Bento du Jour

First, a word about the title. I have been having a hard time lately coming up with titles for my posts. I mean, how many times can I call it, essentially "My Lunch" before we are all bored to tears? I could go back to Bento #whatever - but I don't exactly know what number I'm on, to be honest.

I was chatting about this title quandry with my friend Andrea and she suggested I try something with an International flair. Since bento is quite the international phenomenon currently, I say, why not?

So without further ado, I present today's lunch:

Contents:

• Brown steamed rice
• Shake-n-bake chicken
• Carrot flowers
• Broccoli stems and grass
• Lettuce
• Grapes
• Tomatoes
  

The color in this tier was good - and the tomatoes continue to be tasty. I even ate my lettuce today, believe it or not!

This is the first time I've used this little flower cutter. It is much smaller than the stars I usually do, and it is a fondant cutter, so I wasn't sure it was going to be strong enough to cut through carrot. It had no problems.

Happy Bento!

Cute is a Verb

"Did you cute your lunch today?" one of my students asked, innocently. Grins all around, and a few of the staff chuckled. But we all knew what she meant.

"A little bit. Do you want to see?"


The bottom tier has brown rice supporting a nori wink, and pulled pork garnished with a tiny little tomato.

The top tier is bordered in lettuce, and displays three varieties of tomatoes (thanks to my dad for the yellow and orange ones!).

Here it is, just waiting for the top lid to go on. Yum!


So, I have to ask: when was the last time you cuted your lunch??

Homegrown Tomatoes

Here are some cherry tomatoes from my yard:


I would say my "garden," but that term implies care - and I have really neglected my little plot of earth lately. Fortunately for me, tomatoes are hardy and determined!

Here they are nestled into a bento lunch:

Contents:

• Turkey sandwich
• Homegrown tomatoes
• Carrots
• Broccoli

This last photo is for those of you who feel that I don't eat enough. You will see that I generously round out my meal with hummus, an apple, and Silk yogurt.

Happy Bento!

Volunteers

I promised earlier to show you some pictures of other plants that have grown themselves in my garden this summer.


I am ecstatic about the number of tomatoes I am getting without doing anything aside from watering!

But will they ever turn red? I'm waiting...

Happy Gardening!