Sombrero Burrito Lunch

Posted on September 29, 2016 by

sombrero-burrito-lunch

I made this awhile ago for my 14 year old nephew. He likes good food, I like making fun lunches. I gave him the Happy Bento!: Lunches on the Go book to look at and to choose a lunch idea. He picked the lunch with a burrito, sombrero and mustache. I did not have the sombreros or mustache picks but was able to get them. This lunch was easy to put together and satisfied both my nephew and myself – good food and fun.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Flour tortillas stuffed with rice, beans, and salsa, candy eyes, lettuce

Top Right: Cucumber

Bottom Right: Peaches with cinnamon

Posted in Bento / Cute Food, Food | Tagged | 2 Comments

Parchment Paper Dinner

Posted on September 23, 2016 by

For many years I was fascinated about the idea of cooking in parchment paper packets. To find recipes and directions I searched under  “vegetarian” and “cooking in parchment”, “cooking en papillote”, and “cooking al Cartoccio”.

I finally made the opportunity to try it for a dinner with my parents. My photos are not great since I was hungry and in a hurry to eat but at least I took photos. I worried about my technique folding the parchment paper since it was not as beautiful as in the photos. It did not matter. I was concerned about some leaking since parchment nowadays is very thin – but I doubled it and it was fine. It may not have been necessary. Some of my packets were not folded neatly but it did not matter.

vegetables-cooked-in-parchment

Veggie Packets – broccoli, carrot, green beans, mushrooms, lemon slices, and pine nuts (I added them they were not in original recipe) cooked in parchment. I LOVED this recipe. It had a robust lemon flavor! My Dad also loved this one. My Mom was not as much in love – the lemon was a little too much for her.

pasta-and-cheese-in-parchment

Farfalle with Artichokes al Cartoccio – We mostly followed this recipe but did not use black olives. My Mom LOVED this recipe. My Dad and I were alright with it.

fruit-cooked-in-parchment

Fruit en Papillote – We followed this recipe but did not use the blueberries. Once it was out of the oven we served it with vanilla ice cream. I think all of us enjoyed this but how can you go wrong with fruit and ice cream.

Cooking in parchment paper was a different way to make and serve dinner. Now that I tried it once, I would do it again.

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Harry Potter Lunch

Posted on September 21, 2016 by

harry-potter-lunch

I made this Harry Potter themed lunch at the request of my 7 year old nephew. I was happy to also eat lunch with him.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Harry Potter peanut butter and jelly sandwich on wheat bread, crust, cheese (lightening bolt cut with a mini cookie cutter), and food coloring marker details, broom peanut butter and jelly sandwich (cut with a cookie cutter)

Top Right: Sorting hat caramel – This was quick to make

Bottom Right: Hedwig – apple cut with a small owl cookie cutter and dipped in water with lemon juice to prevent browning, blackberries

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Squirrel Pancakes for Lunch

Posted on September 19, 2016 by

squirrel-pancakes-for-lunch

I made this lunch for my pancake loving nephew. I find it easiest to make round pancakes first and then cut it with a cookie cutter. My nephew is happy to eat the scraps.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Mini Dippers with Maple Syrup, squirrel pancakes cut with a cookie cutter, sugar snap peas

Top Right: Acorn treats

Bottom Right: Peach slices with cinnamon

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Pokemon Lunch

Posted on September 16, 2016 by

pokemon-lunch

I made this lunch for my 8 year old nephew at his request. I love it when people in my life request a theme! It was also fun to be able to have lunch with him.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Charmander – Colby-Jack cheese slice cut into the shape with kitchen scissors, food coloring marker details, peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread

Top Right: Pokeball – I was inspired by this. I used white candy melts and piped chocolate around it (melted chocolate chips and put in a Ziplock bag and cut off a small corner). I could not find a small white candy so I just used more of the white candy melt.

Bottom Right: Pikachu pick – raspberries and blackberries

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Nephews Favorite Lunches

Posted on September 14, 2016 by

taco-salad-back-to-school

For the second day of school (2 weeks ago) I made favorite lunches for 3 of my nephews. My back to school tradition is to make mini Jam tarts with their school year on them (grades 7, 10, and 11 this year). My 12 year old nephew wanted brownies instead of jam tarts so I made brownies and jam tarts for them. I still gave the 12 year old 1 tart with his grade on it.

This first one is for my 16 year old nephew. I have made many variations of these lunches for him over the years.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Tomatoes, Taco cheese blend, black beans mixed with some salsa, shredded lettuce

Top Right: Brownie

Bottom Right: Blackberries and strawberries

Above the box: Mini Dippers with Taco Sauce, and tortilla chips with a hint of lime

Not in Photo: Jam Tarts

back-to-school-waffle-lunch

My 12 year old nephew loves waffles and strawberry butter. I know it is not the healthiest lunch but I caved and made his favorite to celebrate back to school.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Homemade waffles (I made them in the morning and cooled them on wire racks before packing them for lunch)

Top Right: Pepper Jack cheese

Bottom Right: Mini Dippers: Strawberry butter – I mixed fresh chopped strawberries with softened butter and added a little bit of confectionery sugar 

Not in Photo: Brownie and 1 Jam Tart

lasagna-back-to-school-lunch

My 14 year old nephew has a microwave at school so this lasagna meal was made to be heated. I put the sides in silicone cups for easy removal before he heats the rest of the lunch.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Lasagna (I made it the night before for my husband’s dinner and this was a planned leftover)

Top Right: Pistachio nuts

Bottom Right: Blackberries

Not in Photo: Brownie and Jam Tarts

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Power Rangers Lunch

Posted on September 12, 2016 by

power-rangers-lunch

I made this Power Rangers lunch at the request of my 4 year old nephew. I was fortunate to be able to make lunches and eat with him, his brothers and their Mom that day.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Power Ranger sandwich – peanut butter with strawberry jam on wheat bread, strawberry fruit flat details

Top Right: Raspberries and blueberries

Bottom Right: Power Ranger – Cheddar cheese

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