tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14402937329411984162024-03-13T04:28:09.253-07:00Daily GobblesGoal: To provide ideas for eating more meals at home, pack lunch for kids and work; saving yourself time, money, and (hopefully) a little sanity.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-76228786550368471762014-06-06T10:53:00.001-07:002014-06-06T10:53:26.964-07:00Has it been THAT long?Gee whiz, where does the time go? Why don't we say that anymore? The "gee whiz" part. There's no such thing as an "outdated" saying. Better than some other acronyms these days. Ok, so any how - it's been long - yes, I get it. My kids, as are most all of yours, have taken the front seat on my entire life for the past ...ummmm... two years, and I have been TIRED. Aren't <i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>you</b></span> </span></i>tired?<br />
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Did you know there is a <a href="http://www.geewhizdinernewyork.com/" target="_blank">Gee-Whiz Diner</a>? It's in NYC - you know, the city that never sleeps.<br />
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When did we stop sleeping? Goodness, we are so fast paced and going down a dark road of unhealthy, yet we STAY tired. We purposely stay up to watch late night TV, something other than the cartoons<span style="color: #e06666;"> (<i>that wild west song from that cartoon...make it stop!</i></span><i><span style="color: #e06666;">)</span> </i>- Jimmy Fallon - geesh, <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(yes, another)</span></i> he is funny. And then we get to folding some clothes, or picking up toys in the house...oh and we finally have some motivation suddenly to do more because the house is quiet and Lord knows, it needs it.<br />
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That's the thing though, our body is <u>already</u> tired. When we get this extra kick of motivation, it is not good. It means we've already passed "our" bedtime. Trying to squeeze a few more MBs on an almost full hard drive - day in and day out - is what's doing us in.<br />
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Oh and then the anxiety, right? Laying in bed thinking......What if? What do I do when? Oh, I didn't <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">(insert excuse here)</span> drink enough water today - I should just go have a glass.<br />
<br />
Out of bed. Start again.<br />
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All this brings me to just getting to vent - that I know I am not alone. Blogs are great for that. However, that doesn't ease the pain. It doesn't make it easier. We are fighting against each other. Pick up your phone...it's right there next to you. Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, <i>232 </i>Unread emails because I signed up for all sorts of deals that I don't want to miss. I should go through these since I can't sleep - That will make me sleepy.<br />
No. It. Won't.<br />
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Phone down, darkness. Ok, maybe low music...really low. Plug your charger in too so you don't drain it. <span style="color: red;">Now, just shut it off</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">.</span> Close your eyes and think of your kids. Their smiles. Sleep comes.<br />
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Now, try to do this at 10....maybe even 930. PM. Get there. I'm praying for you, and you can do it. We need to be great mothers - it's a lot of pressure. <b>Sleep.</b> Eat, good food. Teach, your children well. Love them with all that you do. Just be sure and get some sleep. It is time.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-57576738548818845652012-11-15T09:45:00.003-08:002012-11-15T09:45:34.674-08:00Thanksgiving theme Lunch #7 (Turkey Bento)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My husband was recently out of town this week and I'm all messed up because schedules and routines were off. We had a fun filled day yesterday and I meant to get a post in, only to realize I had to fix Tuesdays - and that made me distracted - so here it is Thursday and I've got posts to make up.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plated Lunch:</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Round turkey sandwich from Whole Wheat bread, edges are "stuffed" with Orange and Red Bell Pepper (no, my child did not eat all of these, but he did make an effort), and Cheetos. Face is cheddar cheese, chocolate sprinkles for the eyes and a slice of strawberry for the "gobble" part.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Additional slices of strawberries make the "red" leaves and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Nutter Butter snack size cookies with Hershey Kisses attached making two cute acorns.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bento Version:</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Smaller version of the round Turkey sandwich from Whole Wheat bread, edges are "stuffed" with Orange and Red Bell Pepper, and Cheetos. Face is cheddar cheese, chocolate sprinkles for the eyes and a slice of strawberry for the "gobble" part.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Strawberry slices for "red leaves"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Toothpick of cheddar cubes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Nutter Butter snack size cookie with Hershey Chocolate Kiss attached making a little acorn.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-5191733334261712292012-11-13T20:52:00.001-08:002012-11-15T09:36:41.944-08:00Pilgrim Hat theme Lunch #6 (Thanksgiving Bento)I missed Monday. I apologize. Last week, I wasn't thinking that my dear Mr. Man was off work and so I had a day off. I went to the gym, did some paperwork, paid some bills - and he fed them and took them to the park. Naturally, Mr. Man did not design a Veteran's Day theme lunch as I would have.<br />
So, we'll put that out for later and focus on today's.<br />
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(*Update*) I usually visit the blog and make sure my posts are correct, but I was in a hurry, so it didn't update of course. My apologies!<br />
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<u>Plated Lunch:</u><br />
I found some adorable melamine plates at World Market that are Thanksgiving themed. I was happy to add them to the plate instead of the paper white. <br />
- Pilgrim Hat Turkey Sandwich made of pumpernickel bread with Vermont Cheddar for the white strap and slices of a cheddar cheese stick for the buckle<br />
- 1 little pumpkin marshmallow<br />
- Whole Wheat tortilla (small 1/4 slice) rolled into cone shape with celery sticks to make a "cornucopia"<br />
- Small cup of Applesauce because that just fits with the season<br />
- Pilgrim hat of Reese mini PB cup with orange icing and stuck to a half of oreo cookie.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqYd_LnGKDGHM4XlCAvkJRF5Qt7xR84yywFucdIuzPbkNT4di04qaM9reBCm2jcMeyjkkjsEPeMYE87vatIsaKk563nY4TBJ3pmD9xQR-WkhjzrHw9YYEi0Xb3XeMo_FykStjPJW6jdQF/s1600/IMG_2524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqYd_LnGKDGHM4XlCAvkJRF5Qt7xR84yywFucdIuzPbkNT4di04qaM9reBCm2jcMeyjkkjsEPeMYE87vatIsaKk563nY4TBJ3pmD9xQR-WkhjzrHw9YYEi0Xb3XeMo_FykStjPJW6jdQF/s320/IMG_2524.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>Bento Version:</u></div>
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- Pilgrim Hat Turkey Sandwich made of pumpernickel bread with Vermont Cheddar for the white strap and slices of a cheddar cheese stick for the buckle</div>
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- Small red silicone cup of applesauce</div>
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- Red grapes </div>
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- Mellowcreme pumpkin</div>
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- Whole Wheat tortilla rolled around carrot and celery sticks as a cornucopia</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSycwKYSg9EEQad7sNxiCfDEH2lZpR2cPDvStoCnf_AKjoM_VeJTo1Pf_cEUK2JjBbXAZXCzXelRKFgqE0EFY74l_VLrkEA39gaw6IZCp5K6jnGQK7oxzFad9ujmOe1LYmF4-v41cfYXH/s1600/IMG_2525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSycwKYSg9EEQad7sNxiCfDEH2lZpR2cPDvStoCnf_AKjoM_VeJTo1Pf_cEUK2JjBbXAZXCzXelRKFgqE0EFY74l_VLrkEA39gaw6IZCp5K6jnGQK7oxzFad9ujmOe1LYmF4-v41cfYXH/s320/IMG_2525.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-4079404164425964472012-11-09T13:19:00.000-08:002012-11-09T13:19:10.918-08:00Thanksgiving theme #5 (Pumpkin/Leaf Bento)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I have been trying to include little treats for the kids out of what is left in the Halloween candy bucket...that bucket needs to leave my house. I'm finding myself digging in it. I know an easy way, but I just hate the idea of wasting candy and just throwing it away. And, I do <i>love</i> candy. You could tell me that the next piece of candy in that bucket would make me gain 10 pounds...I would eat it. It. Is. Horrible. Candy has always been my weakness. Back in high school, when I could eat like a teenager and never show it, my lunch would sometimes be a Snickers and a Slurpee from 7-11. Oh, the good old days. What I would do for a Slurpee (Icee) right now.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plated Lunch:</span></u><br />
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Salami and Cheddar Cheese stick rolled onto a toothpick with some Potato Stix underneath as "hay."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Pumpkin shaped sandwich (peanut butter) with three fruit snacks on top. I've gotten my kids off of all fruit snacks, so this was a special treat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Apple slices cut out with a pumpkin cookie cutter.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMt3vyiE4gZxkpIBgdaDmbikHNt8yftZWjQEP18-1pDb3bbRsrK1c-yaKn7p2qIhMXsdOjIuuab0jJsdgFejYAhenFg_gC2HRKH5BSpCCOEE-hqtIu3sqP52RJrLh-gMdeQnN3D9iBQ4w/s1600/IMG_2490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMt3vyiE4gZxkpIBgdaDmbikHNt8yftZWjQEP18-1pDb3bbRsrK1c-yaKn7p2qIhMXsdOjIuuab0jJsdgFejYAhenFg_gC2HRKH5BSpCCOEE-hqtIu3sqP52RJrLh-gMdeQnN3D9iBQ4w/s320/IMG_2490.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bento Version:</span></u><br />
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Leaf shaped sandwich (peanut butter) I made two sandwiches and stacked them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Salami and cheddar cheese on a toothpick</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Apple slices cut out with a pumpkin cookie cutter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Mini silicone cupcake liner with raspberries</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Fruit snacks</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03riAPpixm5PSl9cxMlxlU-UZtSgLDn_gVssLjaROpWDvo0VTGa-2qlHfAyIqhL1P_7lvH7D8nCR_oKDhxAN3nxglgkbjh6euHA5n4ld1Q1U-NfNN2Jnr3McUhbld2gN88h0Tcjeu1iI3/s1600/IMG_2491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03riAPpixm5PSl9cxMlxlU-UZtSgLDn_gVssLjaROpWDvo0VTGa-2qlHfAyIqhL1P_7lvH7D8nCR_oKDhxAN3nxglgkbjh6euHA5n4ld1Q1U-NfNN2Jnr3McUhbld2gN88h0Tcjeu1iI3/s320/IMG_2491.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Happy weekend to everyone! See you on Monday!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-57577851564031541742012-11-08T09:37:00.000-08:002012-11-08T09:42:03.516-08:00Thanksgiving theme #4 (Turkey Leg Bento)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Today's lunch features a sandwich shaped into a "turkey leg." I thought it was a bit clever to make something that looked like it, but the pumpernickel bread made the picture a little dark.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Plated Lunch:</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Watermelon and strawberry flowers on a small bed of lettuce leaves. Also Carrot sticks and Halloween Kit Kats arranged around them. (Still trying to use up that Halloween candy)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Pumpernickel bread with cream cheese and turkey. Mozzarella stick as turkey "bone" leg. Left over chicken nuggets I made the other night that I added onto tooth picks for mini turkey legs.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEulFAmWhyphenhyphenu7-X_CCt53hh3JFlOTmoioZOApJazbKsu-wu6HNT16IhmJO8e6Fm-vvCpguFn3vrYX7ZqTLsMPZ5kkJCIcXmJXftE6_N5HJ8VROCFObQOfmW37C_5CAshCiCqHTbPN-qALT/s1600/IMG_2484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEulFAmWhyphenhyphenu7-X_CCt53hh3JFlOTmoioZOApJazbKsu-wu6HNT16IhmJO8e6Fm-vvCpguFn3vrYX7ZqTLsMPZ5kkJCIcXmJXftE6_N5HJ8VROCFObQOfmW37C_5CAshCiCqHTbPN-qALT/s320/IMG_2484.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Bento Version:</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pumpernickel bread with cream cheese and turkey. Mozzarella stick as turkey "bone" leg.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Autumn flower (watermelon) with lettuce </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Red raspberry acorns and some grape acorns too, since my little one loves spearing things with those pretzel sticks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Three Nutter Butter cookies for dessert</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfOBQQgfeRpLoOJ5I5v57r5KPCcTorwGtAVhBtrYfuYm6mqa6zMV_ZYQYtu8ePhv9B1aoYywjNOVi6TP8rPNf6d7ylm0TZOq02G6NU80O-IKw1vdxQEPH_p94Ae5t67VvW4fnkcoIBPkb/s1600/IMG_2481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfOBQQgfeRpLoOJ5I5v57r5KPCcTorwGtAVhBtrYfuYm6mqa6zMV_ZYQYtu8ePhv9B1aoYywjNOVi6TP8rPNf6d7ylm0TZOq02G6NU80O-IKw1vdxQEPH_p94Ae5t67VvW4fnkcoIBPkb/s320/IMG_2481.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have a minute, leave me a comment and let me know what you think of all of these. Coming up with ideas surrounding the theme of Thanksgiving is proving to be tricky, but we'll get through this month with some repeats, but always keeping it fun and imperfect. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-39524977305889292752012-11-07T10:24:00.003-08:002012-11-07T10:24:56.757-08:00Thanksgiving theme lunch #3 (Turkey Thanksgiving Bento)<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is one of <i>those</i> days where I fulfill my "I make no promises," approach. We had a playgroup this morning, the kids were incredibly grumpy - and mommy included, so I rushed lunch preparation so I could get Thing 2 down for a nap as quickly as possible. Therefore, the sandwiches and apples are super sloppy - they still ate well though. And again, it is about presentation to the kids, not an award show.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I got this idea from <a href="http://www.cutefoodforkids.com/2010/11/turkey-sandwich-bento.html" target="_blank">Cute Food For Kids</a> where she shows you how to do a turkey sandwich. Cute Food For Kids is also a great site with lots of fun pictures from all different sites and great ideas for just about everything. For this particular sandwich, I did shred up some deli meat and stick it under the small circle too. My kids wouldn't be happy with just cheese. But you can always modify these things. That's what makes it so much fun.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plated Lunch:</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Ham and cheese sandwich made like a turkey. The link to the pieces and instructions are above. My food marker did not work well on the dots for the eyes. I believe that is mostly due to the oils in the cheese, but I tried.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Apple slice made like a feather</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Two pretzel sticks with strawberry slices on them (like arrows)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Pumpkin mellowcreme for dessert. Too much sugar from yesterday, so I cut down today.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpns66xjhflGx-94_phaKbeOGXsj_bUPawSn5tpyb_84_IOggnZXAw7DfTys1rVXCDyd3vc-7Vu8b0BFmPtEjiAHRO5uILv7ln0Q81kvbba1QabyiAXK2HG_7_bzzVzik7it7ukyfGkQj/s1600/IMG_2480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpns66xjhflGx-94_phaKbeOGXsj_bUPawSn5tpyb_84_IOggnZXAw7DfTys1rVXCDyd3vc-7Vu8b0BFmPtEjiAHRO5uILv7ln0Q81kvbba1QabyiAXK2HG_7_bzzVzik7it7ukyfGkQj/s320/IMG_2480.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bento Version:</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Ham and cheese sandwich made like a turkey. The link to the pieces and instructions are above. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Strawberry slices, apple feather slice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Teddy Grahams. You could almost dress these guys like little pilgrims. (*hmmmm...) </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQr6OGaBZQsnZuPjSmS4qB0JsbMuWpe5g0o4e-wFUvucjpSv3R1PKqJgcTs7xdxojMqwqHtFX9PlJFWfOXu0pXu45TjlTxhDUqehg13cGioBR2eqRxjTvrOxFrldQJkGnSIU1S1J4jt6E/s1600/IMG_2479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQr6OGaBZQsnZuPjSmS4qB0JsbMuWpe5g0o4e-wFUvucjpSv3R1PKqJgcTs7xdxojMqwqHtFX9PlJFWfOXu0pXu45TjlTxhDUqehg13cGioBR2eqRxjTvrOxFrldQJkGnSIU1S1J4jt6E/s320/IMG_2479.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for visiting! </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-40299937528056384002012-11-06T11:36:00.001-08:002012-11-06T11:36:41.917-08:00Thanksgiving Theme Lunch #2 - Cornucopia (Thanksgiving Bento)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The kids and I have been exploring resources online and learning about all things Thanksgiving. Yesterday, we colored a cornucopia through a teachers pay teachers website that is really awesome (<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Books-for-Early-Readers-Fall-Holiday-Theme" target="_blank">color by letter</a>) and my son really enjoyed the activity. We discussed things that might be seen in a cornucopia and that it signifies <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cornucopia" target="_blank">abundance</a> - for which we give thanks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sticking to that theme, I decided to incorporate a cornucopia for lunch today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Plated Lunch:</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Two "acorns" made using snack size nutter butters, melt chocolate chips in microwave, dip one side of cookie in melted chocolate and then stick a Hershey Kiss on top. Let set - and add a little dob of chocolate on the other side for the stem</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Turkey and a Whole Wheat Tortilla, rolled up in a cone shape. Added in a piece of broccoli, watermelon, blueberries on a toothpick, some shredded red cabbage, strawberry, a piece of lettuce and one left over Mellowcreme pumpkin. I don't usually have this much sweet stuff on there - but my little guy was quick to point out that the cornucopia was missing a pumpkin!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Small pie crust filled with orange colored vanilla yogurt. Supposed to look like pumpkin pie</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Pumpkin shaped pasta</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMyGgi781nKXZ-wKc7346FN5kp03GXMopNyFIm82FFEwGAUFFyuQjK0NcWNE_Eph58VapG-IEHZ0Vhfynnnr_52rbhG50SuU5E5eFdDKIADiZaOQEbHcGqzJfZGoREQyJCPYYjaOZ44F9/s1600/IMG_2441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMyGgi781nKXZ-wKc7346FN5kp03GXMopNyFIm82FFEwGAUFFyuQjK0NcWNE_Eph58VapG-IEHZ0Vhfynnnr_52rbhG50SuU5E5eFdDKIADiZaOQEbHcGqzJfZGoREQyJCPYYjaOZ44F9/s320/IMG_2441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Bento Version:</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Small pie crust filled with orange </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">colored vanilla yogurt. I made this by putting some left over pie crust trim into mini silicone cupcake liners and just baked for 7 minutes at 350. Supposed to look like pumpkin pie;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - A small whole wheat tortilla rolled up with deli turkey and stuffed with kiwi, blueberries on a toothpick, a piece of pineapple, a raspberry, some shredded red cabbage, spinach leaf, and a strawberry;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - One little acorn made from a Hershey Kiss adhered with melting chocolate to a NutterButter snack size cookie;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Pumpkin shaped pasta</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGFzQoXZsLMg8zzFywxATJ9aovni5TNk6uwLiIaDe3BKV9OABtW4ogGxLrbhjE6k7drdC10Sb7RXmN8-4o2dM9q-t6SP5EctQ16xOjUgCwvwfuApWiQk11iGmeQJC67nwertcZsU-BEKP/s1600/IMG_2440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGFzQoXZsLMg8zzFywxATJ9aovni5TNk6uwLiIaDe3BKV9OABtW4ogGxLrbhjE6k7drdC10Sb7RXmN8-4o2dM9q-t6SP5EctQ16xOjUgCwvwfuApWiQk11iGmeQJC67nwertcZsU-BEKP/s320/IMG_2440.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-60765794229163836442012-11-05T09:18:00.003-08:002012-11-05T09:18:54.863-08:00Thanksgiving Theme Lunch #1 (Thanksgiving Bento)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Good Monday morning to you all! I had a nice weekend packing up all the Halloween decorations, cookie pans and cutters. Although I was a little sad at first, it became much more exciting as I dug through my stash searching for things that I will get to use this month. Plus, we are still in the "fall/autumn" season, so I don't have to get rid of the leaves. All of the leaves are really starting to fall and turn the official brown - boo....but inside we can still use the colors to emulate the beautiful reds, oranges and yellows. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I will put a note in here that this month will probably have some repeats because you can only do turkeys, pilgrim hats, pumpkins, leaves, etc for so long.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plated Lunch:</span></u></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Turkey sandwich is just a round cut sandwich filled with cream cheese and stuck strawberries in for the feathers. The little "turkeys" face is a piece of ham just cut with a knife, cheese for eyes (with a food marker for the dots) and a carrot nose</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Autumn Mix Pile: Red grapes stuck with pretzel sticks (acorns), Apples cut into leaves, pepperoni slices...also using a leaf cookie cutter, and some provolone cheese using the leaf cookie cutters as well.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcuTitsckpxVonhuU0RLtYtR_LyxfWBD_OSW7LEGcVnObBsfF-iYymAXwl8q7s97qLITcAr-bLoBm-AFKZy3ws0YkQwVMsKTm3Ulob5i0NOR6VxkCh1ZnCsESqnmuaivobm2LjTlLh8ED/s1600/IMG_2417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcuTitsckpxVonhuU0RLtYtR_LyxfWBD_OSW7LEGcVnObBsfF-iYymAXwl8q7s97qLITcAr-bLoBm-AFKZy3ws0YkQwVMsKTm3Ulob5i0NOR6VxkCh1ZnCsESqnmuaivobm2LjTlLh8ED/s320/IMG_2417.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Bento Version:</u> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Red silicon cup with regular size goldfish</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Circle "turkey" sandwich: cream cheese filling, strawberries for the feathers. I used a slice of deli ham and just cut away a small portion for the "turkey's" head. Topped with provolone cheese for eyes (with food marker dots) and a carrot nose</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Sugar snap pea pods with an "acorn" made out of a pretzel stick stuck on a red grape</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Apple and provolone cheese slices cut out with a leaf cookie cutter</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9QKSTKblTumASEcsiV8pzkKUTgPIjJ5XIixlHrUaGKmlK0-WzKikOXIbXs7xINBcJ2dtXym71rtz5qvcGKRYGX3lgsVfM2k1f0JMQVJrBfFW2QT5x29vFDEgVphodr9LbwKbnaR97TCr/s1600/IMG_2419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9QKSTKblTumASEcsiV8pzkKUTgPIjJ5XIixlHrUaGKmlK0-WzKikOXIbXs7xINBcJ2dtXym71rtz5qvcGKRYGX3lgsVfM2k1f0JMQVJrBfFW2QT5x29vFDEgVphodr9LbwKbnaR97TCr/s320/IMG_2419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-65396299664849155072012-11-02T20:38:00.002-07:002012-11-02T20:39:33.398-07:00Halloween Theme Lunch #12 (Halloween Bento)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay, okay. It's the end of the Halloween week, so I'm going to be done with the Halloween theme. I need to start focusing that it's November and only 59 days left of the year! Wait, WHAT!?!?!?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been sketching down a few ideas of turkey thoughts and trying to come up with a cornucopia of ideas. (a la Three Stooges - yuk, yuk yuk). And there's Veteran's Day coming up, so that will have to be something patriotic. I am also working on some ideas for crafts. Even though I'm pretty dedicated to food here, I hope to share some ideas or attempts that I may try. Pinterest is such a wonderful site and has given me some fun projects to put on my "to-do" list.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And now - for what you are here for...</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plated Lunch:</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u>
- Halloween Pretzels (that we received Trick or Treating); I love these!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Apple slice eyes, sugar snap pea nose and half an Oreo to make a silly face</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Last bit of Halloween Pasta mixed with a parmesan alfredo sauce, leaf cookie cutter cheese slices</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Ghost Fluffanutter sandwich with two chocolate chips for eyes</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiSO-3J-IHyvvd4U5pb1V-zaKLqfrirAzgRWdilJzDjEj99DxTnTMvWmfdiyQLSMRYaG7QYEepbdUmJJxwCx7SQpxpKHfr35L3IpB05FBjWh2E4GF8cwDhK059ZdUe6fQTwePmdxOZuq1/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiSO-3J-IHyvvd4U5pb1V-zaKLqfrirAzgRWdilJzDjEj99DxTnTMvWmfdiyQLSMRYaG7QYEepbdUmJJxwCx7SQpxpKHfr35L3IpB05FBjWh2E4GF8cwDhK059ZdUe6fQTwePmdxOZuq1/s320/IMG_2371.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<u style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bento Version:</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Apple Slice (left side)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Cup of Halloween pasta mixed with alfredo sauce and topped with two cheese pieces from a leaf cookie cutter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Sugar Snap peas</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Halloween Pretzels</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Half of an Oreo (along side of the pasta & cheese)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Ghost Fluffanutter sandwich with peanut eyes and chocolate chip mouth</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCwqHv8oYgPR1M06cQm5fFd62ft0HbJOCnOYsNrVu-WytzD1MiTKERgQxC3JTle0vZ-kQPX6G5Amvsb0jHnQXR6bBrrtNap_79Tg7jpeTVKgd_KCQxay0oioycJmL2JJllg-uqfBuqga1/s1600/IMG_2370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCwqHv8oYgPR1M06cQm5fFd62ft0HbJOCnOYsNrVu-WytzD1MiTKERgQxC3JTle0vZ-kQPX6G5Amvsb0jHnQXR6bBrrtNap_79Tg7jpeTVKgd_KCQxay0oioycJmL2JJllg-uqfBuqga1/s320/IMG_2370.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-69346124735382273082012-11-01T10:13:00.003-07:002012-11-02T20:40:18.774-07:00Halloween theme Lunch #11 (Pumpkin Bento)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I can't admit that Halloween is over. As I said before, it is 2nd on my list of favorites. I'm just not ready to put away the cookie cutters and fun yet. Sure, the decorations can come down - but not the cookware. As it turns out, I have supplies I didn't even use this month! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So, when I settled down with my nice glass of wine after two and a half hours of trick or treating, it came to me: use the baking molds and make little pocket sandwiches!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I got <a href="http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?sku=2105-0481" target="_blank">this</a> Halloween baking cookie pan as a gift, and kept trying to get to a point in the day when I could make some cookies...but with two little ones, it just didn't happen. But with some store bought bread dough, lunch meat and cheese - presto - little pocket sandwiches you can serve hot or cold (well, I mean AFTER you bake them.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And who says, you can't bake Halloween cookies in November?!?! I've got another 30 days to try!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Plated Lunch:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Two pocket sandwiches with Ham and White cheddar. (<a href="http://dailygobbles.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-pocket-sandwiches.html" target="_blank">How-To</a> do this)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Snickers candy (for dessert) - I have to take this off when Thing 1 sits down to eat, or he will eat it first!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Potato stix and a Mellowcreme pumpkin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Roasted pumpkin seeds - he ended up not liking these, even though I sprinkled with Italian seasoning, garlic powder and parmesan cheese</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Cheese candy corn - I made this with Vermont orange cheddar, Kraft American cheese, and a Baybel. You can see my post on that <a href="http://dailygobbles.blogspot.com/2011/10/candy-corn-cheese.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Pumpkin cookie cutter with apple slice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Carrot pumpkins - My little guy is not keen on carrots, so I only gave him two.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVqHpUM5WMQvfsSbXq49AxM6cCRloPqRUj5M2tLmHHLFAkvwNmAaP-uxUzpnWxxfhDd7nfgO8_Xyfu4VGFZ3vaTupVoKSNdkThnN6VjWpiYqqmxj8SwSbpApVgWED5Tru51KArR8cplwb/s1600/IMG_2340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVqHpUM5WMQvfsSbXq49AxM6cCRloPqRUj5M2tLmHHLFAkvwNmAaP-uxUzpnWxxfhDd7nfgO8_Xyfu4VGFZ3vaTupVoKSNdkThnN6VjWpiYqqmxj8SwSbpApVgWED5Tru51KArR8cplwb/s320/IMG_2340.JPG" width="280" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Bento Version:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Two pocket sandwiches with Ham and White cheddar. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(</span><a href="http://dailygobbles.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-pocket-sandwiches.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">How-To</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> do this</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Pumpkin seeds (I ended up taking these out for her, because she's still a little young)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Apple slices made with a pumpkin cookie cutter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Carrots cut into pumpkins</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Potato stix and a Mellowcreme pumpkin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Cheese candy corn - I used a Baybel (white), Kraft American cheese (yellow), and Vermont Orange Cheddar (orange). More on that <a href="http://dailygobbles.blogspot.com/2011/10/candy-corn-cheese.html" target="_blank">here</a>. (posting coming soon)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-66983859351796124032012-10-31T11:16:00.000-07:002012-11-02T20:40:45.767-07:00Halloween Theme lunch #10 (Halloween Bento) <span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The day is officially here! I hope all the little ghouls, witches and goblins are ready for some goodies! And I certainly hope you are leaving your porch light on tonight to hand out some candy. When my husband and I were just "us" we used to have a large display of pumpkins in our yard each year. We started off with 13, then 31, and the next year 57. I can't explain where the 57 came from - we just kept buying pumpkins that year. We had so many trick or treaters; it was amazing!</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We moved across the country after the last year of pumpkin carving and have been living in a condo for two Halloween seasons. Soon, we will get a house again and resume the madness of carving the most pumpkins in our neighborhood. I included a picture below the lunches if you are interested.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plated lunch:</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Whole wheat cheese quesadilla cut out with a pumpkin cookie cutter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Cup of whip cream and crushed up Oreos (we call this "dirt") with some gummy worms</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Celery filled with cream cheese, pretzel legs and two craisins for eyes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Pepperoni slices with white cheddar and a half of kalamata olive</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Apple "jaws" slice with a piece notched out and almonds as teeth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Roasted butternut squash that I cut out with a pumpkin cookie cutter. The flesh was pretty thick, so when I got the big piece, I sliced it down the middle and ended up with pieces that were about 1/4 inch thick.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTpLOAlzi-L2TBLmN-fgs6l46Nl6uelFl96nnkySOskFWSNjfyKsm1p5NdaLP0way5fFTSWMdrlgBuwqp2_7NwHZ_GqXaLc7_hz2SxZ9SFClV3aulGhM22dwqd6MEKkgr7ZPRuXWMq-tF/s1600/IMG_2271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTpLOAlzi-L2TBLmN-fgs6l46Nl6uelFl96nnkySOskFWSNjfyKsm1p5NdaLP0way5fFTSWMdrlgBuwqp2_7NwHZ_GqXaLc7_hz2SxZ9SFClV3aulGhM22dwqd6MEKkgr7ZPRuXWMq-tF/s400/IMG_2271.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bento version:</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - A prepackaged cup of mandarin oranges with a jack-o-lantern face drawn on there. I found this on pinterest!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Pumpkin cookie cutter on a cheese quesadilla. I tried to do the eyes with the knife, but it was just messy <i style="font-size: small;">(because it's time to sharpen my knives) </i>and an apple slice mouth with almond slivers as teeth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Cup of Halloween pasta <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(I found this at World Market, but also have seen at TJ Maxx)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Roasted butternut squash cut out with a bat shaped cookie cutter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Celery bug - filled with cream cheese, pretzels for legs and craisin eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's that picture of our old house with most of the pumpkins in the picture. Some of them were cut out because of my lack of a wide angle lens. *sigh - still on my Christmas list.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-51897451737503425662012-10-30T13:26:00.001-07:002012-10-31T11:19:04.491-07:00Halloween Spiders, Pumpkins, and Ghosts - oh my! Theme #9 (Halloween Bento #8)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've realized that I am not much for consistency with titles each day with these Halloween lunches. I've got to get better with these as I do "seasonal" lunches so that they are easier to find. I also plan on adding some tagging too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I do have a nice camera, most of the pictures of these lunches are done from my mobile phone. I hope that my pictures show a "detailed enough" view of my designs. If you ever have any questions, feel free to contact me or drop me a comment! Thanks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Plate lunch:</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Halloween pasta that I found at World Market <span style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">(but I've also seen at TJ Maxx.) </span>It is mixed with some cheese sauce that I made with a roux, milk and grated Parmesan </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Carrot slices carved into little jack-o-laterns. I got this idea off of searching through images of halloween lunches</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Two marshmallows made into ghosts with a food grade marker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Nutella and bread sandwich with sugar pea pods cut up as legs and I took two of the peas to make the eyes</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Bento version:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Halloween pasta with an Alfredo cheese sauce. Although, if you were concerned about sending to school, I would just leave the noodles plain - maybe a little Italian dressing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - One marshmallow made into a ghost with a food grade marker</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Two Nutella sandwiches made into spiders with sugar snap peas as eyes and legs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Carrots carved into little jack-o-lanterns</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Apple slices with a bell shaped cookie cutter that I made into ghosts by just adding little sprinkles for eyes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Yogurt raisins made into ghosts with the same food marker</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Stacked sugar snap peas</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The past three days have been crazy due to hurricane Sandy and threat of losing power. Fortunately, the lights remained on where we are, but my heart is with all the families that have damage, flooding, and lost loved ones. I am also sad about the HMS Bounty, that sank off the coast of North Carolina. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr. Man and I were just there for a visit in September. We also had some trips this summer - seeing the ship, enjoying the oceans along Long Island, and visiting Atlantic City. I realize I went off on a tangent there - but this situation is heavy on my heart and I just wanted to share my thoughts. I certainly hope FEMA and our great country will provide strength and support to help everyone affected through this time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As always, thank you for stopping by!</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-19846765214585251062012-10-29T18:03:00.001-07:002012-10-31T11:18:44.549-07:00Halloween pizza Theme Lunch #8 (Pizza in Bento)Well today was sort of a <i>cheat</i> day. I mean, we still did lunches, but I made a special lunchtime Halloween Pizza. We have threat of the hurricane here on the east coast and so I wanted to do something that was fun to try. As you will see from the picture below, I sectioned off a small portion for me (and for Mr. Man to try) that is Greek - seasonings, oil, grape tomatoes, feta and kalamata olives (we can call it the "graveyard"- but the rest of the pizza I filled with ghosts and spiders.<br />
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The ghosts are from a mozzarella cheese ball that I sliced and then used a small ghost cookie cutter on. The spiders are a slice of pepperoni, legs are green peppers and an olive cut in half to make eyes.<br />
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The kids loved it. They were both home today - so unfortunately there's no bento on this post today. But stay tuned for tomorrows!<br />
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Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you are all getting ready for the "spooky" celebration - two days away!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-52326965755928830542012-10-27T06:05:00.001-07:002012-10-31T11:18:17.334-07:00Halloween Fingers and Goo Theme Lunch #7 (Slime and Fingers Bento)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So this was technically Friday's lunch, but I'm playing "catch up" since I missed posting on Thursday. Today's lunch took a little bit more time as I didn't think about the fingers until right before. However, you could certainly cook these in the toaster oven, or regular oven when preparing dinner the night before.</div>
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<u>Plated Lunch:</u></div>
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- Vanilla yogurt with green food coloring and a plastic spider ring added on top. </div>
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- Ghost - White Chocolate covered strawberry on a toothpick with two chocolate chips for eyes</div>
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- Halloween Pretzels. These came in little snack packs that were made for Halloween and we got some in an early "trunk or treat" event we went to. They are made by <a href="http://www.utzsnacks.com/" target="_blank">Utz</a> a regional snack/chip maker.</div>
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- Spaghetti with ribbons of carrot mixed in; I said these were worms. Small bread dough rolled lengthwise and a grape tomato sliced up as little finger nails. Baked in oven for 10 minutes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiubgeZyLep3cHVB7YfCINHQQhv1utuyu_A6Ws-NW949z4TAASmySlKTplDbnKckyfl1L1EMyGAN1t4b-n3_iklVo3h8xRYbGzE0Lkfd9Hh8AQn4DAft6ZMzjboJFAhak84hKDHMZLBAC/s1600/IMG_2219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiubgeZyLep3cHVB7YfCINHQQhv1utuyu_A6Ws-NW949z4TAASmySlKTplDbnKckyfl1L1EMyGAN1t4b-n3_iklVo3h8xRYbGzE0Lkfd9Hh8AQn4DAft6ZMzjboJFAhak84hKDHMZLBAC/s320/IMG_2219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bento Version:<br />
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- Vanilla yogurt with green food coloring and a plastic spider ring added on top. </div>
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- Halloween Pretzels. These came in little snack packs that were made for Halloween and we got some in an early "trunk or treat" event we went to. They are made by <a href="http://www.utzsnacks.com/" target="_blank">Utz</a> a regional snack/chip maker.</div>
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- Spaghetti with ribbons of carrot mixed in; I said these were worms. Small bread dough rolled lengthwise and a grape tomato sliced up as little finger nails. Baked in oven for 10 minutes.</div>
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(and I left out the two white chocolate ghosts I made for Thing 2. Oops! I took a strawberry and sliced it in half, dipped in white chocolate and used mini sprinkles for the eyes.) As halved strawberries, they nested better on the upper side of the yogurt and spaghetti.</div>
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Thanks for following these posts! I encourage and welcome comments and suggestions. Please feel free to leave in the section below.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-5185367118670731572012-10-26T12:10:00.000-07:002012-10-31T11:17:50.996-07:00Halloween Monster mash Theme Lunch #6 (Monster Bento)<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I missed posting this yesterday because the kids were crazy and Mr. Man got home a day early from his trip (yay!) </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was so much fun! Super easy and since it fit perfectly in the box, I just did two of them for both of the kiddos. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - regular spaghetti for hair</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - two chunks of meatloaf cut out and stick in toaster oven for a few minutes to cook the ketchup on top. This will give it a more frightful look, and leak or mess up in the lunch box. After you take out of the oven, stick a small piece of mozzarella cheese on top and let set. *I actually made meatloaf muffins and cut the chunks out of it*</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - carrot end for nose, just cut to height of bento box</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Pizza bagel - half a bagel and slice open one half. Spread pizza sauce (or regular tomato sauce as I did). Next take a mozzarella cheese stick and slice horizontally in half so it makes the stick "less thick."</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Begin cutting triangles from - giving you pieces for the teeth. Slowly arrange them on the top row. For the bottom row: as you lay them across, it might be better if you trim off some of the bottom of each "tooth" so they don't intersect with the top row. You can see what I'm talking about in the picture below.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - I added two apple slices along the sides as ears</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - And I threw in two Brach's Mellowcreme pumpkins for dessert (or you can call them little knobs like Frankenstein has.)</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Frightfully fun lunch!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVtV3rEicGOnhoRqhLah5V353NIEkcOpCV_pYqS4WXJNWil1t7n0yENlc86PKOnXeRk0t3qAHxWHpUs3osCHVtOiFUbsk0JkzBBRA_o-Mg1Wehzunqf0M-WvBm04gyCQJtEMuwzUq_A-w/s1600/IMG_2218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVtV3rEicGOnhoRqhLah5V353NIEkcOpCV_pYqS4WXJNWil1t7n0yENlc86PKOnXeRk0t3qAHxWHpUs3osCHVtOiFUbsk0JkzBBRA_o-Mg1Wehzunqf0M-WvBm04gyCQJtEMuwzUq_A-w/s640/IMG_2218.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-91192612805935887262012-10-24T10:54:00.001-07:002012-10-31T11:17:30.144-07:00Halloween Frankenstein Theme Lunch #5 (Frankenstein Bento)<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ok, so I'm not perfect. I (again) did a trial and error with what I saw in my brain versus what went down on the plate and in the box. It didn't seem like enough food, but now that I have time to sit down and post this - I realize that they ate all of the food without any left over. That differs from the amounts that I've been throwing away on some days. This was actually a pretty packed lunch and my kids aren't asking for snacks yet, so we are good for now. </span><br />
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<u><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plate lunch:</span></u><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Jack O Lantern cheese slice. I just cut out the pieces with a knife</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Monster jaws eating a green bug. Of course, I did the red and white backwards, but you can't see white on a white plate, so go figure. The white is a writer white chocolate pen (Duff's line sold at Michael's), strawberries, and a piece of celery. </span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Apple slices cut out with cookie cutter, two chocolate chips for eyes, cheese nose, celery mouth. Also, two sugar candy bones that I found in some halloween decoration that we bought recently.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Frankenstein chicken sandwich with butter - cut out with larger version of same cookie cutter, celery for hair, grape tomato eyes, cheese nose and mouth.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkqJpkvkIVMVLEDI47tGl5imC2gTL_QYQK9WJ3p4oOSPeO9McAMzSa4pjh0H6y7yD8vBGHTxkLzxs6vTxTOY5Ch4mQ545bezb2-7b00Vc2agwHbjEOG7XBX9_GR-yDKJMZlVdYHKXN4kV/s1600/IMG_2176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkqJpkvkIVMVLEDI47tGl5imC2gTL_QYQK9WJ3p4oOSPeO9McAMzSa4pjh0H6y7yD8vBGHTxkLzxs6vTxTOY5Ch4mQ545bezb2-7b00Vc2agwHbjEOG7XBX9_GR-yDKJMZlVdYHKXN4kV/s320/IMG_2176.jpg" width="258" /></span></a></div>
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<u><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bento version:</span></u><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Monster jaws eating a green bug. Of course, I did the red and white backwards. The white is a writer white chocolate pen (Duff's line sold at Michael's), strawberries, and some slices of avocado with sprinkles as eyes</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Frankenstein apple slice under sandwich (same shape as sandwich)</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Frankenstein chicken sandwich with avocado for hair, tortilla bread, grape tomatoes for eyes and a small cheese slice for his mouth</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNKHRbwoVc4M5BpZM-cPlEqNjizhVW-cMap1FYBGmhdFlSkvLGzWSPdn_Sgu4I8CECTdfDtasAF4-ogQtMlfDAC2t94v67ZN8UVLm0rccGcKyN4bwNc9-cB_aAzE5kBM9-BiXP59xGVO3/s1600/IMG_2177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNKHRbwoVc4M5BpZM-cPlEqNjizhVW-cMap1FYBGmhdFlSkvLGzWSPdn_Sgu4I8CECTdfDtasAF4-ogQtMlfDAC2t94v67ZN8UVLm0rccGcKyN4bwNc9-cB_aAzE5kBM9-BiXP59xGVO3/s320/IMG_2177.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As always, thanks for stopping by my site. I've been having great fun with these lunches and I hope I can share some of my ideas with you. If you have any suggestions, or thoughts, I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-65427633362028759692012-10-23T10:18:00.000-07:002012-10-31T11:17:02.809-07:00Halloween Ghost Theme Lunch #4 (Ghost Lunch Bento)<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello again! Today's lunch is ENTIRELY a ghost theme. I wish I had more supplies, because the ideas that I had to make all sorts of ghost "food" were running in my head last night as I laid down to sleep. So that just means another day of spooky ghost lunch! </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Halloween has GOT to be my favorite season (after 4th of July). That's right folks, Christmas is 3rd on my list. Christmas is a great time of year (and they make way more food that is already a Christmas theme), but maybe that's why it is third; I can't be as creative. Of course, that is a good thing because you can only do so many things with sandwiches.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Vanilla yogurt in a small cup with chocolate chip eyes and chocolate sprinkles for a mouth</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Mozzarella cheese stick cut in half, food markers for eyes and mouth and a candy corn to give them little hats</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Apples, using a small bell shaped cookie cutter and food markers for the eyes. Some of the apple pieces, I just improvised and made into other similar ghost shapes so they weren't all the same.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Peanut butter and fluff sandwich with little candy eyes and a chocolate covered candy corn for a mouth. (seriously, have you tried these? The chocolate covered candy corns are so yummy! They are made by Brach's.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQGW8wie9DtcXmMPW5h_q1wN3thoam1j6ElfXYoG_eMRJyWTbpkF8B73rgYApZqitJpcw3saX0Vaq_sUpDTsoymB83F5PBu9ZV2SPXF1uizkhnOB9bg_5abksKEJ5c_tag7Re0krWhKp3/s1600/IMG_2159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQGW8wie9DtcXmMPW5h_q1wN3thoam1j6ElfXYoG_eMRJyWTbpkF8B73rgYApZqitJpcw3saX0Vaq_sUpDTsoymB83F5PBu9ZV2SPXF1uizkhnOB9bg_5abksKEJ5c_tag7Re0krWhKp3/s320/IMG_2159.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bento:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Ghost shaped fluffernutter sandwich with chocolate chip eyes and a little more fluff for the mouth.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Apple Ghosts using bell shaped cookie cutter (and mom nibbled off the bottoms; hey, a girl's gotta eat!)</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Mozzarella Cheese sticks with candy corn hats</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Vanilla yogurt cup with chocolate sprinkles for eyes and mouth</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDxym0ihbcVZ3Q-G1atxTzr5du__PR9HrU9SVee-FGY5L4_Xw_SObacBAQYklVd4Mu3rJzQJ3wrQtVyxkM3IgCgFTrvlyMKfl6SDTdh_Z-i73Al4-hdE5DxYgSHcUN2QfMFAeexps9rvQ/s1600/IMG_2160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDxym0ihbcVZ3Q-G1atxTzr5du__PR9HrU9SVee-FGY5L4_Xw_SObacBAQYklVd4Mu3rJzQJ3wrQtVyxkM3IgCgFTrvlyMKfl6SDTdh_Z-i73Al4-hdE5DxYgSHcUN2QfMFAeexps9rvQ/s320/IMG_2160.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-81323956174178620892012-10-22T15:28:00.001-07:002012-10-22T15:29:43.031-07:00Farm Lunch (Bento Farm Lunch)<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, we planned a day to head out to a fall festival at a local farm. They had hay rides, corn mazes, farm animals, apples and tons of slides! We really enjoyed the day there and there is definitely something about the fall colors that make me so happy!</span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since we were packing a lunch to take with us today, I opted to make it sufficient for both of my little people. </span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Tractor sandwich (I don't have a fancy cutter, so I just notched a square out of it), added Oreo wheels and a pretzel stick for a "pipe" sticking out of the tractor.</span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Cheddar cheese stick under there</span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Broccoli "orchard" trees</span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Bologna pig (on top of parchment paper because I added the little square sandwich under for Munchkin)</span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Saffron rice rectangle with two little sprinkle eyes and a carrot nose</span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Potato Stix (these are my favorite and my kids thought it was wonderful to be eating "hay" like the animals!)</span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Pumpkin candy corns for dessert (after all, just one small oreo cookie wasn't enough! and mom needed some candy too!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHK8_Am032-gQnpnsPNdTtNT5UZE7-bnfS3_x7dMHxYJMcX1TXWuryb6Ud8Av-nfRrvzbqsMQnO3u3g2rSuMJtH4YbSr-SnDQKxfvz86bOlC9M-b8E0KCNw0m1RrK3o5WhsPPQn4ZAEb73/s1600/IMG_2153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHK8_Am032-gQnpnsPNdTtNT5UZE7-bnfS3_x7dMHxYJMcX1TXWuryb6Ud8Av-nfRrvzbqsMQnO3u3g2rSuMJtH4YbSr-SnDQKxfvz86bOlC9M-b8E0KCNw0m1RrK3o5WhsPPQn4ZAEb73/s400/IMG_2153.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-52915716780233074442012-10-19T10:41:00.001-07:002012-10-19T10:41:11.687-07:00Halloween theme lunch #3 (Halloween Bento too)<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greetings! Today's lunch was a bit of a rush. We got home later than usual because we went to a book sale <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(I have a huge obsession with old books)</i></span>, so I started prepping everything late. I had in my head what I wanted the Bento to come out like, but it didn't stay long enough for me to take a picture. And my kids were already hungry, so I didn't bother re-taking the picture or re-setting the pieces.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, I should mention that my little one eating the Bento said "bat" and "monster" so she got the idea. It's not about perfection - the kids just like the fun of it and it's important to remember that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Today's plate is:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Raemen noodles colored green with some pumpkin shapes cut out of a cheese slice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - One cup full of peach yogurt with apple wedges sticking out as legs, a piece of fruit leather on top and white chocolate writer for eyes and a crunchy candy in the center.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Sandwich of turkey and bread with butter, Eyes are yogurt raisins, avocado nose and cheese and apple pieces arranged as a "stitched" mouth.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfD-ayQHNmX61KKvxVOBH-I1hneNHii849NThIO1p_FN1IerkqA_3Nh6JLMlhH-XeBkFOpHSR-ShxudNfzNpz9ZU1iE4R1gSJpuTnodQONByaDdQ1aC6vtqe7tmE2y-NeLWvUD_TOXYPFX/s1600/IMG_2115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfD-ayQHNmX61KKvxVOBH-I1hneNHii849NThIO1p_FN1IerkqA_3Nh6JLMlhH-XeBkFOpHSR-ShxudNfzNpz9ZU1iE4R1gSJpuTnodQONByaDdQ1aC6vtqe7tmE2y-NeLWvUD_TOXYPFX/s320/IMG_2115.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Today's Bento is:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - One cup of peach yogurt with chocolate crunchies that I added through a bat cookie cutter. Some of them spilled out, but no worries, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Cream cheese and bread sandwich cut out as coffin. I used the white chocolate writer on top as the "RIP"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Apple slices thinly sliced as a mummy/monster - candy corn teeth (which did not cooperate) - and white chocolate writer for the eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Toothpick skewered with avocado slices as hair, or monster teeth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In hindsight, I should have done the candy corn as horns on top and the skewer as teeth. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6j0ZSRj5SmY6ypENDJojat1vG4nJ3Tc-99z27q0geQ4DPw6lIYF4RTK5AYWo1P4Nij5MbLHwZOPol6FH9uDrl8YM_PetJlUEFj-qC1vDGzoP9hk-tIry5PUr2d36GrCPcM5AboM87uXti/s1600/IMG_2116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6j0ZSRj5SmY6ypENDJojat1vG4nJ3Tc-99z27q0geQ4DPw6lIYF4RTK5AYWo1P4Nij5MbLHwZOPol6FH9uDrl8YM_PetJlUEFj-qC1vDGzoP9hk-tIry5PUr2d36GrCPcM5AboM87uXti/s320/IMG_2116.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-6676522860708783212012-10-18T16:48:00.002-07:002012-10-18T16:49:31.274-07:00Halloween Season, Lunch #2 (and one for Bento too)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See, I told you I would follow through. Okay, okay - it's only Day 2....19 more to go (<i>21 times to make a habit, right?)</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today's lunch is more of a pumpkin theme.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We'll start like a clock - at the top where the 12 is - and go clockwise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cup of pumpkin themed macaroni & cheese - 2 toothpicks broke in half with candy corn speared on them; cheese slice using a pumpkin cookie cutter, chocolate chips for the eyes and an apple slice on the mouth; peach slices cut out with a leaf cookie cutter - (just peel the peach and cut into 1/4" slices all around); Pumpkin cookie cutter with white bread, also used the cookie cutter on a thicker slice of turkey that I had the deli do. I think they used a #2 thickness. I used butter inside the bread, but also colored the butter with food coloring to do the outside and did the green stem with a food marker. Lastly, I used the left over pieces of cheese from the pumpkin slice - and made eyes, nose and mouth.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNPRSXfz6nAH_zcjWgDTc1Tp2mIYvmPLKQau6n8MGkwcKZQoLWIH3hR2fOQk0X1cshu6fgxrqnl0BqGnO4VHQ800X7IWjxJxC5wt4-ccKQU1khYmztZUQEtwsc125-_eAfoCRdf2btwS3/s1600/IMG_2105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNPRSXfz6nAH_zcjWgDTc1Tp2mIYvmPLKQau6n8MGkwcKZQoLWIH3hR2fOQk0X1cshu6fgxrqnl0BqGnO4VHQ800X7IWjxJxC5wt4-ccKQU1khYmztZUQEtwsc125-_eAfoCRdf2btwS3/s320/IMG_2105.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the bento version, I scaled down the cookie cutter into finger sandwiches she could pick out of there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- She's not really a fan of butter, (plus I didn't want mess) so I used pumpkin flavored cream cheese and turkey breast. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- I put a small piece of banana in there with two chocolate chip eyes and food marker for mouth. I stuck the toothpick through the banana as a way to give this "ghost" a hat, but it slipped a little. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- I did the peaches again with her too, only I ka-bobbed them onto a toothpick. She loved eating them like this!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Pumpkin themed mac & cheese stacked in the upper corner</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- One cup of mandarin oranges filled up, then arranged on top like a pumpkin with a pretzel stick stem and small apple slice leaf.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbhpyO8nnqGebndTs-STD2gtNY0FjZRcR0Rg93oYXOMGjjllXfvzAP-2pS9Nusx8Cwzb8pDeIulqCqC5_eg3ps9_lZT84cmfb8N8IjQWmH3AoLoa1hWUOJdQgjdEhPv_hBezw4lgJR3WB/s1600/IMG_2106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbhpyO8nnqGebndTs-STD2gtNY0FjZRcR0Rg93oYXOMGjjllXfvzAP-2pS9Nusx8Cwzb8pDeIulqCqC5_eg3ps9_lZT84cmfb8N8IjQWmH3AoLoa1hWUOJdQgjdEhPv_hBezw4lgJR3WB/s320/IMG_2106.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-2047858228491522192012-10-17T12:21:00.000-07:002012-11-02T20:43:16.174-07:00Halloween lunch (Halloween Bento Lunch)I'm making a comeback...Really, I mean it. <br />
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Too much of my life has passed and I've had these great posts in my head, but I don't sit down and do it. That ends today, October 17th. I've gotten back into cooking a lot, baking even more, and exploring kid friendly recipes because Thing 1 is at a perfect age to help me in the kitchen (and wants to!)<br />
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I've made a lot of lunches at home for my kiddos and I try to keep it fun. I have read a lot of cool blogs that discuss a "main plate" lunch with the kids just picking what they like from it. And, with all the creativity that goes into a <i>themed</i> lunch, I think it is good to do this. In the meantime, I'm doing individual lunches and made this one today for Thing 1.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><u>Halloween lunch:</u></b></span><br />
Mozzerella cheese stick wrapped in spaghetti noodles and pretzel sticks for arms and legs (food grade marker made black eyes); small cup of Count Chocula cereal with Halloween marshmallows on top; cinnamon cream cheese and white bread <b>bat-shaped</b> sandwiches (metal cookie cutter); vanilla yogurt with food coloring to make orange - green spoon as leaf and pretzel sticks again as stem (pumpkin).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRho6_rnVOx7sEquWMsL6jnIMVnRo7n9BYnLDfmROuSapdcZ_nyYVqWHMFt_XesY62M8YMZmgUL725cPzbycJ-BjZ3kCA_ZvcHNDgBJzD7HgWa5ML7AEOL1FExM62n9xZKjjkQdaRCt5J/s1600/IMG_2096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRho6_rnVOx7sEquWMsL6jnIMVnRo7n9BYnLDfmROuSapdcZ_nyYVqWHMFt_XesY62M8YMZmgUL725cPzbycJ-BjZ3kCA_ZvcHNDgBJzD7HgWa5ML7AEOL1FExM62n9xZKjjkQdaRCt5J/s320/IMG_2096.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This could certainly be packaged in a small bento box or lunchbox to take to lunch for kids in school.<br />
I did the same concept for Thing 2 (younger) and did on a smaller scale for her - so I took the opportunity to make a bento box for her. I cut the cheese stick in half, smaller cups of yogurt (small piece of green apple as the leaf) and cereal with one marshmallow. I also stacked two small bat sandwiches under the "mummy" along with another two on the side. Again, these had cinnamon cream cheese in them.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-48771123631579954312012-08-26T21:02:00.004-07:002012-08-26T21:02:29.554-07:00Actually making Asian food (instead of ordering)I have a crazy obsession with Asian food, but besides the obvious stir-fry, any meal beyond that and I'm using the keypad on my phone to order it. Plus it's delivered - quick!<br />
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I have recently overcome this obstacle and found myself exploring more into recipes of Asian flair...my latest success was Asian Pork in the crockpot and making tacos and other meals with it. But, I made a HUGE mistake because I didn't write it down, bookmark the site, or rip the page out of the magazine. <br />
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In an effort to remember not to do this again, I just stumbled across this recipe and I have to make it. At least when I make it this time, I'll have the link.<br />
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<a href="http://blog.seasonwithspice.com/2012/08/spicy-asian-noodle-salad-recipe.html" target="_blank">Rice Noodle Salad with Spicy Lemongrass Dressing</a><br />
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This looks awesome and sounds so delicious. I'm off to explore the kitchen and see if I can successfully conjure this dish up. More to follow!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-90834878185404362092011-10-02T11:42:00.000-07:002012-11-01T12:24:38.726-07:00Candy Corn Cheese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
First, let me apologize for this picture. I was trying to finish the lunch for the kiddos and this was a last minute thought. I wanted to add some cheese to their lunch, but I was growing tired of just using cookie cutters.</div>
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I cut slices of: Vermont Cheddar (Orange layer), Kraft American (Yellowish layer), and Baybel in the red wax (White layer).</div>
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Cut rectangles all the same size and stack on top of each other. For this, I did 6-7 rectangles for each of the orange and yellow layers. Next, unwrap the Baybel cheese and cut in half. Depending on how thick your orange and yellow layers are, you may have to shave off some thickness from the Baybel wheel. Line up as shown and then using a knife, cut two 45 degree angles making the signature triangle shape of a candy corn. I slid the knife under this to transfer it to the lunch plate and bento. </div>
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In the bento, I placed it on top of a chunk of apple underneath the cheese so that it would sit together nicely - and who doesn't love apple and cheese together? YUM!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-41776869716454877912011-10-01T11:01:00.000-07:002012-11-01T11:37:15.675-07:00Halloween Pocket Sandwiches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I purchased some frozen bread dough as a back-up on one of my other experiments, but it ended up coming out alright - so I had these sitting in the freezer, collecting crystals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You just need to defrost this bag and even though the pieces are sectioned off for you already - feel free to use more or less, depending on your sandwich.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYUlfkYI5YGBzhFCNDH-G_DFs7PRJKolKidqNJsePQbxN-1fj_Tlw9p5sGOHikQY3cwj-rrDwwfyuX2R-u7iXuejde-He8VxkF3By-dYDcuGVETttLr8lGaVLPS30uOBAU38-kD88VpqF/s1600/IMG_2349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYUlfkYI5YGBzhFCNDH-G_DFs7PRJKolKidqNJsePQbxN-1fj_Tlw9p5sGOHikQY3cwj-rrDwwfyuX2R-u7iXuejde-He8VxkF3By-dYDcuGVETttLr8lGaVLPS30uOBAU38-kD88VpqF/s320/IMG_2349.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once its nice and soft, stretch it out to a thin square and then begin pressing into the mold. Don't worry about filling in every crevice - as it bakes it will shape perfectly. Pinch away the excess as necessary. If you are happy with it, then take some of your deli meat (and if you are using cheese) and roll it up to fit in the center. For this, I used deli ham and white cheddar - rolling up together. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vmv9bHW-KRtJstef252Vt70y5IOsIAlbXGv7u4h6CmJkUcJTjBdyRJ2QmTiY31tiWH8gNC0Dqkr74eohyphenhyphenG5OJuujvbvUl53U-BjYOfsK5JD9-KH7k3-26ZE2xIbH6L4cEMKdTmWPsDB8/s1600/IMG_2345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vmv9bHW-KRtJstef252Vt70y5IOsIAlbXGv7u4h6CmJkUcJTjBdyRJ2QmTiY31tiWH8gNC0Dqkr74eohyphenhyphenG5OJuujvbvUl53U-BjYOfsK5JD9-KH7k3-26ZE2xIbH6L4cEMKdTmWPsDB8/s320/IMG_2345.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hD8Fb6V_z7f7uuS5JPrvOIyatsRuPf7i_U2F9UqhiDa8tGyumhKCx-cWK2KjyPVzeqlaHG3UPzLrGcD80q6EswqD1nKdXYQym8MxYoJAC46f2msBO9_r7XSV0ifpkROnLJwU0fAPijD3/s1600/IMG_2346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hD8Fb6V_z7f7uuS5JPrvOIyatsRuPf7i_U2F9UqhiDa8tGyumhKCx-cWK2KjyPVzeqlaHG3UPzLrGcD80q6EswqD1nKdXYQym8MxYoJAC46f2msBO9_r7XSV0ifpkROnLJwU0fAPijD3/s320/IMG_2346.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take another piece of the bread dough - again making a thin square and place over the mold.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY92jM-Nafo9Y_g74U6tvkEIy3ymzv4EF-QYCVCa5vhP5GDoaWOSKvb_20xaefpx3Wgt1FDDhC_e0ywLq8avTzD6mCKXe_gBRe9DlOl-e-B5XiKWp8_wopoRrscVwH2ElzvFPi1MbypmI/s1600/IMG_2347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY92jM-Nafo9Y_g74U6tvkEIy3ymzv4EF-QYCVCa5vhP5GDoaWOSKvb_20xaefpx3Wgt1FDDhC_e0ywLq8avTzD6mCKXe_gBRe9DlOl-e-B5XiKWp8_wopoRrscVwH2ElzvFPi1MbypmI/s320/IMG_2347.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Finally, pinch everything in sealing it up the best that you can. Bake at 350, for about 12 min. I noticed that if I left a little escape hole when pinching it together, some of the oils would drip down in the mold making the shape nice and brown. Therefore, you may consider brushing the inside of the shape with a little butter.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnfqhzJ7C_VJj_TzUxmk1iWqRpZ6dxiQI4W3p4_pXOGDWwqv6SYvBHke8EfpVJGHRqcZkrWcEQF9sPUum-TzjXTWCOTFNaCpVCsnjL4wIe3ysccR3HVt84kMiilXzcEVuNBvqlWr0iti0/s1600/IMG_2348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnfqhzJ7C_VJj_TzUxmk1iWqRpZ6dxiQI4W3p4_pXOGDWwqv6SYvBHke8EfpVJGHRqcZkrWcEQF9sPUum-TzjXTWCOTFNaCpVCsnjL4wIe3ysccR3HVt84kMiilXzcEVuNBvqlWr0iti0/s320/IMG_2348.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ta-da! The end result. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvt0RnB8Jew4AQXLUEH3mEE4Z7F_yIkuFGtU4xZMJeB4JtpgweETBzFIKzSBGCa-I9lzN_YFC9XAqUBPpNEQzHRziSLhYzfEnyuwsVIvypHP-Q178lwQ7HM1YnzBZvUPJlPvs-jp6OS0U/s1600/IMG_2350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvt0RnB8Jew4AQXLUEH3mEE4Z7F_yIkuFGtU4xZMJeB4JtpgweETBzFIKzSBGCa-I9lzN_YFC9XAqUBPpNEQzHRziSLhYzfEnyuwsVIvypHP-Q178lwQ7HM1YnzBZvUPJlPvs-jp6OS0U/s320/IMG_2350.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The fun thing about this is that you don't have to fill them with anything! You could actually take the dough and push in whole to make some fun themed dinner rolls! But, the list is endless for fillings - you could do pizza sauce and cheese, any dessert pie filling, cookie dough - maybe? Oh, I'm just going to get myself into trouble with these. Guess I will need all of the seasonal baking pans!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So if you have other ideas on what to do with these, please leave a comment! Don't be shy! We are all here to learn, right?</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440293732941198416.post-32197885584340104222011-08-29T20:00:00.000-07:002011-09-05T19:10:01.001-07:00Yay - I'm a stay at home mommy!Well, it's official. I left my job two weeks ago and have moved to the east coast. My husband just started his 1 year school program and so I get to stay at home with our children. It's been fun ...will take some more adjusting of schedules, routines, making sure I get out of the house, etc...but for the most part wonderful.<br />
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Tonight, I made my husband some yummy granola bars to take with him to class. I got the recipe from this fabulous blog:<br />
<a href="http://www.gwens-nest.com/family-favorite-recipes/granola-bar-recipe">http://www.gwens-nest.com/family-favorite-recipes/granola-bar-recipe</a><br />
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I'm also getting into Bento Boxes. But I need more practice in my artistic design, so more pictures later.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFzEl_INfBkuM8o5dqlJ-7Xfr8LeAQYZc40oh6Tn7uqf9OGFCtEvOakU5kzDtXgb6E9PV3M5hg7n_biIVHZFMRXwRRmED_PTNsm1w2axoOUZLmHFfAVNqoNenCbqiLh6Ho47ejE0VHge6/s1600/IMG_1320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFzEl_INfBkuM8o5dqlJ-7Xfr8LeAQYZc40oh6Tn7uqf9OGFCtEvOakU5kzDtXgb6E9PV3M5hg7n_biIVHZFMRXwRRmED_PTNsm1w2axoOUZLmHFfAVNqoNenCbqiLh6Ho47ejE0VHge6/s320/IMG_1320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536076178656406019noreply@blogger.com