Skewers & Sweet Pea Stuffed Mini Peppers - 204 calorie Bento

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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