Bento #9 - Snack

I usually don't pack lunch on Thursdays since my company does lunch presentations. They buy either subs or pizza... yea, not too exciting at all. In order to spice it up a bit (and not eat so much pizza), I will probably snack on this first before the presentation.

I bought baguette that was already pre-sliced, which is a total timesaver! Plus, it ensures even thickness. The baguettes are toasted with a garlic butter mixture (I Can't Believe It's Not Butter - Mediterranean Style, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic and onion powder)... YUM! Ok, talking about it just makes me want it now... but no no no, I just finished dinner! haha...

kiwi, baby carrots, toasted baguette, roasted red pepper hummus, and cherry tomatoes

Bento #8 - greens galore

It was a long and frustrating day at work, so my brain is sort of fried. Thus... not much to say. I am still excited for lunch tomorrow though! It seems like a lot of food, but the top container is all just salad... plus, underneath the pork chop is more veggies. Is this cheating? It's all homemade... =\

top tier: spring mix salad, grape tomatoes, rasberry vinagrette (not shown)
bottom tier: carrots, soy glazed pork chop w/ baby bellas, chinese broccoli (under chops)

Bento #7 - wasa... bi?!

It has been a long search, but I finally found sushi rice at a local asian market. So of course, I had to make some real onigiri with my mold! I read on a fellow bento blog about tuna onigiri made with wasabi mayo, and just the sound of it made my mouth water. *drools* i had the ingredients and i added finely chopped celery for a bit of crunch... whoala! From 1 1/2 cups of rice, I was able to make six onigiri but only fit five in the quart size freezer bag so.... I ate the lone one as part of dinner tonight! The wasabi gives it just the right kick and is oh-so appetizing. The turkey wrap was made with a pesto wrap, but looks kind of dull next to the turkey and onigiri. Maybe I will go with the sundried tomato wrap next time for a bit more contrast. Btw, did you notice the flower and butterfly shaped baguette? *smiles*

top tier: turkey wrap with feta, hummus and spring mix; tuna onigiri
bottom tier: baguette, laughing cow swiss, grapes & grape tomatoes

Bento #6 - say cheese!

is it me or do the weekends always seems too short? i usually try to keep on my feet on the weekends by tidying up the house and running errands, and making at least one gym run. this week is week 2 back on my gym routine, and i typically go three times in the morning at 5:30 before work and once on saturday. that was my routine before i stopped right before thanksgiving (holidays always leads to more eating and less exercising... how ironic). no physical change yet, but i sure feel a lot better! plus, this whole bento thing is making me more conscious of what i eat. i even made it a point to pick up more items to pack into lunch during the bi-weekly grocery shopathon. without further delays, here she is!

top tier: o-jing-uh jigae (squid & tofu in spicy broth), cherry tomatoes, linguini w/ mussels,

bottom tier: garlic toasted baguettes, laughing cow swiss, and green grapes

i can't wait for lunch tomorrow! *smiles*

Bento #5 - a real bento box!

I finally received my bento set late Wednesday afternoon, but I didn't get to use it on Thursday because we have lunch meetings every week. There were so many leftover salads and frozen veggies (I have a hoarding problem... if we were stuck in our house for 3 weeks straight, food would not be a problem...), I coudn't wait to pack them for lunch. I am part of a Thursday night bowling league, so there is usually no homemade dinner on those nights. "What will I eat?" is the question I get every week from the bf. My answer is usually either I made extras in the fridge or dinner will be done in the crockpot when you get home. However, I didn't plan at all for tonight (for myself, at least... the bf ate leftovers from last night). So... fish fry and fridge/freezer goodies for lunch!

green peas, tartar sauce, haddock fish fry (two fillets, cut up),
corn salad (onion, spam bits, caesar dressing), mandarin oranges

Bento #4 - double take failed

I forgot to import the pictures for today's lunch bento, so i thought it would be a two-for-one today! BUT, i deleted the picture by accident... how? it was an accident. *sigh* i usually try to make extras during dinner to pack for lunch the next day, but it was getting to that time of the month... you know, when you start to run thin on groceries but don't have time to shop. the solution? raid the pantry and grab leftovers. oddly enough, this is my favorite looking bento so far.

honey bbq wings, brownie square, roasted red pepper hummus (water crackers on the side),
corn salad (w/ onion, spam bits, caesar dressing & feta), mandarin oranges

the picture seems really blurry. darn my shaky hands!!! hmph

Bento #3 - onigiri take one...

i am getting so impatient!!! only several more days before i receive my package of bento goodies. it will only be the basic pieces... that is, until i find a local store to sells bento thing-a-ma-jigs. paying for shipping is not necessarily the way i like to spend my hard earned bucks.

this bento is a the debut of my first onigiri! i didn't receive my molds yet, but wanted to give hand-molding a try. i mixed some fresh white rice with soy glaze (from my soy-glazed drumsticks) and sesame seeds for taste. after tossing it around to mix and cool the rice down a bit, i poured the rice mix onto a piece of saran wrap. a little squish here, a little pinch there and... TA DA! so proud, so proud. =)

soy-glazed drumstick, green beans (salt/pepper/sesame oil), soy-glazed onigiri
carrots for filler, and mini brownie squares (to be placed in flower cups)

Bento #2 - a lil extra space...

Colors - check. Carbs - check. Protein - check. Veggies - check. Fruit - check. Attractive and exciting - negative. The good news is that my bento order thru Ebay will be arriving in the next 7-10 days (thanks CookingCute for the website recommendation!). I have been browsing bento blogs, in hopes to get some inspiration, but am held back with the lacking tupperware. *sighs* There are so many ideas in my head that I want to try, I hope I remember them when my bento package is delivered. If there was a local store with bento items, I would not have been able to control myself. Unfortunately (or rather, luckily... for my wallet), the east coast seems to be lacking in this market. If I am ever in the San Francisco area, you can bet that I am going to every store on LunchinaBox's shopping list! So jealous of all that they have. Anyway, here is my lunch for tomorrow...

Chicken with broccoli and scallion; Rice
with sesame seeds and carrots; Blueberries

Bento #1 - need a small side box...

it is time to shop for a real bento set! the box i am using is a glad tupperware measuring 8"x4"x1.5". it will have to work for now, but is not friendly when trying to pack a variety of items in the box. i think the color scheme is better today, but the flimsy tupperware is not very appealing. *sighs* and the aluminum foil pack? that is the reason for my title... i need a small side box. still excited for lunch tomorrow!

mango; spring mix salad; slice of cabot cheddar cheese; blueberries; sundried tomato
and feta cheese; curry beef with carrot, green bell pepper and baby spinach

after about 1 1/2 month hiatus from the gym (holidays, travel, weddings, laziness...), i am back at it! eating healthier seems to always promote being healther... hmm, i'm not sure if i made sense there. i was consistent on the gym routine before the holidays, going at 5:30am 3-4 times a week for about 4 months. i am determined! hopefully, bento's nature of portion control and exercising will bring me down to my goal weight... 120lb. current weight = 127lb.

first step into bento-ing...

packing lunch for work is not something new for me, but bento-ing is different. typically, i make enough food for the bf & i for dinner and lunch the next day. it would consist of carbs (rice or pasta... yea, that's it), protein, and veggies. the problem is i usually like more veggies during dinner, which does not leave much for lunch. result? lunch heavy in carbs and meat... not very well-rounded. i have been staying on a gym routine, so eating healthier is my next goal. i have been following a couple of bento blogs and am convinced! here we go...

naval oranges; hummus & crackers (hidden underneath; almond tofu
pudding; blueberries; naval orange sections; 1/4 chicken finger sub

i found many tips on the internet on properly packing a bento and types of food barriers to use. there is not much of a color variance (except for the blueberries - they smelled so fragrant at the supermarket that i could not resist). hopefully, the next one will be better. i am, however, looking forward to this tomorrow. it is much more of a variety than my typical lunch. YAY!