Bento Box Fever!

[ninjapoodles]

How adorable is that little lunch table? CUUUUUTE!!

Here is the lunch that killed my back. Looks innocent, doesn't it?

Nutty Bird Pinwheel Sandwiches (neufchatel, toasted pumpkin seeds, baby spinach, on sprouted-grain wrap)
Mozzarella Chunks
Banana Slices
Carrot Sticks

SNACK:
Homemade granola bar

Roasted Chicken (bottom layer) and Chicken Gyoza (top layer)
Pickled Carrots
Chinese Noodles with Broccoli
Hard-Boiled Egg (bunny shape)
Pocky

SNACK:
Roasted Pistachios & Teddy Grahams

This one was easy to put together, by combining 3 things at once. The instant noodle soup takes 3 minutes to boil, and so do the frozen Gyoza I got at the Asian market. So, I went ahead and put the seasoning mix in the water when it boiled, and added the noodles and frozen gyoza at the same time, and fresh broccoli a minute later. Took it all off the heat at the same time and poured off the liquid, and packed it up when cool. You have to be careful when cooling/drying the gyoza so they don't stick and tear, but once they're cool, they're good.

 

[flakey chick]

Ok, I have a question about the banana slices. What do you do to keep them from getting disgustingly brown and slimy? I would love to put pieces of banana into my bento, but I didn't think I could cut it and still keep it nice.

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
Fruit Fresh! They might get softer than fresh-sliced, but they won't turn brown and slime out. I think Fruit Fresh is simply citric acid. You could probably accomplish the same thing with lemon juice.

Another thing you can do, is to cut the unpeeled banana in half, and sprinkle Fruit Fresh on the cut ends. It might fit into the box that way, and would still be nice and fresh at lunchtime.

 

[flakey chick]

Ok, now I feel totally inadequate in the culinary department. I couldn't even get Fruit Fresh to keep my apples from turning brown. I think my jar is a bit old- time to get some "fresher" Fruit Fresh.

 

[Ellie_NY_chick]

How did you do the bunny-shaped egg? Soooooo cute!

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
It works REALLY well on apples. I use it liberally. I lay the slices out, cover one side with FF, turn them over, and cover the other side. They stay nice.

Another thing you can do with apples/pears/peaches is to slice them, but then put the slices back together so that they're not exposed to air. It would look like half of a fruit face-down in the tray, but would be "pre-cut."

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
They're just made with little molds! Peel the boiled egg while it's still hot, pop it in the mold, close mold, and drop the whole thing in ice-water for 10 minutes. Search "egg molds" or "egg moulds" on Google. I got mine from IchibanKan online, but they sell out frequently. You really have to watch for them.

 

[menageriemama]

Nice bunny egg ninja!! I have total egg-mold-envy!! Hope your back is better

 

[ninjapoodles]

OK, if I'd been REALLY thinking, I'd have packed this lunch in the bear boxes instead of the bunny boxes. Oh, well.

Spinach Salad with Pistachios and Cheese
Hard-Boiled Egg (bear shape)
Fresh Corn Cakes
Veggie Fried Brown Rice

SNACK: Grapes & Raw-Milk Colby Cheese

 

[ozark hen]

Keep those photos coming. Ninjaturtles- I just read some of your blogs and am in tears over Bella. We had five daughters and about went insane

I must tell you the worse is yet to come.

Hope your back is better. When you all post your pics it helps give the rest of us some ideas of what to fix ... yum!