Author Archives: eclecticlamb

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Watermelon Lunch

Continuing with my Featured Ingredient meal series – Watermelon. I made this for myself. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Savory Watermelon Salad – I made it single serving and didn’t use the olive oil, yellow watermelon, fennel or basil Top Right: Watermelon dipped in melted chocolate and covered … Continue reading

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3 Cheese Polenta Tart

I made this for dinner when my parents visited. The tart was flavorful! Chickpea Caesar Salad Kit 3 Cheese Polenta Tart with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil

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Butterfly Collection

Over the years, I have made many butterfly themed food. Here is my collection! SNACK Apple, Cheese, and Crackers Butterflies Carrot, Tortilla Chips, Cucumber, and Cantaloupe Butterflies Cheese and Crackers Butterflies Cheese, Crackers, and Apple Butterflies RAVIOLI Ravioli, Vegetable Butterflies … Continue reading

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Airplane Peanut Noodles

Continuing with my themed peanut noodles, today I have airplanes. Container: Cloud box from Japan (set of 3) Large Box: Airplanes – cucumber cut with a cookie cutter, peanut noodles Small Box: Plain Greek yogurt, blueberries

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Hasselback Tomato

Today I have easy and fun hasselback tomatoes. Hasselback Tomatoes – sliced small tomatoes, fresh mozzarella ball slides Pasta Alla Vodka Roasted broccoli with garlic

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Open Face Sandwich with Tomato Salad

I made this meal for my parents and me at their Lake House. It was fast to prepare and delicious! This recipe is a keeper! Open-Face Goat Cheese Sandwich with Tomato & Avocado Salad

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Boat Vegetable Potato Salad

I made this meal for my Mom as part of my Vegetable Potato Salad series. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side:  Boats – Roasted potatoes, orange cheddar cheese, orange bell pepper all cut with cookie cutters, blue cheese mixed with some cream cheese Top Right: Cashews … Continue reading

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Fruit and Vegetable Party

This year around my birthday, I decided to host a Fruit and Vegetable themed party with Appetizers and Desserts. 6 of us were able to attend (Mom, Dad, Carol, Deborah, Renae and me). I asked my Mom to make a … Continue reading

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Tokyo Japan 2024

These adorable rice pandas were inspired by our visit to the Ueno Zoo to see the pandas. Container: Wooden box purchased in Kyoto at Bento&co. Contents: Pandas – rice formed with this set, spinach details, Bamboo – asparagus, blueberries, broccoli Inspiration photo for … Continue reading

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Shizuoka Japan 2024

Here is my completed Suruga Bamboo Lattice Vase. I took a class and assembled it myself. I think it is beautiful! When planning our trip to Japan, it was important to me to take some traditional craft classes. My language … Continue reading

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Tamanoi Ichinomiya Japan 2024

Here is my version of historical buildings for textile weaving in Tamanoi. See the photo below. Buildings – quesadilla made from Swiss and Gyuyere cheeses with flour tortillas, Siding – espresso and water painted with a brush, Windows – cheese … Continue reading

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Osaka Japan 2024

My moss statue from mashed potatoes and green dyed cornflakes is not great but I am pleased with my espresso dyed radish lantern. To understand my inspiration, see the photo below. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Moss Statue – Mashed Potatoes sculpted by … Continue reading

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Lake Biwa Japan 2024

Today I have a bento inspired by my photos from visiting Lake Biwa (not far from Kyoto). See the photo collage below. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Torii – tomato sauce, lake – mashed potatoes with butterfly pea powder Top Right: Fish – … Continue reading

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Kyoto Japan 2024

Here is my rudimentary food version of Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). The vision in my mind was much better than it is in reality. I had trouble with the shapes, especially the roof shapes. I had other things going on at … Continue reading

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Fukuoka Japan 2024

I know this is not very good. It was actually my third try coloring and shaping the mashed potatoes. At first a Japanese friend didn’t know what to say when she looked at the photo. Then, she said it looks … Continue reading

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Niigata Japan 2024

This bento was inspired by the tower at Shibata castle complex in Niigata Prefecture Japan. Castle: Rice, Roof: tortilla with melted chocolate and Pokey, Windows: tortilla with food coloring, Rock wall under castle: cheese painted with espresso and water, Background: … Continue reading

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Eating Cute Food in Japan

As my long time readers know, I am passionate about creating and eating cute food. Japan is the land of cute food. During my 2024 trip to Japan, my friends and I planned opportunities to try cute food. Here is … Continue reading

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Japan Travel 2024

My 2024, trip to Japan was unlike any of my prior 6 trips to Japan but each trip is unique in its own way. During this 7th trip I covered more distance and visited more locations in one trip than … Continue reading

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Bees and Hive Waffles

Keeping with tradition, my niece and my Mom made this breakfast when at the Lake House. Bees – Chocolate chip waffles cut with cookie cutter Bee Hive – Chocolate chip waffles cut with cookie cutter Others in this series: Bear, … Continue reading

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Hasselback Strawberries Spinach Salad

Continuing with my fascination for hasselback food, here are some strawberries. I was inspired by a salad Renae made for me awhile ago. Hasselback Strawberries – Mascarpone between the slices Spinach, toasted almonds, feta cheese, Wegmans Poppyseed dressing

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13 Year Blogiversary

When I am asked to use three words to describe myself, two of my words are usually organized and dependable. These traits enabled me to keep creating and sharing content here for 13 years! Container: Prep Natural Glass Meal Containers Left … Continue reading

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Butterfly Polenta Pesto

I made this beautiful butterfly meal for myself. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side:  Butterfly – Polenta cut with a cookie cutter, Details – Black bean sauce, pesto, Cheddar cheese, pesto Top Right: Butterflies – Kiwi cut with a cookie cutter, blueberries Bottom Right: Butterflies … Continue reading

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Fresh Fruit Cakes & Carved Melon

I don’t carve melon or make fresh fruit cakes very often but I am satisfied with the result when I do. They are beautiful and delicious! Here is my collection. Updated: 2/15/2025 FRESH FRUIT CAKES Watermelon and Fruit Birthday Cake … Continue reading

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July 4 Rocket Pizza

These are supposed to be fireworks rockets. I’m not quite sure what they look like. But as usual it was fun to make and eat. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Rockets – Pizza dough cut with a cookie cutter, spread tomato sauce on … Continue reading

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Blue Mashed Potato American Flag

In my challenge to make an American flag from ingredients different than I made in the past, here is a blue mashed potato flag. Container: Prep Natural Glass Meal Containers Left Side: American Flag – Blue mashed potato, cheddar stars, cream cheese, … Continue reading

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Chickpeas Alla Vodka

I made this simple meal for myself. I made it easier by not baking the bread and I bought the bread already sliced from Wegmans. I expect that this meal will be part of my regular rotation. Chickpeas Alla Vodka … Continue reading

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Flower Pesto Tortellini

Continuing in my tortellini series, today I have some simple cheese flowers. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Flowers – Cheddar cheese cut with a cookie cutter, blue food coloring and water painted on with a brush, tortellini with pesto Top Right: Almonds Bottom Right: … Continue reading

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Hasselback Eggplant Parmesan

Continuing in my quest to hasselback a lot of vegetables and fruit, here is eggplant. My parents and I enjoyed this meal at their lake house. Mediterranean Salad Kit – Trader Joes Hasselback Eggplant Parmesan

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Featured Ingredient

In 2013, I first started making Featured Ingredient meals. I serve them in EasyLunchBoxes and I make one main and two sides that each use the Featured Ingredient. Here is my collection! Updated: 1/21/26 NUTS Almond Macadamia Pistachio CHEESE Parmesan … Continue reading

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Hot Air Balloon Quesadilla Meal

I made this fun but easy meal for myself. (I also ate the scraps). Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Hot Air Balloon – Cheese quesadilla cut with a cookie cutter, food coloring marker details, broccoli Top Right: Almonds Bottom Right: Fresh mozzarella … Continue reading

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Butterfly Pesto Tortellini

My tortellini post inspired me to make more meals featuring tortellini. Thoughts of butterfly encouraged me to create the Karner Blue butterfly. I’m surprised that this is my first time to feature the blue butterfly. In the 8th grade I … Continue reading

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Roasted Veg with Goat Cheese Lunch

A long time ago, this roasted vegetables with goat cheese was part of my normal rotation. I found it recently when going through some paper recipes and decided to make it again. I still think it is “Great” but I … Continue reading

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Frog Peanut Noodles

I had some fun with frogs and made this meal for myself. Container: Prep Natural Glass Meal Containers Left Side: Frogs – Cucumber cut with a cookie cutter, peanut noodles Right Side: Frogs – Green apple cut with a cookie cutter, strawberries

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Niece 22nd Birthday Party

My parents and I celebrated my niece’s 22nd birthday with her this year. As usual, it was special to celebrate with her. Decorations: My mom and I had various decorations and I refreshed some. Flower Napkin Rings Tablecloth and Napkins: Floral Paper Centerpiece: I … Continue reading

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Cheddar Meal

Continuing with my Featured Ingredient meal series – Cheddar. I know this doesn’t look like much but it was fun to create. This was my first time trying broiled avocado. I loved how it looked and while making it thought it would look … Continue reading

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Hasselback Carrots

Today I have another meal in my hasselback series. Toasted Hazelnuts Hasselback Carrots – I loosely followed this recipe. (didn’t use cumin, coriander, olives, or parsley and used smoked paprika) Mediterranean Feta

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Butterfly Vegetable Potato Salad

I enjoy taking a type of food or theme and exploring how many fun variations I can create. Today I have Butterflies in my Vegetable Potato Salad series. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Butterflies – Red bell pepper, Cheddar, blue potato cut … Continue reading

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Waffle Collection

Sometimes I make and share waffle meals. Here is my collection! Updated: 8/31/24 HOLIDAY / SEASON Santa Waffle Snowflake Waffle Hearts Waffle ANIMALS Bears Waffles Butterfly Waffle Beehive Waffle GAMES Legos Waffle FOOD Ice Cream Cones Waffles TRANSPORTATION Hot Air … Continue reading

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Dress Vegetable Potato Salad

I don’t enjoy wearing pants. Each year, I look forward to when the weather is warm enough to wear dresses and sandals outside. I made this meal to celebrate. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Dresses – Red bell pepper, Cheddar, potato cut … Continue reading

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Leaf Ravioli

When my parents visited, I made this ravioli meal for the three of us. This doesn’t look like much but my parents enjoyed. Leaf Ravioli – I used my favorite pasta dough, and added some spinach leaves that I chopped in my … Continue reading

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Watering Can Potato Lunch

I made this meal to use leftover blue potatoes and to celebrate flowers and warmer weather. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Watering Can – Blue mashed potatoes, Flowers – yellow bell pepper cut with cookie cutter, dried blueberry center attached with spaghetti, green … Continue reading

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Swim with Fishes Meal

I made this simple fun meal for myself. Container: Prep Natural Glass Meal Containers Left Side: Fish – Rainbow carrots cut with a cookie cutter, blue mashed potato Right Side: Mermaid – Apple cut with a cookie cutter with cinnamon tail, blueberries

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Crepes for Mom

For Mother’s Day this year, I served crepes at my parents lake house. I made the crepes at my house before going to the lake. This meal was quick to assemble and prepare at my parents house. The 3 of … Continue reading

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Dinosaur Polenta

I made this prehistoric themed meal for myself. Glass Container with Lid Dinosaurs – Carrot cut with a cookie cutter, cashews, roasted asparagus Dinosaur – Polenta cut with a cookie cutter, Eye – dried blueberry, pesto

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Parmesan Meal

I made this meal for myself as part of my continued Featured Ingredient series. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Parmesan Risotto Top Right: Chocolate covered Parmesan Bottom Right: Salad in Parmesan Cheese cup

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Peanut Noodles Collection

Over the years, I have made a lot of cold peanut noodle meals. Usually I make them for lunch and don’t create a theme and don’t photo. Sometimes I am a little more ambitious and use peanut noodles in a … Continue reading

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Zucchini Waffle Dinner

I made this dinner for myself. It does not look like much but it was delicious and the wonderful smell filled my house for awhile. Tomato and Cucumber Salad Zucchini Waffles – I didn’t use the nutritional yeast and used … Continue reading

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May Day Quesadilla

Happy May! This year for May Day, I have a basket with handle and vegetable flowers. Basket: Flower tortilla, cheddar cheese, skillet cook until brown and melted, fold Handle: Flour tortilla Flowers: Bell pepper and radish cut with different sized … Continue reading

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Tulip Carrots with Peanut Noodles

I made this for Renae on a day in February when we went to the Dutch Connections flower show at the George Eastman museum. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Tulips – Carrot cut with a cookie cutter, snow peas, peanut noodles Top Right: … Continue reading

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UFO Quesadilla

I made this fun meal for myself. (I also ate the scraps). Go here to see more of my space collection. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: UFO – Cheese quesadilla cut with a cookie cutter (Renae printed it for me a few … Continue reading

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