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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

garlic blossom soba bento


Hi bento pals! Today's bento features soba noodles accented with shrimp, zingy garlic blossoms, pea shoots. Red grapefruit drizzled with honey, Persian heart cookie and a small hearts of romaine salad with ginger sesame dressing also for lunch...


Check out the wonderful bento4Japan fundraising event!  

Also, Network for Good has a very well-organized directory of aid organizations at its Japan Quake and Tsunami Relief page.

Friday, March 11, 2011

aleppo pepper carrots bento


Hi, folks! Today's lunch features a little toasted roll filled with scrambled eggs, pesto-yogurt sauce and scallions alongside baby spinach, asparagus and carrots roasted with a dusting of aromatic Aleppo pepper, a unique spice shared by a super bento pal. I made a large batch of the peppered roasted carrots and cannot stop munching on them!


 The sweets section includes raspberries, blackberries, a vanilla mini cupcake and a skewer with yummy Meltyblend chocolates (thanks, bento buddy!) and more raspberries...


Sending thoughts and prayers to all those affected by the terrible natural disaster in Japan, and the hope that friends in Asia and on the West Coast remain safe and well. Please visit the Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Tsunami donation site.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

pisces bento

Hi bento pals! Today's bento is another in the astro-bento series, this time for the elusive and ever-changing sign of Pisces. Seafood features prominently in this bento, along with gentle, watery Pisces foods like seaweed, watermelon, coconut and avocado.

Two shrimp coil in a light ginger sauce with scallion in a yin-yang shape that suggests the complexity within intriguing Pisces...
A coconut macaroon with watermelon and coconut slices suggests tropical escape...departure from the mundane being a hallmark of this sign! I find the scent of coconut a transporting aromatherapy and love dishes made with coconut milk...
In the lower left section, a seaweed salad with enoki keeps company with prawn and rice crackers shaped like fish and elemental sea life forms. In the next section, an avocado bottom filled with ginger crab salad encircled by choi sum greens.

Pisces is associated with rainbows and gemstones, both for their magical appearance and the spectrum of colors they contain (as the sign that culminates all previous ones and reflects their many shades and aspects). This time of year, pastel rainbows start appearing in anticipation of Easter, and I've always been enchanted by the soft bright colors that declare the first notes of spring...

Iridescent glitters...

Pansies in Sunday's rain
A thanks to the most wonderful Pisces in my life, my husband, who embodies the caring and soulfulness (and sense of fun!) of this beautiful sign!