forest friends bento

Hey bento pals! Today's bento continues the autumnal theme with bear and owl buddies in an October forest. The "bear" is spicy red salmon salad rolled in mixed grains (brown and black rice, barley) and detailed with goat cheese, gouda and nori.

The little owl, aloft in broccoli trees, is a handmade pick fashioned from a Japanese bead and toothpick...

Baby Bella mushrooms, pea shoots, purple cabbage and a bright yellow mini pepper comprise this edible forest; up top, we have granny smith apple slices, a lady apple, dried papaya and a goat cheese heart with honey (for the bear!) and papaya bits.

Another glorious October day, with cosmos in full bloom

cats out and about in the afternoon sun...

maples in fiery glory

Almost to the weekend, have a great one!

black cat in garden bento

Hi Bento pals! Today's bento features some farmer's market finds and looks forward to Halloween with a nori kitty roaming on a ground of local squash with an edible flower accent. A potato-onion tortilla wedge is garnished with baby marigolds, part of Wisteria Gardens "Sweet and Spicy" greens mix (the snow pea shoots are part of that same festive blend).

A sesame cookie from a Middle Eastern bakery is topped here with local goat cheese and half a Concord grape...more grapes and a lady apple also inside. Speaking of the farmer's market, this weekend was the second to last before it ends for the season...

market selections, back home:

Have a great week!

 

autumn owl bento

Hi bento pals! Today's bento features an autumnal owl pastry filled with some yummy roast chicken made by hubby for last night's dinner:

He did an awesome job, glazing the chicken with thyme, honey, and fruit preserves for a lovely golden skin...and roasted it alongside sauteed red onions, walnuts, celery and whole garlic cloves and shallots. Yum indeed.

The owl pastry is filled with shredded pieces of the roast and some of the veggies, and shares the bento with half a purple pepper, baby romaine, golden tomatoes, radish and up top guava paste skewers, Asian pear slices and raspberries. I've added this bento to Shannon's Wednesday roundup!

We have been enjoying some incredibly beautiful weather--crisp, bright and lyrically lit with mid-Autumn sunlight. Many flowers are still in bloom, like this vivid pink rose...

Gimme latte!

Days like this are a special gift...