American Bento

Greetings all!  We are back from Russia with three beautiful children!!!  They are wonderful, bright kids who will certainly keep me on my toes.  I wanted to do a bento this morning for their snack - just to see what they thought of it.  Here are the results.

My sister Parisienne emailed me this lovely bento - her very first!  I thought I would share it with you since I am leaving for Russia tomorrow and am not making bentos until I get back!  :)

We had snow last night and I was hoping, indeed praying, for a snow day.  It would have been so nice to run errands and pack for our trip a little early and have some time to relax!  Oh well!  This little dream of mine caused me to put off my bento making until this morning.  Fortunately, I had some precooked shrimp in the freezer.  As a result, this bento was ready in the flash.



Layer 2 was made from pantry staples and leftovers.  I tossed the ramen noodles with Green Giant Healthy Vision veggies: carrots, zucchini, and sliced green beans in a rosemary butter sauce.  The shrimp are obviously on the side.  I added one lovely leftover item: a breakfast strata.  This strata includes sautéed spinach and tomatoes inside.

We are leaving for Russia by the end of the week and are trying to get rid of excess food in the house.  Supplies are dwindling, so this bento was made from freezer and pantry staples  -  well, mostly from those.  I still have fresh veggies and fruit to put in the top.  Scallops seem pretty unusual in a lunch but I needed something that would defrost quickly since I didn't plan this bento until I woke up this morning.  I think it turned out very nicely nonetheless.


Layer 1 contains fresh veggies and cheese, orange slices, blackberries, and blueberries.  There is also some rice pudding dusted with cinnamon.  The veggies, fruit, and cheese are all fresh.  The rice pudding is premade.


Layer 2 contains a main course of saffron rice, pan-seared scallops, and frozen veggies (Green Giant Healthy Weight veggies: sliced carrots, sugar snap peas, black beans, and edamame).  I've added some white wine to the butter sauce.

I bought these darling little bentos for the kids (when we get them home).  I thought they'd be perfect for snacks.  I decided to put them to the test today - for DD.  She is going down to Denver with me today for adoption paperwork (she turned 18 and is now considered an adult - therefore more paperwork).  Yesterday evening, we had quiche and salad for dinner and I had leftovers.  I was planning to take DD out to lunch and thought a snack later in the day would be good.  Here's her "snack."

While my parents were visiting, we made a trip down to IKEA and I found bento boxes at a Swedish store!  ;)  My DH is amused by this - or at least he was - until he saw tomorrow's lunch.  This is a BIG bento intended for all day grazing.  The new bento box has two layers measuring 10" x 6" x 1.5". There's lots of room to spread out ingredients but nothing can be very high at all.  DH has been having a hard time getting through his school days and is a little run down.  I think he needs a little more TLC than usual, so here we go . . .

We had a lovely steak last night that I remade into this bento for DH and DD.


Layer 1 contains a salad of romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots with Laughing Cow cheese and a dessert of strawberries and oranges and a tiny little bit of gingerbread topped with whipped cream. 


Layer 2 contains a main course of rice, a roasted tomato topped with cheese and herbs, asparagus, and thinly sliced steak.  I've added a sauce of fond de veau, red wine, and red wine vinegar.

Happy New Year!!!!

My parents have just left to return home and I have a house FULL of leftovers.  What's a girl to do?!?!  BENTO!!!  :)

Let me introduce you to my new favorite appliance - the pie maker.  My mother and father bought this amazing appliance for me and it is no ordinary pie maker.  When first they discussed buying one, I suggested that there were cheaper ones out on the market but they did a lot of research.  The Breville Pie Maker is the best available and makes lovely 4 inch pies and quiches - perfect for lunch, breakfast, and well, eating anytime.  I have had hours of fun with it already.

This bento is my first of the new year and it seemed appropriate to use leftovers in a pie.  Mom, this bento is for you!