An Invitation to Lunch

october 23 macaroni and cheese

2006-10-23T16:08:00.000+01:00

individual macaroni and cheese
topped with panko bread crumbs and baked

october 19 mock shepherds pie

2006-10-19T23:31:00.000+01:00

The weather is getting colder here and it is time for cozy comfort foods that require the oven. Those are my favorite kind of foods.
Today we had mock shepherds pie, because I really know how to rock those soy meatballs in inventive ways. ;) The meatballs were simmered in a homemade onion gravy and then combined with mixed vegetables, put into a casserole, and topped with garlic mashed potatoes and lots of black pepper before being baked in the oven til the top is slightly browned.

october 18 chicken with orange sauce

2006-10-18T17:39:00.000+01:00

chicken with orange sauce over rice with peas

october 17 little big star

2006-10-17T13:47:00.000+01:00

dirty rice in a star shaped baked tortilla bowl topped with tiny cheese stars.
lettuce and grape tomatoes on the side.

august 9 vegetable samosas

2006-08-09T14:06:00.000+01:00

august 8 vegetarian enchilada casserole

2006-08-08T14:05:00.000+01:00

tortillas
spanish rice
soy meatballs cooked in enchilada sauce
chopped onions
cherry tomatoes
kernels sliced from left over corn on the cob.
mexican cheese blend, shredded

layer ingredients into the center of a tortilla. roll up and place in a casserole dish, lining them up side by side. top with enchilada sauce and cheese and more tomatoes (of course!) cover and bake in the 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until the enchilada sauce bubbles in the casserole.

august 4 spanish rice bowl

2006-08-04T19:26:00.000+01:00

A little leftover spanish rice garnished with extra tomatoes and cheese and some grilled chile flour tortilla spears.

august 3 summer cous cous

2006-08-03T23:41:00.000+01:00

Hot summer days this past week. I have no desire to be cooking in the kitchen. This meal not only gets me away from a hot stove, but it also uses lots of vegetables from the garden. Including tomatoes, which are overflowing everywhere!

july 22 breaded eggplant

2006-07-23T02:59:00.000+01:00

july12 simple vegetable fried rice

2006-07-12T17:06:00.000+01:00

FOR: simple vegetable fried rice
DATE: July 12
PLACE: bento

R.E.C.I.P.E.

simple fried rice
I used a 10 inch skillet with a cover and steamed broccoli, carrots, peas, and bean sprouts in 4 tbsps of water until crisp tender and the water was mostly gone.
I added 2 tbsps of canola oil and 1/4 cup of onions and stir fried the vegetables. When the onions were soft I added 3 cups of cold rice and 2 tbsps of soy sauce. Breaking up the rice and stirring it together with the vegetables until heated through.

july 11 rice picture bento

2006-07-11T17:55:00.000+01:00

FOR: bento with rice and vegetables
DATE: July 11
PLACE: bento to take on an outdoor picnic

R.E.C.I.P.E.
The base of this bento is jasmine rice, then a ground layer of steamed broccoli with sesame furikake. The flowers are carrots with stems made of chives and tiny basil leaves.

july 7 farfalle with spinach and tomatoes

2006-07-07T14:17:00.000+01:00

FOR: Farfalle with Spinach and Tomatoes
DATE: July 7
PLACE: lunch at home

R.E.C.I.P.E.
Farfalle with Spinach and Tomatoes
1 package (12 oz.) of bow tie pasta (farfalle)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp of minced garlic
1 bag of fresh spinach
1/2 tsp of each salt and pepper
1 pint of grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup of parmesan cheese

1. Cook pasta as package directs.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet, add garlic and saute about 1 minute, until garlic is golden. Add half of the salt and pepper. Add half of the spinach. Saute 1 minute. Add remaining spinach and cook until wilted. About another minute. Remove to a plate.
3. Heat tomatoes in the same skillet with remaining salt and pepper. Add a tiny bit more olive oil if necessary. Cook until tomatoes start getting juicy. (about 1 minute)Set aside with wilted spinach.
4. Drain pasta and rinse under cold water until pasta is cool. Drain well.
5. Put all ingredients in a serving bowl and toss well to coat pasta with oil and vegetables.
6. Sprinkle in parmesan cheese and serve.

adapted from a recipe in Woman's Day

july 6 thai noodle salad

2006-07-06T13:25:00.000+01:00

FOR: Thai Noodle Salad
DATE: July 6
PLACE: lunch at home

R.E.C.I.P.E.

Thai Noodle Salad

8 oz. udon noodles

Dressing
2/3 cup bottled peanut sauce
2 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tbsp water
pinch of minced garlic

1 cucumber quartered lengthwise and sliced thinly crosswise
2 medium carrots, grated
1/2 cup sliced scallions
1/4 cup peanuts, chopped

1. Cook udon according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water until cool. Drain well.
2. Mix dressing ingredients in a large bowl. Add cucumber, carrots, and scallions. Toss to mix. Add cooled pasta and mix to coat. Sprinkle individual servings with chopped peanuts.

july 5 diner style hot dogs

2006-07-05T18:02:00.000+01:00

FOR: diner style hot dogs
DATE: July 5
PLACE: post holiday lunch at home

R.E.C.I.P.E.
hot dog pan fried in organic butter
crisps
orange pepper cut into sticks

june 30 biryani

2006-06-30T15:53:00.000+01:00

FOR: Biryani with Soy Meatballs
DATE: June 30
PLACE: easy to prepare lunch at home

R.E.C.I.P.E.
This dish is made using vegetable biryani and soy "meatless" meatballs from the frozen foods section of Trader Joe's. I prepare it by stir frying the biryani in a little oil and using the baking method of cooking the meatballs listed on the back of the package. After both components are cooked, combine in a bowl and serve.

june 29 paninis

2006-06-29T15:35:00.000+01:00

FOR: Panini
DATE: June 29
PLACE: lunch at home

R.E.C.I.P.E.
Our version of a panini on flatbread...in this case, with a blend of three cheeses and red peppers in the middle.

june 28 spaghetti bolognese and frozen chocolate bananas

2006-06-28T16:16:00.000+01:00

FOR: spaghetti bolognese
DATE: June 28
PLACE: at home

R.E.C.I.P.E.

Frozen Chocolate Bananas
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons milk
3 medium firm bananas, cut crosswise in half
6 small wooden skewers or popsicle sticks

Directions:
In a small heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips and honey, stirring constantly.
Add peanut butter stirring until smooth.
Remove from heat and stir in milk.
Peel bananas and insert wooden sticks into thickest end.
Spoon chocolate mixture over bananas to coat or dip bananas into mixture if possible.
Place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet.
Freeze for at least 30 minutes and serve frozen.

june 27 focaccia bbq sandwich

2006-06-27T14:46:00.000+01:00

FOR: Italian seasoned bbq on foccacia with rosemary balsamic potatoes and chocolate chip cake with strawberries
DATE: June 27
PLACE: at home

R.E.C.I.P.E.

june 26 roastbeef wrap

2006-06-26T17:44:00.000+01:00

FOR: roast beef wrap
DATE: June 26
PLACE: lunch at home

R.E.C.I.P.E

roast beef wrap with arugula, basil, and tomatoes dressed with a mustard vinagrette on a warmed whole wheat tortilla
barbeque flavored soy crisps

pretty in pink

2006-06-25T14:04:00.000+01:00

mesclun mix with raspberry vinagrette and sun flower seeds

Friday

2006-06-23T17:30:00.000+01:00

onigiri wrapped in nori and sprinkled with furikake

Thursday

2006-06-22T23:47:00.000+01:00

chicken with orange sauce over jasmine rice

tuesday lunch

2006-06-20T16:27:00.000+01:00

cous cous salad with carrots, tomatoes, yellow peppers, scallions
naan bread warmed with butter glaze

Monday

2006-06-19T20:29:00.000+01:00

Ham and cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla
red, yellow, and orange peppers
rice crackers
mini fruit kebabs with cantelope, watermelon, and dried blueberries

2006-06-12T18:34:00.000+01:00

The first USA game in the World Cup today.
Since it was played over lunchtime...
red white and blue potato salad made with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and some chives and salt and pepper.

eating from the garden

2006-06-09T13:34:00.000+01:00

A tomato salad using basil and italian parsley from the kitchen garden.
Grape tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and a little salt and pepper.
All on toasted Tuscan panne.

Wednesday lunch

2006-06-08T13:25:00.000+01:00

My favorite meal (this week) equals rice with wasabi furikake, a nirvana veggie burger and a big slice of tomato.

Tuesday's bento

2006-06-08T13:16:00.000+01:00

Really, the star of this bento is the new Thai Lime and Chili cashews from Trader Joe's that I wanted to try. They were good, but I think I prefer more lime less chili. I made a salad with balsamic vinegar dressing to go with it. Cool lettuce on my tongue. Good thing.

lunch returns

2006-06-05T17:14:00.001+01:00

parmesan tortellini salad with cracked pepper

there's gotta be a first

2006-05-11T13:04:00.000+01:00

I did buy that Hello Kitty rice mold for a reason. Not *just* 'cause it was pink. So this is my first attempt at onigiri and... I learned that basmati mistakes turn into onigiri happiness.

2006-05-10T16:51:00.000+01:00

Ethan picked out these unsweetened dried pineapple slices from Trader Joe's. I thought they looked a lot like sunflowers.
I made rice with furikake and then the pineapple slice petals on top.
The center is sunflower seeds. Yay for authenticity.
The warm steam from the rice softened the pineapple.

2006-05-09T13:07:00.000+01:00

Russian style perogies
broccoli
soy meatballs

cinco de mayo bento

2006-05-05T17:50:00.000+01:00

Quesadilla flowers made with chile flavored tortillas and colby jack cheese on a bed of mexican rice.
The centers of the flowers are grape tomatoes and the leaves are mint from the garden.

2006-05-03T17:24:00.000+01:00

Thanks again, Sanrio Store, for bento cuteness.

top part:
Nirvana veggie burger sections
broccoli
tomato
watermelon
grapes
kiwi heart

bottom part:
rice with furikake

sweet!

2006-05-02T18:46:00.000+01:00

Everyone's favorite dessert in our house lately.
angel food cake, strawberries and kiwi with chocolate syrup drizzled overtop

happy bento

2006-05-02T17:08:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was May Day. I didn't make lunches because I went out to lunch, but I did stop by the Sanrio store and they had some really cute bento boxes that I couldn't resist. Today I made my lunch in my new Sugarbunnies bento. sweet!
stirfry of broccoli, pea pods, carrots, bean sprouts and edamame
vegetable gyoza
soy meatballs
grape tomatoes
dried cranberries

orange stars...

2006-05-02T13:04:00.000+01:00

basmati and wild rice with vegetables
orange pepper stars and tomatoes
red grapes
ginger cats

peanut butter and sunflower seeds in a whole wheat small pita (not as tiny as a mini, but not a full size pita either. If there was a story about them, it would be the size that Goldilocks would choose.)
soybeans and Just Veggies
yaki mochi
orange pepper stars
grapes
small chocolate

2006-04-27T16:34:00.000+01:00

In my house we call this Pasta Nirvana. It is a Nirvana veggie burger from Trader Joe's on a bed of angel hair.

I added some baby arugla with sunflower seeds and dried cranberries and ginger cats for lunch.

not your neighbor's ramen cole slaw

2006-04-26T17:00:00.000+01:00

Today's lunch is a remake of a summertime favorite. I reworked the cole slaw that contains huge amounts of oil and refined sugar, which are no-no's in our house, to make a somewhat lighter version that my tastebuds and my concience can live with.

ramen cabbage salad
cantelope, grapes, and strawberry
mini bagel crisps

because sometimes the momma gets a bento too

2006-04-25T17:10:00.000+01:00

gyoza
broccoli, tomatoes, and carrot flowers
sliced strawberries and grapes
roasted peanuts
chocolate kiss

I tried an experiment. I followed the stovetop prep directions for the gyoza that say to brown them in a little oil for a minute and then add 3 tbsp of water and cover and steam for 5 minutes. When I added the water I also added the broccoli and carrots. They came out with a bit of a roasty steamed effect that I am really pleased with.

tuesday's bentos

2006-04-25T13:04:00.000+01:00

colby jack cheese
woven wheat crackers
dried cranberries
Just Veggies
orange sections and grapes

udon with spicy peanut sauce
orange sections
grapes
veggie chips
honey wheat bread sticks

grey Monday morning, bright bentos

2006-04-24T12:51:00.000+01:00

First bento with grapes and a strawberry, cheese cubes and raisin trio mix, veggie chips and pretzel bites.

Second bento with spinach, tomatoes, cheddar cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette, veggie chips, grapes and a strawberry

Saturday night dinner

2006-04-23T16:18:00.000+01:00

penne pasta with basil marinara sauce
garlic and herb focaccia

mexico-a-bento

2006-04-21T14:05:00.000+01:00

colby jack and cheddar cheese quesadilla
spanish rice with broccoli

Thursday's bento box

2006-04-20T12:45:00.000+01:00

What has quickly become a family favorite:
Tomato and basil rotelle tossed lightly with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Soy meatballs and grape tomatoes.

bunnies love them too...

2006-04-18T23:02:00.000+01:00

a nest of steamed carrots sprinkled with chives and gyoza

monday spring side dish

2006-04-17T23:04:00.000+01:00

pasta with lemon, pepper, and peas

Saturday

2006-04-15T22:54:00.000+01:00

It is so springtime sunshine here today and I loved the way this broccoli was so green it was almost glowing after I steamed it for a few minutes. It looks like the weather feels.

For the meal I made penne pasta and tossed with a little olive oil and pepper then added the broccoli and we ate it with a grilled hamburger topped with tomato and red onion. Yes, every once in a while I do actually eat meat.

it's Saturday...

2006-04-15T20:22:00.000+01:00

..so it's shopping day. Two stores, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.
I'm sharing my rice crush.

Friday's bento lunch

2006-04-14T18:45:00.000+01:00

A play with proportions:
soy meatballs with baby spinach leaves in mini whole wheat pitas
vegetable chips
peanuts
a super gigantic strawberry

pasta prima...fakery

2006-04-13T23:37:00.000+01:00

I had this idea in my head that I wanted to make pasta primavera. But I'm sure this is a crazy version of it, so I boldly made some pasta primafakery.
With a reprise of the rest of the carrot flower practices from this afternoon. And peas and fresh broccoli and scallions and tomatoes sauted lightly in oil.

cute bento today

2006-04-13T17:55:00.000+01:00

My favorite green bento box with crabs on it.

Inside:
vegetable gyoza on spinach leaves
soy sauce in a hello kitty bottle
wild rice with a carrot flower
peanuts

there's no sunshine outside this morning...

2006-04-13T12:35:00.000+01:00

...so I decided to make a little sunshine for breakfast.
whole grain blueberry waffles
sliced strawberry
orange wedges

I was really wishing that it was summer and I could go outside and pick a sprig of mint for garnish. soon.

with and without maple syrup.

we should have each other to dinner...

2006-04-12T22:47:00.000+01:00

angel hair pasta tossed in olive oil with cracked pepper, oregano, and parmesan cheese
soy meatballs
tomatoes and steamed broccoli

April 12

2006-04-12T12:15:00.000+01:00

kiwi, grapes, and strawberries
basmati and wild rice with vegetables
goldfish crackers
yellow pepper sticks

April 11

2006-04-11T23:52:00.000+01:00

Dessert: banana and strawberry and kiwi slices wrapped in rice paper with a chocolate dipping sauce

April 11

2006-04-11T12:31:00.000+01:00

Spinach and tomatoes with balsamic vinaigrette, udon with spicy peanut sauce, grapes and a strawberry, vegetable chips.

April 10

2006-04-10T13:12:00.000+01:00

Today's bento box: basil parmesan rotelle, orange and grapes and raspberries, colby jack cheese and tomatoes, peanut butter on pumpernickle.