Bentobird

simple sushi bento

2012-01-25T15:04:00.001-05:00

Hi bento pals! A simple bento today, with shrimp and tuna sushi, broccoli with Japanese ginger dressing, and two juicy pink grapefruit slices...

The sun is reviving...lovely to see it sparkling in tall grasses today!

german gourmet visit and bento

2012-01-21T17:50:00.009-05:00

Hi bento pals! This bento was inspired by a recent trip to (big surprise!) another specialty food shop in the area: German Gourmet, which stocks a diverse selection of foods from Germany (plus homemade sausage, breads and sweets) and some Scandinavian specialties, too: perfect for this chill winter month...

German preserves (and, not pictured but a prized find: tart-sweet Swedish lingonberry jam)...

an impressive selection of German wines and beers...

marzipan pigs (marzipigs?)

Mozart and Constanze, eternally linked in music history...and German chocolate! These "Kugeln" chocs are quite addictive with a yummy rum-marzipan filling:

House-made sausage, lovely selection of flavors...we enjoyed the smoked bratwurst: hearty flavor, perfect with sweet-tangy red cabbage.

A star purchase from this visit was Swedish herring in garlic sauce...awesome on whole grain bread with a wisp of dill!

Cute little guy, love his placid, somewhat dazed expression :) Too much beer, perhaps?

Recipes for a couple of German-inspired dishes I've made recently:

Salmon in Cream and Riesling Sauce

Serves 2

Two wild caught salmon fillets, about a half pound each

two leeks, cleaned and sliced--all of white, more tender part of green

two thin carrots, sliced on diagonal

one tablespoon butter

one cup heavy cream

one cup Riesling or white wine of your choice

Preheat oven to 375

Gently melt butter, then add leeks. Cook carefully, as they burn easily! Add carrots, continue cooking until mostly tender. Add cream, cook over gentle heat for a couple of minutes, then add wine. Cook for about three minutes.

Place salmon in casserole, salt and pepper lightly. Pour sauce over. Bake about 12 minutes, or until your degree of preferred doneness.

Red Cabbage with Tangerines, Wild Berry Jam

Chop half a head of red cabbage medium fine. Saute a small red onion until translucent, add salt to taste, then about two tablespoons of wild berry jam--I used Swedish Lingonberry preserves. Pour in a half cup of white wine (used Riesling, in keeping with German theme). Squeeze a tangerine, add juice to pan as well as some peel. Cover and cook until tender--enjoy!

In the bento: salmon with cream and leeks, potato salad (red skinned baby potatoes with mayo, diced gherkins, dill), red cabbage with berry preserves.

Have a great evening and happy cooking this weekend!

gravad laks bento, celebrating food and friends

2012-01-08T15:14:00.002-05:00

This bento, and this weekend, really, have been illuminated by the kind culinary generosity of friends. The spectacular homemade cured salmon, or gravad laks pictured above came courtesy of my lovely friend Lotte, and her talented hubby, Miguel.

Lotte is from Denmark, Miguel from Spain...he has made an art of this delectable dish, for which he takes special orders at holiday time from the Danish/Scandinavian community here in the D.C. area. I've never had such supple, dill-infused and delicate salmon including during the years I lived in Scandinavia...wow.

Thank you so much, Lotte and Miguel--this was a true treat for us!

In this simple, rustic bento, a beautiful piece of gravad laks is draped over multigrain bread, lightly spread with remoulade sauce (a sweet, herbal mayo) and topped with a wonderful sweet-tart mustard. Green and very nutritious Mâche/corn salad leaves with walnut oil and some sun-colored tomatoes also inside...

The amazing gravad laks platter:

Also this weekend, a fun visit to our dear pal Cheryl, who not only made wonderful bahn mi for us (I was so busy enjoying them that I forgot to take pictures!) but also a fabulous pie rich with dark, jewel-like blackberries and blueberries: seriously yum. Thanks so much, C.!

Hope you also had a great weekend, friends...

baltimore visit: attman's deli and di pasquale's market

2012-01-05T13:29:00.003-05:00

Hi friends! We enjoyed a weekend in Baltimore that extended the holiday spirit of good times and good food just a bit longer into the new year--so much fun! As per our visit two summers ago, we stayed at a nice hotel downtown with great views of older buildings, a pleasing collage of different architectural styles...

Attman's Delicatessen is an old Baltimore tradition, one of the few remnants of a once-thriving Jewish neighborhood of grocers, shops, markets. This bright-gritty-delicious slice of Jewish-America has been in place since 1915, offering up no-nonsense, perfectly prepared portions of classic cured meats...really worth a visit!

Here is my scarily oversized "Lombard Street" sandwich with corned beef, pastrami and silky chopped liver, Russian dressing on rye bread. Half of this came home with us...

Half sour pickles a nice tart counterpoint to the rich meats...

Jamison ordered a classic Reuben...yum.

I loved that the dining area was a time warp to the mid seventies...

It would be lovely to step back in time and wander the aisles of the original Attman's grocery as described on this framed list, with tea, nuts, "Russian Fruit Caramels" for sale, "Palestine" chocolate bars....

A painting of the old neighborhood depicting a vivid, lost world of grocers, shops...Attman's is one of the only original businesses left on a street now caught between stages of vacancy and "renewal"...

However, much of the past of this richly international, immigrant city remains, richly sedimented in surrounding neighborhoods

Di Pasquale's is an Italian market/deli that has been in place for 95 years. Interesting how some shops really make you want to cook: every corner of the market was thoughtfully and lovingly stocked with quality and authenticity, selected with a knowing eye and evident love of Italian food and drink...

Beautiful bread, pizza, pastas, homemade sausage and much more is made here. Italian tools for making pasta, tomato sauce, cookies, even wine making supplies are for sale.

We saw intriguing imported aperitifs and wines, joyously packaged candy and chocolate, preserves of all kinds (savory and sweet), a deli counter offering the unmistakable, tidy brightness of carefully made Italian antipasto specialties: shining roast peppers, emerald and onyx olives, tender and supple fresh mozzarella, little purple edged baby octopus in olive oil....

My first time seeing this pointy variety of radicchio in the U.S...saw it once before in Florence. Should have bought some!

Still thinking about this bright "Orangecello" liqueur!

Roasted fennel and peppers--classic, healthy, so good

How cool--Italian vegetable seeds!

Love the old-world flavor magic collected here: oregano from the southern Italian countryside, dried porcini mushrooms, garlic, pistachios...elemental and elegant.

How amazing would these yellow peppers be harvested from the home garden, roasted and tossed in a dressing of extra virgin olive oil amplified with minced Italian anchovies?

We bought a loaf of this beautiful country bread to take home...it had a perfect dense crust, salty savor (perfect with milky fresh mozzarella): a golden, edible continuity of wheat that goes back to Rome and before, amazingly preserved here, along with ways of cooking that are also wise and pleasurable ways of being. Patiently cultivating quality in daily life: there is a slowness, a quietness to Italian cooking, a sympathetic coaxing forth of natural flavors...this cozy, replete shop echoed that spirit so beautifully.

It was enough to make me want to stay in the warm proximity of the pizza and bread oven, the preserved glow of such earthy, cultivated foods and traditions...to become a regular here welcomed by name, part of the neighborhood, this bright slice of Italy-in-America.

winter holiday treats

2011-12-29T08:17:00.009-05:00

Hi friends! How are things? I'm enjoying the mix of lingering holiday spirit combined with a bit of back-to-reality and work this week...and wanted to share a post on some favorite flavors that for me represent festive winter luxury and celebration.

This year we had fun with a rich assortment of cheeses for a Christmas get-together with special friends (still knee deep in home selling preparations, we stayed local this year).

A really gorgeous and mild blue cheese from France called Persille de Beaujolais was a highlight, it went beautifully with plum-quince paste! Duck pâté, herb-rolled goat cheese from the Pyrenees, tripe creme brie and Gorgonzola dolce, a scattering of fresh figs rounded out the (decadent) selection:

I'm using tangerines in all kinds of sauces recently and bright citrus has Christmas associations going back to earliest childhood.

The scent of whole cloves plunged into citrus makes me feel instantly five years old again, evoking an entire, magical scene: the incandescent flicker of the fireplace, bright lights from the decorated tree, music, somehow all contained as a sense memory released by the spicy impact of dark clove as it mingles with orange citrus...

Provencal tangerine-clementine preserves continue the festive-citrus theme...yum.

Duck pâté on multigrain bread with fresh basil...

I asked Santa for this special and favorite liqueur--it makes the most amazing cocktails, especially combined with fresh squeezed citrus. I love its artistinal and delightful combining of Asian and French traditions. Domaine de Canton is made with organic ginger from Vietnam...heavenly!

We had some really nice beef leftovers from Christmas dinner, which hubby amplified the other night with an infusion of red wine, mushrooms, and his special TLC.

Here it is bento'd in a little green container on a bed of endive, fresh herbs and lettuces, with fresh figs, some of that lovely French blue cheese, dressed in walnut oil...

Dessert side with tangerines, raspberries and a store-bought mini cheesecake:

I fell in love with this holiday card by artist Jane Ray with its magical animals...

Wishing everyone a wonderful 2012, may it be filled with vibrant happiness, creativity and friendship!

thank you, Robin!

2011-12-14T13:39:00.001-05:00

Thanks to my dear foodie pal Robin, a most talented and creative cook and the author one of my very favorite food blogs, What About the Food, for sharing a lovely bottle of walnut oil from Limerock farms with me! This gorgeous, amber oil made possible a wonderful snack today of radicchio drizzled with walnut oil (the bitter, delightful leaves wrapped around triple creme brie, fresh figs and walnuts). Yum.

Beautiful organic popcorn from Limerock was also included in this sweet gift...we had some with walnut oil and a little butter: truly good! Stove popped popcorn is a fav snack of mine...

Hope everyone is having a great week!

thoughts of home, szechuan breakfast

2011-12-10T14:31:00.002-05:00

Hello friends, sorry that its been ages since I've posted! All caught up in work and home-work, I've missed sharing and visiting blogs! Today, doing some final photos for our home sale ad...

We started the day with a wonderful breakfast, one that combined a Szechuan eggplant dish from China Star (also including wood ear mushrooms, ginger) with fresh dill, scallions and eggs...awesome!

It was a big deal for us to get rid of our kitchen table last weekend so that the kitchen would stage/show more spaciously. It was the heart of our home--endless hours spent there! Some views of the rearranged kitchen:

A favorite antique map of Provence...

Everyone warned me that once we'd gotten the house ready for sale, that I'd fall in love with it again and not want to leave...some truth in that as I look around and recall so many great memories, happy times, things I'll miss...

Hopefully we'll find a new home to nest in that will make us at least as happy...

welcome to brighton beach

2011-11-27T13:43:00.009-05:00

Hi bento pals! A highlight of our Thanksgiving visit to New York was a visit to Brooklyn's Brighton Beach--a sensory odyssey into Old World flavors, cooking traditions, gourmet shopping...wonderfully deposited in a gritty, vivid neighborhood located under the subway tracks.

Amid the rumble of the trains, this area offers an intact tradition of such savory, salty brightness. We were lucky enough to enjoy a unseasonably warm day for our explorations which included a sidelong glimpse of Coney Island as well.

We had a long lunch at Cafe Glechik on Coney Island Avenue, a restaurant I cannot recommend highly enough! This cozy spot hit the mark with its warm and helpful service, diverse menu, and incredible skill and care with which each dish we ordered was prepared...and we ordered many dishes. Just a stunning experience.

The flavor spectrum managed to be both subtle and very exciting...foresty, earthy flavors highlighted with hints of vinegar, the tang of excellent sour cream, and bright green herbs.

The stuffed cabbage completely revised my sense of what this dish can offer with its tender, herby filling, the cabbage leaves braised with rich tomato vinegar flavor...an amazing start to our feast. Note the lavish sour cream garnish and delicate dill:

Eggplant and peppers salad--another "wow" dish with wonderful sweetness, brightness:

Tender chicken pelmeni with onion, sour cream:

"Chanahi": sauteed leg of lamb with tender vegetables in broth. So simple, so perfectly done. The broth conveyed both bright vegetable flavors and a hint of meaty depth...

Country style potato salad with peas and carrots, topped with rich mayonnaise (almost "a la mode" style)...yummy!

White radish salad with spiced chicken livers--so interesting and good. Everyone enjoyed this!

Cold green borscht...refreshing and full of that quiet, characteristic umami we were coming to love in this Ukranian feast...

Shrimp in a delicate cream sauce...luscious!

And more dumplings, these with minced meat and white pepper (Jamison's pic):

Happy and full, we emerged from lunch to walk off some its considerable calories while checking out the offerings of area markets and shops:

We found several wonderful gourmet markets on Brighton Beach Avenue with so many types of sausage, cheese, cured fish, beautifully and joyously presented...a real sense of the serious pleasure of shopping European style here!

As Jamison points out, Eastern squirrels really do have ears like this!

Loved the rich architectural details all around, happily featuring two of my favorite styles: Art Deco and Gothic Romanesque revival--expressive, jazzy, full of joie de vivre:

Many textures, indications of rich cultural/religious traditions in this community...I'd love to return and explore these layers with much more time to do so.

Keeping time with the rest of the world--I liked the contrasting fonts used for London, Brooklyn and Israel...

We walked down to the beach as twilight arrived: streaks of glowing and intensifying apricot, purple, vermilion against a soft blue violet sky...

I think this photo of Jamison captures the buoyant fun of the day:

Next stop, Coney Island, closed for season and quiet yet full of interesting neon signs, tokens of summers past, beautiful on this unseasonably warm November night...

Thanks for coming along!

chili verde bento

2011-11-20T18:44:00.003-05:00

Hi bento pals! Whew, its been a busy day of cooking, photography and room staging projects...how was your weekend?

Gorgeous mild day today, so enjoying the continued persistence of mild days against the coming, inevitable deep chill. This morning offered delicate grey skies against which the remaining ruby and rust colored leaves, deep violet and soft pink flowers glowed in contrast...

Camellias in the foreground, beautiful golden hydrangeas behind them. I planted these for our neigborhood a few years ago, so happy to see them flourishing and waving with blossoms today...

...the rich, rippled textures of native oakleaf hydrangeas

I'm doing food photography for my employer's monthly magazine...this month, our featured recipe was Turkey Chile Verde from the always informative World's Healthiest Foods site. A hearty version of chili with a dark green undertow from fresh herbs, kale. The fresh oregano adds a wonderful herbal depth to the chili...

My photo:

And I thought, why not continue on with a bento for Monday with this dish...adding grape tomatoes, baby carrot slices, sugar snap peas and sweet green grapes. Love the golden ginkgo leaves that are just starting to fall to the ground, decorating it with such graceful golden fan shapes...

Also worked on staging the bedroom today...paring down to a hopefully inviting neutrality!

Time to chill with a glass of wine as I contemplate and plan for holiday travels this week. It may be a little while till I post again....wishing a peaceful, warm and happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!

panini heaven

2011-11-18T20:49:00.002-05:00

Hi friends! It's Friday night, it has been a long and busy week...and we are celebrating the weekend with some really delicious paninis. Would like to share a really yummy approach to these satisfying Italian treats...informed by Jamison's years in Italy!

Fresh Italian country bread, sliced

fresh mozzarella, sliced

Vidalia or other mild onion, sliced very thin

fresh arugula leaves

Calabrese salame

Prosciutto

Capocollo

Tangy Italian cheese like Asiago sliced thin
butter
three minced cloves garlic

In a bowl, blend two tablespoons of butter with three minced garlic cloves and a small handful of arugula:

Assemble your lovely panini elements:

Fresh mozzarella and arugula...

Peppered Asiago...

Cured meats:

Italian bread:

Butter two halves of Italian bread with the garlic-butter-arugula spread, then layer on your tangy cheese slices:

Next, the thinly sliced onions...

Fresh mozzarella...

Capocollo

Calabrese Salame

Prosciutto

Layer on arugula leaves...

Add the second slice of bread on top and carefully dip in a shallow bowl of olive oil to coat:

....and place in heated panini press (or pan with warmed olive oil, to pan-fry), cook until beautifully golden...enjoy with a glass of your favorite red wine.

Happy weekend!

blue birds

2011-11-13T18:57:00.005-05:00

Hi friends! As many of you know, Jamison and I are preparing our home for sale, and today I had fun styling my bathroom with a variety of new and old items. I tried to bring my bentoist tendency to build on color themes to bear not on a small box of food, but a whole room (and beyond this one, several others!)

This new shower curtain with cheerful blue birds was the starting point...it echoes the soft turquoise of early 70's tiles (which I've loved and will miss):

More blue birds...

This antique Redouté rose print was an eBay find from several years ago. It adds vibrant color and blue butterflies to the room and a nifty place to hang delicate necklaces. Love the exotic rose names in careful French script on this print almost as much as the sweetly bright flowers...

Another antique French print, this one by avian artist François Nicolas Martinet

Japanese silk container in favorite colors...

....and some favorite necklaces

Wishing you a happy start to the week...

savory olive onion chicken

2011-11-12T10:16:00.008-05:00

Sometimes the elementally simple is most enjoyable way to cook--I wanted to share a recipe for an onion-olive chicken dish from last night, one that had unexpected depth of flavor coaxed from basic Mediterranean ingredients.

In our kitchen, chicken thighs are the canvas for dishes of all kinds. In this recipe, their rich flavor and texture alchemizes so well with the classic tastes of olive oil, garlic, and olives...

Savory Chicken Thighs with Onions and Olives

4 chicken thighs, preferably free range

2 large yellow onions (and I do mean large), cut in half then chopped in medium pieces

6 garlic cloves, roughly chopped

one cup (or more) high quality olives...your favorites, pitted

and sliced

a fresh bright sheaf of Italian parsley, washed

Heat a generous amount of olive oil in a large skillet, as it warms, add a sliver of butter. If it melts and sizzles, toss in your onion pieces. Caramelized onions are the backbone of this dish, so cook them with care to coax out their sugary golden potential. As they start to color, add garlic.

After a few minutes of cooking, push the onion/garlic to one side of the pan and add chicken thighs, season with salt, fresh ground pepper (and if you like, a dash of cardamom) and brown them on both sides to a deep bronzy tone. Patiently.

Add sliced olives to the pan...

Combine the chicken/onion/garlic and snip parsley over (using kitchen shears), cook another minute or so and serve...goes nicely with buttered gnocchi!

bright morning, cozy breakfast

2011-11-11T09:48:00.001-05:00

Enjoying a leisurely Friday morning at home...we just finished an omelet I made with mushrooms, shallots, two types of cheese (goat and scallion cheddar) and fresh tarragon. In the omelet pan:

I love Dundee orange marmalade...

And watching sunlit leaves cascade in the crisp wind, to gather under the trees...

november colors, thai curry bento

2011-11-09T15:40:00.008-05:00

Hi pals! Today's bento was based on a rich and easily made Thai curry we enjoyed for dinner last night. Simple recipe: stir fry several diced shallots, add one tin of aromatic Thai curry paste to the pan. I like the Maesri brand...

Blend with coconut milk...

Pour the sauce over fish fillets in a baking dish, add sliced scallion and tomato. Bake for twenty minutes or so in a 375 oven.

Serve with asparagus...yum!

I reserved some for lunch today with to share the bento with brown rice, bright purple cabbage and sugar snap peas (I'm addicted to them!).

It's a gorgeous day: almost balmy, bright blue sky, burnished leaves, pastel flowers still in bloom...on the radiant edge before frost arrives.

Enjoy the rest of your day, friends!

rich autumn gnocchi

2011-11-05T18:41:00.009-04:00

Today's late lunch was an excursion into rich, smoky and soothing comfort food...

Gnocchi with Autumn Vegetables

1 pound gnocchi

10 fresh brussels sprouts, sliced in thirds

a half yellow pepper, sliced

a half orange pepper, sliced

small handful Italian parsley, minced

three shallots, diced

applewood smoked bacon, one package

1 pint heavy cream

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, about one cup

Preheat oven to 375.

Bring salted water to a rolling boil, in the meantime cook bacon over medium heat until tender-crisp (not dark brown and brittle--you want to keep some suppleness). Tear bacon into small pieces set aside.

Saute the brussels sprouts gently in the rendered bacon fat, allowing them to caramelize and take on a soft golden tone. Add pepper slices. Admire the smoky, sweet scent of rustic autumn in your skillet (and kitchen).

Cook gnocchi until tender.

In saucepan, saute the sliced shallots until lightly golden. Add cream, bring to a gentle boil, add the grated Parmesan, a touch of salt.

Pour cooked gnocchi into casserole, grind black pepper over, pour cream Parmesan sauce over top, add vegetables, bacon pieces and combine gently. Top with additional Parmesan if you like.

Bake for 20 minutes and serve with a favorite red wine (we had a dark and plummy Sebastopol Hills Pinot Noir)....

P.S. We enjoyed the gnocchi with a green salad accented with diced Gala apples, pecans, endive and a sharp Dijon vinaigrette to offset the richness of the main course...the apples echoed the applewood bacon nicely! Here it is pre-dressing:

Pink camellias are in vivid November bloom right now...

silk road spices, cozy dinner

2011-11-03T20:30:00.008-04:00

Hello friends! A post tonight in the photo-documentary style of Arudhi of the amazing A Box of Kitchen blog, to share an intuitive approach to a satisfying autumn meal. This is my (mutable and adaptable) version of a simple ground meat and black bean dish, given a Silk Road twist with the addition of fresh ginger and rich spices like turmeric, Aleppo pepper, coriander and cinnamon-laced Vietnamese curry powder.

Jamison prepped the onion and garlic (one large white onion, about five plump garlic cloves):

With the addition of a half inch of fresh sliced ginger, I sauteed the onion and garlic in olive oil with a couple of thin slices of butter (which keeps everything mellow and friendly in the pan...)

As the onions turned tender and golden, in went salt, turmeric, a pinch of Vietnamese curry powder, grindings of black pepper (big fan of Trader Joe's mixed peppercorn blend), fragrant cardamom, sweet coriander (a magic scent!) and a few pinches of Aleppo pepper. How much, you ask? Hard to say, I used intuition, a felt sense of what worked with this proportion and combination of ingredients. Your senses will know.

Sliced yellow peppers and autumn-gold baby tomatoes added for sweet flavor, juiciness and because yellow is such a favorite color! Once they were lightly caramelized, I added organic ground beef (about a pound) and several sliced scallions and adjusted the seasonings and spices with good deal more black pepper, additional coriander and turmeric...

Finally, shiny dark black beans joined the pan... did you know that they are amazingly nutritious?

A bit more cooking to blend the flavors and dinner was ready to serve with the addition of scallion accented Greek yogurt (and beautiful brown rice pilaf with butter and mushroom bouillon--thanks, Jamison!)

What was for dinner at your house, friends? Wishing you all a relaxing and peaceful weekend...

bright autumn bento

2011-10-28T12:12:00.004-04:00

Hi bento pals, happy Friday! Today's meal was inspired by a lovely lunch bag in folkloric colors and patterns (complete with cute birds) sent by a good friend in California (thanks JG!).

In keeping with its Slavic cheerfulness, the bento contains onion pierogies from a Russian deli, oven roasted butternut squash, red cabbage dressed with yogurt-garlic dressing, and for dessert, sliced pear and a mini cupcake with spicy crystallized ginger and papaya bits...

Amazing light today, everything cool, crisp and full of peak vividness....

Have a relaxing and fun weekend, friends!

roquefort burger bento, october evening in old town

2011-10-23T18:15:00.005-04:00

Hi bento pals! I'd like to share some images from a recent evening out in Old Town Alexandria, a historic city that glows in October with special golden light and one that holds romantic memories...we visited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of a magical date there together in October 2001.

roses still blooming...

We strolled from the center of Old Town to the Potomac river waterfront, lovely with amber light and many birds...

Jamison's picture of two geese at the river's edge

We went out to dinner at a relaxed, cozy "old school" French restaurant in the heart of Old Town called Le Refuge.

Calamari in tomato, garlic and beef stock sauce had a wonderfully deep flavor--outstanding, we thought.

Buttery and beautifully cooked trout almondine was also delightful.

Monday's bento continues the French spirit with a red-wine pepper burger filled with Roquefort cheese, romaine lettuce with Dijon vinaigrette, sliced rounds of lady apple, pecans, and more tangy Roquefort. In the sakura holder, a savory butternut squash puree with onions, garlic and a hint of maple syrup.

Have a great week...happy cooking!

autumn korean rice bento

2011-10-17T16:00:00.003-04:00

Hi bento pals, long time no post! How are things? I've been very busy with work and also making preparations to move...to the West Coast! Jamison and I fell in love with Sonoma County, California and are in full home preparation for sale mode as we paint and work on many home improvement projects around the house.

Amid all of this busyness, fall has been unfolding beautifully here, whether in amber perfect days like today or stormy, rainy ones that leave the sky sparkling the next morning. The farmer's market has taken on that special burnished, hi-voltage intensity of autumn, with squash and root vegetables the stars of the show...

Fall always puts me in in the mood for the hearty, deep flavors of Korean cuisine. We checked out a new spot this weekend called Lighthouse Tofu. They are famous for their soups with tender tofu and seafood...Jamison's bubbling cauldron of ocean flavors in tangy chili and red bean paste sauce was the real deal.

I opted for the yummy seafood pancake:

In today's bento, the Korean theme continues with fried rice with red and orange market peppers, shimenji mushrooms, garlic chives, fennel and dried chili flakes. A small piece of seafood pancake (topped with a Japanese owl pick), wok-fried brussels sprouts and a sweet lady apple also for lunch.

Have a great week, friends!

savory spanish chicken bento

2011-10-04T14:31:00.010-04:00

Hi bento pals! Ever come across a recipe with such appealing ingredients that you simply must try it, as soon as possible? Such was the case with Spanish-Style Chicken with Dumplings, a dish we enjoyed for Sunday dinner with a dear friend (we have a tradition of sharing a celebratory meal to welcome new seasons together).

Dry sherry, saffron, mushrooms, free range chicken thighs, chorizo sausage, thyme, bay leaves, paprika, onions...a golden autumnal flavor spectrum make this recipe a keeper. Our meal started with quince paste and nutty Gruyère pieces:

Spanish saffron

Baby carrots, ready to roast with olive oil and Aleppo pepper

Savory chicken in the skillet:

In today's bento, chicken/mushroom/chorizo, sliced radish, a leaf-cut golden beet, romaine with walnut oil and golden raisins, red grapes, a cute local pear, figs and a delicious pecan cinnamon muffin...

Happy Autumn!

french spinach salad bento

2011-09-28T17:28:00.001-04:00

Hi bento pals! A simple bento for today with a French-autumnal feel: spinach leaves lightly dressed with French walnut oil, topped with butter-sautéd baby pear slices and decorative pieces of Gruyère cheese. Crab salad with Dijon mustard dressing on heart shaped toast and a bright chorus of raspberries for dessert...

Have a happy Thursday!

chicken and ginger pickle bento

2011-09-20T15:30:00.001-04:00

Hi bento pals! A simple and traditional bento for today, with brown rice, honey-mustard chicken, Japanese pickled red ginger (beni shōga), crisp broccoli, orange pepper and a bright slice of lemon. Hope your week is going well--we are starting to get some refreshingly cool days here with beginning hints of fall color, can't wait for the maples to turn scarlet and gold...

persian sandwich bento

2011-09-16T15:18:00.005-04:00

Hi bento pals! We recently visited a wonderful Persian bakery and market in our area called Nemooheh. They are renowned for a rich selection of Persian sweets, including baklavas in several honeyed nut combinations and refined, golden shapes.

Nemooneh also carries a full range of Persian groceries, including pickles, spices and flavored waters, nuts and dried fruit...

Some luscious pastries unwrapped at home:

Today's bento was inspired by subtle and exotic items from this shop, including spicy "torshi" or vegetable pickles which I blended with thick Greek yogurt to make a spread for a leg of lamb and tomato sandwich on Barbari bread. Dill and green olives, romaine, dolmeh and scallions also in the bento. Lunch ends on a sweet note with fresh green figs and almond baklava.

Jamison captured this lovely image of a butterfly visiting a bright pink zinnia in our garden. Zinnia have been wonderful attractors of both butterflies and hummingbirds this summer. Have a great weekend, happy cooking!

late summer fried rice bento

2011-09-11T17:36:00.000-04:00

Hello friends! I'm gearing up for a very busy week this Sunday evening...Monday's bento features a melange of farmer's market and elements of a yummy meal yesterday at our favorite Szechuan restaurant, China Star.

Leftover rice from dinner is stir-fried with market okra and bright peppers, and in the little bowl is a portion of garlicky "Crystal Shrimp." Baby golden tomatoes and tender-sweet figs round out lunch. Have a great week!

rainy day panini bento

2011-09-08T18:17:00.001-04:00

Hi bento pals! Sorry for not posting for a while, I've been a little under the weather recently. Speaking of weather, the last few days have brought an incredible amount of drenching rain to our area.

On this wet and gray afternoon, I used a lovely b-day gift from my mom--a panini maker--to make turkey kielbasa, sliced green fig, radicchio and provolone panini sandwiches. They were oh so good! It will be fun to try other melty, savory, toasty combinations with this great device...any suggestions?

Wishing you a relaxing and fun upcoming weekend!

green fig snack bento

2011-08-31T17:54:00.001-04:00

Hi bento pals--a quick post for today, featuring a late-summer snack bento with ripe green figs (two wrapped with prosciutto), walnuts with goat cheese, golden baby tomatoes and white peach slices. A gorgeous early evening here, the light turning golden and holding reflections of leafy branches, a rich hum of cicadas in my backyard...

late august market, smoked fish sandwich bento

2011-08-29T14:21:00.004-04:00

Hi bento pals! On overcast Saturday morning before Hurricane Irene's (thankfully understated) arrival in the DC area, I walked over to the farmers market and found late-summer produce still abundant and vibrant...look at these peaches!

Plums in jewel tones hint at fall's rich colors...

Today's bento features market snow pea tops and nasturtium (the little blue flowers are edible borage blooms), a purple market pepper filled with Tzatziki (cucumber-yogurt salad), whole grain toast spread with scallion cream cheese and lush slices of smoked sablefish plus a little half-sour dill pickle.

A sweet white peach for dessert...I've really enjoyed peaches this summer in their many delicious varieties.

Have a super week and happy cooking!

"tiny bento" inspired bento

2011-08-25T14:28:00.004-04:00

Today's bento was inspired by the lilting tropical flavors of the Tiny Bento blog and equally yummy Tiny Skillet cooking blog, where Lyndsey amazes me with the international scope of her cooking adventures and the aromatic array of spices featured in her bentos and delicious family meals. Bright images of the flora and fauna of the beautiful Florida coast also illuminate the Tiny Bento blog...it feels like a mini-vacation to visit!

Inspired by spiced ocean breezes from Lyndsey's kitchen, this bento includes rice with coconut milk, coconut flakes and a golden tint of turmeric. Fish cooked in Greek yogurt, scallions and mushrooms rests on farm tomato slices (picked green on Saturday and now ripening to a soft orange).

Fresh basil and ripe peach and sweet cherries round out this summery lunch. A cute green froggie peers out just below some nasturtium leaves (or lily pads!)

Enjoy the rest of the week and stay safe, all those in Hurricane Irene's path...

farm fresh bento

2011-08-21T13:22:00.009-04:00

Hi bento pals! This weekend we visited a pick-your-own farm in Delaplane, VA: Hollin Farms, with a hilly orchard of peach trees, neat rows of scarlet and green tomatoes, peppers and other summer delights on acres of well-tended land...

Peaches seemed to glow on the trees...we came home with an abundant selection of several varieties.

Okra plants have beautiful ivory flowers, a fun discovery!

Golden zucchini blossoms

Sweet summer still life

A magical aisle of sunflower and zinnia hummed with color...and butterflies!

A pretty violet eggplant flower

After picking our peaches and tomatoes, we were hungry and a bit tired...Frost Diner in Warrenton came to the rescue with a restorative lunch!

Fried chicken, coleslaw, grits and gravy:

Lovely old fashioned pickled beets and buttery lima beans, yum!

Before driving home, a stop at the Red Truck Bakery Cafe, also in Warrenton. A cheerful, relaxing cafe space and wonderful baked items make this a local gem...

This cinnamon apple oatmeal muffin was delish.

Tangy sweet lemon squares (also in Monday's bento!)

A lush peach pie

Apple cake with maple glaze...a foretaste of fall!

Ripe farm tomatoes in our kitchen

Monday's bento brings the sunny out of doors to the office with a farm tomato stuffed with basil chicken sausage, toasted bread, fresh basil leaves, garlic and chopped tomato and topped with a goat cheese-mint flower heart.

Also for lunch: a golden slice of yellow pepper, more basil, farm blackberries and white peach plus a sweet slice of lemon square from the Red Truck Bakery. Have a wonderful week and happy cooking!

golden tomato sandwich bento

2011-08-16T13:27:00.005-04:00

Hi bento pals! Today's lunch features a golden tomato, bacon and onion sandwich, coleslaw, orange baby tomatoes, little nasturtium leaves, blueberries and a single ripe cherry. The sandwich is decorated with a heart shaped slice of tomato and a sweet white kitty:

The golden tomatoes are from our local farmer's market, and look like the heirloom "Golden Queen" variety pictured on this vintage notebook. Maybe its the Leo in me--I find the name and vibrant golden orange color of these tomatoes so beautiful!

The coleslaw is a blend of thinly sliced cabbage with Greek yogurt and mayo, a touch of rice vinegar. Super sweet indigo blueberries are so good right now and gave lunch a refreshing finish.

Here's Puck, a kitty who lives across the street, lolling about in the catmint on this breezy bright day...hope yours is a good one!

shiso snack bento

2011-08-11T18:58:00.004-04:00

Hi bento pals and happy almost-Friday! Today's snack bento included fresh and aromatic shiso leaves, chicken salad with Japanese eggplant pickles, sesame dressing and favorite summer bento companions, bright peaches and cherries. A cute eggplant charm from a shop in San Francisco's Japantown rests alongside.

I was so happy to find shiso bunches for sale at my local farmer's market this week, first time finding them there. Peaches, tomatoes and other summer produce abounded...

The weekend is almost here--enjoy!

caprese bento

2011-08-04T19:36:00.001-04:00

Hi bento pals! Whew, its been a super busy week, how about for you? I'm glad Friday's on the way! A simple and summery lunch for Friday features a spin on caprese salad, with milky and mild fresh mozzarella slices bordered with heirloom tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and garnished with green and fragrant basil...

A red wine-marinated miniburger, olive oil brushed ciabatta bread and tart-sweet peach slices plus sweet cherries also in the bento.

Have a relaxing and lovely weekend!

simple summer bento

2011-07-31T14:29:00.005-04:00

Hi bento pals! A simple and cooling lunch for Monday: tabbouleh with parsley, scallion, yellow pepper, red onion, shrimp-mayo filled avocado, cucumber slices and bright farmer's market tomatoes, so flavorful they need no seasoning at all...

Have a wonderful week ahead!

rilakkuma's french bento

2011-07-28T14:07:00.005-04:00

Today's bento was inspired by a handmade bento pick project using Rilakkuma stickers portraying RK and friends enjoying a Parisian vacation with baguettes and sweets while sporting berets...so cute!

In keeping with the Parisian theme, lunch includes a mini croissant filled with broiled mini hamburger, aioli and grape tomatoes, haricots verts with walnuts and French walnut oil. Ripe cherries plus juicy watermelon for a simple, sweet finish...

I'd like to wish my Mom a very Happy Birthday today!

summery sicilian flavors bento

2011-07-26T13:29:00.001-04:00

Hi bento pals! A light and cooling bento for another hot July day. This one features crab and shrimp with orange-infused olive oil over snow pea tops, capers, baby orange pepper and a couple of spicy nasturtium blossoms. Bruschetta with diced tomato, yellow peppers, olive oil, plus white peach, watermelon and mint for dessert. I loved the watermelon-mint flavor combo.

Here's the wonderful Sicilian orange-infused olive oil I've been using to brighten everything from salads to pasta recently...

A few images from the farmer's market, including some sun-colored peppers I brought home:

beautiful sebastopol

2011-07-23T14:37:00.005-04:00

Hi bento pals...on this infernally hot D.C. area weekend, I'd like to revisit and share with you some images from our recent trip to the delightful Sonoma County town and farmer's market of Sebastopol.

There was a baby pet goat adoption fair hosted by the Goat Rescue League...so sweet!

Beautiful, vibrant produce and flowers and live jazz made for a lovely market scene. The mellow, happy vibe was remarkable here; after gathering a few items like honey sweet cherries, we sat on a park bench and fell into easy conversation with locals about the market and town...

These pink roses were potently, amazingly fragrant! Yes, I had to buy them...

A local healthy cooking school shared these delish mashed fava bean and goat cheese on watermelon radish treats:

The view from our park bench

A pretty rainbow of beads in a nearby shop...

Art gallery window: love the soft-bright tones in this painting

Tamberlane is a charming, cheerful home decor shop with bright 1940's inspired textiles, even cute colorful skewers perfect for bento. Ever feel like a shop reflects your aesthetic to a "T"? That was this place for me...

Stay cool, friends!

bbq chicken bento

2011-07-20T14:51:00.002-04:00

Hi bento pals! Today's bento features some really yummy chicken from last night and a host of summery companions. We marinated chicken thighs in Smokie Joe's BBQ sauce for several hours then roasted them (with a few final minutes in the broiler to caramelize a bit). So good!

Alongside the chicken, lunch includes coleslaw, yellow corn, baby market greens and golden tomatoes, roasted sweet potato slices and a little cup holding cherries and white peach slices. If you are in an area affected by the current U.S. heat wave, stay cool and safe!

summer delights

2011-07-18T19:25:00.000-04:00

Hi bento pals! It is hot, humid and truly summery here, but at least the local farmer's market is full of juicy bright bounty, and yielded the key ingredient--heirloom tomatoes--of a favorite decadent and summer-only treat: bacon, onion and tomato sandwiches.

First, Saturday's sunny market selections:

Saturday's delicious dinner was a rite of summer, one we indulge in a few times over the long, hot months of heat and sun-ripening market tomatoes: Applewood smoked bacon, three heirloom tomato varieties, red onion, a thin smear of mayo and white bread toasted and very lightly sauteed in bacon fat. Perfection, this alchemy of texures and tastes!

Baby market greens with edible blue borage and spicy nasturtium flowers, with sea salt and magical Sicilian orange infused olive oil:

Sweet ripe white peaches for dessert!

sunny yellow inspiration bento

2011-07-15T13:04:00.001-04:00

Hi bento pals! Today's lunch features a bright yellow pepper filled with corn, crabmeat, scallions and Japanese roasted sesame dressing. Romaine leaves and edible nasturtium leaves and flowers also in the bento along with hidden green apple slices. Refreshing Sencha Shot green tea to drink...

The sunny yellow notebook was found at a great stationary shop in SF's Japantown, I really love its pure and happy color. "Heavenly Blue" morning glories have burst into bloom for the first time, such a lift to see them this morning:

Happy weekend!

of dim sum and bento boxes

2011-07-09T15:21:00.004-04:00

Hello bento pals! We recently spent a wonderfully sensory day exploring San Francisco's Chinatown and Japantown. Some glimpses of the colorful, evocative and extremely tasty things we encountered follow.

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, note the sculpted Art Deco details in the second image.

Chinatown, late morning, with bright sky and green leaf-lit freshness:

I loved this bird mural...

Dragonfruit and melons

Chinese herbal medicines, harmoniously displayed

Our breakfast of good dim sum, was very fond of the shrimp and dark greens dumplings at the top of this photo...

Beautiful vegetable seeds, like postcards from a cosmic garden!

Check out the intricate tones and textures on this hanging lamp, lovely against the gold and cinnamon wall:

Chinese tamales--a great expression of California's culinary cross-fertilization. Wonder what they taste like? Next time I'll find out!

Here we are reflected in the bakery window. Love the film noir-era sign letters in black and gold...

The nostalgic, garish and effortlessly beautiful all combine here and call out from each sloping street and shifting vista...

Arriving in Japantown, getting our bearings at the Peace Pagoda. I'm hungry for lunch and eager for some bento shopping!

Inside the large indoor malls, so many versions of Japanese refinement and fun...

Daiso! This place is the Holy Grail for budget bentoists...some great little treasures here, my new sunny yellow boxes were less than two dollars each.

We were excited to see a ramen shop whose sign announced noodles made on premises daily...have been searching for authentic ramen in the DC area without great success.

Here's Jamison happily tucking into his soup featuring roast pork in a garlicky broth with bamboo shoots and eggs. Incredible noodles. Mission accomplished!

Meanwhile, I was tackling this weighty, salty, tasty okonomiyaki pancake. Yummy indeed with sharp mustard and pink pickled radish accompaniments...

At a nifty hardware/housewares shop, seeds for growing traditional Japanese vegetables and herbs

...many of which were available at the excellent markets and delis in this part of town. We loved the selection of fresh foods at Nijiya Market!

Sweet treats at Yasukochi's Sweet Shop. I hope they never change this wonderful 1970's sign!

Here's a bento I made the next day with leftover okonomiyaki and pickles, shiso leaves from Nijiya and mochi from Benkyodo Co., plus avocado, scallions and Sebastopol market purple radish.

Thanks for coming along on this flavorful journey!

eggplant love bento

2011-07-07T19:59:00.003-04:00

This post is a thank you to hubby Jamison for making a DELISH stuffed eggplant entree for our dinner this evening, featuring these wonderful round farmer's market eggplants:

To make the wonderful dish you see above, Jamison combined ground organic beef, garlic, orange-infused olive oil, Parmesan cheese, oregano and the eggplants with creativity and love. The small bit of eggplant that I remembered not to devour tonight has hopped into this yellow bento box (a San Francisco find) with some purple pepper, a yummy cucumber onion salad (also made by J.), edible nasturtium leaves and flowers and some cherries.

Happy Friday, friends!

a visit to point reyes and marketing with sonoma bento!

2011-07-04T08:35:00.005-04:00

Hi bento pals...still sharing the bounty of Northern California trip pictures. Our visit to coastal Point Reyes National Seashore was so beautiful, a place of magic and serenity. We started the day with a stop at the Pine Cone Diner in Pt. Reyes Station. Pine Cone Diner had a sweetly vintage feel and offered briny local oysters in a tasty sandwich....

Fried oysters with crisp slaw...yum

Pt. Reyes Station is a great foodie destination. Tomales Bay Foods, roughly across the street from the Pine Cone Diner, houses an engaging variety of locally produced organic foods along with conservation farming organizations and ecological information about this special region.

The wonderful cheeses of Cowgirl Creamery are available for sale here along with a friendly education about their relationship to the landscape (and wonderful cows) of Pt. Reyes...

Wildflower and ocean views

We sat on this driftwood log for a long time, talking and starting out at the rolling waves...

This bento while not the prettiest tasted so good after a few hours of walking in the clean ocean air. It contained eggs and potatoes with mushrooms, ripe blueberries and almonds.

Another highlight of this trip was meeting up with Sonoma Bento to explore the Wednesday morning Santa Rosa Farmer's Market. Michelle was an awesome guide to the beautiful local produce of Sonoma County, even introducing me to her farmer pals. The market had a very Provencal feel with its bright colors and great quality...

Thanks so much, Michelle! What a treat to experience first hand the Sonoma source of your lovely and seasonal bentos...

Just-picked arugula...

Our adventures continue in upcoming posts!

sunlit san francisco

2011-06-29T17:16:00.002-04:00

Hi bento friends! Please join me for a stroll along the San Francisco waterfront from our first visit to this wonderful place...

Fisherman's Wharf is famously touristy yet we loved walking it in the bracing wind, taking in the piquant vintage restaurant signs and of course gorgeous shellfish bounty...

Soaking in the bright sky and sun, we walked briskly to the Ferry Building Farmer's Market

Explosive colors of flowers and fruit echoed the intense blue sky...

Inside the Ferry Building, more local bounty of beautiful quality...

Rum dark chocolate truffles...very good indeed

Lunch at waterfront Pier 23 was a delight!

Jamison's shot of our table with a very fresh crab and shrimp salad sandwich on toasted sourdough, sweet potato fries...

The coleslaw was excellent with just enough paprika...

Our view from inside, protected from the wind...

Mellow afternoon companions...loved these guys!

We ended our exploration of the waterfront with a visit to the magical Musee Mechanique at Pier 45, an enormous collection of arcade games from the early 20th century onwards.

What a strange and poignant catalog of dreams in these little theatres of fortune and skill, colorfully etched with themes of fate, luck, love, speed. Wandering the huge hall, we were left smiling and amazed by the time-travelling jumble of games--some remembered by us from arcades of the 70's and 80's, side by side with portals to eras and childhoods before our own...

The report from this mystical typewriter informed me that I was warm-hearted but a bit naive...

Rich layers of the past glinting through this seaside landscape, its cornucopia of visual and edible pleasures...and the sense of so much more to be seen and encountered in this windy, mysterious city has us eagerly anticipating our return!

hello santa rosa

2011-06-26T17:41:00.001-04:00

Hi bento pals! We are back from a long visit to Sonoma County...a wonderful trip rich in impressions and natural beauty. This is the first in a series of posts to share some of what we saw and experienced on our journey.

Really vibrant flowers are everywhere in Santa Rosa, basking in strong sun under an intense blue sky. Downtown, planters overflowed with roses:

Love these sunny yellow California native poppies that grow wild and also brighten many gardens:

On our first full day, we wandered around relaxed and eclectic 4th Street in Santa Rosa, enjoying the mix of signs and architectural styles from many eras, and a very nice lunch.

A beautiful mural...on our visit we saw many instances of this amazing combination of rolling hills, ocean...and cows!

Lunch at the Rendezvous Bistro included tasty escargot...

and yummy duck confit crepes...

Some images from our first drive to the Pacific coast:

I called this the "Sicilian Tree"...such a Mediterranean-feeling vista!

Lattes at the Cafe Aquatica in the tiny town of Jenner, along Highway 1

A view of the Russian River from the cafe...

In Bodega, the Casino Bar retains a wonderful bright 7-UP sign with an effervescent essence of 60's California feel. Its colors and design really speak to me...

In tiny, edenic Freestone, a stop at the delightful Wild Flour bakery/cafe...

Here's Jamison with "The Dude", a Chihuahua mix pup who wanders sweetly amid bakery customers, soaking up love and attention!

A wonderful pear marzipan scone...

The Wild Flour property includes a large and beautiful garden with flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Next stop...San Francisco!

wine country delights

2011-06-15T21:33:00.000-04:00

Hi bento pals! Long time, no post--we are on vacation in Northern California and soaking up the incredibly beautiful scenery and spirit of this place. Also taking a million pictures and staying at a place with very slow internet service, so I'll let this one bento represent some of the delights of this area thus far...

It contains a yummy dungeness crab and shrimp salad sandwich on toasted sourdough bread from a great restaurant near the San Francisco Ferry Building, cherries from the magical Sebastopol Farmer's Market and purple radish and tender lettuce from the same spot. Hope you are all having a great week, I'll have much to share when I return from this trip!

spring salad bento

2011-06-02T12:42:00.005-04:00

Hi bento pals! Spring is merging into summer here very quickly here!

For lunch today, a cooling combination with Middle Eastern inspirations: chicken sauteed with dried coriander, lemon and almonds, dressed with a yogurt-garlic sauce and fresh mint:

Greek style salad with farmer's market greens, feta, baby radish and red onions with a light white vinegar dressing, and juicy sweet watermelon (such a cooling fruit) also in the bento. A peach rounds out lunch...

Our purple clematis is unfurling its bright petals this week!

I admire this delicate amethyst-toned hydrangea in a friend's front yard each spring...

Happy Friday and weekend, guys!

late may flowers, mini croissant bento

2011-05-26T14:09:00.010-04:00

Hi bento pals! I'm so happy with the tropical-colored rose pictured above; it is blooming on a rose bush that has struggled in past years and this month is producing several radiant blossoms...

Today's lunch was simple, sunny and French-inspired, featuring a mini-croissant filled with crab remoulade salad. It keeps company with haricots verts and artichoke hearts almondine, mint, an apricot and a pistachio macaron:

Some favorite sweet things...

Looking forward to a fun weekend, hope you'll have one too!

18th century market fair and bento

2011-05-23T14:52:00.002-04:00

Hi bento pals! This weekend we attended the Spring Market Fair at Claude Moore Colonial Farm, a living history museum that re-creates the life of a pre-Revolutionary war era tobacco farm here in Northern Virginia.

In spring, summer and at the fall harvest, the Farm holds a wonderful fair on its rambling green grounds where visitors can see heritage farm animals and interact with blacksmiths, milliners, woodworkers, tinsmiths, farmers, bakers and dressmakers.

The farm grounds in May have a lush beauty with tendriling green leaves and vines dancing in the breeze before humidity has descended for the summer. It was a perfect day to enjoy the Fair, with the music of this green landscape in tune with the festival's flute, dulcimer and piccolo players....

Some scenes from the day...mama pig and her piglets! A guide explained that this breed, originally from the Pyrenees was the type raised by Colonial-era farmers in Virginia and that they are known for their intelligence (and, I'd add, cuteness!)

Jamison's capture of a peacefully resting sheep...

here's its more alert companion

The air was scented with rosemary-laced chickens on wood rotisseries...

A delicious lunch with local asparagus and buttered whole grain bread...

Various handcrafted items were for sale...

including all natural soaps and lotions

We brought home this delicious black raspberry preserve made at the farm:

Friends visited for a late lunch on Sunday, and Jamison made one of his magical glazed whole chickens with the preserves...yum! I saved a leg for today's bento, which also features red fingerling potatoes, romaine, mint, fennel and cucumber, blackberries and a mini cupcake with a black raspberry preserve frosting (garnished with a baby wild strawberry from the garden):

Have a great week!

lemony salmon salad bento

2011-05-19T14:43:00.003-04:00

Today's lunch features a lemony salmon salad in a crisp endive leaf, springy snow pea tops, sugar snap peas, radish and roasted sweet potato slices. The bright golden orange roses are sun substitutes amid a rainy and overcast week!

Lemony Salmon Salad

To one can of red or pink salmon, flaked, add the juice of one plump lemon, half a diced orange pepper, a small diced red onion, several thin-sliced scallions, mayo to taste.

Simple, refreshing, nutritious and quick! Happy Friday, pals...