LatinConFusion

Red Rice & Grilled Chicken - 230 calorie bento

2011-08-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

I have been trying different types of rice - attempting to stay a bit away from the white variety. I had been looking for Red Rice and I finally found it. I quite like it, hubbie is still thinking about it!

Bento Content:

Red Rice with Peppers (100)

Grilled Rosemary Chicken (94)

Asparagus (36)

Total Bento: 230 calories

Roasted Veggies - 230 calorie bento

2011-08-22T10:47:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of different bits of vegetables taking a lot of 'real estate' in the fridge, so I gathered them up and roasted them all. Now I have to go veggie shopping again. I made enough of the vegetable concoction for dinner, bento lunches for two and maybe a snack.

Bento Content:

Roasted Potatoes (53)

Roasted Vegetable Medley (60)

Champagne Grapes (33)

Mini Pitas (84)

Total Bento: 230 calories

Veggie Frittatta - 195 calorie bento

2011-08-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

This was a very easy frittatta to make - I made two individual ones - one for me and one for hubbie. They fit quite well in these kiddie panda boxes - quite snug! The frittatta has red onion, green bell pepper, grape tomatoes and eggs, of course! I used oil spray so the mixture wouldn't stick to the individual pie pans. I then stuck them in the oven until the egg was set. Very easy, very yummy.

Bento Content:

Veggie Frittatta (154)

Sea Salt & Pepper Rice Crisps (38)

Sliced Baby Zucchini (2)

Condiments (1)

Total Bento: 195 calories

Carrot & Zuchinni 'Spaghetti' - 164 calorie bento

2011-08-08T16:37:00.000-07:00

When I was little my parents always said "don't play with your food". Funny, since for a while my parents made their living in the food business - restaurants and such. I vividly remember my Dad once making a pizza and sending the dough flying into the air - I would call that 'playing with food' - wouldn't you? hahaha

So, now that I'm a grown-up (or trying to be), it is oficially my turn to play -responsibly- with my food- hence the Bento making! This bento is definitely a fun one - I made some vegetable fake-out spaghetti. I used a spiralizer and had tons of fun - I am easily amused!

Bento Content:

Carrot and Zuchinni 'Spaghetti' (15)

Sausage and Roasted Red Bell Pepper (75)

Goat Cheese Medallion (70)

Celery (4)

Total Bento: 164 calories

Fruit and Cheese - 122 calorie Bento

2011-08-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

It is summer - and boy, is it hot out here! I like having coolish things for snack or lunch during the very hot weather we have been having around my neck of the woods. So, this is one of them. Plus, very easy to put together and get those vitamins in!

Bento content:

Red Currants (16)

Blueberries (20)

Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedge (35)

Cherries (18)

Champagne Grapes (33)

Total Bento: 122 calories

Pinwheels - 346 calorie bento

2011-07-25T07:33:00.000-07:00

There is something strange going on with blogger - my Bento Partakers no longer appear on the blog! It seems that this might be a known issue - I'm trying to investigate what is going on. I haven't taken you guys out - I'm trying to get you back! :)

Anyhow, this is a bento I made with pinwheels - one of my favorite ways of packing up yummy things to eat!

Pinwheels (whole wheat rollup, egg salad, minced roasted peppers) (314)

Grape Tomatoes (12)

Blueberries (346)

Tabasco Sauce (0)

Total Bento: 346 calories

Seared Tuna - 184 calorie Bento

2011-03-01T07:35:00.001-08:00

I found a couple of Bird's Eye Steam Fresh rice side dishes that are a calorie bargain - plus quite low on Sodium and Fat content. Check them out in the freezer section of your supermarket - quite tasty and great when in a hurry and don't have the time to make the rice from scratch.

This one also contains Peppered Seared Tuna. I basically bought a chunk of fresh tuna and sprayed it with oil spray (to get rid of the stick-to-the-pan syndrome) and seared it on all sides. I then sprinkled a plate with ground pepper and salt, then pressed the tuna onto the mixture and then sliced it. It took me less then 10 minutes to make this. When I packed the bento, I added frozen grapes to help keep the tuna cold until I ate it.

Bento Content:

Seared Peppered Tuna (78)
Steam Fresh - Bird's Eye - Brown & Wild rice with Corn, Carrots & Peas (48)
Steamed Carrots, Broccoli Rabe, Zuchinni & Cauliflower (20)
Frozen Grapes (36)

Total Bento: 182 calories

Kabocha Squash & Egg & Cheese - 187 calorie Bento

2011-02-19T08:57:00.000-08:00

This bento was very creamy - I love Kabocha Squash no matter how it is cooked. I have made up quite a few ways of cooking it, but this time I just steamed it. I used a japanese contraption to mold the egg. You just take a hot hard boiled egg, stick it in the mold, close it tight and stick it under cold running water for a few minutes. And there you go - a 'fish' egg. Hubbie just rolled his eyes when he saw the molded egg. Guys don't get it, do they? :)

Bento Content:

Steamed Kabocha Squash (40)
Hard Boiled Egg 'Fish' (77)
Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedges (70)

Total Bento: 187 calories

Salmon & Potato Croquettes - 164 calorie Bento

2011-02-15T19:04:00.000-08:00

I had about 1 1/2 cups of mashed potatoes so I decided to make quickie croquettes. Just combined a canned of wild alaskan salmon (water drained), made mini balls, coated with seasoned breadcrumbs and baked in the oven. Nothing fancy, very quick and not fried. I was very happy with the results and they fit very nicely into my bento for lunch.

Bento Content:

Salmon & Potato Croquette "balls" (140)
Cucumber/Tomato/Shredded Romaine Salad (11)
Cherries (13)

Total Bento: 164 calories

Baby Bokchoy Two Ways - 153 calorie Bento

2011-02-11T16:28:00.000-08:00

I had a bagful of Baby Bok Choy and I didn't want to have it turn on me - they are delicate things that in my experience turn easily. So, I made up the whole bag. Not that it amounts to much anyway, it wilts to almost nothing, but oh-s0-yummy. I decided to chop of the bottoms off (they look like little green roses). I made a stir fry with the leaves and I steamed the bottoms with celery and lemon pepper seasoning. Hubbie stamped his approval - yay!

Bento Content:

Teriyaki Glazed & Broiled Pearl Onions (25)
Stirfry w/Morningstar Crumbles + Yellow/Red Bell Pepper Strips + Baby Bok Choy (118)
Steamed Baby Bok Choy 'bottoms' & Celery (10)

Total Bento: 153 calories

Quail Egg & Tomato Skewers - 199 calorie Bento

2011-02-10T20:13:00.000-08:00

I had a few quail eggs and was wondering what I could pack with them - why not skewers? I looked in my bento-stuff bin for picks or skewers and settled for the wooden ones. I have to say that the tiny eggs held up pretty well - I thought they would fall apart, but they didn't!

Bento Content:

Quail Egg & Grape Tomato Skewers (64)
Red Pepper Strips (9)
English Cucumber Strips (3)
Trader Joe's Sea Sa;t & Pepper Crisps (63)
Catalina Dressing - Light (60)

Total Bento - 199 calories

Skewers and Creamed Spinach - 230 calorie Bento

2011-02-03T05:26:00.000-08:00

I love creamed spinach but I avoid it like the plague. It is usually high in calories, but I found a pre-made one that comes in the microwave steamer bags that is not too 'calorific'. The container I used is great for bentos that have something liquidy. It has a separate lid for the center part and another lid covering the whole thing. I'm guessing it was meant for dips and crudites, maybe? I'm not complaining, specially since I found it in the $1 store! Yay!

Bento Content:

Grilled chicken patty & Black Olive skewers (167)

Creamed Spinach (50)

Shredded Lettuce & Shredded Carrot (13)

Total Bento: 230 calories

Red Quinoa & Grilled Tofu - 300 calorie Bento

2011-02-02T10:36:00.000-08:00

These were leftovers from last night's dinner. I wanted to try something different and decided to grill some Tofu and try out some Red Quinoa I found at Trader Joe's.

I am not a really big fan of Tofu, but I am always on the look out for variety, so I marinated the Tofu and grilled it. It turned out very well and way easy to cook. The red quinoa I made in the rice cooker. I rinsed it out very well before I cooked it and once cooked I mixed it in with fresh minced parsley. I liked it, but hubbie didn't really like the parsley in it. Oh well...can't win 'em all!

Bento Content:

Red Quinoa (170)
Grilled Tofu (75)
Spicy Peas (35)
Grape Tomatoes (20)

Total Bento: 300 calories

Salade Niçoise - 229 calorie bento

2011-02-01T08:06:00.000-08:00

I am always on the watch for small things that can fit in a bento box. This past week I was lucky enough to find quail eggs and teeny tiny potatoes - I inmediately thought Salade Niçoise! I made a batch for dinner and separated some for my lunch bento. Hubbie loves salads and this one was a big hit. I love this composed salad - it is very filling!

Bento Content:

Teeny Tiny Potatoes (boiled whole - they were soooo creamy!) (35)
Quail Eggs - hard boiled (56)
Grape Tomatoes (12)
Carrots (18)
Light Tuna packed in water (60)
Romaine Lettuce (8)
Steamed Haricot Vert (15)
Black Olives (25)

Total Bento: 229 calories

Black Bean Pinwheels - 370 calorie Bento

2011-01-19T16:18:00.000-08:00

Pinwheels are the most versatile portable lunch ever. Best of all, you can fill it with whatever you want. I confess I use up a lot of leftovers for them. I've made sweet ones and I've made savory ones - you name it! The trick to keep them from unrolling on you is to spread something semi-wet and preferably a bit thick and sticky, like soft cheese, mayo - you get the picture. Today I used Black Bean spread.

Bento Content:

Black Bean Spread with Minced Cilantro and Jalapeno peppers Pinwheels (189)
Grape Tomatoes (21)
Lite Cheddar Cheese (80)
Baby Carrots - chopped (15)
Kellog's crackers (65)

Total Bento: 370 calories

Chicken Shu Mai and Blistered Tomatoes - 230 calorie Bento

2010-10-24T16:56:00.001-07:00

I love tiny food - hence my bento appreciation. I love all types of things in a different plate. I love color. Except for my clothing (I love black and all shades of it - hahaha), I don't live a monochromatic life. My artwork on my walls is very colorful. That usually applies to my food too. I remember that once I ended up cooking steamed cauliflower, chicken and mashed potatoes. I put it on my plate and was horrified! How on earth did I come up with an all-white dinner? Well, I ran for the kitchen and got some mustard and ketchup and some salad greens. There's color for ya! Thanks for putting up with my rambling! Kinda hyper today!!!

Bento Content:

Chicken Shu Mai (173)
Blistered Tomatoes with Herbs de Provence (42)
Celery (15)

Total Bento: 230 calories

Salmon Salad Sandwich & Apples: 301 calorie Bento

2010-10-12T18:22:00.000-07:00

I made my go-to homemade salad - salmon salad. Everytime I make it different - this time I added low calorie mayo, dill weed, tomato, onion, parsley, yellow peppers and celery, plus a can of wild salmon packed in water. I put tons of the veggie in it to fill me up.

Notice the tea bags - the funniest tea story ever. Every time I go to my favorite chinese restaurant I have their tea. After years of wondering, I asked the owner for the brand of tea they use. He said "Hum - I don't really know the name. I just ask our supplier for restaurant tea". That struck me as odd and thought that maybe he wasn't willing to share. Oh well. A few weeks later I ventured into an Asian market and walked down the tea aisle. There were dozens and dozens of different teas and lo and behold, what do I spot? CHINESE RESTAURANT TEA! Can you believe it? That is exactly how it is called! And here I was thinking my guy in the restaurant was unwilling to share! And guess what...it tastes exactly like his! Live and learn...

Bento Content:

Salmon Salad Sandwich (231)
Mini Apples (70)
Tea bags (0)

Total Bento : 301 calories

Balsamic Chicken - 252 Calorie Bento

2010-10-11T17:53:00.000-07:00

I haven't been bento-ing much lately and when I have, I haven't been taking pics. And guess what...it shows! I truly believe that taking pics and keeping count definitely helps the battle of the bulge. I'm going to try my best to get back into the groove, eventhough it means getting up earlier than than regular 5:40am to do my thing. Fingers crossed, here I go!!!!

Bento Content:

Balsamic chicken with Snow Peas and Red Peppers (200)
Grape Tomatoes (42)
Yellow Pepper Strips (10)

Total Bento: 252 calories

Salmon Salad & Lentil-Potato Curls - 292 calorie Bento

2010-06-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

I have found some crunchy thingies at T.J.'s - Lentil and Potato Curls. There are not greasy nor salty at all and a serving is 31 curls! Say what? 31? Yup, 31! And they are made out of Lentils and Potatoes - what more can I ask for? (Another bag, maybe?!?)

Bento Content:

Chopped Carrots (9)
Chopped Celery (9)
Mini Challah (so cute!) (56)
Salmon Salad (without mayo) (50)
Lentil and Potato Curls (58)

Total Bento: 292 calories

Beans So Green & Chicken - 317 calorie Bento

2010-03-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, I usually don't purchase anything that comes with some kind of butter sauce on it, but I saw this frozen bag called Beans so Green at Trader Joe's (I practically live in that place!) and couldn't resist the temptation.

It has String Beans, Romanescu, Cauliflower, Broccoli and Peas in a light Butter Garlic sauce. Let me tell you - it is super yummy plus not that high in sodium (my nemesis) and in fat (my nemesis's sidekick). Wonderful!

Bento Content:

Beans so Green mix (180)
Grilled skinless & boneless chicken breast (92)
Grape Tomatoes (21)
Black Olives (24)

Total Bento: 317 calories

Turkey Meatballs & Cauliflower Bake - 273 calorie Bento

2010-02-11T16:41:00.000-08:00

An yet another unposted bento...

Bento Content:

Butternut Squash Baked 'Fries' (18)
Cauliflower Bake (86)
Roasted Batata (100)
Turkey Meatballs in Light Tomato Sauce (69)

Total Bento: 273 calories

Chicken & Potatoes & Israeli Couscous - 231 calorie Bento

2010-02-11T16:36:00.000-08:00

Another unposted bento....

Bento Content:

Roasted Chicken Breast (110)
Herbed Roasted Potato (43)
Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes (10)
Israeli Couscous w/Mixed Veggies (68)

Total Bento: 231 calories

Chicken w/Red Bell Pepper & Onion - 236 calorie Bento

2010-02-11T16:31:00.000-08:00

I have been on a Batata & Butternut Squash kick lately. Making them all kinds of ways - but I'm loving the roasting of the two. Hubbie agrees!

Bento Content:

Chicken with Red Bell Pepper & Onion Stirfry (120)
Roasted Batata & Butternut Squash (55)
Sweet Lime (61)

Total Bento: 236 calories

Salmon & Asparagus & Butterbean - 243 calorie Bento

2010-02-11T16:24:00.000-08:00

This turned out to be a pretty good combination - I love asparagus and salmon together, but adding a creamy side of Butterbeans? Gotta love the mouth feel on this!

Bento Content:

Roasted Asparagus (45)
Baked Salmon (125)
Butterbeans in light Tomato Sauce (63)
Romainne Lettuce & Grape Tomato Salad (10)

Total Bento: 243 calories

Chile Lime Chicken Sammie - 307 calorie Bento

2010-02-11T16:18:00.000-08:00

I have a bunch of lunches that I took photos but did not post, so here we go....

Bento Content:

Sandwich (Arnold's Multigrain Thins+Trader Joe's Chile Lime Chicken+Shredded Romaine+Red Bell Pepper+Cucumber) (261)
Classic Mixed Veggies (22)
Grapes & Blackberies (24)

Total Bento: 307 calories

Hot & Spicy Baked Chicken & Veggies-244 calorie Bento

2010-01-25T16:44:00.001-08:00

Hello! I have been gone for a while - bentos, but no pictures! Bad Zetty! Well, I need to get back into the groove (resolutions and all...). So, here is the first of the year!

Bento Content:

Steamed Tayota or Chayote (50)
Steamed Carrots (18)
Salad with a pinch of Bacos (16)
Baked Hot & Spicy Chicken Breast (160)

Total Bento: 244 calories

Mushroom & Pea Risotto - 331 calorie Bento

2009-12-03T14:53:00.000-08:00

I was in desperate need for comfort food. Risotto is one of them for me. It must be the creaminess that soothes me. Ahhh!

Bento Content:

Mushroom & Pea Risotto (275)
Mandarin Orange Segments (56)

Total Bento: 331 calories

Chickenless Nuggets & Veggie Skewers - 181 calorie Bento

2009-12-03T14:43:00.000-08:00

This one turned out to be a bit low in calories so I had to add a Banana to this lunch. The banana is not shown in the picture nor in the calorie count. It was tasty, though!

Bento Content:

Trader Joe's Chickenless Nuggets (130)
Romaine & Cucumber Salad (9)
Black Olive and Grape Tomato Skewers (42)

Total Bento : 181 calories

plus Banana (120)

Total Lunch : 301 calories

Nuggets, Veggies & Fruit - 372 calorie Bento

2009-11-17T20:46:00.000-08:00

My Doc tells me that I need to eat a bit more bananas - it seems that I am low in potassium. Groovy. Well, I bought a bunch of Baby Bananas, but appearances fooled me. They seemed ripe to me, I bit into one and my lips stuck together. Ha! Luckily, the one in this lunch was good to eat. This turned out to be a not very pretty bento, but it was pretty tasty!

Bento Content:

Chicken Breast Nuggets (115)
Spinach & Artichoke Veggie Bites (127)
Carrots & Celery (10)
Baby Banana (80)
Clementine (40)

Total Bento: 372 calories

Pastrami 'Bacon' Sammie - 358 calorie bento

2009-11-04T18:45:00.000-08:00

Today I was a little scatter-brained...I wanted to heat up some pastrami and I put a few slices into the microwave. A bit too long it seems, because instead of heating the pastrami, I made 'bacon' strips out of them! Surprisingly, they were quite good! Hah! I now have a bacon substitute! Gotta love when that happens! I think I will be repeating the 'mistake' often!

Bento Content:

Pastrami 'Bacon' on Whole Wheat with Spicy Mustard and Shredded Romaine Lettuce (325)
Carrot and Cubanelle Pepper Skewers (33)

Total Bento : 358 calories

Chicken Roulade - Sundried Tomatoes - 238 calorie bento

2009-11-03T06:31:00.000-08:00

I had pounded out a few chicken breasts and frozen them. I bumped into one of the packages in the freezer and roulades came to mind.

They are really easy to make: You'll need a chicken breast (which I cut in half lengthwise and pounded out); sundried tomatoes (the ones that come in oil - but you need to drain the oil!), any seasoning of your preference (I used Garlic & Herb Mrs. Dash), and a pinch of salt.

All you do is sprinkle the seasonings & salt on one side, lay sundried tomatoes on top of the seasonings, roll up and secure with toothpicks. Put in an oven-safe pan, sprinkle with a little bit of water, cover and stick in a 375 deg Fahrenheit oven for 20-25 minutes, turning over once. You do not need to add any oil - the oil in the sundried tomatoes is plenty!

Bento Content:

Chopped Salad (cabbage, carrots, mini peppers, capers) (38)
Chicken Roulade (186)
Greens Beans (14)

Total Bento: 238 calories

Pinwheels & Veggies - 352 calorie bento

2009-10-22T16:21:00.000-07:00

I wanted to have a Morningstar vegan griller 'burger', but I didn't have any bread, except for Roll-Ups from Damaskus Bakeries. No problem - pinwheels to the rescue! I basically cooked the Vegan griller and mashed it up. Then, I spread Laughing Cow light on the roll-up, added Trader Joe's Pineapple Salsa and the mashed up griller. Rolled it and cut it up. Yum!

Bento Content:

Pinwheels (300)
Grape Tomatoes (12)
Hanover Latino Blend vegetables (40)

Total Bento: 352 calories

Chili Lime Chicken & Tomato Skewers - 258 calorie Bento

2009-10-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

The meat for this lunch came from Trader Joe's. One Chili Lime Chicken Burger sure went a long way for this bento! I basically cooked it and cut it up into squares, added grape tomatoes and skewered them all. For skewers I used food picks I found at The Cristmas Tree Store. This was one spicy meal!

Bento Content:

Chili Lime Chicken Burger (150)
Grape Tomatoes (21)
Shredded Romaine Lettuce (4)
Savory Thin Mini Crackers (53)
Spicy Fat-Free Black Bean Dip (30)

Total Bento : 258 calories

Organic Black Bean Soup & Salami - 254 calorie Bento

2009-10-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

I found an organic black bean soup at Trader Joe's during the weekend. I bought to give it a whirl and it was quite tasty. I like a little spice, so I added a little bit of hot sauce. Perfect!

Bento Content:

TJ's Organic Black Bean Soup (130)
Shredded Romaine Lettuce (4)
Small Grape Tomatoes (10)
Mini Sausage Rounds - cooked (110)

Total Bento: 254 calories

Falafel in Mini Pitas - 260 calorie bento

2009-10-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

I found packaged falafel in Costco - brand Meal Mart and they are calling them Vegan Falafel balls. I was a bit aprehensive regarding them, but I stuck them in the oven and they are really, really good! The sodium was on the low side (which is a good thing for me and hubbie). So, we have another helpful, pre-cooked addition to our 'don't have enough time to make' list!

Bento Content:

3 Baked Falafels in mini pitas (224)
Shredded Cabbage (5)
Diced Tomatoes (8)
Hummus - in the red container (23)

Total Bento: 260 calories

Kitchen Sink Omelette Pinwheels - 274 calorie bento

2009-10-01T18:04:00.001-07:00

I call the stuffing for these pinwheels The Kichen Sink Omelette. Basically it has a lot of stuff except the kitchen sink! This time, it has eggs, bacos, Mrs. Dash Table Blend seasoning, 3-cheese lite from Trader Joe's, diced grape tomatoes and a bit of ketchup.

Bento Content:

Pinwheels (214)
Black Olives (48)
Frozen Grapes (12)

Total Bento: 274 calories

Bento for 2: Roast Beef & Shaved Pastrami Sandwiches - 329 & 320 calorie bentos

2009-09-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

Hubbie and I were working at the same client site today, so I made a combo bento for us. Regarding the celery - he likes his in sticks, I like mine sliced - go figure!

Bento Content for Hubbie:

Roast Beef Sandwich on White w/Mayonnaise (243)
Apple (81)
Celery (5)

Total for Hubbie: 329 calories

Bento Content for me:

Shaved Pastrami on White w/Hot Mustard (194)
Pear (121)
Celery (5)

Total for me: 320 calories

Mediterranean-Style CousCous & Fruity Tuna Salad - 222 calorie Bento

2009-09-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

I visited a new higher-end delicatessen that opened a couple of weeks ago in my neighbourhood. The food look absolutely amazing - the prices were not! I took notice of what they had in the display counter and replicated some of them at home. Way less expensive, and more control on the added salt. Every little bit helps!

Bento Content:

Mediterranean-Style CousCous (98)
Fruity Tuna Salad (90)
Pommegranate Arils (17)
Campari Tomatoes (17)

Total Bento : 222 calories

Grilled Salami & Roasted Potatoes - 233 calorie bento

2009-09-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

I found the cutest Beef salami - only 4 ounces each and perfect for bento portions! One serving is 2 ounces and since the whole thing is so small, the slices seem like a whole lot! I grilled them and they were quite tasty! To the roasted potatoes I added Turmeric - hence the yellow hue on them. Those were leftovers from dinner.

Bento Content:

Toasted Potatoes (71)
Grilled Beef Salami rounds (110)
Blistered Grape Tomatoes with Herbs de Provence (28)
Raw Carrot rounds (17)
Rommaine Lettuce (7)

Total Bento : 233 calories

Anellotti & Salmon - 308 calorie Bento

2009-09-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

This one was thrown together quite rapidly. I have been buying all these different pasta shapes - many of them in small sizes. It fools the eye, you see! A serving of pasta is 2 oz dry. On ziti, for example, 2oz is about 10-12 pieces. In mini ziti you get a bunch more. It seems to fill the plate more and it fools the eye. Hey! Anything that will make me eat less (while my brain thinks it is eating more) is good eats!

Bento Content:

Anellotti pasta & Wild Pink Salmon & Tomato (296)
Strawberries (12)

Total Bento : 308 calories

Gyro Meat on Tomato Wrap - 247 calories Bento

2009-09-12T12:28:00.000-07:00

I went during the week to a diner - places that are disappearing before my eyes - and had gyro meat over a greek salad. Yum! I had tons of leftovers and they are making their appearance here!

Bento Content:

Tomato Wrap & Gyro Meat & Rommaine Lettuce (180)
Tomatoes (12)
Trader Joe's Ginger Senbei Snacks (55)

Total Bento : 247 calories

Bento for 2 - Lime Chicken Sandwiches & Dolmas - 458 calorie per person

2009-09-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

This was a bento for 2 people. It contained both lunch & snack. For the sandwiches I used Ciabatta rolls and Chile Lime Chicken Burgers from Trader Joe's. The cheese was Lite Mild Cheddar cheese sticks from TJ's cut up into squares. The dolmas were pre-made - I didn't do these from scratch!

Bento Content:

For Lunch:

Sandwich (265)
Tomatoes (8)
Frozen Grapes (10)

For Snack:

Dolmas - Stuffed Grape Leaves (105)
Cheese Stick (70)

Total Lunch : 283 calories

Total Snack: 175 calories

Total Bento: 458 calories

Campanelle Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes & Peas - 272 calorie Bento

2009-08-26T17:55:00.000-07:00

Hubbie wanted pasta, so I had made a bit more so I could have some for my bento. The basil is from my terrace 'farm'. I have so much basil that I think I'm going to zap some in the magic bullet and freeze it to be used in cooked foods.

Bento Content:

Campanelle Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes. Peas and Fresh Basil (250)
Grapes (22)

Total Bento : 272 calories

Chicken Shu Mai & Veggies - 198 calorie Bento

2009-08-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

You know how you see things in the supermarket and you never decide to pick it up? Well, I made a discovery in Trader Joe's - Chicken Shu Mai. I am very happy that I took a chance and bought some. Very yummy! One of these days I am going to try to make them from scratch, but for now... frozen ones!

Bento Content:

Trader Joe's Chicken Shu Mai - without sauce (160)
Classic Mixed Vegetables (30)
Grape Tomatoes (8)

Total Bento : 198 calories

Egg White & 3-cheese Pinwheels - 262 calorie Bento

2009-08-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

This was a very easy bento and surprisingly filling! I found these Tomato Wraps which taste yummy and filled one up with egg white omelette, Mrs. Dash Chipotle seasoning plus a bit of Trader Joe's lite 3-cheese blend. I sprinkled the cheese on the omelette while it was still hot, so the cheese would slightly melt - a little trick that helps with the rolling...the melting cheese acts like a binder in the wrap!

Bento Content:

Pinwheels (242)
Carrots (13)
Strawberry (7)

Total Bento : 262 calories

Tomato Couscous & Riblets - 229 calorie Bento

2009-08-21T19:32:00.000-07:00

I used to like the Gardenburger BBQ Riblets and they disappeared. Can not find them anywhere. Then in the supermarket I see Morningstar Hickory BBQ Riblets. I gave them a try and they tasted very, very close to the Gardenburger brand. I have found a substitute! Love when that happens!

Bento Content:

Tomato Couscous with Corn Niblets (93)
1/2 Morningstar Riblets cut into small pieces (110)
Cantaloupe (14)
Salad (12)

Total Bento : 229 calories

Spicy Mini Turkey Meatballs & Baby Lima Beans - 271 calorie Bento

2009-08-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

During the weekend I made a few things to freeze for when I didn't have anything handy. One of these things were the Spicy Mini Turkey Meatballs. I froze them then I nuked them before putting them in the bento (I let them cool, because then my spinach would have wilted!).

The baby lima beans were from a frozen bag. I simply took the frozen baby lima beans, put in one of those microwave bags, added a cup of tomato sauce and a pinch of Pizza Seasoning. Nuked it and that was that! Very tasty!

Bento Content:

Baby Lima Beans in Tomato Sauce (117)
Spicy Mini Turkey Meatballs (138)
Campari Tomatoes (11)
Baby Spinach (5)

Total Bento : 271 calories

Cauliflower Bake & Vaggies (192 calorie bento)

2009-08-17T07:30:00.001-07:00

I found a perfect baking pan - exactly the right size to fit in one of my bentos. This time I made a Cauiliflower bake.

Really easy to make: Steam cauliflower, with a fork make it into crumbles. Make a mixture of eggs & egg whites, season to taste (I switch from different Mrs. Dash combinations plus a pinch of salt). Combine egg mixture with cauliflower crumbles and bake until set.

Bento Content:

Cauliflower Bake (76)
Olives (48)
Taboule (56)
Carrots (13)

Total Bento : 193 calories

Molded Egg & Wasabi Peas - 249 calorie bento

2009-08-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

I didn't have leftovers last night and I had run out of bento fillers in the freezer, so I put something simple in a flash. I have a few molds for eggs - this one was a star. I love wasabi peas - they help me with the water intake!

Tonight I definitely need to go out food shopping!

Bento Content:

Molded Egg (77)
Cantaloupe (27)
Wasabi Peas (120)
Tomatoes (25)

Total Bento : 249 calories

Flax Seed Pinwheels w/Avocado, Bean Dip & Alfalfa Sprouts - 274 calories bento

2009-08-11T10:11:00.000-07:00

Today's bento was easy to do. I just smashed up some Avocado with a little lime juice. Then I spread Trader Joe's Balck Bean Dip on the the Flax Seed rollup, sprinkled Alfafa Sprouts and put the avocado mash on top of the sprouts. Then I cut into 6 pieces and stuffed my bento.

The blistered tomatoes are just grape tomatoes with Herbs de Provence, olive oil spray and a pinch of salt. Cooked on the stovetop for 2-3 minutes. Very easy, very tasty!

Bento Content:

Pinwheels (226)
Blueberries (20)
Blistered Grape Tomatoes with Herbs de Provence (28)

Total Bento: 274 calories

Toasted Mini Ravioli - 206 calorie Bento

2009-08-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

This bento was a twist on leftovers. I had made Mini Cheese Ravioli that come dry in a bag from Trader Joe's. So, I just spread them in a single layer on an oven-safe pan and stuck them in the toaster oven until crispy. For dipping, a bit of marinara sauce in the little red container.

Bento Content:

Toasted Mini Cheese Ravioli (120)
Marinara Sauce (14)
Cherries (24)
Pitted Black Olives (48)

Total Bento : 206 calories

Morningstar Buffalo Veggie Wings - 239 calorie bento

2009-07-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

I had used these Veggie Buffalo wings a long time ago, and I found some in my freezer. I decided to make some for lunch today. Good thing I inlcuded cool vegetables - I had forgotten how hot-spicy these were!

Bento Content:

Morningstar Farms Veggie Buffalo Wings (200)
Celery (10)
Carrot strands (13)
Tomatoes with Basil (16)

Total Bento : 239 calories

Plantain Squares & Cheese - 218 calorie Bento

2009-07-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

I had made Mangu (mashed green plantains) and the leftovers I just made into squares. To make the squares I used the packaging where mashed garlic came when I bought them. I saved the plastic packaging and it has served me well for other things, like molding yucca mash, too.

Bento Content:

Mashed Plantain squares (89)
Pepper Jack Cheese stick cut into squares (90)
Grape Tomatoes (19)
Blueberries (20)

Total Bento : 218 calories

Mushroom Risotto & Mezlun Salad - 200 calorie Bento

2009-07-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

I am growing a 'terrace farm' of sorts - it is on the 3rd floor of my apartment building. I am growing mezclun greens, among other things. This bento incorporates those mezclun greens!

Bento Content:

Mushroom Risotto (180)
Grape Tomatoes (12)
Mini Peppers (3)
Mezclun Greens (5)

Total Bento : 200 calories

Mushroom Tortellini & Veggies - 247 calorie Bento

2009-07-14T17:20:00.001-07:00

These were leftovers and surprisingly, they tasted better today than they did last night. Go figure! The mushroom tortellini are from Trader Joe's - the ones that come dry in a bag. I added the Sundried Tomatoes and the Basil. It was less than a serving - couldn't fit more in this particular bento box - great for my portion control!

Bento Content:

Mushroom Tortellini with Sundried Tomatoes and Basil (195)
Mixed Veggies (50)
Lettuce (2)

Total Bento : 247 calories

Pita Sandwiches - 364 calorie Bento

2009-07-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

I didn't feel like cooking much for this bento - so deli fillings to the rescue! It was quite satisfying and not much need for utensils either!

Bento Content:

Pita with Turkey 'Ham', Lite Havarti Cheese and Green leaf Lettuce (302)
Grape Tomatoes (42)
Blueberries (20)

Total Bento : 364 calories

Fruit, Veggies & Cheese - 233 calorie Bento

2009-07-07T19:20:00.001-07:00

It has been very muggy around here lately, so I decided to make a refreshing bento with fruit, veggies & cheese wedges. Regarding the watermelon: I call it Reject Watermelon. This is why...hubbie doesn't like the watermelon bits that are close to the white part of the rind. I happen to love it - I find it juicy, a little tart and very refreshing. I never used to use the watermelon baller but for watermelon rescue, it is handy indeed!

Bento Content:

Fruit Mix (110)
Alps Cheese Wedges (114)
Celery (5)
Mini Peppers (4)

Total Bento : 233 calories

Chicken Roulade - 193 calorie Bento

2009-07-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

I found an Asian supermarket that has chicken breast sliced paper thin. Perfect for Roulades! These are stuffed with carrots sliced thin and scallions. A sprinkle of Mrs. Dash, some Worcestershire sauce and trip to the oven until cooked. Very tasty!

Bento Content:

Chicken Roulade (137)
Mini Peppers (14)
Corn on the Cob (42)

Total Bento : 193 calories

Balsamic Chicken Summer Rolls & Crudites - 242 calorie bento

2009-06-22T17:24:00.001-07:00

During the summer time, I like cool-ish foods a whole lot - like summer rolls. These I made with balsamic grilled chicken, snow peas, red bell peppers, onions & raw spinach. They are perfect for bentos - so portable! You'll be seeing them quite often here!

Bento Content:

Balsamic Chicken Summer Rolls (200)
Crudites (11)
Small container with 1 Tbsp. Homemade Plum Sauce for summer roll dipping (19)
Small container with 1 Tbsp. Ken's Steak House Fat-Free Italian Dressing for veggie dipping (12)

Total Bento : 242 calories

Simple Focaccia Sandwich - 255 calorie Bento

2009-06-15T19:48:00.000-07:00

This was an extremely fast & easy bento to put together. This sandwich is simple, but not boring! I found a 50% less fat and 33% less caloric Havarti Cheese! And it tastes like the original all calorie-high fat version. I love when that happens! The brand is called DOFINO LIGHT HAVARTI.

Bento Content:

Sandwich (Focaccia Bread, Light Havarti Cheese, Thinly sliced Apple & Horseradish Sauce) (252 calories)
Celery (3)

Total Bento : 255 calories

Another Bento for 2 - 299 calorie Bento

2009-06-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

Summer weather approaches and it is time for cool-ish food! This is another bento for two - I decided to make the ultimate portable food - Summer Rolls!

Bento Content:

Summer Rolls filled with roasted chicken, shredded carrots, bean sprouts, lettuce and mint (125)

Blueberries (16)

Cherries (18)

Plum (30)

Banana - not shown (110)

Total Bento per person : 299 calories - including the banana!

Bento for Two - 267.5 calorie-per-person bento

2009-05-14T19:43:00.001-07:00

Sometimes hubbie and I coincide at the same client. Today was one of those days, so I planned a bento for two. Usually when this happens and others see us eating bentos, they finally find out that we are married (I go by my maiden name at work, so they have no clue). The cat is out of the bag! hahaha!

Bento Content:

Sandwich with Roast Beef & Prepared Horseradish Sauce (194)
Salmon Salad Sandwich (224)
Mini Pepper Strips (7)
Mixed Olives (50)
Salt & Pepper Crisps (60)

Total Calories per person : 267.5

Total Bento : 535 calories

Mangu with Sides - 240 calorie Bento

2009-05-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

Mashed plantains are called Mangu in Dominican Republic, while in Cuba and Africa they are called Fufu. In Africa, Fufu might be combined with other root veggies like Yucca (Cassava) or maybe Yams. I grew up eating this - maybe it is an acquired taste. Those who have never seen it usually are not impressed by how it looks, but their opinion change once they taste it.

Mangu is made out of green plantains. I love Mangu anyway I can have it, but if the green plantains are beginning to ripen (but not entirely), it makes for a bit sweeter mash. Also, many people sautee onions and put it on top. Very yummy!

Bento Content:

Mangu (116)
Molded Egg (77)
Grape Tomatoes (12)
Laughing Cow Wedge Light (35)

Total Bento : 240 calories

Brie on Tomato-Basil Tortillas & Blistered Tomatoes - 327 calorie Bento

2009-05-11T17:52:00.001-07:00

I found the greatest tortilla wraps for only 71 calories, 2 gr of fat and 234 mg of sodium. They taste yummy too! I took one of these tortillas and cut rounds out of them. Then I topped with Brie - yeah, I know - but it sort of balances out with the low calorie tortilla...Sort of! The Tortilla is called Tomato-Basil Tortilla Wrap - Xtreme Wellness by Ole Mexican Foods. Got them at the local supermarket.

I accompanied them with Blistered Tomatoes with Herbs de Provence. Turned out to be a very good combo.

Bento Content:

Tortilla Rounds (71)
2 oz. Brie (200)
Blistered Grape Tomatoes with Herbs de Provence (56)

Total Bento : 327 calories

Chicken Mix & Carrots & Mash - 209 calories Bento

2009-05-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

I made the chicken out of a leftover roasted skinless & boneless chicken breast. I sliced up sweet onions, mini peppers and a few black olives. I added a teensy bit of red wine - just a tiny dash.

I steamed the carrots with granulated garlic, made some mashed potatoes and baked in the oven.

Very fast, very tasty!

Bento Content:

Chicken with Veggies (70)
Garlicky Carrots (14)
Potato Mash (59)
Strawberries (24)
Fresh Mini Mandarin Segments (42)

Total Bento : 209 calories

Spicy Drumsticks & Cauliflower Bake - 329 calorie Bento

2009-05-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

This is an easy meal to prepare. No stove - all oven!

For the Drumsticks: Mix equal parts of Teriyaki sauce with Prepared Horseradish sauce - about 2 tbsp each. Marinate chicken drumsticks in the sauce. Bake in oven until cooked through. Shouldn't take more than 20 minutes.

For the Cauliflower Bake: Cooked cauliflower florets - loosely mashed to produce crumbles. Mix with egg white (I used the ones in the container), sprinkle Bacos (I did this on a whim), chopped scallions, Mrs. Dash of your preference, dash of salt & pepper. Spray an oven-safe pan. Combine all ingredients well and pour into pan. Cook in oven until almost set. Sprinkle a little bit of bread crumbs on top and continue to bake until egg is completely set.

Bento Content:

Spicy Drumsticks (194)
Grape Tomatoes (25)
Grapes (8)
Cauliflower Bake (102)

Total Bento : 329 calories

Vaca Frita & Moro - 273 calorie Bento

2009-05-05T12:15:00.000-07:00

So, I went Cuban for this one. I made the Vaca Frita - literally 'Fried Cow' - and accompanied by Moro de Habichuelas Negras (Rice with Black Beans).

I was kind of shocked when I looked at the calorie counts some websites have for Vaca Frita - most in the upper 700-range per serving. When I looked closely at their recipes, I noticed the amount of oil they are using. I have never used that amount of oil even when I was not trying to watch my fat intake. Needless to say, my version is WAY less in calories than those I found on the internet. Yay!

Bento Content:

Moro de Habichuelas Negras (106)
Vaca Frita (153)
Cantaloupe (14)

Total Bento : 273 calories

Spicy Black Bean Spread Pinwheels & Salad - 235 calorie Bento

2009-05-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

This was a very, very quick bento to put together. It was also very tasty! The pinwheel filling is simply Trader Joe's Spicy Black Bean Spread/Dip. I was going to put some meat in it, but decided against it. I made the right choice! No need for meat this time.

Bento Content:

Spicy Black Bean Pinwheels (208)
Green Leaf Lettuce & Grape Tomato Salad (27)

Total Bento: 235 calories

Skewers & Sweet Pea Stuffed Mini Peppers - 204 calorie Bento

2009-04-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

Today had skewers made out of Organic Lite Italian sausage, grape tomato & an olive. I found these sausages (Neshama brand) that are quite low in calories (just 90!) and surprisingly low in sodium (250!). Unfortunately, I had to mess it up with the olive (high in sodium). But, they were yummy...what can I say.....

I also have a large bag of raw red, orange and yellow mini peppers. I wanted to include sweet peas, so I stuffed the peppers with them. Prevented tons of rolling around in the bento box!

Bento Content:

Skewers on top of shredded Green Leaf Lettuce (124)
Mini Peppers stuffed with Sweet Peas (30)
Blackberries (30)
Grapes (20)

Total Bento : 204 calories

Mini Knishes & Riblets - 242 calorie Bento

2009-04-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

This was thrown together in quite a hurry. Good thing I had the salad already prepared from the night before!

I basically nuked the Soy Riblet (Gardenburger) and at the same time threw the knishes in the oven while I got dressed. I just love those mini knishes! I have bought them plain, with spinach and with mushrooms. They taste exactly like the bigger versions, but they are indeed a bit lighter - less heavy on the tummy (and the calorie count!). I wanted to bring some deli hot mustard to go with the knishes, but it totally slipped my mind. Oh well, next time!

Bento Content:

2 Mini Spinach Knishes (107)
1/2 Soy BBQ Riblet from Gardenburger (110)
Mixed Salad (25)

Total Bento : 242 calories

Sealed Cheese & Mustard Sandwich - 269 calorie Bento

2009-04-27T17:46:00.000-07:00

This weekend I rediscovered an appliance I bought a long time ago. It is a sandwich toaster that seals in the contents of the sandwich. I was looking for something else and I bumped into it. It is perfect for bento sandwiches - the filling doesn't ooze out and you don't have to worry about it moving around and coming undone. Plus it has these designs that makes the sandwich look so pretty!

I also chose the right bento container - the grids on the collapseable one is perfect to prevent condensation from the toasted sammie. By the time I ate the sandwich it wasn't gummy nor moist on the outside. Happy me!

Bento Content:

Toasted Sandwich filled with Trader Joe's 3-cheese blend lite with Dijon Mustard (219)
Blackberries (20)
Green & Black grapes (30)

Total Bento : 269 calories

Broiled Feta Cheese & Veggies Three Ways - 222 calorie Bento

2009-04-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

I love feta cheese - the down side is the sodium. But, once in a while, I indulge.

This time I made Broiled Light Feta Cheese with Oregano and Lemon Juice. I found a light version - that tastes like the real thing - at Trader Joe's. I plopped the cheese in a broiler-safe pan, cut a few campari tomatoes around it, doused with lemon juice and sprinkled with oregano. Then I broiled until the top looked toasty. That's it!

Then the veggies where three different ways: Steamed (the carrots and Chayote - hubbie loves this combo), Broiled (the Campari Tomatoes and the Beets) and Baked (the Batata Fries).

Bento Content:

Broiled Feta Cheese with Oregano and Lime Juice (80)
Baked Batata Fries (100)
Broiled Campari Tomatoes (6)
Broiled Beets (18)
Steamed Carrots and Chayote (18)

Total Bento : 222 calories

Pinwheels- 264 calorie Bento

2009-04-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

Pinwheels - gotta love them! You can stuff your pinwheels with almost anything you might have rolling around the fridge!

For example - I took a leftover meatball, mashed it up. Then I mixed Fat-Free cream cheese and mixed it with Trader Joe's Red Pepper spread. Then I added baby spinach. Rolled it up, cut it up and stuffed my bento!

That's why I usually have a bag of wraps or Lavash bread or something I can fill and roll which won't break while I'm rolling.

Bento Content:

Pinwheels (198)
Celery Sticks and Baby Carrots all cut up (30)
Red Grapes (36)

Total Bento : 264 calories

Roasted Chicken plus Black Olive & Tomato Skewers - 180 calorie Bento

2009-04-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

This was a very low calorie bento and partly a 'deconstructed' chicken soup.

Let me explain : the night before I had quickly roasted some skinless and boneless chicken breasts to make hubbie a quick chicken soup (he has a cold and is convinced chicken soup makes him better). I always have frozen homemade chicken broth for such an occasion - just add roasted chicken, celery, carrots, seasonings and at the vey end some spinach!

So, I put aside some of the roasted chicken for this bento - plus the carrots, celery and spinach.

Bento Content:

Roasted Chicken (110)
Black Olive & Grape Tomato skewers (25)
Baby Spinach (7)
Celery (10)
Carrots (18)
Lime Juice (4)
Ken's Lite Italian Dressing Spray - 6 sprays (6)

Total Bento : 180 calories

Olive Stuffed Meatballs & Batata - 206 calorie Bento

2009-04-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

I put a spin on meatballs - I stuffed each with a black olive. I didn't tell hubbie and when he cut into one, he smiled - he loves black olives! To make this a little less fattening, I used a simple tomato sauce. I also made the meatballs with a teensy bit of matzah meal and instead of whole eggs, I used a little bit of egg whites. That cut down on quite a bit of calories.

The sides were roasted (except for the grape tomatoes). The distorted little squares are Batatas. Some call them Yams, some Boniato. A batata is in the sweet potato family - it sort of looks like a sweet potato, but when you cut into them they are white. They are also have more consistency to them when cooked - a little bit more starchier. I love them and try to cook them as much as I can find them.

Bento Content:

Beef Meatballs stuffed with Black Olives (110)
Grape Tomatoes (21)
Roasted Asparagus (8)
Roasted Batata (67)

Total Bento : 206 calories

No Fuss Salmon & Potato Croquettes - 192 calorie Bento

2009-04-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

I wanted to try baked croquettes instead of frying them. I also wanted to see if I could skip the usual 3-step batter process (the flour, the egg wash, the breadcrumbs). I used the Pereg brand breadcrumbs. I really like that brand - the crumbs are chunky, it is well-seasoned and has a bit of sesame seeds. What's not to like?

And I took shortcuts - I used instant Potato Flakes (Bad Zetty!), but everything turned out well. The breadcrumbs stuck very well to the croquettes and with a little oil spray they remained crunchy.

Bento Content:

Baked Salmon & Potato Croquettes (120)
Blackberries (15)
Grape Tomatoes (21)
Green Grapes (36)

Total Bento : 192 calories

Goat Cheese & Raisin Mini Sandwiches - 293 calorie Bento

2009-03-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

The bread I used for these mini sandwiches were Cocktail Whole Grain. The filling is Goat cheese with Raisins. These sandwiches tasted like dessert!

I'm glad I packed the marinated mushrooms and the blistered grape tomatoes - the seasonings on those cut the sweet taste from the sandwiches.

Turned out to be a great combination!

Bento Content:

Mini Whole Grain Bread Sandwiches filled with Raisin Goat Cheese (213)
Marinated Mushrooms (52)
Blistered Grape Tomatoes with Herbs de Provence (28)

Total Bento : 293 calories

Mini Penne with Italian Chicken Sausage, Zuchinni, Peppers & Sundried Tomatoes - 230 calorie Bento

2009-03-05T17:08:00.000-08:00

This was an easy-throw-everything-together bento. We have been using the smaller pasta (to fool the eye!) and expanding the pasta meal with lean meat and veggies. We have been religiously just cooking 2 oz. of pasta per person - and usually we have left over for bentos the following day.

Bento Content:

Mini Penne with Lite Italian Chicken Sausage, Peppers, Sundried Tomatoes and Zuchinni

Total Bento: 230 calories

Roast Beef w/Horseradish & Roasted Flat Beans - 223 calorie Bento

2009-03-02T15:14:00.000-08:00

Well, I find this to be a non-photogenic bento...but very, very tasty!

I can't get enough of roasted green beans. These beans happen to be flat beans. This recipe transforms green beans into carmelized pieces of heavenly veggie-ness (you know what I mean). It will not work with French Beans (Haricot Vert - the skinny ones). You will need a meatier veggie because the flavor really comes out once they start to shrivel a little and get a bit brown. If you use the skinny ones, there will be no substance to nibble on!

Bento Content:

Roasted Flat Beans (15)
Mushroom Barley (14)
Roast Beef & Horseradish Sandwich (194)

Total Bento : 223 calories

Yucca Squares & Broiled Chicken Sausage - 234 calorie Bento

2009-02-25T17:48:00.000-08:00

If you have never tasted yucca, run to the store and cook some, pronto!

Yucca is a root or tuber. It looks like a tree branch, but usually it has a thin bark. Beware, some yucca types are poisonous, but the ones you get at the store are edible (they should be, at least!). Makes a great substitute to mashed potatoes!

So, I basically boiled the peeled yucca with a bit of salt. Then I mashed it with butter spray, and added a little bit of the yucca boiling water to facilitate the mashing. I added anis seed, salt and black pepper. I waited for the mash to cool down a bit, then molded into squares. Yucca mash, once cold, easily sets and stays molded - great for bentos!

I molded the tiny squares by using the packaging of crushed garlic from the refrigerated section at Trader Joe's. Works like a charm! I'm going to try molding rice with it too - it might work!

Bento Content:

Yucca Squares (123)
Broiled Grape Tomatoes (21)
Broiled Organic Mild Italian Chicken Sausage (90)

Total Bento : 234 calories

Pesto Cheese Tortellini & Roasted Cauliflower - 253 calorie Bento

2009-02-19T18:11:00.001-08:00

Good news - I finally made my pesto. Bad news - I went overboard with the garlic. I love garlic - anyway I can have it - but it is not a very social thing to do. Maybe not the best of dining options when you plan to be around people. Oh, well!

Bento Content:

Cheese Tortellini in Pesto Sauce (221)
Roasted Cauliflower (20)
Grape Tomatoes (12)

Total Bento : 253 calories

------------------------------------------------------------

Roasted Cauliflower (yields 2 large servings)

1 cauliflower head
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 individual salt packet
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
Olive Oil spray

Combine all dry ingredients. Separate cauliflower into florets and wash well. Spray an oven-safe pan with olive oil spray, lay florets on top and sprinkle with seasonings. Roast in a 400 degree fahrenheit oven until florets become golden.

Tricolor Fiore with Roasted Chicken & Sundried Tomatoes - 291 calorie Bento

2009-02-18T18:30:00.001-08:00

The contents of this bento were not intentional. I had planned to make a batch of pesto then I discovered when I arrived in the kitchen that I was missing a couple of ingredients. So, I hit the pantry and found a jar of sundried tomatoes hanging out behind a can of tomato sauce. Eureka! Threw in roasted chicken breast that was already cooked and presto - done in 15 minutes. Gotta love when that happens.

Bento Content:

Tricolor Fiore pasta with Roasted Chicken & Sundried Tomatoes (267)
Grape Tomatoes (19)
Celery (5)

Total Bento : 291 calories

Balsamic Chicken Summer Rolls - 448 calorie Bento

2009-02-17T16:03:00.001-08:00

This bento included a snack.

I had grilled balsamic chicken with snow peas and red peppers as leftovers. I cut it all into small pieces, shredded carrots, added bean sprouts and ...tada! Summer rolls galore. Very, very tasty.

Bento Content:

Summer rolls (143)
Laughing Cow Wedge Light (35)
Dried Pineapple Rings (130)
Trader Joe's Strawberry Bar - For Snack (140)

Total Bento : 448 calories

Mushroom & Sweet Pea Risotto - 237 calorie Bento

2009-02-12T11:25:00.000-08:00

I love creamy food and risotto always fits the bill. I decided to go with my favorite mushroom type, but added sweet peas into the mix. Very tasty!

Bento Content:

Mushroom & Sweet Pea Risotto (147)
Sea Salt & Pepper Crisps from Trader Joe's (32)
Turkish Salad (30)
Green Grapes (28)

Total Bento : 237 calories

Spicy Eggplant & Beef w/Scallion - 221 calorie Bento

2009-02-08T16:43:00.000-08:00

This was a spicy bento indeed. Good thing I put in the plum to cool my tongue! The spicy/hotness came from the sriracha sauce and tons of crushed garlic on the eggplant.

Bento Content:

Shredded Beef w/Scallion Stirfry (114)
Spicy Japanese Eggplant (17)
Mini Pitas (60)
Plum (30)

Total Bento : 221 calories

Veggie Orzo - 260 calorie Bento

2009-02-05T17:29:00.000-08:00

Hubbie and I have been trying to lose weight - or at least not put on more. One of our downfalls has always been pasta. I've come up with a few things that help, one of them is using smaller sized pasta.

A regular portion of pasta is 2 oz! A 2 oz. serving of spaghetti, for example, is like 8-10 strands. Very unhappy looks from both of us. But, 2 oz. of cous-cous or Orzo is quite alot! So, we have been fooling our minds. We are buying the smaller sized versions of pasta - Barilla has a few of those. Also, interesting ones, like Trader Joe's Vegetable Radiatore, for example. Plus, they are great for bentos!

Today, I made Orzo with a bunch of cut up veggies. It was so tasty and so pretty. I was a happy camper. And guess what - the 2 oz serving of pasta was enough for both of us and there was a portion left over!

Bento Content :

Veggie Orzo (103)
Laughing Cow Wedge Light (35)
Strawberries (12)
Clementines (40)
Bite Size Everything Crackers from Trader Joe's (70)

Total Bento : 260 calories

Hot & Spicy Roasted Chicken Chunks and Sweet Limes- 242 calorie Bento

2009-02-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

Surprise your mouth - that's one of my mottos! This bento has two very un-assuming ingredients - the chicken and the sweet lime. Looks can be deceiving!

Surprise #1: You take a look at the chicken and you pop it into your mouth. Two seconds later your tongue realizes there are hot & spicy ingredients in there (as steam comes out of your ears!).

Surpise #2: Sweet lime, you say? Hmmm...you pop the sweet lime into your mouth not knowing what to expect - as you should be! Sweet limes are one of those food items that you either love it or you hate it. I grew up eating them, but I had never seen them in the supermarkets in the US. Today, I saw them and my eyes popped out. Oh, what a great childhood memory. Sweet limes are very popular in India, the Caribbean and Israel. The pith is very thin, but very bitter. Most people squeeze the juice and have it that way. Very refreshing. I, on the other hand, like to separate into wedges then take the membrane off by hand and eat the luscious fruit. Very messy - my Mom used to roll her eyes when I was little - but very satisfying for me. The work is worth it!

Bento Content:

Hot & Spicy Roasted Chicken Chunks (108)
Grape tomatoes with Cilantro stems and ground pepper (21)
Plum wedges (30)
Sweet Lime wedges (30)
Savory Thin Mini Crackers from Trader Joe's (53)

Total Bento : 242 calories

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Hot & Spicy Roasted Chicken Chunks (yields 4 servings)

1 lb Chicken breast - boneless & skinless
1 tsp Hot Sauce
2 fl oz Lime Juice
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Onion Powder
Oil Spray

Cut chicken into bite-sized chunks. Combine rest of ingredients well. Marinate chicken with mixture for at least 1 hour.

Spray oven-safe pan with oil and arrange chicken well-scattered on pan. Cover with aluminum paper and cook in 375 deg Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.

Uncover, move chicken around and return to 400 deg Fahrenheit oven until chicken is golden. Move chicken around another time as to brown on all sides.

Ropa Vieja (Shredded Beef) - 231 calorie Bento

2009-02-01T16:41:00.000-08:00

Today I decided to take out the Slow Cooker. My plan was to finally deal with a closet I have in the hallway - things lurking in there since who knows when. So, why not have the slow cooker do the cooking?

I decided to make Ropa Vieja, which is basically beef with lots of seasonings slow cooked until very soft - soft enough to shred with two forks. It took many hours, and in hindsight I should have made much more meat, but the result was very satisfying. Looking forward towards lunch tomorrow!

Bento Content :

Ropa Vieja (100)
Mini Zuchinni (5)
Grape Tomatoes (21)
Vegetable Radiatore from Trader Joe's (105)

Total Bento : 231 calories

Moro & Collard Greens w/Andouille - 279 calorie Bento

2009-01-30T07:17:00.000-08:00

This turned out to be a very comforting meal for me. I made a 'Moro' - Dominican-style. Moro is basically Rice with Beans with a bunch of seasonings. In this case, I used long-grained rice with Cranberry beans. I found at our local vegetable place packets of fresh Cranberry beans. The beans came out very creamy. Very tasty.

I never used to like Collard greens - I had only seen them and tasted them done after hours of boiling down. Not my kind of thing. Then - I met Fernando - a Brazilian chef friend that showed me that collard greens don't have to be slimey! Brazilians eat collard greens a great deal, specially with Feijoada - kind of a thick black bean soup with tons of meat and veggies.

You just need to make a chiffonade from the collard greens (after cutting away the thick stems). Then you sautee with olive oil, crushed garlic and salt. I decided to add Andouille sausage to the mixture. Oh my, I am so hooked on this - and so is hubbie! I used precooked sausage, took out of the casing and zapped it in the Magic Bullet to get it all ground up and loose. The cooking on the stove for this dish took exactly 3 minutes. The cutting up of the collard greens took a little while, but was well worth it!

Bento Contents:

Moro Dominican-Style (128)

Collard Greens Chiffonade with Andouille Sausage and Garlic (138)

Strawberries (12)

Total Bento = 279 calories

Salad Trio - 260 calorie Bento

2009-01-18T20:04:00.001-08:00

This bento is a combination of three totally different types of salad : Taboule, Corn Salad and a twist on a Waldorf Salad. The last one was a salad a fellow MFD'er - Crystal - created and I replicated with my favorite dressing.

Bento Content:

Caribbean-style Corn Salad (53)
Taboule (60)
Salt & Pepper Rice Crisps from Trader Joe's (51)
Seasoned croutons (27)
Laughing Cow Light Wedge (35)
Crystal's Waldorf Salad (34)

Total Bento : 260 calories

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The Waldorf salad: Granny Smith apples, celery, pomegranate arils and Bolthouse farms Parmesan Caeser dressing.

The Caribbean-Sytle Corn Salad : Corn Kernels, red onion, cilantro stems, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, Sour orange juice (or lime juice with a little bit of orange juice), salt & pepper.

Mini Cheese Tacos - 223 calorie Bento

2009-01-15T07:40:00.001-08:00

This bento was one of the easiest ones to put together, so far. The taco shells are flour roll-ups that I cut into rounds to fit perfectly in the bento. I find that if you roll up the flour tortillas or wraps without any spread, they tend to break, so this worked pretty well.

Bento Content:

5 flour rounds to be used as taco shells (110)
Trader Joe's Light Mexican Cheese Blend (80)
Chopped Campari Tomatoes with Cilantro (10)
Finely Shredded Rommaine Lettuce (5)
Cherries (18)

Total Bento : 223 calories

Mushroom Risotto - 294 calorie Bento

2009-01-08T18:18:00.000-08:00

Today I really needed some comfort food, so I whipped up some Mushroom Risotto. I don't know what it is - creamy stuff for me is very soothing and comforting. But then again, so are chocolate cake and almond croissants!

Bento content:

Mushroom Risotto (240)
Brittany Blend from Trader Joe's - Haricot Vert, Wax Beans & Carrots (30)
Mixed Salad - Lettuce blend, Cucumbers, Radishes, Tomato & Black Olives (24)

Total Bento : 294 calories

Cilantro & Scallion Tamago - 281 calorie Bento

2009-01-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

Well, this was a strange tamago indeed. I chopped up some cilantro stems and scallions and mixed it in with egg whites and Bijol for color. Bijol is a hispanic brand for powdered annato - used for coloring. It gives a range of color depending on how much powder you use. If you put alot, you'll get a fiery orange, if you use a small dusting, you get pale yellow - you get the picture.

So, here I am making my Tamago and I don't know what happened, but I decided to take a mini plastic cup and cut rounds out of the tamago, instead of leaving it in the traditional shape. I liked the results - even of not traditional. I've done the same thing with pancakes in the past. Very 'pick-up-able'.

The Blistered Tomatoes are very easy. You'll need:

Grape Tomatoes, Herbs de Provence, Oil Spray, Salt

Spray a non-stick pan with oil (olive oil preferably), add the rest of the ingredients and crank up the heat. Swirl the pan around so the tomatoes get evenly coated with the oil and seasonings. Keep swirling around until until the tomatoes start to get blistered. Shouldn't take more than 3-4 minutes at the most from beginning to end.

Bento content :

Cilantro & Scallion Tamago (76)
Strawberries (12)
Mini Savory Thins from Trader Joe's (69)
Blistered Grape Tomatoes with Herbs de Provence (28)
Mini Babybel Light (50)
Hershey Kissables (46)

Total Bento : 281 calories

Holdover Bento for 2 - 373 calorie Bento

2009-01-05T18:29:00.000-08:00

I made this bento for a car ride with hubbie. We tend to grab things on the way during these drives and the calories just pile on - most of the time with food that isn't worth the calories.

So, I made this bento just in case hunger pangs kick in on a highway. I made just the one bento to share. The pic came out rather crooked...Oh, well...

Bento content:

Pinwheels made out of Flaxseed Rollup filled with Cream cheese & Red Pepper Spread (163)
Strawberries (24)
Cheeries (36)
Grape Tomato & Black Olive skewers (50)
2 Babybel Lights (100)

Total Bento = 373 calories

Per person = 187 calories

Mediterranean Mix - 297 calorie Bento

2009-01-05T16:43:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while I indulge in Gyros - yes, I know, but I can't help giving in sometimes. But, I've discovered that from one order I can eat a few times! Have you seen the amount of meat those platters have? And to think I would eat the whole thing without a whimper - now, enough for a few times. Ah...things change!

My Mom would make Taboule from scratch when I was little. A lot of work, let me tell you! All the bulgur soaking, and then the squeezing until not a drop of water was visible. Then the chopping - wowie. Well, she still does it but not very often...I wonder why? I don't mind the chopping - I find it to be very soothing - but I do mind the soaking and squeezing of the bulgur. Reminds me of Potato Latkes - the squeezing of the grated potatoes. Yikes!

Well, I found the Near East Taboule mix in the supermarket and it turned out to be a very close match to the regular bulgur - except for the squeezing part! Eureka! Don't tell my Mom......I still use the rest of the veggies and I still do chop them, so I don't feel so much of a traitor. Somewhat.

In this bento, I added some pomegranate arils that weren't very red, but hey - pomegranate is pomegranate - I love it anyway I can have it!

Bento Content:

Taboule (63)
Pomegranate arils (13)
Grape Tomatoes (21)
Mini-Pitas with Gyro meat & spinach (200)

Total Bento = 297 calories

Easy Salmon Cakes - 180 calorie Bento

2009-01-03T20:40:00.000-08:00

These salmon cakes are very calorie 'inexpensive'. They are only 185 calories for 4 salmon cakes. Plus, they are very easy to make. The recipe follows.

Bento Content:

2 Salmon cakes (93)
Grape tomato, Celery & Snow Peas (23)
Babybel Light (50)
Grapes (15)

Total Bento = 180 calories

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SALMON CAKES (yields 1 serving = 4 cakes)

3 oz skinless/boneless Pink Salmon (I use the pouch - with water)

1/8 cup Red Bell Pepper - cubed very small

1/4 cup Onion - cubed very small

1 Tbsp Scallion - minced

1 Egg White - beaten (or 3 Tbsp. Egg Whites in container)

2 Tbsp Bread Crumbs

1 Tbsp chopped Cilantro stems

Oil Spray

Salt & Pepper

Combine all ingredients well.

Mold into 4 balls - they will feel a bit loose - that's OK. They will tighten up once cooked. Handle with care, though!

Spray oven-safe pan.

Place cakes in pan - not touching each other.

Spray a teensy bit of oil on each cake.

Cook at 425 degree Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes (or until they feel a bit 'toasty' on the outside).

This recipe uses the pouch salmon, but you can certainly make it with fresh salmon! It will taste much better if you do.

Chicken with Capers & Roasted Bell Peppers - 325 calorie Bento

2009-01-03T20:24:00.000-08:00

I love the flavor that capers add to any dish, specially poultry. You don't have to use salt when you use the bottled capers - the brine they are packed in contribute more than enough salt to any dish.

Bento Content:

Champagne Grapes (50)
Babybel Light (50)
Mini Peppers (7)
Chicken with Capers and Roasted Bell Peppers (148)
Carrot/Potato/Broccoli Stem Medley (70)

Total Bento = 325 calories

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CHICKEN BREAST WITH CAPERS & ROASTED RED PEPPERS

(yields 1 serving)

1/2 Chicken Breast - Meat Only - Cut into bite size pieces

1 Tbsp Capers (without brine)

1/4 cup Chopped or sliced Onions

1 oz Roasted Red Peppers

Mrs. Dash Chipotle Seasoning

Olive Oil Spray

Season chicken with Mrs. Dash seasoning.

Spray pan with olive oil spray.

When hot, add onions and cook until translucent.

Add chicken and cook through.

Add Roasted peppers and capers. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly.

Salmon Onigiri - 364 calorie Bento

2009-01-03T20:10:00.000-08:00

I find that Onigiri are very filling. They keep me quite full for hours.

Also, little bits of leftovers are great for filling them. This time I had leftover salmon. I overdid it with a little too much sauce (as you can see), but they were very tasty!

Bento Content:

Heart-shaped Onigiri filled with Salmon with furikaki in the red container (186)
Julienned Snow Peas (12)
Mini Chocolate cookies (50)
Date (66)
Babybel Light (50)

Total Bento = 364 calories

Moo Shu & Satays - 249 calorie Bento

2009-01-03T20:03:00.001-08:00

This was a bento created from leftovers. I usually try to lower the calorie intake by substituting or simply omitting ingredients. Same applies when we dine out.

Here, I left out the Moo Shu pancakes and the peanut sauce for the satays. I thought I wouldn't like them much without those ingredients, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Bento content:

1/4 cup white rice (51)
Grape Tomatoes (25)
Chicken MooShu without the pancakes (67)
Chicken Satays without the peanut sauce (106)

Total Bento = 249 calories

Cilantro Rice & BBQ Chicken - 241 calorie Bento

2009-01-01T09:18:00.000-08:00

I love cilantro and I use it whenever I can. I had a bunch from my terrace 'farm' and I basically took the cilantro with a little bit of sweet onion and buzzed it in the Magic Bullet. Then, I added the mixture to the rice water. I used a flower rice mold.

The broiled tomatoes are the easiest thing ever! Just cut each tomato in half, sprinkle with Oregano and a small dollop of goat cheese and into the broiler until cheese is bubbly. I thought I would have a transport problem with the tomatoes, but they hardly moved.

Bento Content:

Leftover BBQ Chicken (140)
Cilantro Rice Flower (51)
Broiled Campari tomato with Oregano & Goat Cheese (25)

Total Bento : 241 calories