Beet and Orange Salad

This is the lunch that big chic was supposed to take earlier in the week (before the awesome Sloppy Bombay Joes). We've had our back and forth with beets. Big chic loves them, then hates them, then loves them again. One thing she always loves, though, is goat cheese. So, when I made beet and orange salad (with goat cheese) with our dinner last weekend, she loved beets again. She asked me to pack this salad for her lunch this week.

Beet and orange salad with orange vinaigrette, Plum, Carrots with red pepper heart

Daddy/Daughter Bentos

Well, it finally happened. My chic forgot her beloved Laptop Lunchbox at school. Poor little thing, she cried when she realized that she left it in her locker because she was afraid she wouldn't have a "pretty lunch". Awww...I love her! Since I had already decided what she would be having in her lunch tomorrow, I had to change my plans to fit into a traditional bento instead of her Laptop Lunchbox. I made her dad a lunch yesterday (see below) and thought I would just go with similar daddy/daughter lunches.

Cheddar cheese stars, Ham and Provolone rabbit sandwich, Pretzel sticks, Pineapple and red bell pepper cubes, Kosher dill pickles and black olives.

I don't know what's up with the camera and lighting today, but I swear that the pineapple is a fresh bright yellow pineapple!

It all fit (barely)! Here it is, all lidded up and belted.

We'll see how the bento works tomorrow, but I can't wait to have her other lunchbox back! Gotta say...after packing this lunch, I love that Laptop Lunchbox even more. Everything seems to fit in there so nice and neat. But, she's taking this bento tomorrow and has hopefully learned her lesson on bringing her Laptop Lunchbox home.

A Bento for the hubs...

When I cleaned out my kitchen cabinets last week, I came across a container that is perfect for packing my hubs a bento lunch. So, as luck would have it, he asked me to make him a lunch yesterday and I was ready for him! After informing him that I will only pack bento style lunches now (and him rolling his eyes), this is what he got.

Lettuce and Tomato for his sandwich (he likes it to be packed separately), Dill pickle, Choco-Pie (moon pie that he got at the Asian market last week), Dinosaur Egg Pluot, Babybell Cheese, Pretzel Sticks, Ham and Cheese sandwich.

I think this container is awesome and can't believe that I didn't realize it was lurking under my cabinet this whole time. I need a few of those silicone muffin cups and it'll be perfect!

(Thanks for everyone's patience with my ever changing blog format. I finally decided to make my own header and I think this is what I'm gonna stick with!)

Asian Flavor

Today's lunch was a collaboration of events. My daughter wanted noodles... and I had some Udon from Costco, and I had a bunch of veggies left over from fish tacos...and some pork chop from, well, pork chops...AND she loves Mu Shu Pork. Mix it all together and this is what you get...

Mu shu-shi, Pluot and strawberry, Babybel cheese, "Sesame" Udon (it's actually flax seeds)

Mu shu-shi

(Get it...Mu shu sushi? heehee!)

1 Whole Wheat Tortilla

1 Tbsp Hoisin sauce

1/3 cup Chopped Cabbage, cucumber, carrots, red bell pepper, and cilantro

Cooked Pork, just a few slices (could use chicken or tofu)

Sprinkle of flax seeds (or sesame seeds)

Spread the hoisin on the tortilla. The picture doesn't show it, but spread it all the way out to the edge. That helps it stay sealed shut. Place chopped veggies on one end of the tortilla and top with the pork. Sprinkle with flax seeds. Roll up as tightly as possible without tearing the tortilla. Cut ends off to make a flat edge. Cut the remaining roll into four equal pieces.

*Hoisin is pretty high in sodium, but there's only a bit in the whole roll. I figure it's worth it if she's also eating all those veggies!