Category Archives: Bento / Cute Food

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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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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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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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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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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Lotus Root Pizza

Over the summer when I was in Kyoto, I ate one slice of lotus root pesto pizza. I was with a group and everyone had a slice of the 6 slice pizza. Since that night, I have been dreaming of … Continue reading

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Camel Rice in Cauliflower Desert

This fun camel theme was for me. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Camel – Nishiki rice pressed with plastic wrap in a cookie cutter, broiled cheddar, dried blueberry eye, mashed cauliflower Top Right: Macadamia nuts Bottom Right: Camels – Cantaloupe cut with a cookie … Continue reading

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Halloween Treats 2024

It was hot this year. 74 degrees! My first trick-or-treater arrived around 6:10 pm and by 7:40 pm I was out of treats. I prepared 30 bags plus the one wrapped book for my 3 year old neighbor. See photos … Continue reading

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Frankenstein Hand Pie Meal

I made this meal for Carol. I chose Frankenstein since I previously only had one Frankenstein in my Halloween collection. She enjoyed. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: Frankenstein – Hand pie – I made my own butter pie crust, for the filling I … Continue reading

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Skull Cheese Quinoa

I made this skull cheese art meal for myself. Rectangle Glass Container Skull – Mozzarella cheese slice cut with a cookie cutter, food coloring marker details, tomato quinoa (I didn’t use the chili or coriander) Tiny Round Glass Container Macadamia … Continue reading

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Bat Cheeseball

I made this cute bat cheeseball for myself. I was inspired by this. Bat – Cream cheese mixed with finely shredded cheese formed into a ball. Roll in cocoa powder. Eyes – dried blueberries, Wings – Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

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Ghost Pesto Tortellini

I enjoyed this delicious meal of fresh mozzarella ghosts, pesto tortellini and sweet blackberries. Container: Prep Natural Glass Meal Containers Left Side: Ghosts – Fresh mozzarella cut with a cookie cutter, pesto tortellini Right Side: Ghosts – Fresh mozzarella cut with a … Continue reading

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Dame Maggie Smith Inspired Tea

It is sad that Dame Maggie Smith recently died. Renae and I decided to have a themed dinner together and watch her last movie (The Miracle Club) in my media room. The meal had slight hints from 3 of her … Continue reading

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Ginkgo Leaf Themed Meal

Last weekend, my nearly 26 year old niece came over for a visit and meal. It was the perfect time to use a ginkgo shaped rice mold I bought at Kappabashi in Tokyo. I also incorporated Pumpkin Spice whipped honey … Continue reading

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Themed Shaped Bread Collection

I have enjoyed making bread since I was 14. Making fun shaped bread is a particular passion of mine. Here are some of my cute themed bread creations. Updated: 2/29/25 SPORTS Basketball Cheese Bread Football Bread Tennis Ball Bread HOLIDAYS … Continue reading

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River Peanut Noodles

I made this simple meal for myself. Go here to see other themed peanut noodles meals. Container: EasyLunchBoxes Left Side: River – Peanut Noodles, Fish – cucumber and carrots – cut with a cookie cutter, broccoli Top Right: Pecans Bottom Right: Blueberries

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Unicorn Cheese

I made this cute and delicious meal for myself. Rectangle Glass Container Unicorn – Mozzarella cheese slice cut with a cookie cutter, food coloring marker details, tomato quinoa (I didn’t use the chili or coriander) Round Glass Container Grapes with … Continue reading

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Giraffe Collection

Here is my giraffe collection! PIZZA Cheddar and Pesto Pizza, White Carrot Giraffes POLENTA Goat Cheese and Paprika Polenta Giraffe VEGETABLE POTATO SALAD Sweet Potato, Cheddar, Orange Bell Pepper, Smoked Paprika Giraffes QUESADILLA 3D Cheese Quesadilla Giraffe Cheese Quesadilla Giraffe … Continue reading

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Dragon Cheese Tortilla Bento

I made this dragon themed meal for my college friend Dan’s daughter Chloe when Dan and his family joined me and my parents at their Lake House. Container: Cloud box from Japan (set of 3) Large Box: Dragons – Four tortilla with … Continue reading

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Tortilla and Cheese Giraffes

I made these fun giraffes for myself. Tortilla Giraffes: Cheddar cheese broiled on a tortilla, after cooled cut with cookie cutter, Markings – Olive details, Eye – Cinnamon Apple Giraffes: Apple cut with a cookie cutter, Eye and Markings – … Continue reading

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Hatsune Miku Bento Lunch

I made this meal for my college friend Dan’s daughter Anna. Dan and his family joined me and my parents at the Lake House a few weeks ago. When I asked Anna what theme lunch she wanted she said, “Hatsune … Continue reading

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Turtle Peanut Noodles

Here is another peanut noodle meal I made for myself. Container: Prep Natural Glass Meal Containers Left Side: Turtles – Cucumber cut with a cookie cutter, peanut noodles Right Side: Dry roasted wasabi edamame

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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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