Author Archives: eclecticlamb

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Bunny Tortellini Lunch

Here is another simple meal to continue with a recurring food theme – tortellini. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Bunny – Cheddar cheese cut with a cookie cutter, Eye – cinnamon, cheese tortellini with olive oil, red wine vinegar, black pepper, black olives, … Continue reading

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Buffalo Polenta Lunch

l made this meal for myself. It is early in the year, but maybe it will make my top 10 list for 2025. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Buffalo – Polenta cut with a cookie cutter, Eye – Dried blueberry, snow peas cut … Continue reading

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Camel Themed Food Collection

Here is my collection of cute camel shaped food. Updated: 4/6/25. Camel Cantaloupe Camel Pancakes Camel Mashed Carrot Camel Paprika Tortilla Chips Camel Cheddar Mashed Potato, Camel Apple Camel Corn Pancakes Camel Animal Crackers Vegetable Potato Salad, Cantaloupe Rice and … Continue reading

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Colcannon Cakes Dinner

Carol joined me for a St. Patrick’s Day dinner. We enjoyed everything but especially liked the Colcannon Cakes. They were easy to make and delicious! Maybe they will become a St. Patrick’s day tradition for me. Vegan Colcannon Cakes Sour … Continue reading

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Shamrock Apple Sandwich

I decided to make a themed apple-peanut butter sandwich to add a new shamrock to my St. Patrick Themed Food Collection. It is a technique I think I only used once before in my over 13 years of this blog. … Continue reading

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Polenta Camel

Today I have an easy and fun lunch I made for myself. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Camel – Polenta cut with a cookie cutter, Eye – Dried blueberry, shredded cabbage Top Right: Hazelnuts Bottom Right: Camels – Cheddar, Eyes – Cinnamon, blueberries

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Lion or Lamb Food 2025

Once again, I created some Lion and Lamb themed food to celebrate March. This year has been colder and snowier than the last few years. I am ready for March. Hopefully we will have a gradual warming and less snow. … Continue reading

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Camel Peanut Noodles

Continuing with my Peanut Noodles series, here are some camels. Container: Prep Natural Glass Meal Containers Left Side: Camels – Carrot cut with a cookie cutter, Eye – cinnamon, peanut noodles Right Side: Camel – Apple cut with a cookie cutter, yogurt, cinnamon

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Transportation Collection

Over the years, I made many hot air balloon, airplane, train, car, boat, and bicycle themed meals. Here is my Transportation themed food collection. HOT AIR BALLOON Rice Hot Air Balloon Waffle Hot Air Balloon Sandwich Hot Air Balloon Quesadilla … Continue reading

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Panda Peanut Noodles

I made this meal for myself to continue with my never ending quest to show peanut noodles with as many themes as is possible. Container: Prep Natural Glass Meal Containers Left Side: Bamboo – Cucumber cut with a cookie cutter, peanut noodles Right … Continue reading

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Abraham Lincoln Mashed Potatoes

I wanted to make our 16th president out of a different food than I have tried for him before so I made him out of mashed potatoes. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Abraham Lincoln – Cheese mashed potatoes chilled then cut with a … Continue reading

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Galentine Tea Party

I hosted a small Galantine’s Day themed tea party. The idea came about last summer when Renae, Natalie, and I went to a Tea Party at Sonnenberg Gardens. I said I could do a Valentine themed tea party. Of course, … Continue reading

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Be Mine Heart Waffles

This year I made another Be Mine themed meal since in the over 13 years of this blog, I only made one before. See my whole Valentine collection here. Hearts: Waffles made in a heart shaped waffle maker, strawberry cream … Continue reading

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Raspberry Radish Hearts Peanut Noodles

Here is another meal to add to my Peanut Noodle Collection. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side:  Hearts – Radish cut with a cookie cutter and dipped in frozen raspberries microwaved until soft, peanut noodles Top Right: Cherry Tomatoes Bottom Right: Strawberries

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Grapefruit Lunch

Today as a continuation of my Featured Ingredient meal series – I have Grapefruit. I made this for myself and it was delicious! Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Avocado Grapefruit Salad – I didn’t make the dressing and it was still wonderful! Top Right: Grapefruit with Mint … Continue reading

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Groundhog Cantaloupe

Happy Groundhog Day! I made this delicious meal for myself. Groundhog: Cantaloupe cut with a cookie cutter, Eye – Cinnamon Ground: Ricotta Cheese Shadow: Cinnamon

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Bird Collection

Before putting together this collection, I did not realize how many different types of bird meals I created over the years. I was impressed! Here is my huge collection. Some birds reside in other collections: ASSORTED BIRDS Vegetable Potato Salad … Continue reading

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Vegan Tropical Birthday Dinner

Two of my close friends have the same birthday. This year I had each of them over for their birthday dinners two days in a row. I was delighted to use my new birthday banner. I gave Deborah a pot … Continue reading

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Carol’s Birthday Dinner 2025

Carol’s birthday was a few days ago. I made her favorite meal – Vegetable Wellington with Citrus White Wine sauce. I also made roasted broccoli with fresh lemon and Parmesan cheese. To keep things easy for me on a worknight, … Continue reading

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Charlie Brown and Lucy Mashed Potatoes

I made this meal for my sister-in-law. I supplemented it with popcorn. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Charlie Brown & Lucy – Cheese mashed potatoes cooled then cut with cookie cutters, paprika details, peas Top Right: Peanuts Bottom Right: Snoopy – Cheese cut free hand, … Continue reading

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DIY Menu Card Collection

I enjoy designing and printing menus for special meals I prepare at home. Sometimes they are very basic (words and images on paper), other times I have made a menu that lights up when the menu is pressed (to complete … Continue reading

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Snowman Vegetable Potato Salad

I made this lunch for my Mom. Go here to see my collection of Vegetable Potato Salad themed meals. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Snowmen – Potato cut with a cookie cutter then roasted, red bell pepper and Cheddar cheese cut with a … Continue reading

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Penguin Rice Meal

I made this cute rice meal for my Dad. Here are my other themed rice meals. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Penguin – Cooked Nishiki rice pressed into a cookie cutter with plastic wrap, Brie broiled on top until melted, cinnamon, peas Top … Continue reading

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Cardinal Vegetable Potato Salad

In my continuing quest to make new themed Vegetable Potato Salad meals, I made this meal for my Mom. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side:  Cardinal – Roasted potatoes, orange cheddar cheese (Eye – cinnamon), red bell pepper all cut with cookie cutters, hummus … Continue reading

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Birthday Bagels and Chocolate

I have a tradition with my friend Renae’s family. (For all the years I have done this, I am surprised that this is the first time to share it here.) For Renae, her husband, and two daughters, I make and … Continue reading

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Hippo Bread Lunch

I made this lunch meal for my Mom. Go here to see my fun bread collection. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Hippo – Homemade bread, dried blueberries details, blueberries Top Right: Macadamia nuts Bottom Right: Hippos – Carrot cut with a cookie cutter, Eye – … Continue reading

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Snowmen Snack Plates with Soup

My parents and I enjoyed leftover soup with the addition of these adorable snack boards. Snowman Snack Plate: Snowman – Goat Cheese Rounds, Hat – Tortilla rubbed with cinnamon, Face & Buttons – Black Olive, Nose – Piece of orange … Continue reading

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Happy New Year 2025

Happy New Year! I made this festive meal for myself. 2025 – Cantaloupe and Watermelon cut with cookie cutters, blackberries, ricotta with cinnamon

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Top 10 Bento 2024

Here are my Top 10 Lunches from 2024! Hedgehog Cheese Ball Earth Day Polenta Conversation Hearts Mashed Potato Santa Rice Cardinal Mashed Potato Fish Cheese Rice Dinosaur Polenta Panda Rice Hatsune Cheese Art Candy Cane Vegetable Potato Salad

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Favorite Not in a Box Posts 2024

I have a tradition each year to share my top boxed lunches for the year. Sometimes when I deem the others worthy, I also feature non-boxed meals in their own post. This year, is one of those years. ON A … Continue reading

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Jimmy Carter Bento

For nearly 2 years, I have done a lot of thinking and talking about Jimmy Carter. It seemed fitting to make a simple bento meal in this theme. Jimmy Carter (President # 39) is the first president that I remember. … Continue reading

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Dumplings Around the World 2024

Last year when I asked my brother what theme he wanted for Christmas this year, he said, “Dumplings Around the World.” My previous Dumplings Around the World dinner was in 2013. For this meal I was not strict with the … Continue reading

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Christmas 2024

A few days after my niece left, my brother and sister-in-law joined us. DINNER SUNDAY DECEMBER 22 (no photos of pierogi dinner because everyone was only focused on eating the delicious pierogi) I think it was over 10 years since … Continue reading

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Christmas 2024 with Niece

Here are some photos and meals from the week before Christmas my niece spent with me and my parents. As is our tradition, when my niece visits around Christmas even if it is not the calendar Christmas we designate a … Continue reading

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Snow Globe Dinner

As is our tradition, when my niece visits around Christmas even if it is not the calendar Christmas we designate a day to be Christmas Eve and a Day to be Christmas. For our Christmas day this year we enjoyed … Continue reading

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Trader Joes Woodland Gingerbread House

When my niece visited before Christmas we bought this cute Woodland Animal Gingerbread house kit. She seemed to enjoy decorating and assembled it.  I made Royal Icing. My Mom helped with styling the fake snow and provided lights to use. … Continue reading

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White Piped Gingerbread House

I did not make this house. I gave guidance and facilitated the making of it by the 16 year old daughter of an acquaintance. She did a fantastic job! In my Gingerbread Repository it is after my creations in the … Continue reading

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Gingerbread Man Vegetable Potato Salad

Continuing in my Vegetable Potato Salad series, today I have Gingerbread men I made for my Dad. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Gingerbread Men – Orange bell pepper, Cheddar (smoked paprika details attached with a toothpick and a little water), sweet potato cut with a … Continue reading

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Santa Rice

I made this jolly meal for myself. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Santa – Cooked Nishiki rice pressed into a cookie cutter with plastic wrap, Hat – Tomato sauce, Eyes – Cucumber skin cut with a straw, Nose – Black olive, Mouth – … Continue reading

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Gingerbread Men Ravioli

My parents and I enjoyed this cute and delicious meal. I planned the concept several years ago but finally got around to making it. If I made the exact same meal again the only thing I would change is to … Continue reading

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Log Cabin in the Woods Gingerbread House

This year I checked another theme off my Gingerbread House to-do list! I made a pretzel log cabin. Rustic is not my normal design aesthetic (perhaps that is why I did not do a log or thatched roof). I am … Continue reading

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Angel Peanut Noodles

I made this simple meal for myself to add to my angel themed food collection. Container: Prep Natural Glass Meal Containers Left Side: Angels – Cucumber cut with a cookie cutter, peanut noodles Right Side: Angel – Pineapple cut with a cookie cutter, blueberries

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Christmas Cookies 2024

Back by popular demand… I once again have a cookie tray with 5 different types of cookies. It may look like 6 since the rum balls are rolled in either cocoa or confectionary sugar. Rum Balls – This was my second … Continue reading

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Candy Cane Vegetable Potato Salad

Continuing in my Vegetable Potato Salad series, today I have Candy Canes I made for myself. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Candy Canes – Red bell pepper, white Cheddar (smoked paprika details attached with a toothpick and a little water), white potato cut with a … Continue reading

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Christmas Tree Hand Pie Meal

I made this meal for myself on the same day I made Frankenstein for Carol. It was delicious! Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Christmas Trees – Hand pie – I made my own butter pie crust, for the filling I used frozen ginger … Continue reading

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2024 Gingerbread Sweet Creations

I took 2 years off after I bought my house, but I am back again making gingerbread for the Eastman Museum. This is my 6th year (non-consecutive). I am happy to participate again and am already planning my creation for … Continue reading

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Heart Gingerbread House

This year was my 6th year (non-consecutive) to make gingerbread for Sweet Creations at the Eastman Museum. In my continuing quest to try different things, I have a greenhouse attached to the house with a widow’s walk. It is my first … Continue reading

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Vegetarian Thanksgiving 2024

My Mom and I prepared a Vegetarian Thanksgiving at my home. My mom did the menu planning since originally we were going to have Thanksgiving at her home in Delmar, NY. There were 6 of us this year, Mom, Dad, … Continue reading

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Turkey Cheese Ball

I made this little Turkey themed cheese ball for myself. I am not sure that it looks like a turkey but it was fun to make and eat. Turkey – Cream cheese mixed with finely shredded cheese then roll into … Continue reading

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Cheese Art Collection

Sometimes I used decoratively cut cheese to decorate food. Here is my collection! Updated: 2/1/26 CHARACTER Hatsune Miku Snoopy HOLIDAY Groundhog’s Day Setsubun Cupid Leprechaun Leprechaun USA Flag Jack-O-Lantern Skull Santa Snowman IMAGINARY Mermaid FISH Fish Fish SPORTS Field Hockey … Continue reading

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