Bento Love :: Irish Oatmeal + Fresh Blueberries

In my bento today is Irish oatmeal and blueberries.
"For lunch?"
Yup. For lunch. For breakfast. For an afternoon snack ... I'm crazy about this combo lately.

My tip is that as soon as the oats have cooked, drop in a handful of fresh blueberries and put the lid on the pot and let it sit for a minute or two.

Once you transfer it into your bowl, the berries will have gotten all plumpy and bursty ... with the sweet juices getting all into the oatmeal. 

It's like having a blueberry muffin except it's good for you. About 200 calories for this bowl that will tide me over until dinner. Hmm ... wonder what The Mister has in store for dinner tonight.

Happy bento. :)

Bento Love :: PB+Yogurt+Honey+Fuji Apple

In my bento today are four of my trusty friends: Peanut Butter, Fat-Free Plain Yogurt, Honey, and a Fuji Apple.

Sliced and slathered together to create the perfect lunch. Yummy.

Happy bento. :)

Bento Love :: Pasta Bows + Hot Crushed Pepper

In my bento today is some of what The Mister made last night: Pasta bows with tempeh and tomatoes and basil from his tomato and basil plants.

With lots of hot crushed pepper flakes. Because for me, unless my mouth is burning, I frequently wonder if I've really eaten.

Bento Love :: Lola's Burrito + Habanero Sauce

Yesterday for lunch, I met up with Cynthia and Tracy to have a little indoor picnic ...

Love this next shot of me and Cynthia. I think I was pontificating about some theories, ideas, and vision about oh I don't know ... this, that, and the other ... as she looked at me with her signature "Are you kidding me? You think we can make what by when?!" look. The thing is, after that look is over, we always do make that by then.

We each had incredible veggie burritos from Lola Gaspar with killer habanero sauce. I think it's safe to say that it's the best burrito and habanero sauce I've ever had.

Here the two of them are ... still talking about how good the burrito was ... and ironing out the details of how we're gonna make all of these cool things happen by such and such a date ...

... and getting right on it and making it happen.

Hope to reveal more about this incredible space and the corner we are all working hard to turn ... more to come.

Happy bento. :)

Bento Love :: Vegetarian Pozole + Serranos

In my bento today ... slices of serrano chiles.

... placed on top of vegetarian Pozole that The Mister made ... with hominey, tofu, and other good things. So spicy. So good.

Bento Love :: Steamed Artichoke

Hospice has officially started for The Mister's father ... the one who loves lemon meringue pie.

This morning, as he got ready to go visit his father, The Mister cooked me an artichoke for my bento. He knows I love artichokes.

Love. Sadness. Tears. Hugs. Family. Memories. Morphine. Grief. Love.

To love.

Bento Love :: Potato Something

Last night, The Mister used these cute little potatoes to make a mean little something something with soy chorizo, onions, and who knows what else ...

Lucky for me, there's enough left over for my Bento box, accompanied by white rice, some seaweed, and sliced carrots.

 

 

Happy bento. :)

Bento Love :: Lemon Meringue Pie

Yesterday, The Mister and I went to go visit his dad.

His dad is very ill. It was an extremely emotional visit for me because I don't like seeing the effects of cancer at this stage take its debilitating toll on people. The Mister's dad is a champ for coping the way he is but make no bones about it ... he is dying and we are all very sad. The Mister's mom is also a champ for the love and care she is giving him day in and day out.

So The Mister's dad's all-time favorite thing to eat is lemon meringue pie, which is what we brought for our visit yesterday. Unfortunately, he was too weak to taste it. But he knew that the pie was in the house. And that we were in the house.

I think food is most powerful when even without tasting it, its presence becomes a gesture of love, and a token that honors and communicates things that we are much too choked up to express in the moment. I am so sad but so grateful for the love that is rallying around a great man ... the father who with his beloved, raised my man.

Bento Love :: Broccoli Slaw Scramble

Do you know about broccoli slaw? You can get it at Trader Joe's or any produce department of any supermarket.

It's packed with Vitamin A and C. It has zero fat grams and very few calories.

I love making a scramble with half of this bag, which is about 6 ounces, in a little bit of olive oil, garlic, and an egg white.

Fills me up with all that I want and none of what I don't want ... as I dream of the dress that I want to wear and command this holiday season.

Happy bento. :)

Bento Love :: Chicken Salad with Killer Poppyseed Dressing

Bento loves chicken salad with killer poppyseed dressing ...

... created by the best art camp team ever ...

... for a roomful of creative women who wonder how'd we get so lucky to create all day with periodic breaks to partake in delectible food like this? We are blessed.

Happy bento. :)