Chalk board bento

Chalk board bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

 

Chalkboard made of nori and cheese on top of a grilled cheese sandwich with steamed broccoli, baby corn, and a raw carrot with side car apple with strawberry and grapes.

Back to school bento

Back to school bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Back to bentoing after a crazy move across the contry.  So glad to be back.  And what better than to start the new school year with a back to school theme.  School bus onigiri with catfish, broccoli, cauliflour and a side car of fresh fruit. 

Sea turtle

Sea turtle, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.
Kiddos are studying seaturtles so another theme bento idea in the making!

Shark Bento

Shark Bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.
The shark bentos are a special request from my daughter who is currently studying ocean animals at school.  So in the attempt to get the right color for the shark I made my first colored egg sheet.  Very easy process so the bento options are now endless. 

Robot Rosie bento

Robot Rosie bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

When deciding to enter the Robots contest I sat and pondered who is my favorite robot and instantly Rosie from the Jetsons came to mind. In recreating Rosie I boiled rice lasagna noodles and colored them with blue food coloring. Then made a template and used a craft knife to cute the pieces out. Rosie is seating on top of jasmine rice. To the side there is fresh catfish dipped in mustard then coated with corn meal and fried to perfection, a beautiful red tomato, broccoli, carrots, grapes and fresh pineapple. I tried to keep the bento componets simple as to not compete with the details of Rosie herself.

Catfish Bento

Catfish Bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Nothing says summer like a trip to the lake taking the kids fishing.  My active children amaze me by sitting motionless on the bank of the lake waiting patiently for the tug on the line.  In this bento we have catfish, rice onigiri with fish cheese on top, broccoli, clemetine, grapes, and a few snow peas and carrots. 

Go Rangers

Go Rangers, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Texas Rangers are back in full swing and we are cheering them on.  Baseball diamond bento to get the kiddos excited about going to the ballpark this weekend.

Princess egg

Princess egg, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Dinosaur bento

Dinosaur bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4
Dinosaur onigiri with dino shaped chicken nuggets, fresh fruit and veggies.

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Little Red Riding Hood made of colored rice and cheese with fresh fruit and veggies on the side with a few white meat chicken bites.

Easter Bunny Bento

Easter Bunny Bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Homemade bread bunny that the kiddos helped create last night, a decorated boiled egg, fruits and veggies with crab and a little basket of sweets with edible grass.

Bunni...wich

Bunni...wich, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Quick bento today
Nothing is worse than running late in the morning when you have a cute bento plan in mind.  Today we improvised and threw together bunny sandwichs, organic bunny crackers, tiny tangerines, grapes, strawberry, peas and carrots. 

Bunny Musubi

Bunny Musubi, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.
Spring bento contest entry
Turkey spam musubi
Potato Salad....Texas style
Broccoli
Cauliflour
Plum
Stawberry
Apple bunnies
Tiny little tangerines
I had fun putting this together and it was a hit at lunch the number one goal.  There are so many tv specials on right now about the obesity rate of children and it is heartbreaking seeing these children struggle with weight at such a young age.  Everyone seems so confused on what the cause is.  If they would open their eyes and see the processed high fat junk they call a healthy school lunch they could stop this cycle.  Sorry to step on my soap box.

Bunnies!

Bunnies!, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

My new favorite is falafel made it for the first time and so glad I made a double batch. 

Spring is coming!

Spring is coming!, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Kids have been asking for very unphotogenic soups for a while now so glad to pack something a little more pleasing to the eye. Tarragon chicken salad, croutons, baby carrots, baby potatoes, broccoli and orange cauliflour, baby clementine, grapes, strawberry and blackberries.

Tarragon Chicken Salad
- serves 6 -

Ingredients
3 pounds boneless chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 celery ribs, cut into 1 inch long pencil strips
1/2 cup shelled walnuts (optional)
3 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon, or 1 tablespoon dried
Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cover with 1 cup of the yogurt in a snug roasting dish. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

2. Whisk together remaining ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

3. Shred cooked chicken or cut into cubes and mix into the dressing. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Target has been really good to the bento addict in me lately.  In the easter section they have these adorable Mickey mouse easter eggs that are perfect for holding ketchup and sauce.  And in the freezer section they have organic chicken breast mickey nuggets. 

March in like a Lion....

March in like a Lion...., originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Well true to form March had come in like a Lion we have storms today. Lion is made of rice and quail egg, sauteed cabbage, brussel sprouts, snow peas, strawberries, grapes, and chicken breast nuggets.

Duckies

Duckies, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Froggies

Froggies, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.
Soup not pictured.  Prince frog marshmallow, carrots, strawberry, pear and broccoli with a thermas of chicken noodle soup.

Piggies

Piggies, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Ham and cheese sandwiches, pear, clementine, strawberries, broccoli, carrots and quail egg piggie.