Category Archives: Bento / Cute Food

8 Valentine Themed Lunches

In celebration of Valentine’s Day I have 8 new Valentine themed meals. But anytime is appropriate to make a heart themed meal for a loved one. My friend and I made this easy pasta lunch during my recovery from shoulder … Continue reading

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Happy Groundhog Day

In honor of Groundhog Day I made this simple food art on a plate. Mashed potatoes brushed with a little soy sauce, lentil eye Lentils cooked in vegetable broth Cooked broccoli Note: My mashed potatoes were somewhat firm and I … Continue reading

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7 Non-Sandwich Lunches

Although I am passionate about making cute fun food, sometimes for whatever reason it does not happen. Today I am sharing 7 lunches that I think are attractive but are not cute – just delicious meatless food. Cheese Quesadillas for … Continue reading

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A Lunch with Bows

During my shoulder surgery recovery a good friend was kind enough to have me over to her house for the weekend.  Of course we made bento! This is the one we made for her. She came up with this awesome … Continue reading

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Car Bread Lunch

My homemade shaped rolls are very popular so I made this meal for a nephew as part of a make ahead dinner at home. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Car shaped bread with food coloring marker details, black olives held on … Continue reading

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10 Lego Bento Lunches

Since I have several nephews who love building with Legos, I often receive requests for Lego themed meals. Here are 10 ideas for fun Lego shaped food. This was previously published here. Depending on how cold you keep the lunch … Continue reading

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Mushroom Bread with Cheese Gnome

I made this as part of a make ahead dinner at home. It was a night that a niece and several nephews came over for dinner. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Homemade rolls (this recipe is very popular with my niece … Continue reading

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Camel Corn Pancakes for Lunch

My nephew requested a pancake lunch so I made several in the shape of camels. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Camel corn pancakes (add corn to pancake batter, cut with cookie cutter after making pancake – eat the scraps), maple syrup … Continue reading

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2 Sheep Themed Lunches

You are probably not surprised (because my blog is called Eclectic Lamb) that I like lambs and sheep. Today I am sharing an open-faced sheep shaped sandwich and a roll made into a sheep with the help of a little … Continue reading

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Snowman Mashed Potatoes Bento Lunch

I made this funny looking snowman mashed potatoes meal for myself with a little help from my Mom as I am recovering from shoulder surgery. I used dried blueberries which was a little strange with the mashed potatoes but I … Continue reading

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Snowman Bread Lunch

I made this for my pistachio loving nephew as part of a make ahead dinner. My main critique is I made the bread too big so it only fit sideways. I also wonder how the black grapes fit into the … Continue reading

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Boat Quesadilla with Life Preserver Bagel

I made this lunch for my nephew. Actually he made the mini bagels. He wanted to learn how to make the bagels that he loves. He did a great job! Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Boat shaped cheese quesadilla, blueberries Top … Continue reading

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Happy New Year 2016

Happy New Year! These homemade pretzels were shaped to celebrate the new year. Note: I am currently recovering from shoulder surgery. My 17 year old niece made, styled and photographed these pretzels. My niece, parents, and I enjoyed these pretzels as … Continue reading

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Top 15 Bento of 2015

Keeping with tradition I am happy to share my favorite bento from the year. I struggled to pick only 15. Ice Skates This is a very special one to me. I worked with my 11 year old niece to make … Continue reading

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3 Gingerbread Houses and a Bento Lunch

My 11 year old nephew, 17 year old niece and I each made Gingerbread houses this year to enter in my towns contest. I won for my age category (19 and over) and for People’s Choice! My niece won in … Continue reading

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Capricorn Bento Lunch

Last in my monthly series of Zodiac symbol lunches, here is Capricorn. Note: I did not make or photograph this meal. I had shoulder surgery and will have a longer recovery time than expected. My 17 year old niece made … Continue reading

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Christmas Taco Lunch

My taco loving nephew always requests tacos when I offer to make lunch for him. I wanted to make something different so I made this Christmas themed taco meal. I was inspired by the book Happy Bento!: Lunches on the … Continue reading

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Christmas Onigiri Bento Lunches

Today I have 6 different holiday themed rice ideas (Gingerbread Man, Angel, Candy Cane, Wreath, Holly, Reindeer). I shaped most of these using a cookie cutter. I use a method similar to this but if my cookie cutter is a … Continue reading

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Christmas Cookies 2015

I actually made 6 different types of Christmas cookies this year!  I am calling this year “The Year of the Frosted Cookie” because my husband requested 3 frosted cookies! But I am glad that he was able to come up … Continue reading

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Reindeer Bread Bento Lunch

I made this as part of a make ahead dinner for my nephew. I like any excuse to make cute shaped bread. My nephews love this bread recipe and I love that the dough is make ahead and easy to … Continue reading

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Dreidel Rice Hanukkah Lunch

I grew up celebrating one night of Hanukkah with friends of the family. I think of those times fondly when I make Hanukkah themed lunches each year. I decided to make rice dreidels this year. They were easy to make … Continue reading

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Corn Husk Angel Tutorial Food and Crafts

Sometimes I pick a topic I am interested in and present it to my garden club. It saves money on a speaker (I don’t accept payment from my club) and it gives me the opportunity to research a topic. In … Continue reading

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Sagittarius Zodiac Lunch

Next in my monthly series of Zodiac symbol lunches, here is Sagittarius. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Top Left: Mixed nuts Bottom Left: Cinnamon Apples – sauteed with butter and cinnamon Right Side: Fruit muffins with cheese garnish

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Panda Rice Bento Lunch

I made this lunch for a neighbor. The “Panda” pistachios will shift in traveling but I was alright with that. Container: LunchBots Trio Top Left: Panda rice with spinach details, shredded lettuce Top Right: Pistachios (some with food marker lettering) … Continue reading

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Baptism Food

My youngest niece was baptized in the Catholic church on Sunday. I took the opportunity to make some Christian themed food. I focused on the cross, dove, and church. It was fun to make something different and the party guests … Continue reading

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Elephant Sandwich for Lunch

For lunch at the zoo I asked my nephew what theme he wanted. He looked through my animal cookie cutters and picked the elephant. The cutter was too large for my bread so I cut the head separate. The crust … Continue reading

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Fox Salsa Rice Bento Lunch

I made this Fox themed lunch for my niece. She loves black beans, salsa and rice. I think that it made an attractive fox. Container: ECO Lunchboxes Main Container: Fox – cooked Nishiki rice mixed with some salsa and shaped … Continue reading

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5 Snoopy Themed Lunches

I am excited about seeing the Peanuts Movie with my nephews tonight. In anticipation of the movie opening, I made these Snoopy bento lunches. I am also in the process of making an ice cream cake for dessert tonight that … Continue reading

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Collection of 7 Lunches

Here are 7 meatless meals that I made for lunch and dinner for my husband and myself. They all feature plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. One has potatoes, 3 feature rice, 1 has quinoa, and 2 has pasta. All … Continue reading

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Pretzel Lunch

My husband loves it when I make soft pretzels. It was the perfect excuse to use my new pretzel stamp cookie cutter. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Homemade soft pretzel, Cheddar cheese sticks Top Right: Yellow mustard (in Mini Dippers), I … Continue reading

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Scorpio Bento Lunch

Next in my monthly series of Zodiac symbol lunches, here is Scorpio. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Freezer waffles toasted, Cheddar cheese, food marker details Top Right: Tomato, basil Bottom Right: Blueberries

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Birthday Cake Rice for Lunch

Yesterday was my niece’s birthday – she turned 17, so I made this birthday cake rice bento lunch for her. I think that the vegetables around the rice look like confetti. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Birthday cake – cooked Nishiki … Continue reading

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6 Halloween Lunches

Holidays and celebrations are my favorite reasons to make themed food. This year I have 6 new lunches for Halloween. See the end of this post for Halloween lunches I made other years. I made this lunch for my husband. … Continue reading

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Pumpkin Muffins for Lunch

I found these cute pumpkin chocolates from Trader Joe’s and decided that I need to make a pumpkin lunch. It had been a long time since I made these Pumpkin Cream Cheese Streusel Muffins (link is no longer on Pillsbury … Continue reading

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Octopus Bread for Lunch

As part of my never-ending quest to make character shaped bread, I made this cute Octopus lunch for my nephew. I never get complaints when I make bread and cheese meals for them. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Top Left: Strawberries Bottom Left: … Continue reading

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4 Simple Lunches

Here are 4 easy lunches: tortellini kebabs, spinach quesadilla, pretzel bagel sandwich, bistro snacks, all packed in EasyLunchBoxes. I made this simple but fun lunch from party leftovers. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Top Left: Strawberries Bottom Left: Peanuts Right Side: Kebabs – … Continue reading

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Ice Skates Birthday Lunch

I made an ice skates themed meal for my niece on her 11th birthday. She is a figure skater so a skating themed lunch was a natural choice. I had so much fun planning this meal with her and hope … Continue reading

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Squirrel Shaped Bread

I made this squirrel themed bread lunch for my nephew. I bought an assorted pack of doughnut holes and the kids (1 niece and 2 nephews) had fun arguing over who would get which leftover doughnuts. I rarely buy doughnuts … Continue reading

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Strawberry Rice Same Food Different Lunch Boxes

I made this lunch for my nephew but did not like how it looked. (I think that it was actually my rice that were supposed to look like strawberries that I did not like). Since I had some extra time … Continue reading

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Dragon Bento Lunch

I made this mashed potato dragon by cutting chilled Cheddar mashed potatoes with a cookie cutter. (see directions below) Container: Wooden box purchased in Kyoto at Bento&co. Contents: Dragon – Cheddar mashed potatoes, cooked broccoli, strawberries, blueberries, walnuts Cookie Cutter … Continue reading

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Yummy Kawaii Bento Book Review and Lunch

I was happy to receive a copy of Li Ming Lee’s new bento book Yummy Kawaii Bento. I have long admired Ming’s food art. She makes amazing creations. In this book, Ming features cute character bento with rice, eggs, bread, … Continue reading

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Libra Bento Lunch

Next in my monthly series of Zodiac symbol lunches, here is Libra. I used a knife to part the rice and inserted pieces of sauteed zucchini. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Rice, sauteed zucchini, more zucchini and sauteed peppers under the … Continue reading

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12 Taco Lunches for Teen

My teenage nephew loves it when I make him tacos for lunch. Sending tacos for lunch can be a fun change from other lunch food. You are only limited by what you or your kid will eat. Here are 12 … Continue reading

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Sheep Rice Bento Lunch

Earlier the summer I made this sheep rice lunch for my nephew. After getting the lunch he decided that he does not like plain rice for lunch anymore. Anyway, I still have others in my life that will eat my … Continue reading

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Talk Like a Pirate Day 2015

Ahoy, me Hearties! Happy Talk like a Pirate Day! (it is actually tomorrow but I am starting the celebration today) Me nephew helped me make this pirate themed lunch for him. He had fun placin’ t’ picks and blueberries. Container: … Continue reading

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Linguine Day

Today is Linguine Day! It also happens to be my Dad’s birthday. Happy Birthday Dad! Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Linguine with cheese sauce, smoked sun-dried tomatoes, dried parsley Top Right: Raspberries Bottom Right: Lettuce, shredded carrots

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Challah Apples and Honey for Lunch

I kept it simple and made my nephews the exact same lunches. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Top Left: Apples (dipped in water with a splash of lemon juice to prevent browning), honey (in small green container) Bottom Left: Carrots Right Side: Round … Continue reading

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Frog Bread Lunch

Here is another fun shaped bread lunch. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Top Left: Green grapes Bottom Left: Frog shaped cucumber (cut with mini frog cookie cutter), carrots Right Side: Frog shaped homemade bread, food coloring marker details, Cheddar cheese

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Paw Patrol Lunch

I asked my 3 year old nephew what theme he wanted for lunch. He said, “Paw Patrol”. He loved the dog picks! Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Peanut butter sandwich with carrot lettering Top Right: Blueberries Bottom Right: Bone shaped apples … Continue reading

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Lego Day

On our list of 100 summer activities, we had many Lego activities. My 11 year old nephew is a huge Lego fan so we decided to have a Lego day on his birthday. On Lego day of course I made … Continue reading

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