Bento (Japanese style) packed, vegan meals

[Huddy]

Thanks heaps for letting us know how you do it Pavo
You and VegCurry definitely are experts at it! They look soooooo yummy

[jamboxrock]

I just have a quick question-how do you guys come up with all these great ideas for your bento boxes? Are they just leftovers, or do you make little bits and pieces up especially. You make it look so easy, but I have no idea what to put in them! Im pretty stumped for ideas (sorry-I must sound like such a nuffy!)

Mine are made mostly from leftovers. I live alone and cook in batches so everything I make will feed me at least four times. Apart from that I try to keep things around that will fill the gaps. I try to make sure I include protein, carbs and fat to keep me full, as well as fruits and veggies to keep the calories not too high.

Pavo, the box with the noodles and tomatoes DOES look great.

RR, I might try to steal your shaved carrot idea for tomorrow if my carrots are still good

[jamboxrock]

tomorrow: smart deli bologna & american soy cheese slice on wheat, dijon mustard, lettuce and tomato for sandwich, two baby dill pickles, shaved carrot ala Ruby Rose w/ balsamic vinegar, blueberry muffin, cherries

[Huddy]

Thanks so much for the info and awesome photo Jamboxrock
The one you have made looks so yummy!

[mariana]

well, I guess I'm just generally food-obsessed. I collect cookbooks and try to make a new recipe at least every other day.

Then I'm subcribed to a bunch of food blogs and also bento blogs/communities. I posted links before but nobody seemed to care, so I can PM you some if you like.

I have a cooking and baking marathon every Sunday and usually make at least one batch of brownies, muffins or cookies to throw into bento throughout the week.
I also make one or two recipes that keep well until at least Wednesday.

Apart from that, I like using leftovers or freezer staples such as edamame, homemade onigiri and gyoza.

I look at food blogs all the time too! And I rarely make a recipe more than twice because I always want to try new ones! But my mom is starting to accuse me of being too food-obsessed because I'm always talking about cooking (except she doesn't seem to mind eating the food I make! ). I found some bento blogs before but a lot of them were old and weren't being updated. I'm going to check the ones out (at the beginning of the thread, I take it?)--if you have any more good bento sites could you post or PM me? I'd love to look at some more bento sites.

[jamboxrock]

today: faux fish, hush puppies, veggies w/ dill & lemon, ketchup, cherries

[vegcurry]

^ hush puppies??

[jamboxrock]

Hush puppies! No puppies were harmed in the making. Recipe here. They're a very traditional accompaniment to seafood meals here in the south, and they're normally fried. Kind of a fried ball of cornbread.

edit: You got me to wondering why they're called hush puppies. From the wiki article: Hushpuppies are a distinctly Southern food. They are now available throughout America on the menus of fried-fish fast food restaurants. The name “hushpuppies” is often attributed to hunters or fisherman who would quickly fry corn meal and feed it to their dogs to “hush the puppies” during cook outs or fish frys. [1] Two other legends surrounding the hush puppy date back to Civil War days. Southern soldiers would sit beside a campfire, preparing their meals. When Union soldiers came near, they would toss their barking dogs some of the fried cakes with the command "Hush, puppies". A common explanation for the name in Charleston, SC is that slaves returning into the homes of their masters carrying food recently prepared in the outdoor kitchens would throw the batter balls to the barking dogs, telling the "puppies" to "hush." Also, during the time of the underground railroads, escaping slaves would feed these to the dogs tracking them while coaxing them with hopeful commands such as "hush, puppies."[2]

[speedylemons]

ohhh I look at food blogs all the time. I have a few really great ones [including this particular thread] in my actual toolbar, and then i have a bookmark folder titled "Food blogs [alright]" and then "Food blogs [good]". haha. I have seriously like twenty or more in each folder. I love food blogs! They give me great ideas.. but they've got to have pictures!

[jamboxrock]

tomorrow: smart deli bologna rollups, one w/ soy cheese and one w/ lettuce, gherkins, ants on a log (!) on top of carrot sticks, tings (!), blueberry muffin. I made a kiddy lunch and I'm totally excited about eating it.

[bexi]

Haha that lunch looks so much fun. What exactly is the white stuff on the "logs"?

[bryzee86]

tomorrow: smart deli bologna rollups, one w/ soy cheese and one w/ lettuce, gherkins, ants on a log (!) on top of carrot sticks, tings (!), blueberry muffin. I made a kiddy lunch and I'm totally excited about eating it.

that is so frigging cute...

[jamboxrock]

Haha thanks. Bexi, it's Tofutti Herbs & Chives Better Than Cream Cheese.

[jamboxrock]

tomorrow: open face faux fish sandwich on wheat toast w/ lettuce, boiled veggies, melon balls, tartar sauce, oatios cereal, fig bar

[bryzee86]

tomorrow: open face faux fish sandwich on wheat toast w/ lettuce, boiled veggies, melon balls, tartar sauce, oatios cereal, fig bar

*scuttles off to add melon baller to wedding gift list*

ETA: an apple corer and citrus zester caught my eye as well...whoops...

[august]

This thread has some of the yummiest looking food.
The hush yuppy recipe sounds great and I'm going to make them and 'Wish' fillets for my guests this weekend. I haven't had hush yuppies in 5 years so I'm looking forward to them- yum. Thanks for the recipe.
The Jesus toast (photo on the blog with the hush yuppy recipe) looks amazing- I'd almost be scared to eat it though.

[mariana]

tomorrow: open face faux fish sandwich on wheat toast w/ lettuce, boiled veggies, melon balls, tartar sauce, oatios cereal, fig bar

Nice-looking lunch! The melon balls are cute. My mom used to make those a lot...wonder whatever happened to our melon baller...?

[vegcurry]

WEDNESDAY 11-06-2008. Clockwise from top left:
[1] Chick pea and spinach curry with rice.
[2] Hummus and carrot sticks
[3] Avocado, olive, cherry tomato, spring onions
[4] Green leaf salad, baby sweetcorn, and dried apricots.

& Brazil nuts in with the fork.



THURSDAY 12-06-2008. Clockwise from top left:
[1] Potato Salad, Hummus, sprinkled with smoked paprika,
[2] Carrot sticks
[3] Strawberry, walnut and dried apricots.
[4] Green leaf salad, baby sweetcorn, sugarsnap peas.

& Hippie Bar.



FRIDAY 13-06-2008. Clockwise from top left:
[1] Pinto bean chilli and pasta
[2] Hummus and carrot sticks
[3] Avocado, olive, cherry tomato, spring onions
[4] Green leaf salad, baby sweetcorn, sugarsnap peas, dried apricots, and pickled Manzano chillies.

& Trek bar.

[vegcurry]

MONDAY 16-06-2008. Clockwise from top left:
[1] Mung Dhal, stir firied vegetables and cheatin chicken pieces.
[2] Potato salad with chives.
[3] Spring onion, avocado, olives, cherry tomato.
[4] Green salad, carrot sticks, baby sweetcorn, sugarsnap peas, Manzano chillies.

& Brazil nuts in with the fork
& Trek Cocoa Brownie bar.

[bryzee86]

Reminder to self: make dhal tomorrow.

[ellaminnowpea]

Not effin fair, you have trek bars over there!

[bryzee86]

You have Clif bars, Newman-Os, vegan marshmallows, So Delicious, and Purely Decadent.

You win.

[treehugga]

What's a hippy bar?? Does it contain interesting seeds or resins? Nudge nudge wink wink
My name's Treehugga, so I have a right to know!

[bryzee86]

http://www.whistlersownbakeshop.ca/p...arshippie.html

[jamboxrock]

yesterday: orange beef, grilled eggplant, squash & zucchini, rice pilaf w/ tomatoes, chipotle kettle chips, fig bar



today: tofu cottage cheez w/ half a pear, carrot, squash & zucchini salad w/ balsamic vinaigrette, broccoli & green peppers w/ goddess dressing, gluten-free crackers, mamba candies

[jamboxrock]

tomorrow: green-wa w/ lamb's quarter, dill & field peas, roasted okra & tomatoes, guacamole, gluten-free crackers, fig bar

[jamboxrock]

today: green-wa & green pepper, roasted tomatoes & okra, cottage cheez topped w/ diced pear, canteloupe balls

[wom]

These lunches look so good! I ordered a laptop lunchbox last night, after marathoning this whole thread, and I'm really excited about making a lunch that I'll enjoy eating! I'm quite a new vegan, so it will make me keep plenty of variety in my diet!

Jamboxrock: those melon balls are absolutely adorable.

[speedylemons]

Are you making the cottage cheese yourself?!

Also, what's all in the 'green-wa'? Sounds awesome!!!

[jamboxrock]

Wom, Yay! Welcome to the club.

Theashleybeyer, the cottage cheez is from the uncheese cookbook, and the green-wa is from yellow rose recipes. It has quinoa, onion, garlic, lamb's quarter (wild spinach), dill, soy yogurt, and field peas.

No lunchbox for me today, called in sick with a yucky sore throat

[wom]

Boo! My order didn't go through properly and I only just found out! I've been wondering why it hadn't got to me yet. They apologised, so I don't mind that much.

I'll be re-ordering it next week. Did you other laptop-lunchers order the box on its own, or did you get the bag etc with it?

[bryzee86]

i got the bento sleeve with ice pack too

[wom]

Is it worth the extra money?

[bryzee86]

Yeah i'd say so.

[jamboxrock]

I got the package with the carrying bag, book, and water bottle. I used the bottle for juice a few times but found it keeps smells and don't use it anymore. I like the soft cover though, keeps the box from getting scratched. I didn't need an ice pack cause there's a fridge at work.

[jamboxrock]

What, I get sick for a week and you guys let the thread die?

yesterday: quiche, pretzels, broccoli w/ roasted garlic dressing, double chocolate muffin



today: pb & strawberry jam on wheat, broccoli w/ goddess dressing, applesauce, double chocolate muffin

[vegcurry]

^ I have an excuse ... I've not been in work for a week.

[jamboxrock]

Ah, okay then we were in the same boat. I'll excuse you, just this once.

[speedylemons]

Jamboxrock, is the broccoli you have in the lunchbox raw? It looks like it could use a good wash! I've had decent results getting that white-ish stuff off the tops, and same for grapes and berries [that 'foggy' white you sometimes see on them...] Just a tidbit, feel free to disregard!

[jamboxrock]

Ashley, yes it's raw, and you're right that it could probably use a wash. I'm a little too lax about that. Although I think the whiteness comes mostly from the flash (lunches are made at night) because I don't recall it being white or powdery.

today: salad - romaine, cucumber, shredded carrot, cilantro, green onion, avocado, lime zest, sauteed mushrooms, green peppers, black beans & corn w/ chili & lime, mexi-ranch dressing, orange slice candy

[Astrid]

Lovely lunches, jambox. I've really stopped taking pictures of my bento, because I always put the same stuff in there

[speedylemons]

So THAT'S how you successfully pack a salad into the laptop lunch! pure genius!!!!!

[wom]

My lunchbox FINALLY arrived at the beginning of the week, but I haven't had an opportunity to use it yet. I can't wait.

[speedylemons]

I will cry many moons if this thread dies! I'd post some photos of what I eat but lately [I'm a nanny for three terribly naughty kids] my meals are quick, simple, and not nearly as pretty as I'd normally try to make them.. nor are they in cute bentos.

[jamboxrock]

I'll try not to let it die, but my lunches have been less than inspired lately.

Today: rice, mushrooms, peas & kielbasa w/ cheesy sauce, lettuce, carrot salad, walnuts, pepitas & dried cranberries, prune, fig bar

[pavotrouge]

I uploaded some the other day, as well:



Mr Bento Mini with Fussili with Basil Pesto, cherries and garlicky asparagus


brown rice with scallions, and sesame seeds, plum sauce in the green container, half a fig, three cherries and two mini chocolate chili muffins

[speedylemons]

Awesome! I love it all. Thanks for keeping it alive

Maybe once I'm in Japan i'll actually have time to pack myself a cute little bento box and be able to post on this thread. Until then.. I'm that girl that comments on stuff and never posts her own photos. Ha.

[pavotrouge]

"no time" is no excuse I never spend more than 15 mins on a bento, except for when I go for fancy picknick or present ones.

[speedylemons]

pavo, do you just use fresh veggies and fruit and leftovers? I feel like sometimes I honestly don't have time! 15 minutes is nothing however... and I could easily fit that in. I generally take that long [if not a bit longer] to make my meal anyway.. hmmm....

Is there a thread somewhere [or an area in this thread] that talks about tips and such when making bentos? that'd be awesome.

[pavotrouge]

I posted a lot on the first site as well as a couple of pages ago. Lunch in a Box by Biggie is an amazing blog for speedy bento tips, as well.

I sound like I'm being paid by a bento company or something, but I work about 10 hrs a day and am out ouf the house for 12 hrs at least and I manage