Tangerines

As a child our stockings always had fruit and nuts in the shell in them.

The toe of our stocking always had a tangerine in it!

To this day, Tangerines remind me of Christmas.

Tomorrow's lunch (which was prepared in a hurry, so please excuse my messy "gluing"),

contains carrot sticks, a cheese stick, an artichoke with mayo under it for dipping, and a tangerine!!

The Artichoke halves are my Christmas Trees, decorated with cheddar stars, and provolone ornaments.

Merry Christmas!!

I didn't make a lunch last night..

Because I had soup for lunch instead of a bento.  I was going to make a small fruit

bento to go with it, but ended up just grabbing a whole piece of fruit instead. 

However, tonight I went to a Relief Society Christmas Dinner, where as per the normal,

I was allergic to the majority of the meal.  SO, I packed a bento to bring with me.

Originally I was going to make a quinoa dish to take, but since I got home from my doctor's 

appointment later than I planned (not my doctor's fault), I just did a sandwich bento.

Dinner tonight for me was an avocado and veggie patty sandwich, cucumber and carrots
(I LOVE my carrots from my CSA, so yummy), salad with Thousand Island and baco bits,

and some pomegranate.  I was a VERY good girl and did not even go raid the dessert table!!!

Let it Snow!

I wish I had time to go for a drive up the hill to see the snow.. maybe next week.

I ordered some new bento picks, a set of leaf picks I've been drooling over since I started 

packing Bento, but have never seen at Daiso or Ichi Ban Kan, a set of alphabet picks (if those

ever appear in JTown I want to get three more sets for phrases or words with more than one

of a letter since this set only had one of each), a set of little hats, and a CuteZCute cutter.  

I used the new alphabet picks to spell snow :)

Check out the cute little snowman sliders!!

Fruit for the lunch has a tangerine (with one of my new leaf picks!!), and some kiwi cut into

Christmas Trees.  I got this HUGE kiwi in my produce bag, I should have taken a picture of it, it was

as big as my hand, and sort of fan shaped.  The salad has some Thousand Island hiding under it,

and some baco bits tucked in the side.  The snowmen are made of light bread, "sausage" patties cut into 

rounds, a circle of provolone each, a bit of carrot for the noses, and a few dots of food coloring.

Let it Snow!!!

Not the Gum Drop Buttons!!!

Despite not putting up a tree this year (which by the way feels wrong)..

I am enjoying the holidays.  Today I had to go over to Sacramento to go to the 

dentist.  While I was there I stopped off at Trader Joe's.  I love their meatless meatballs,

and I was out!  I also picked  up a few other things, but I forgot extra virgin olive oil... I forgot

to put it on my list, so it's my own fault.  Oh well, I have to go back next week, so I will

get it then.  ANYWAY.. tomorrow's lunch is Gingerbread inspired, and while

I was making it, I thought of Gingy... from Shrek... Do you know the Muffin Man??

Here is tomorrow's lunch:

There are carrots and cucumber with hummus, a tangerine topped with an edible 

gingerbread candythat I found at target (it's pure sugar though, so I doubt I will actually eat it.. 

it was just SO CUTE).  The sandwich is a meatless meatball sandwich

 topped with a cheddar face, and colby jack buttons with some marinara sauce to add 

to it when I eat.    As a treat, I have three gingerbread cookies,

dipped in white fudge icing.  YUMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December

I love the holidays, I love time with my family, fun crafts and discoveries with my students,

the feelings of good will and cheer that are all around, and memories.

One of my favorite memories is a star.

My Dad had a star that used to be on the top of our Christmas tree, until it was falling apart.

I inherited that star, and for several years, it limped through Christmas on my tree, until two years
 ago Ireplaced it.  But I didn't have the heart to get rid of Dad's star.  So every year I would
take a momentto remember Dad, then put it back in the box with the ornaments.
 Last year I decided I wanted to put it in a shadow box, and now it is out year round!
This year I want to go through some of the pictures at my sister's house and find a picture
of the Christmas tree with the star on it, hopefully

one with my Dad in it too.  I want to frame the picture and hang it with the start.

So tomorrow's lunch is a star themed salad.

There are spinach greens for the base salad, carrots, string cheese rounds, bacon bits,

and ranch for the salad.  Some wasa with some new blue cheese laughing cow cheese,

topped with two colby jack stars.  The pomegranate is for dessert! YUMMM!!!!!!

It's a Delicious Mystery!

I accidentally deleted the menu from my CSA this week.

In the fruit part of the produce bag, I got these YUMMY green fruits.. the flesh

inside is white, and they are sweet and tangy.. no clue what they are, but one is in my lunch!

Over the weekend we were hit with a big WET storm.. parts of my house flooded, 

today they came and extracted the water from my carpet, so my house is in shambles...

The worst of the damage to my stuff was in my garage, but I don't think it was to bad.. I hope..

So I didn't pack a lunch for today.. but I need one for tomorrow, hence the super simple lunch above..

Cucumber with seasoning salt, some salad with ranch (mostly for the cucumbers, but some will go on 

the salad), a wrap, one cheese with a star cut out.. a mandarin orange, and the green yummmmmmmy

mystery fruit.  Truly no clue what it is, but it is YUMMO!  I hope I get more this week!!!!

It's still Fall out there!

The wind is blowing, the rain has been falling (although thankfully we got to play outside today!)

There are leaves on the ground, and while November is fading fast, and December is almost

here, it is still fall at my house.  I was so happy to get my produce bag today, full of all sorts of

yummy things!  However, as I didn't get home till well after dinner time, tomorrow's lunch is simple,

but all the produce is fresh and local!  For lunch I have a veggie patty sandwich topped with some cheese

decor, and a big ol' salad, along with a mandarin orange.  YUMMMM!!  I can't wait!

The box is new to me, it's by tupperware, and not sold as a bento box, but I purchased it 

as part of a fundraiser being put on by another special education classroom.  I typically prefer my laptop

because it's easy to take out parts of it when I don't have time to eat my whole lunch in one sitting, or

when I want to heat parts of the lunch.  But tomorrow's food is all cold, so I figured it was a good

day to try the new box!   I will think of my friends in the class and their new swing!

A bit low on veggies...

I can't wait for Thursday.. oh wait, it's tomorrow!

Thursdays are awesome because I get my produce delivery!

Normally I'm not quite so out of veggies, but I had them hold my delivery last 

week as I was going to be out of town.  By the time I would have had any time to

go to the store, it was Wednesday.. so waiting for Thursday made sense.

I would have liked to add some nice leafy greens.. but that will come in Friday's lunch!

For now, Lunch tomorrow is quinoa with apple, pecans, & cranberries, inside a pumpkin.

For fruit, the last of my pomegranite, and a babybel to fill the whole that the veggies created. 

Yes, I know the pumpkin is a veggie, but I am craving my greens!

Busy Girl, Empty Cupboards

What with the Thanksgiving, my little babies, and everything else..

I have so few leftovers, and hardly anything fresh left in the cupboards.

Produce delivery is Thursday, so it seems silly to go to the store to buy anything

(and besides, I am broke..)

So... I am thankful my artichoke was still good (since I bought it before Thanksgiving).

When I eat lunch I will also grab a handful of nuts from my desk to add a bit more protein to this lunch.

Brown rice with a bit of soy sauce, an artichoke, some mayo for dipping, and a babybel.

And of course.. here is what is occupying me!!!

Little Mischief has a red collar, and her sister, Mayhem has a green collar.

Sweet babies...

I love fruits and veggies!!!

Tomorrow's lunch contains broccoli, with ranch for all the veggies,

 red bell pepper, cucumber,a persimmon, and a baked tofu 

sandwich topped with a colby jack heart..  

I tucked a sting cheese in the silverware compartment to eat later in the day.  

Loving my lunch!

Stir Fry

Tomorrow's lunch is stir fry, brown rice, salad with Asian dressing, and apple sauce.

YUUMMM

(now back to loving on my new kitties)

Cat Scratch Fever..

On Saturday I will be adopting two little kittens.. they are rescues, and

almost weaned, I will be finishing weaning them from bottles onto softened food..

I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My house has been so quiet since

my little dog Jo passed away.  It won't be quiet much longer!

I am planning to name my little girls Mischief and Mayhem, and call them

Missy and May for short.  So this lunch is in their honor...

Lunch for tomorrow contains a veggie patty and avocado sandwich,

topped with a cheese kitty with a nori face.  A salad with radishes (and some

dressing hiding under it).  Carrot strings, what kitty doesn't LOVE string??? 

And some pomegranate! I tucked a little kitty pick in for looks.. but will use my

spoon to eat the pom.  YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

I love leftovers!!

So recently I made a huge batch of a quinoa dish.

(it's in my last bento too)

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is one of my favorite things.  It's packed 

full of protein, and SO DARN YUMMY!

Lunch has Quinoa with asparagus, leeks, peas, and shallots.

Some cucumber bears and carrot flowers, broccoli (with ranch in the panda).

Black grapes, and a cheese stick.

Quinoa and Spring Vegetable Pilaf

I decided to try a new recipe tonight.  I love quinoa, and I am always on 

the hunt for new recipes which contain it.  YUMMMM

Tomorrows lunch is a fast one!!!

A quick veggie wrap on a low carb tortilla (my students swear it's Taco Bell),

some salad with dressing and baco bits, half an apple, and some Pilaf!

YUM

I cheated on my CSA....

and I bought a mango..... 

I couldn't help myself, they smelled so good!

The broccoli and the lettuce came in my produce bag though,

so I wasn't all bad.  

Lunch (made after midnight..) contains a sandwich topped with

a Colby Jack Mickey, some greek yogurt with a bit of vanilla to eat with 

that delicious mango... and broccoli and ranch.

This lunch was photographed on my Mickey clothe napkin that I bought while I was at

Disneyland, I thought it matched my Bento Pick/Corn Cob Holders nicely.

Good Night!!

Super Simple Lunch

Decided to play with some of the baran I bought on my last trip to JTown.

Truthfully the little monkey I have tucked behind the hedge is supposed to be a barrier

between different foods, but doesn't he look cute perched on top of my wrap?  I

didn't have tons of time tonight, so he was a big time saver!

Tomorrow's lunch contains a super simple wrap, made on a medium tortilla,

spread with a wedge of tomato basil laughing cow cheese, some cucumber cut into

match sticks, and some assorted cheese scraps.  The yogurt is a fat free greek yogurt, 

mixed with a bit of truvia and cinnamon, topped with fresh passion fruit.  My favorite black

grapes were on sale, so I paired those with a matching monkey pick, and to add some more veggies

I added some broccoli with some ranch dressing (It's the Bolthouse yogurt based.. love...)

Fall is in the air!! (And it's about time!)

It finally feels a tad bit like fall.. not because it is cool.. although it will be cold by

the end of the week! No it feels like fall because it is finally

starting to look like fall!! The leaves are turning colors, and falling to the ground!

Today my students and I started talking about fall.  We talked about the leaves falling..

and then we went outside and played with the leaves!

We found big leaves and little leaves, yellow, brown, and green leaves... 

Tomorrow's lunch contains an egg salad sandwich, cucumber and carrot slices,

a salad some cheese decorations, and the pomegranate.  There is some dressing for the

salad and to dip the veggies in hiding under the salad, and the yellow container has 

baco bits for the salad.  YUMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lunch For Two

A dear friend of mine just started teaching a new class today,

So I decided we needed to celebrate by sharing lunch together.

From time to time she has teased me, telling me I needed to pack 

her lunch too, so I tonight, I did!  After a few quick texts to verify

what she wanted in her sandwich, these are our lunches tomorrow :)

Both lunches contain basically the same thing, except her's has a few less black grapes

 and has a mandarin orange instead. Tomorrow's Menu:  Egg Salad Sandwiches

with sprouts, salad (half spinach, half red lettuce, with ranch and baco bits), cucumber, and red bell pepper.

I can't wait to share lunch with my friend!

Jack - O - Lantern Time!

I picked up some cute little pumpkin picks at Target the other day 

(they sold as picks/cocktail stirrers)So tonight I tossed together a quick little Bento, 

with a meatless meatball sandwich, sauce for dipping,

some mandarin oranges, broccoli, cucumbers, and some ranch. 

 I tossed in some yogurt covered

raisins for desert. YUMM!!

There once was a witch with a hat...

There once was a witch with hat.

She rode on her broom with her cat.

Her nose was pointy and her shoes were too

and you better watch out, cause she might scare you...

BOO!!!!!!!!!!!

There once was a witch with a hat.

Take one tired preschool teacher, add a new produce delivery, subtract

lots of time, pull out a few hairs... and this is what you get for lunch!

Veggies are fresh carrots and broccoli with a bit of ranch hiding under the hat.

Fruit is a passion fruit to be cut open at lunch time and consumed with the spoon I 

forgot to put in till after I took the picture.... protein is some frozen edamame, and a

veggie patty sandwich.. oh and cheese... sharp cheddar.  The babybel is to go with my afternoon snack 

of some pirates booty.. I won't be done till late tomorrow as I am teaching in the morning, thenI have an IEP, and after that I am picking up a few hours of interpreting in the late afternoon.

Spoooooky...

Presenting a less than five minute Halloween themed Bento!!

A meatball sandwich topped with a skill and cross bones, and some marinara for dipping, 

red bell pepper with ranch, topped with a cheddar coffin,

some figs, a cheese stick, and tucked in with the cheese, one square of

ghiradelli salted dark chocolate with almonds... yummm..

So how did I do it in less than five?  EASY.. leftovers!!! The cheeses had to be cut,

quickly thanks to cookie cutters... the outlining is kept simple for speeds sake.  

YUM!

Just a Bit Corny....

Tomorrow's lunch is inspired by my favorite artist!  I even

have earrings based on the same design.  

So if you are feeling "Just a Bit Corny.."  you should swing over to

www.kimchikawaii.com and  check her out!

Lunch features some celery (only the top three have cream cheese),

yogurt with a few pieces of candy corn on top, an egg salad sandwich,

and two little cuties.  I was going to stamp the letters for "Just a Bit Corny.."

but ever since my trip to LA (I took some Bento supplies), I haven't been

 able to find one of my letter wheels!! EEEK! Maybe that means I

need to make a trip to Japan Town!

*** Disclaimer: I have been friends with Holly, the Artist behind Kimchi Kawaii since 

first grade.  She doesn't pay me to feature her art, I just love being inspired by her.  I

have her permission to feature her art in my lunches.  https://www.facebook.com/kimchikawaii?fref=ts

Spooky Salad

Tomorrow's lunch is Soup (not pictured) and a Salad..

Radishes (and hiding underneath those some Thousand Island), Red bell pepper

Baco Bits in the pink container, a cheese stick, and a bit of quesadilla.  

I have a container of soup on the side to go with it.

There are witches in the air!

My student's LOVE all things Halloween!We have been counting and 

sorting colored spider rings, talking about emotions (using Jack-O-Lanterns), 

learning the song "Five Little Pumpkins" and the song

"There Once Was a Witch".  We have been exploring color concepts, like mixing red and 

yellow to make orange, discussing "real, vs. pretend/fake/costume"

 and of course,they have LOVED my Halloween Bento!

Lunch consists of leftover Garden Gold Pizza (thin crust,  TONS of veggies),

A nice big salad with dressing hiding under the full moon,

plain greek yogurt with one stevia and cinnamon, and of course

two cuties carved into Jack-O-Lanterns (which are  of course different than 

pumpkins, because they have faces) one happy and one sad.  

Happy Haunting!

boo!

Boo!

I got the idea for today's bento off pinterest.. I do love pinterest!

They did use regular white spaghetti, where I used whole wheat angel hair,

but I think mine worked out just fine!  

To make the Boo, cook your pasta to al dente (follow instructions on package),

then line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, and make the boo out of pasta.  Cook for five

minutes, then place on top of pasta.  You can make a whole cookie sheet full at one

time if you are making these for a family or a party.

This lunch has salad with dressing, meatless meatballs with a provolone ghost, 

spaghetti with a thick layer of cooked zuchinni under the pasta, and two tiny cuties, 

the two containers on the side have baco bits and

fresh parm for the pasta.  YUMMMMMMMMMMMM

This is Halloween!

It's time to start on Halloween themed Bento!!!!

The cute little Mummies were inspired by http://www.cutefoodforkids.com/2010/10/mummy-sandwich.html

I built mine on two veggie sausage patties, and cut the circles from sandwich thins.  

The cheese is provolone, and there is a bit of nori and some candy eyes.

I added some cucumber, and red bell pepper, a handful of frozen edamame (it will be thawed

in plenty of time for tomorrow), a cutie, and some dressing on the side.

Boo!!!!!

It's my blog, and I'll share some vacation pictures if I want to! (But I will be nice and post the Bento first!)

When I lived near L.A. I went to Disneyland a lot... and by a lot..

I really do mean, a lot.. at times, it was once a week.  Now before you freak out,

we didn't always stay all day, and we often brought our own food...

For example, here is tomorrow's lunch, a Micky Sandwich, pretzels, red bell pepper, sugar snap peas, some dressing, and half an apple (checkerboard style) with peanut butter hiding underneath it for the apple and pretzels..  Although when I lived near L.A. I hadn't discovered Bento yet, so they were never this cute!

 If you are interested in seeing some of my vacation pictures, keep reading, if not, 

scroll down three pictures for some cute cupcakes that I didn't buy, but drooled over...

Much has changed since my last visit a year ago (gasp.. the withdrawals.... they were bad)

I teach on a modified year round schedule, so it is Fall Break!!!  That means ten days of Disneyland!

I must be totally insane because I am still working the Northern California Renaissance Faire 

on the weekends.. but hey, I can squeeze in ten days of Disney, right??????????????????????

 I have spent a lot of time in DCA just absorbing the new stuff.

There are these new style characters for the shows, their eyes and mouths move, 

they can even talk..but to be truthful, they kind of creep me out a bit.

They even have cute food at Disneyland. 

They also have cute Pumpkins carved by talented workers while you watch!

(I watched her carve part of it one day.. then went back another to get the finished pumpkin shot)

They have some not so cute, but totally awesome pumpkins too...

Lot's of cute kiddos in costume

           A place for kids to cool down in our lovely fall (over 100 the first day I was there..) weather... 

 totally crazy.  I am so glad it has finally cooled off!!! 

This little one was dancing in the water.

There are also some great street shows.. the Dapper Dans, Minnie's Fly Girls, 

The Red Trolley, and more....  I love watching them!

 

And some great stage/animatronic shows too... "In the Tikki Tikki Tikki Tikki Tikki Room"

And of course I had to watch Aladdin, though I must say I miss the flying carpet, 

that was one of my favorite parts of the show.  Oh well.  

One more dose of cuteness, just cause I can...

 And then to finish off, I love the flowers in the parks, they are always so well maintained..

I have a TON of flower pictures.

If you stuck with it to the end, thanks!!!!  I will soon return to my regular just Bento blog entries.