Requested Bento

Today was my day off, and since I had extra time my wife asked me if I would make her a bento for her lunch tomorrow. She asked for Octodogs and Spinach Tamagoyaki. I decided to go a step further and make Onigiri as well.

 Here it is! I hope she likes it. :) I used some of my new bento goodies from Christmas to make this bento. The 3 tiered Blue Bento box, the Cube Rice Shaper, and some of my Crystal Food Picks.

The first tear has a cute Royal Salad using my Heart Mold and some Chrystal Food Picks.

• Lettuce Spring Mix
• Hard Boiled Egg
• Sesame Seeds (Eyes)
• Craisin (Lips)
• Balsamic Vinaigrette

 The second tier has the two foods my wife requested.

• Spinach Tamagoyaki (made with egg beaters and fresh spinach)
• Octodogs (made with a Chicken Hot Dog cut into thirds)

 The bottom tier was fun to make with my new Cube Rice Mold.

• Cube Onigiri
• Salted Almonds

I had to use a pink bento belt to hold it together because my black belts weren't stretched enough to fit around the 3 tiers. This was my biggest/stretchiest bento belt and it had enough room for me to add some chopsticks in their case.
I had to use a bento belt because the octodogs wouldn't fully fit into the bento with the cover on. Oops.

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bento

This delicious oatmeal can even be eaten as a dessert, but I opted to have it for breakfast!

• Gluten Free Oatmeal (I used Bob's Red Mill)
• 1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 Packet Stevia
• 1/2 Banana
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon
• 1/4 Cup Raisins
• 2 Tbsp Peanut Butter (I used Teddie Natural Creamy with Flaxseed)
• 1/4 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips

Mmmm, care for a bite?

Well here's how I made it.

1. Boil your water and add enough rolled oats to make 1-2 servings of oatmeal. (Follow your package's directions for amount of water/oatmeal).
2. Add your sweetener, mashed banana, vanilla extract, and cinnamon, and stir to combine.
3. When oatmeal has cooked and thickened stir in the peanut butter, turn off the heat and stir in the raisins.
4. Right before serving mix in mini chocolate chips, and enjoy.
5. Optional, eat it with a splash of milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)

Breakfast Fried Rice Bento

That's right, Fried Rice for breakfast. This isn't your ordinary fried rice with vegetables, this has dried fruit, peanut butter, and banana in it.

• Orange Slices
• Breakfast Fried Rice

Want to make Breakfast Fried Rice? It's easy! Here are the ingredients.

• 1 Cup Cooked Rice (I used a mix of Brown and Wild Rice) 
• 1 Tbsp Raisins (No sugar added)
• 1 Tbsp Golden Raisins (No sugar added)
• 1 Tbsp Dried Cranberries (I used 50% less sugar added Craisins)
• 1/2 Banana Sliced
• 2 Tbsp Peanut Butter (I used Natural Peanut Butter with the oil on top)
• 2 tsp Sunflower Seeds (or nuts, or other seeds)
• Optional: Ground Cinnamon (or Nutmeg, All Spice, Ginger, Salt, etc.)

Directions.

1. Spray a frying pan with non stick spray and add the cooked rice.
2. Cook on medium heat while adding the peanut butter, dried fruit, and seeds.
3. Mix well and cook until warmed through.
4. Remove from heat and add the sliced banana. Gently mix it in and serve warm.

Of Pocket Sandwiches and Fruit Salad

This bento has a lot of different things in it, I couldn't figure out what to call it.
I tried out my new Pocket Sandwich press (though it's a little difficult with my gluten free bread. I also used Chocolate PB2 as the filling.

 This bento if just full of color and deliciousness... :)

 This tie of my bento looks like a silly-eyed monster.

• Red Mini Sweet Pepper
• Yellow Mini Sweet Pepper
• Pocket Sandwich cut in half (Udi's fiber bread, Chocolate PB2 mixed with Cocoa Powder and water)

• Green Onion Dip (Greek Yogurt mixed with Green Onion Dip Mix)
• Crunchmaster Crackers (Hint of Sea Salt)
• Carrot Sticks

 

This tier of my bento is very colorful thanks to the fruit medley ! :)

• Fruit Medley (Cherries, Peaches, Pineapple, Pears, packed in 100% juice)
• Cucumber Sticks
• Carrot Sticks

Next I'll show you how I made the Pocket Sandwich.

 First I cut the crust off my slices abread and flattened them out with my hand. I had to do this because the gluten free bread tears/crumbles/falls appart easily, so flattening it down it help it hold it's shape better.
Next I placed one slice of flattened bread into the sandwich press and filled the center with the Chocolate PB2 mixture.

 I placed the other slice of bread on top and pressed the top of the sandwich press down over it.

This is what it looked like after coming out of the press. I gently cut it in half and place it into the bento box.

Mmmm, It's like a dessert with all that Chocolate Peanut Butter inside. To make the filling I took 2 Tbsp Chocolate PB2 (a powdered peanut butter with less fat and calories) added 1/2 Tbsp Cocoa Powder and 1 1/2 Tbsp Water (a little at a time).
I stirred it until it was combined and the consistency of peanut butter. You can add more liquid to make it thinner, or less liquid to make it thicker.
To compare the calories of the Chocolate PB2, the Chocolate PB2 has less than 50 calories for this serving size. while Nutella has 200 calories for a serving, and a Chocolate Peanut Butter has between 180-200 calories per serving.

Rainbow Rice Bento

I have been bringing quick lunches to work in my mini crock pot. Usually I don't have the time to take a picture, but yesterday I took a picture since it was kind of pretty. I'm calling it Rainbow Rice for lack of a better name.

 This dish is made with two types of frozen veggies. An Oriental Vegetable Mix, and a Rice and Mixed Vegetable Steamer Bag.
I poured some of each Frozen Vegetable Mix into my crock pot, added a dash of Gluten Free Soy Sauce and some Cracked Pepper.
At work I plugged in my crock pot and it was hot and ready to eat by lunch time. It would have been sooo much better if it was stir fried first, but it tasted good anyway.

• Red (Peppers)
• Orange (Carrots)
• Yellow (Corn)
• Green (Peas)
• Green (Green Beans)
• Green (Pea Pods)
• Green (Broccoli)
• White (Onion)
• White (Water Chestnuts)
• White (Rice)
• Black/Brown (Gluten Free Soy Sauce)
• Black (Cracked Pepper)

Chocolate PB2 Banana Ice Cream

This easy recipe is healthier and lower calorie than a traditional ice cream. Plus it's Low Added Sugar, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Soy Free, Gluten Free, Vegan!

My mom gave me a Vitamix blender for Christmas! I have been wanting a Vitamix for so long, and I finally have one, so what is the first thing I make? Ice Cream! lol
Also, I have been wanting to try PB2 for a few months now (ever since I heard about this low fat powdered peanut butter) and for Christmas my wife gave me a jar of not only the PB2 but the Chocolate PB2 as well! If you haven't tried this yet I recommend it. I haven't tried mixing it with water to make regular peanut butter yet, but I have used it in a few recipes and it's delicious... including in this recipe...

Chocolate PB2 Banana Ice Cream

What you will need:

• Frozen Bananas (I used 2 small ones to make one large serving)
• PB2/Chocolate PB2 (I used 1 Tbsp Chocolate PB2 for 2 small Bananas, but you can add in more to make a stronger flavor)
• Vitamix (or a high speed blender/food processor)
• Optional Ice Cubes (I used 4 Ice Cubes to make the portion size larger without adding calories)

Directions:

1. Cut Bananas into 2 or 3 smaller pieces before putting them into the Vitamix.
2. Blend on low for a few seconds until bananas become crumbly. 
3. Add Chocolate PB2 Powder (or regular PB2 if you don't want the chocolate) and blend until smooth and creamy.
4. If you want to add the Ice Cubes to make a larger portion Add them and blend until fully crushed and mixed with the banana mixture.
5. Scoop into a bowl or a cone and enjoy.

This is so creamy and delicious, you won't miss the cream, sugar, or egg at all!

A Bento fit for a Pig

My wife made me a delicious stir fry for dinner and I put it into one of my piggy bento boxes and ate it with my brand new Piggy Chopsticks. Can't tell I love pigs huh? Lol

• Chicken Stir Fry with Wild Rice (Chicken Breast, Wild Rice, Bell Pepper, Carrot, Broccoli, Snap Peas, Onion, String Beans, GF Soy Sauce, Black Pepper)

Forest Friends Bento

This bento is full of Forest Animal Friends.

 This picture came out a little washed out looking.I took my leftovers from going out for lunch yesterday, and I turned it into a forest bento.

• Grilled Chicken
• Bears (Udi's GF Fiber Bread)
• Romain Lettuce Leaves
• Greek Salad

 These little bears are laying in a field of flowers.

There is a baby bear and a bunny playing hide and seek, while two lovebirds sing.

I used one of my new Bento boxes, and some of my new picks and the new bear cutter/press as well as some older picks I had yo make this cute Forest Friends Bento. The leftover Greek Salad and Grilled Chicken fit into the bento perfectly.

Musical Pig & Cat Bento

These cute animals are so happy, they are singing together!

I used some of y new bento goodies to make this bento including the Orange 3 Tiered Bento Box, Musical Note Picks, and the Food Writer Pen. I also used my Cute Z Cute cutter set to make the pig and cat.

• Cat (Gluten free corn bread, ham, mustard, black olive, peas)
• Pig (Gluten free corn bread, ham, mustard, peas, Rollos)
• Sugar Snap Peas

Zelda Triforce Food Cutter

Another one of my Christmas presents came today. Well actually it's a present for me AND my wife since she is a huge fan of everything Zelda.

This Triforce cutter also imprints the inner triangle into the bread or cheese or whatever food that is being cut.

It's super cool, and I can't wait to make my wife an awesome Zelda themed bento.

3D Chrismtas Tree Bento

Earlier I bought myself a 3D Christmas Tree food cutter, and I finally got a chance to use it this morning. I made myself a simple breakfast bento and decorated it with a green tree and a white (snow covered) tree.

 I used my new 3D Christmas Tree Cutter that I bought myself as an early christmas present, and I used my Blue Poke-a-dot Bento box that my wife game me.

• 1/2 Udi's GF Bagel, Tofutti Vegan Cream Cheese, Raspberry All Fruit Spread
• Trees made from Cucumber and Carrot stars
• Present cup with Applesauce and Christmas sprinkles
• Satsuma

 Aren't these cool? I think I need to slice the cucumber a little thinner next time.

Here is the package the cutters came in. It comes with three cutters, two for the tree and one for the star on top. You do not need to use the star if you want to make a little forest of trees instead of a Christmas tree.

More Christmas Bento Goodies

Today my friend came over and gave me and my wife our Christmas Presents... and I got sooo many awesome Bento Goodies! I guess this year my Christmas presents were themed around Bento.heck out the Awesome Bento Boxes and Accessories my wife gave me Yesterday.
You may think this is a lot of stuff for a friend to give, but she got good prices on them all, and I am required to make a lot of bentos and blog about them as repayment. lol. After all this friend is my Biggest Bento Blog Fan!
Anyway, here goes

 Look at it all, Ahhh!!!!! I want to make Bentos Right Now!!!

 This is a Picnic Bento Box that has 5 removable containers that can also be used for veggies and dip at a party or cookout.

 

 One Black Poke-a-dot and one Pink Lace Oblong 2 tier Bento boxes with chopsticks under the covers and black bento bands to keep them together.

 

 

 2 packages of Food Picks. The Flower picks come in Clear, Pink, Yellow, Green, and Blue. The Halloween Picks have 2 Ghosts, 2 Bats, 2 Headstones, and 2 Gothic Fences.

 These are really cool 3D Food Cutters. Each Package comes with three cutters that cut food that you can fit together to make a 3D Elephant and a 3D Bunny. I also bought myself the 3D Christmas Tree earlier, but I'll have to blog about that separately.

 These are animal Food Cutters that also double as Presses to make the detail of the face and body on the food you cut. There is a Bear, Elephant, and a Bunny.

 This is a super cute Sandwich Press that turns sandwiches into filled bread pockets.

 These are 2 Rice Molds. The left one makes rice into rolls that are traditional for sashimi and the right one turns the rice into little cubes.

 These are the super cute Pig Chopstick set that came with Pink Chopsticks, a Pig Case, and a Poke-a-dot Cloth that holds the chopstick case.

 This is a Silicone Mold that is perfect for making cute tea cakes or molded jello desserts, and they are the perfect size for bento.

 Here is an Egg Slicer that cuts hard boiled eggs into wedges and slices that are perfect for a fancy salad bento. The Avocado Slicer will slice avocados into perfect slices for bento, sandwiches, and salads.

These aren't really for bento, but they are cute Piggy Kitchen gadgets. The Pig on the left is a magnet that doubles as a plate golder for taking hot plates out of the microwave. The Pig on the right is a cute little bowl that's perfect for soy sauce.

Here is a picture of all the bento goodies I got this year for Christmas.

• 8 Bento Boxes
• 4 Sets of Picks
• 3 Sets of Animal Cutters
• 2 Sets of Chopsticks (and 2 chopsticks in the oblong bentos)
• 2 Rice Shapers
• 1 Food Pen
• 1 Egg Mold
• 1 Pocket Sandwich Press
• some Cool Kitchen Gadgets

Half is from my wife, and the other half is from my friend. Don't I have some awesome people in my life? I am soo thankful, and I am super excited to use it all!!! :) I hope I get a chance to start making more bentos this coming New Year because I still have a lot of bento accessories I haven't been able to use  and experiment with yet.

Christmas Day Bento Goodies

Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates. Today (Yesterday) is Christmas and my wife has surprised me with a big box filled with bento goodies!!! I was so excited so I took pictures of all the awesome bento boxes and accessories I got.

 Here is the Bento boxes and accessories that my wife gave me for Christmas.

 These next pictures aren't the best because I was so excited I took them quickly while sitting on the living-room floor on Christmas day.

 Four 3 tiered Bento boxes in Pink, Blue, Green, and Orange

 One Blue and White Poke-a-dot Bento with separator and tight fitting lid.

 

 

 Two Packages of Picks. Christal Picks in Yellow, Blue, Pink, Clear, and Green, and Heart Music Picks in Pink, Blue, and Yellow.

 Chopsticks with a Purple and Black Case.

And a food writer pen with two different size caps. (I am super excited to draw on my food using ketchup and mustard!)

This is soooo exciting! I wish I had a week off from work so I could play with all my awesome bento goodies and make a ton of bentos!!! But I'll have to wait for a day off and some free time instead.

I hope everyone had a wonderful day and I hope you all got what you were hoping for! :)