Lunches: 11.14.14

It's Friday!

Sandwich: 20g, strawberries: 1g, blueberries: 5g, apple-carrot sauce: 14g, apple slices: 4g

The Boy has some freeze-dried strawberries and blueberries, a sandwich on a whole wheat roll with hummus, cheese, and turkey, apple slices, and carrot-applesauce.  His snack is a cereal bar (not pictured, 28g).  I got some cool snack talk picks from BentoUSA, and with them, I can leave little messages in the kids' lunches.

The Girl also has some freeze-dried strawberries and blueberries, a sandwich with hummus, cheese, and turkey, apple slices, and a carrot-applesauce.  Her snack is a cereal bar (not pictured).  She has something fun going on after school, so I let her know that I hope that she has a good time.

Lunches: 10.31.14 - Halloween Lunches!

I took part in a Halloween Blog Hop on Wednesday, but of course I had to make some fun lunches for the day itself.  Also keep your eyes out for the coming recipe round up of my Halloween Party Food!  The party is on Saturday, and I have some deliciously spooky treats planned.

Grapes: 5g, apple slices: 6g, sausage: 1g, cheese stick, 1g, tortilla chips: 10g

The Boy has some grapes with cute eyeball picks, apple slices with a monster pick, sundried tomato sausage in a pumpkin silicone cup with a jack-o-lantern pick, a cheese stick with a ghost ring around it, and some blue corn tortilla chips.  His snack is a granola bar (not pictured, 22g).

The Girl has a couple jack-o-lantern clementines, apple slices with a monster pick, sundried tomato sausage in a spider silicone cup with a little spider pick, a cheese stick with a happy ghost ring around it, and some blue corn tortilla chips.  Her snack is a granola bar (not pictured, 22g).

So You Want to Pack Lunches: A Back-to-School Blog Hop & Giveaway

Though we are still in the full swing of summer, school is creeping up faster than we might like to think about.  With back-to-school shopping comes pondering about lunches.  I assume that you are at least thinking about packing lunches if you are visiting my blog... but who knows?  Maybe you found me by googling royal icing bees...

In honor of the Back-to-School season, I am taking part in a Bento Blogger & Friends Back to School Bento Basics Blog Hop and Giveaway, where we are taking the opportunity to give you some of our best tips for getting started in packing bento-style lunches.

For the most part, my lunches style tends to be on the less-decorative side.  My main tip is to get yourself some good bento boxes.  My absolute favorite is the EasyLunchbox.  They are my go-to box, and I love that they are dishwasher safe and amazingly sturdy.

I also like the Yumbox, especially for younger folks, and I really want to try their new Panino (with larger compartments).

For the larger appetite, the GoGreenLunchbox is one that I like.

Now that you have a box, what do you pack in it?

I love packing fruit.  The kids love eating it, and there is always a variety available.  I always look for something interesting in the produce aisle, and if it is small and adorable, that's even better.

I recently found some champagne grapes at Trader Joe's, and the kids and I are gobbling them up.  I pack vegetables, too, but I know that the kids will eat whatever fruit I put in their lunchboxes, but I will have more luck with different kinds of vegetables at other meals.  Therefore, some of my lunches might look a little fruit-heavy.  Rest assured, my kids are getting vegetables, but maybe just more under my watchful eye.

Packing leftovers - and lots of fruit!

Often, I will pack a sandwich or a wrap, but not every day.  There are times when I pack leftovers, or quessadillas made for lunches, or a hard boiled egg and some cheese... there are a lot of options.

One thing that I like to do is to make a list of available options and post it on the fridge.  I list what we have on hand in different categories - vegetables, fruits, dairy, protein, grain, and other.  The kids like to pick from different categories and let me know what they would prefer in their lunches.

Though I don't normally do a lot of decoration, it is nice to have options for doing fun lunches.  There are some very easy decorative options from Bento USA.  I have a large variety of picks on hand, and they make it simple to jazz up a lunch.

A tiger quesadilla

Another way to make a lunch more fun in an easy way is to use a sandwich cutter.  I just love the CuteZCute cutters - they are versatile and absolutely adorable.

Fun fruit - cucumelon!  And, a silicone cup. :)

A useful thing to keep on hand is some silicone baking cups.  They make good separators, and can add a pop of color.

When I have time, I like to make some homemade treats for the kids.  My most popular recipe is my rainbow pain de mie.  The kids absolutely love when I make this, and it makes even a plain sandwich more fun.

Occasional fun with food art - A Roald Dahl Fantastic Mr. Fox piece of cheese, colored with food markers 

Finally, don't be afraid to experiment!  Have fun, and your kids will be able to tell.  If you want to add more decorative elements, go for it.  Kids can tell when you pack their lunches with love, and that's what counts.

Want to see what other Bento Bloggers think about Bento Basics? Hop on over to Bebento. Before you go, don't forget your piece of the puzzle for the Bento Bloggers & Friends Back to School Giveaway. You need them all to enter and it's open worldwide! Did you know the grand prize voucher can be used towards shipping too?

And if you've collected all the pieces, you can enter right here using the Rafflecopter below! Good Luck!!!
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Here's my code!

Back to School 2013: AllThingsForSale (with bonus reviews and recipes)

I get a lot of people asking where I get my supplies for making lunches.  For the most part, the answer is AllThingsForSale.

They have a huge variety of fun items to make food fun.  I always have a wishlist going.

Recently, they asked me to review a couple new items - the Sakura Silicone Small Donut Mold (which you could also use for gelatin or chocolate - use your imagination!), and the Japanese Loaf Pan Bread Mold - Cute Bear Shape.

No recipe for the bread pan right now (I just used store bought pizza dough!), but good news - the bread fits into an Easylunchbox!  I can't wait to make sandwiches with it.

I decided to make Cherry Blossom Tea Donuts in the mold, using my trusty mini donut pans to bake the rest of the batter.

Mini Cherry Blossom Tea Donuts

1/2 c milk
3 cherry blossom tea bags
1 egg
1/2 tsp white vinegar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 c flour
3/4 c sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Glaze
1/2 c confectioner's sugar
1/4 c water
2 cherry blossom tea bags
pink food coloring

For donuts:

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Spray donut baking pans with cooking spray.  Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl.  Heat the milk in a microwave safe bowl or measuring cup, and steep tea in the milk for 3 minutes.

Remove tea bags and stir in the remaining liquid ingredients.  Add to the dry ingredients and mix well.  Transfer the batter to a piping bag and fill the donut pans about half full.  Bake for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned and cooked through.  Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack.

For the optional glaze, heat the water and steep tea for 3 minutes.  Add a little pink food coloring. *You will likely not need all this liquid* Pour just enough tea into the confectioner's sugar to make a glaze.  (It should not be too thin)  Dip the top of the donuts into the glaze and allow to harden before enjoying.

Now for the fun part - AllThingsForSale is offering a $25 gift card to one lucky reader!  They ship worldwide, so anyone can enter.  What would you get with your gift card?  A Cute-Z-Cute cutter? Food picks? Sauce containers?  Good luck!

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Talk Like a Pirate Day Blog Hop - Lunches for The Boy and The Girl 9.19.12

A note - For this post, in honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, I will talk like a pirate, with  non-Pirate-talk translations underneath in italics.  Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!!!

This  be 'nother day in which I will post both o' th' kid's lunches in one salt-blastedly big post, cause I be celebrat'n International Talk Like a Pirate Day wi' me Bento Blogger & Mateys.

This is another day in which I will post both of the kid's lunches in one big post, because I am celebrating International Talk Like a Pirate Day with my Bento Blogger & Friends.

Th' blitheringly super blistering cool news - this be more than a Blog Hop, it's a Treasure Hunt fer Bento Booty (sponsored by AllThingsForSale) Ere blog in th' hop has a piece o' th' map t' th' bento booty treasure - a giveaway! As ye go through th' hop, collect th' pieces an' put them in th' blunderbustingly right order t' find out where t' enter! You'll probably need someth'n t' write wi', cause thar be 39 blogs t' visit, so 39 pieces t' collect! 37 pieces will spell th' URL, an' 2 bonus pieces wi' words on them will g't ye 2 entries t' win!

Make sure t' complete th' treasure hunt in a timely fashion - th' deadline be Sunday, September 23rd! An' though th' booty in th' treasure hunt be a surprise, I promise ye, ye want t' win. A "Thar She Blows!" lot. It's a blunderbustingly good one. Really, really salt-blastedly good.

The super cool news - this is more than a Blog Hop, it's a Treasure Hunt for Bento Booty (sponsored by AllThingsForSale) Every blog in the hop has a piece of the map to the bento booty treasure - a giveaway! As you go through the hop, collect the pieces and put them in the right order to find out where to enter! You'll probably need something to write with, because there are 39 blogs to visit, so 39 pieces to collect! 37 pieces will spell the URL, and 2 bonus pieces with words on them will get you 2 entries to win.Make sure to complete the treasure hunt in a timely fashion - the deadline is Sunday, September 23rd!  And though the booty in the treasure hunt is a surprise, I promise you, you want to win.  A lot.  It's a good one.  Really, really good.

Banana for The Boy: 28g

So, what have I made fer International Talk Like a Pirate Day lunches fer th' kids? First o' all, I have pirate tattooed bananas fer snack. This be someth'n I saw on Pinterest, an' I immediately ordered some Pirate temporary tattoos! They turned out so neat. I be a little in love.

So, what have I made for International Talk Like a Pirate Day lunches for the kids?  First of all, I have pirate tattooed bananas for snack.  This is something I saw on Pinterest, and I immediately ordered some Pirate temporary tattoos!  They turned out so neat.  I am a little in love.

Fer lunch, an' this be fun... I made treasure map fruit leather. Th' inspiration came t' me while I be rid'n me bike t' work yesterday, an' I be thrilled at how it turned out. It be applesauce wi' some colored applesauce piped into a map. I could have used darker fruit puree, but I didn't have any on hand.

For lunch, and this is fun... I made treasure map fruit leather.  The inspiration came to me while I was riding my bike to work yesterday, and I am thrilled at how it turned out.  It is applesauce with some colored applesauce piped into a map.  I could have used darker fruit puree, but I didn't have any on hand.

I couldn't resist includ'n some Pirate Booty in lunches. Just too salt-blastedly perfect.

I couldn't resist including some Pirate Booty in lunches.  Just too perfect.

Pirate Booty: 5g, melon: 5g, fruit leather: 5g, sandwich: 22g, cheese: 1g, nilla wafers: 4g, chocolate coin: 4g

Th'  Boy's Lunch, in full, be a rolled aloft treasure map fruit leather wi' a pirate r'n on it, a Pirate Jolly roger blueberry jelly sandwich (with chocolate sprinkles in th' shape o' a skull & crossbones on top, like this heart sandwich I saw on Pinterest), a str'n cheese wi' a pirate r'n on it, some melon wi' sword picks, Pirate Booty, an' a treasure chest wi' some mini Nilla wafers an' one doubloon,treasure chocolate piece of eight treasure.

The Boy's Lunch, in full, is a rolled up treasure map fruit leather with a pirate ring on it, a Pirate Flag blueberry jelly sandwich (with chocolate sprinkles in the shape of a skull & crossbones on top, like this heart sandwich I saw on Pinterest), a string cheese with a pirate ring on it, some melon with sword picks, Pirate Booty, and a treasure chest with some mini Nilla wafers and one gold chocolate coin treasure.

Th' Lassey has th' same lunch, but wi' strawberries instead o' melon, an' a Cabot Cheddar single instead o' a str'n cheese.

The Girl has the same lunch, but with strawberries instead of melon, and a Cabot Cheddar single instead of a string cheese.

So, ye may be think'n... what be this treasure hunt?

So, you may be thinking... what is this treasure hunt?

Here's me piece o' th' treasure. Write down me letter an' number, an' follow along th' hop (by click'n on th' button below) t' collect th' other pieces. Put them together in order, an' it will br'n ye t' th' Rafflecopter where ye can enter t' win. Reakon,  this prize be ABSOLUTELY worth th' effort. Please, no shar'n or tweet'n th' answer, cause that would be cheat'n, an' cheat'n be ne'er ok.

Here's my piece of the treasure.  Write down my letter and number, and follow along the hop (by clicking on the button below) to collect the other pieces.  Put them together in order, and it will bring you to the Rafflecopter where you can enter to win.  Remember, this prize is ABSOLUTELY worth the effort.  Please, no sharing or tweeting the answer, because that would be cheating, and cheating is never ok.

Now that you've s'n me pirate offer'n, an' you've collected by piece o' th' treasure, head on o'er t' Keeley's blog t' pick aloft your next piece, an' t' continue along th' hop.

Now that you've seen my pirate offering, and you've collected by piece of the treasure, head on over to Keeley's blog to pick up your next piece, and to continue along the hop.

This might be helping you with your hunt, so print it if ye' desire.

Lunch for The Boy: 8.29.12

Back to School!!! 

For those of you who don't know, during the school year, I post The Boy's lunches and The Girl's lunches daily, in separate blog posts.  The Boy's lunches contain carbohydrate counts because he is a Type 1 diabetic, and the school nurse is able to check the blog to see what I packed for him, check it against what he has actually eaten, and give him the correct dose of insulin so he can go about his day.

On to the lunch!

I will likely not be making lunches this cute all year, but one of my past-times this summer was amassing quite a nice collection of gorgeous food picks (from my lovely Bento Blogger & Friends group... it's been like an addiction...)

But... today's is mighty cute!

Apple slices: 4g, Sunflower seeds: 3g, raisins: 8g

For snack, The Boy has half an apple (sliced thinly, because he is missing quite a few teeth right now, and chomping on big apple slices isn't easy!), some Naturebox bbq sunflower seeds in a covered silicone cup, and a few raisins in a new favorite of mine, a little Lego box.  Seriously, I am in love with these boxes... they also have a bigger one, and they both fit into my beloved EasyLunchboxes!

Watermelon: 5g, yogurt: 20g, Cheezits: 10g, carrots & ranch: 4g, fig: 10g, bus crackers: 10g, cheese: 1g, cookie: 8g

His lunch is watermelon, Scrabble Cheez-its, carrots in the oval container, with a strawberry cookie from friend who brought it from Italy on top, along with ranch for the carrots in a round covered container,  a NatureBox dried fig, some homemade crackers in bus shapes, a Cabot cheese package, and some homemade Greek yogurt with a frozen yogurt dragonfly - tutorial on how to do that here and here.)  I will try popping the yogurt into the yogurt tomorrow morning, because I packed some lunches with frozen yogurt shapes in them last night and they were completely melted and not recognizable by lunch time... here's for hoping!

Giveaway: All Things For Sale WINNER!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations, Kristi!  I'll send you an email to get your information to send over to All Things For Sale so they can ship your prize right out.  Enjoy!

I'll have another review & giveaway coming soon!

 

Review & Giveaway: All Things For Sale!

I have another great giveaway coming your way this week!

All Things For Sale, a great bento supply site, has provided me with some products for review, and then one lucky reader will win the same set!

Image courtesy AllThingsForSale

I received this awesome silicone food cup set in the the shape of cherries, an orange, and a peapod and I think I am in love.  They are utterly adorable... a little small, maybe, but I'll find things to put in them!

Image courtesy AllThingsForSale

Also, I got this set of covered silicone dressing containers  - they are not leak proof, but do a fine enough job if things don't get too jostled.

Image courtesy AllThingsForSale

And lastly, I was given these great 3-d animal picks.  I love their little faces - and they also have tails!  The kids are going to flip over them.

Cute accessories make packing fun lunches so much easier!

Want a chance to win these accessories for your very own?

Trying Rafflecopter again!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please be sure to enter via the Rafflecopter widget, so that your entry counts.

Disclaimer:  I am an All Things For Sale affiliate, and also received these products for review free of charge.  All opinions are my own.  I was in no other way compensated for this review and giveaway.