The bento strikes again!

Yesterday we got to hang out with the Quick clan (aka Leah, Andrew, Lilly, and Autumn) and of course Leah being the absolute dear she is brought me a present for Mama's Day. And knowing me as well as she does, got me this super cute book on charaben:

Face Food: The Visual Creativity of Japanese Bento Boxes

Well I was totally inspired to make a bento last night because of this. So I attempted a koi which I am pretty happy with how it came out. I only had flour tortillas on hand to make the body but I want to try again with white cheddar or marble jack. I wish I had time to make one everyday - this totally reminded me how much fun these are.

Bentos are back!

Are a long hiatus due to the fact that hubby was a little unsure about how his new co-workers would react to his cuter than cute lunches, bentos are back! He figured if he told his co-workers that I made him his lunch (of course of my own accord, not that he even asks me too) that they would probably think it was cute and over look the bunnies on the box. Also, this was food to compliment his PBJ sandwich would is too big to fit in any bento box.

Bento Tuesday and why I hate Super Target

Hooray we went grocery shopping today! The only sad part is that we went to Super Target to do so. Don't get me wrong, I am a big Target fan in general. I mean I endured three years at corporate HQ because I love Target so much. But I cannot stand grocery shopping at Super Target and I just won't anymore. The reason I started in the first place was the fact that it was just as cheap or cheaper than any of the discount groceries around. And I got 10% off everything. But now with my discount gone, I can no longer see any reason to endure an hour of frustration every week. You simply cannot rely on what they are going to have in stock when you go. One time, they will have a unlimited amount of the organic baby carrots I like. Next two times I go, none. One time they will have Amy's frozen mac and cheese. Next time, it doesn't even have an empty space; it was like it was never there. Then, the next time they will have a whole freezer case of the mac and cheese. Arrrggg! It just creates a situation of having to make another trip to another store. So I am done. Finished. Over. And on to bentos...

So at said trip to Super Target, we tried to get fixings for spring rolls. We already had picked up the skins at a Asian grocery store but needed the innards. Of course they didn't carrots or mint so we settles with just tofu, Thai basil, lettuce, and rice noodles. They were still amazingly good, my new favorite thing to make. We also made extra for our lunch bentos


In addition on top there is a container of peanut sauce and soy sauce hanging out on a tiny bed of tofu. On the bottom, grapes and a little chocolate. The stars on the spring rolls are basil. The one pictured is for hubby. Mine is very similar but instead of tofu, I have a HB egg. Have I ever mentioned that I don't go anywhere during the day so that I require a boxed lunch? Nope, I make one just because: 1) it is fun and 2) it is great portion control for lunch time.

Wednesday bentos!

Hooray our bento boxes arrived from Japan!  And to celebrate, why I just had to make some bentos right?


Here is the hubby's "snack" bento to compliment his Amy's Mac and Cheese: we have apples, grapes, and banana on top and then a mini spinach salad with Italian dressing, a chocolate, rice mini crackers, cheese and a 1/4 of a tofu and spinach sandwich.  He was saying how he is going to be made fun of for having a bunny bento.  But then I reminded his co-workers are his parents and they are the ones who introduced us to bentos.


  And here is my bento: prickly pear, grapes, carrots, and cucumbers in top and then a 1/2 tofu and spinach sandwich with a little pesto in the sauce box for spreading.  I also have a chocolate in the top.  Basically I wish I had time every night to make these.  I know I will get better as time goes on!