Red Quinoa & Grilled Tofu - 300 calorie Bento

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

Broiled Feta Cheese & Veggies Three Ways - 222 calorie Bento

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

Goat Cheese & Raisin Mini Sandwiches - 293 calorie Bento

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

Cilantro & Scallion Tamago - 281 calorie Bento

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