Bento (Japanese style) packed, vegan meals

[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

[jamboxrock]

I keep forgetting my laptop lunchbox at work! This one is kind of a bento, even though it's not a proper container. I made it last night but stayed home from work today, so it'll be eaten tomorrow.

steamed pak choi, agave garlic eggplant, mashed sweet potato.

[pavotrouge]

looks scrumptious! how do you make the agave garlic eggplant?

[Glossgirl]

Everything looks delicious

I keep forgetting my laptop lunchbox at work!

Me too

[jamboxrock]

looks scrumptious! how do you make the agave garlic eggplant?

I'm no expert on asian cooking, but this came out exactly like I wanted. I was going for a take on honey chicken. No exact recipe, unfortunately...didn't feel like writing it down

Heat a couple Tbs peanut oil and a splash of sesame oil in a wok. Add most of a sweet onion, sliced, and four japanese eggplant, halved then sliced. Cook until eggplant are soft, adding splashes of soy sauce and stirring. Clear a space in the middle of the wok and add 8 minced cloves of garlic. Let cook only a couple seconds then stir in. Do the same with a pinch of red pepper flakes. Have ready the sauce - a couple Tbs agave nectar, a tsp or two of hoisin, about 1/3 cup water, splash of rice wine vinegar and a Tbs cornstarch, whisked together. Pour in the sauce and cook until thickened, a couple minutes.

[pavotrouge]

thanks! I've never heard of honey chicken or had it, but I'll give it a try.

[Hemlock]

OMG! This is the first time I've really had a good look at this thread - I want a bento lunchbox and ALL the cute animal accessories and sauce pots
Pavotrouge, Corum says the depletion of our bank account will be totally YOUR responsibility!!!

[pavotrouge]

I know it's addictive... but one really really needs soy sauce containers in any shape of fruit or animal, do tell him

[wom]

First laptop lunch, for work today.
-Veggie mush (mixed stir-fried veg with tomato sauce)
-Homemade wholemeal bread
-Peanut butter and mixed nuts (for bread)
-Carrot sticks and hummous in the little tub.

Very exciting.

[jamboxrock]

today: chickpea cutlet parmesan, cherry tomatoes, spelt spaghetti marinara, balsamic roasted green beans, peaches, blackberries



tomorrow: succotash, onion rings, ketchup, fig bar, blueberry muffin

[jamboxrock]

today: bulgur pilaf, tomato cucumber salad, spelt spaghetti marinara, gherkins, dried pineapple & apples

[pavotrouge]

I think I'm suffering from severe bento envy! At the moment I just keep on throwing whatever leftovers in a container, in the best case.

did you make the onion rings yourself, jambox?

[cedarblue]

i will miss vegcurry's boxes

[jamboxrock]

I think I'm suffering from severe bento envy! At the moment I just keep on throwing whatever leftovers in a container, in the best case.

did you make the onion rings yourself, jambox?

Oh no, I'm not that skilled at breading. They're Ore-Ida brand, or howeveryouspellit.

i will miss vegcurry's boxes

Me too! Maybe he'll come back. (He's a he, right?) I'm about to move across the country and search for a new job, so I'll probably be out of lunchbox commision for a while soon too.

[speedylemons]

wait wait wait...

What happened to vegcurry???
He/She is going to be doing anymore bentos?!


nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[pavotrouge]

She ^^

I think he's just taking a break from it. We all do every now and then, when RL kicks in.

As mine does in the moment. I have a confession to make... for the first time in 2 years, a didn't pack a single fancy Japanese bento for an entire week... what's love got to do with it, eh?!

[bryzee86]

She ^^

*ahem* He.

With a beard.

[pavotrouge]

that's not too uncommon

[emzy1985]

that's not too uncommon

Maybe where you live!

[Roxy]

Here's my bento for tomorrow:



All organic fruit and veg:

Pasta salad - wholewheat pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, broccoli, Yves veggie "beef", Goddess dressing.

Crackers with organic hummus.

Cherries.

3 squares of dark chocolate and a bunch of banana chips.

[applepie]

Ah, Roxy's back! I missed your bentos. That pasta salad looks yummy!

[Roxy]

Thanks! It is yummy hehe.....I had some for dinner last night. I made enough to feed an army

[applepie]

I'd be more than happy to come round for dinner

[Roxy]

You'd be welcome any time you wanted to come!

[pavotrouge]

those cherries look gigantic!

[Astrid]

Cherries <3

[Roxy]

those cherries look gigantic!

Yes, they are quite big. They're lovely and juicy and the best part is that they're locally grown!

I love cherries too Astrid.


Here's tomorrow's bento. It's quite similar to today's.

All organic fruit & veg:

Pasta salad - wholewheat pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, broccoli, Yves veggie "beef", Goddess dressing.

Pecan fruit crisps.

Cherries.

2 squares of dark chocolate and a bunch of orange flavoured raisins (Thanks Gorilla!!)

[Astrid]

Orange flavoured raisins? Wow.

[jamboxrock]

bulgur pilaf, strawberry jalapeno corn muffin, herbed tofu, carrots & broccoli w/ tamari, eb & dill, kiwi

[Tigerlily]

How do you all find the time and effort to make nice looking lunches?

I thought since I'm working, I'll be making nice bentos every day and taking pics. But I just can't find the time or energy. I come at 11pm, sleep until 10am, and then I'm so lazy and tired in the mornings, I just don't want to make a nice lunch.

[Roxy]

I usually put mine together right after dinner. If I don't do it then I find I can't be bothered to do it later on. Mornings are definitely out. I don't do mornings very well.

[speedylemons]

I could see me making a bento for the next day if i made it the night before. ... great tip!


How many of you out there prepare a bento for your significant other [as well as yourself]? Just curious..

[Roxy]

Here's my bento for tomorrow:

Salad: red leaf lettuce, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, red, yellow, orange & purple tomatoes, grapes, purple peppers, avocado, topped with cashew pieces.

Nutted rice pilaf and little container of mango-cashew thai viniagrette for the salad.

Pecan fruit crisps.

Organic apricot.

[cedarblue]

mmmmm looking tasty there roxy! - and the bento

[speedylemons]

Roxy your bentos always look amazing. Seriously.

Purple tomatoes?!?! Purple peppers?!? I'm jealous. That salad looks and sounds delicious!!

[Roxy]

Thanks Cedar and Ashley

I found the purple peppers and tomatoes at the market yesterday. Here's what the tomatoes are:

http://www.newportavemarket.com/Foodieopia/177036.aspx

The link says they are reddy brown tomato. Mine are more a purpley brown. Very nice flavour though and lovely in a salad.

[Roxy]

Tomorrow's bento:

Monday August 4th, 08



Salad - Red leaf lettuce, head lettuce, orange tomato, purple pepper, cucumber, cashews.

Lime-coconut-ginger dressing for the salad, green grapes and a square of maple espresso chocolate.

Moong bean dahl (with basmati rice underneath) topped with cilantro.

Vegan chocolate banana cake (cut to fit).





[FYI: The first part of the thread is here:: Japanese style packed lunches (Vegan Bento). Korn]

[applepie]

Roxy, this bento looks even more mouthwatering than usual! 2 questions:
1) What brand is that chocolate?
2) Is that cake homemade? If so, where can I find the recipe? I want to have some right now!

[Roxy]

Thanks applepie!

The chocolate brand is Turkey Hill (It's a Canadian Brand). http://www.turkeyhill.ca/

The chocolate banana cake is a vegan cake made by the bakery at the store I work at. They're on sale this week, so I grabbed one the other night

[Roxy]

Here's tomorrow's bento:

Salad - head lettuce, romaine lettuce, avocado, roma tomato, green grapes, raddish, cucumber.

Peanutty tempeh Penne (made by moi)

Raspberry & toasted pecan salad dressing and 4 pieces of dried kiwi.

Vegan chocolate banana cake.

[cedarblue]

mmm that dahl and penne look really tasty!

[Roxy]

Thanks

[jamboxrock]

The penne does look really tasty, the whole lunch does!

[speedylemons]

DRIED KIWI?!?!?!?! I've never seen such a thing. Did you dry it yourself?

[Roxy]

Thanks jambox

Hey ashley - no I didn't dry it myself - but you've just given me an idea! I bought it at the market....they had all sorts of dried fruits and a decent price. Next time I'm going to get some of the dried mango as well.

[Roxy]

Here's tomorrow's bento:

Salad - cucumber, roma tomato, yello pepper, red onion, lime-coconut-ginger dressing.

Peanutty tempeh penne.

2 prune plums and dried kiwi.

Vegan chocolate banana cake.

[threeheadedpuppy]

wow roxy your lunch looks awesome! I bet you're the envy of the office!

[Roxy]

Thanks! I work in a natural foods grocery store and buying lunch every day is super expensive, so that's the main reason I bought the laptop lunchbox.

At least once a week, someone comes up to me while I'm eating my lunch and tells me that I eat such healthy lunches, and that they love my cute little lunchbox