of my ingredients upon closer inspection contained fish protein ( I bought the wrong brand of tofu pouches, very annoying)...so...I had to throw together something a bit different. I did quick brown rice, molded it into hearts and sprinkled it with a rice seasoning salt that was pink (hard to see in the photos). I used mini cookie cutters to make the XOX pattern for the hubby's. For mine, I used the extras from my hearts I punched out yesterday. I surrounded the rice hearts with a corn and edamame mixture I whipped up. The hubby's second tier has rice crackers with soy cheese hearts, some mini pickles, some candy (in the heart), some sweet chile sauce for his rice and veggies, some fruit in soy yogurt, and a few cashews. Mine has the fruit and yogurt mixture, some cashews, some candies in the egg, and some tomatoes. I'm still bummed my original plan was ruined (boo hoo, whine whine)...at least there will be food to eat tomorrow, right? :op

A Three Tier Tuesday Night

Well these little three tiers are deceptively small when you look at them! I managed to pack quite a feast for both the hubby and me! Mine is on the left; green tea soba with pumpkin seeds, edamame and carrots with some tomatoes for the bottom tier; a bit of plain soy yogurt with added fruit, some kiwi, some banana chips, and some raw cashews for the second tier; a few rice crackers with containers of PB & Jelly and some strawberries for the top tier. On the right you can see I threw in a little packet of candies, and a green tea bag with my lunch. The hubby's bento on the right had the same soba dish for the bottom tier; a yogurt parfait and some rice crackers with PB & Jelly for the second tier; raw cashews, some kiwi, a little box of candies, a bottle of soy sauce (for the soba), and a mint in the top tier. I packed him tea to go with his lunch as well :o) Okay well I didn't do Valentine's Day bentos tonight, but of course tomorrow night it will be V-Day bento MADNESS!! :oD

Monday's almost over!

Nothing too exciting today...but posting a pic everyday ensures I don't start to slack off :op We went to Native Foods in Costa Mesa tonight so I cut up the remaining pizza into little hearts (sure doesn't photograph well, that pizza...), included some bean sprouts with umeboshi sauce (in the cup), and a little packet to make a cup of miso. Second tier holds some soy raspberry yogurt, some cashews, some strawberries, and a little box of my newest favorite candy--Coffeebeat! Oh, and of course I threw in a bag of green tea for that afternoon pick-me-up I always seem to need...zzzzzzzzz...

Valentine's day bentos coming soon!!! So excited!!! I might even do several days of V-day themed bentos!!!

To Boldly Go...Where No Bento Has Gone Before :o)

The hubby wanted a Star Trek themed bento in celebration of his uber-geekiness (and yesterday's outing). So, I created a Starfleet symbol out of veggie ham and soy cheese and put it on top of some black japonica rice (I added a few cheese stars made from the scraps). For the next tier, I gave him a tangy chile sauce (for the rice), and some carrot stars and radish meteors (or planets, or something else space-related :op). The top tier I filled with fruit stars and a lopsided version of the Klingon symbol! Of course for the dessert I made (as promised) vegan gingerbread cupcakes with lemony 'buttercream' (I decorated his with stars to keep with the theme). Under the lid, I fit a fork and an after lunch mint! :o)



For my bento, I kept it simple. A corn and rice salad (a hot sauce vinaigrette in the flower container), some mini veggie deli sandwiches (veganaise in the butterfly), then some soy lemon yogurt and half a tangerine. A cupcake and a mint to top it all off! Now I'm off to do some work (bleh!).

Marukai 98 = TROUBLE!

I had seen a couple of other blogs refer to Marukai 98 bargain stores, and decided it may be time to make a pilgrimage to visit one of these far-off legends myself! One blog I had read made reference to some cupcake wrappers the blogger had bought at a Marukai and the other made reference to buying TONS of cheap bentos and accessories there. Now, I had been to a Marukai market...but never one their "98 cent" branches...and what a can of worms I opened last night!! The hubby and I traversed SoCal and sought out two of the bargain stores (we also hit a regular Marukai and ate dinner at a crazy Peruvian joint in Gardena called "El Pollo Inca"). I thought about photographing my loot...but there is simply too much. Let me put it this way: if you are into bentos, drive to a Marukai 98 IMMEDIATELY. I got bentos, sauce bottles, divider cups, chopstick sets, small side dishes, bento bags, etc. etc. and I also found some of the aforementioned cupcake wrappers and picked up a few packs of different sizes/designs. And I hadn't gotten my fill yesterday, so today I dropped the hubby and a friend off at the Star Trek Tour in Long Beach and went trekking around AGAIN! One of the Marukai 98 branches is closing; I got in on some great 50% off deals there. I also managed to hit a Sanrio that had some Tenorikuma items (including a bento bag and hand towel!). Anyhow, I'm pretty exhausted from the day...but thought I'd post a picture of the bento I packed for my day of shopping. I made a quick new potato salad (using veganaise), made some veggie ham and soy cheese deli rolls, cut up a few strawberries, and then tossed in a pack of Yan Yan (the hubby introduced me to these and I haven't forgiven him yet--they are EVIL!). I also threw in a peach Calpico that I bought because I wanted to try one--don't think I'll buy one again but at least I tried it. Tomorrow: Gingerbread cupcakes with Lemony Buttercream...in new Japanese cupcake wrappers!!! :oD

Bento + Azumanga Daioh = Great Friday Afternoon

This week was particularly hectic, so when I got off work on Friday and came home to eat my bento it was time to relax! I put on some Azumanga Daioh and kicked my feet up :o) Snapped this pic with my iPhone just because my lunch made me smile!

Thank Goodness Tomorrow is Friday!!!

What a busy, crazy week! And I still have so much to do before tomorrow!! And yet...what have I been doing the last 45 minutes...? Making bentos, of course! I did the same chili rolls tonight that I made a few days back (the hubby and I both wanted them again, they are just so yummy!), but decided to play around with the format. I didn't like the onigiri I made for the hubby (it will be too messy to eat, but I doubt he'll mind :o) and I wasn't wild about my idea to try and use a bit of the sauce to color the "faces" of my version. Oh, well, the spinach I cut with my new nori punches makes them so adorable it makes up for all that! I gave myself some little tomatoes for a veggie, and cut up assorted veggies for the hubby (I had a bit of fun with the radishes tonight...but it points out my CLEAR need for a mini melon baller to perfect the mushrooms!). I gave each of us a bit of soy yogurt and some cashews, and then gave the hubby a red bean cake and some little chocolates and myself a blood orange and some coffee chocolates (may need them tomorrow midday!). Well, that's all for today! I plan on making some vegan gingerbread mini cupcakes with lemony "buttercream" this weekend...but I'm taking the hubby to see the Star Trek Tour thing in Long Beach on Saturday and possibly spending Sunday with the in-laws...but hopefully I get the time for what's really important...CUPCAKES! :op

The hubby just read the blog and told me his favorite nori punch face is the squinty eye one. I responded by telling him I put the girly one on his lunch so it was like I was with him during lunch (sappy, yes, whatever). He told me it wasn't like me because I'm not that poofy and I don't have blotches. Now that should make it obvious why I think he's the greatest, lol! :oD

Cinnamoroll Bento and Italian Onigiri

So today I made a Cinnamoroll themed bento! I used my cutters to make a little Cinnamoroll sandwich and put a dab of veganaise for the sandwich in the matching condiment cup. I made a Cinnamoroll shaped hard boiled egg, and then finished the bento with a small cup of soy raspberry yogurt, a couple little tomatoes, and a little chocolate. As a side dish I cut up some strawberries and kiwis and put them in my glittery Cinnamoroll container. Should be a fun lunch tomorrow!



For the hubby, I just wanted to post the bottom tier of his bento--I made "onigiri" out of leftover wild mushroom risotto (one of his favorite foods). I put it on a bed of baby spinach and surrounded it with fresh veggies; should be healthy and delicious :o)

Caesar Wrap Sandwich-Box Bento

So today I did an uber-fast bento because we're rushing out for the evening. I did, however, manage to make use of my Cinnamoroll collapsible sandwich-box bento! I made the wrap with organic lettuce and organic vegan caesar, threw in half an apricot (organic, of course! :op), a miso soup packet, a green tea bag, some strawberry Pocky, a little strawberry candy, and a handful of grape tomatoes. Normally I wouldn't pack foods in an open cup for this style bento; but I don't plan on sticking this one in a bag so I think they'll be fine! More tomorrow :o)

Bentos AND Cupcakes

Today at work we made white chocolate cupcakes with a fresh raspberry glaze; this inspired me to glaze the last few mini cupcakes I had frozen in my fridge with a similar glaze for tomorrow's bento! I included those, some cashews and some fresh fruit with the main course--puff pastry empanadas with a mushroom-spinach filling (I included some small side dishes of marinara to accompany, not pictured). I was in a hurry so I didn't make an egg wash to seal my pastries--but they stayed together fairly well regardless :o) And now on to what I was supposed to be doing for the past few hours--finishing up a test for my students (instead I did taxes and bentos, oh well!)!

No Case of the Mondays for Me!

I got a book called "Sushi Modern" by Hideo Dekura the other day--it has some really unusual and creative suggestions for "sushi". One of the rolls is sushi rice seasoned with a little bit of chili mayonnaise (or in my case, veganaise) wrapped in spring roll wrappers and served with a tangy strawberry-chili dipping sauce. I made the rolls and dipping sauce for tomorrow's bentos (of course I had some as I went along...verdict: AWESOME!), and also tried my hand at some miso-sesame cashews (they didn't come out crisp enough--I need to oven bake them next time). The picture above is of the hubby's bento; I packed him some fresh veggies, some raspberries, a few dates, and a little box of chocolates to accompany the rolls. My bento is below; I used my Mei bento which is very small so I packed myself an orange and some cashews separately, and threw in some strawberry Pocky for dessert.



Have a good Monday everyone!!

Bentos for the Road!

So today my Mom, Dad, Sinister, and her boyfriend Jason came out to see me, yay! I bought some disposable bento containers so I could make them some bentos :o) My sis and Jason had to leave early, so I packed them up bentos for the road. I did onigiri with a miso/sesame/soy glaze, and then packaged up some various goodies for them (cashews in the little hearts, peanut candies in the eggs, some fruit, veggies, cookies, candy--the essentials!). I made my parents bentos like this too, but we sat and ate those at home. Hopefully they enjoyed my mad skilllllzzzz (I did make the rice a little too mushy though, hopefully I'll be able to redeem my rice making abilities on a later date) :op

Lemony Muffins...or Cupcakes?!?

I made these with Hello Kitty muffin liners, but used a cupcake recipe--and then there's the whole issue of frosting, which these don't have (but they do have a glaze)...well whatever they are, they're adorable! Unfortunately, I really liked the yummy lemon icing dripping off these when making and eating them; but I just can't stand how sloppy they look in the photo. Oh well, they were delicious :op