Diorama Easter Egg Ornaments

Diorama Easter Egg Ornaments Collage

This was the 6th year my niece and I decorated blown-out eggs for Easter. I am hopeful that we will do this project again but realistically it could have been our last time since my niece will go to college in the fall. We try a different technique every year but keep with the blue and white color scheme. This year we had fun with diorama eggs. During my research for this project I found it challenging to find the right search term to get the results I wanted. I had success with the following words, “Shadow”, “Panorama”, “Diorama”, “Peek a boo”, and “Spring scene eggs”. Not all of these terms gave me exactly what I was looking for but gave ideas of how to create a scene.

Year 1 – Paper Cut-out

Year 2 – Simplified Ukrainian

Year 3 – Quilling

Year 4 – Ribbons

Year 5 – Marble

Year 6 – Diorama

This was an invaluable source of information as I planned for and started this project. I opted to use manicure scissors instead of my Dremel tool since the tool was new to me and I thought I would have more success with the scissors. I broke a LOT of eggs (and I did paint before cutting the hole to size) but I mostly broke the jumbo sized eggs. The large eggs did not crack as bad.

Yes I know that many of our edges are not perfect but we decided not to add something to hide the imperfections.

Hangers
This was our first time using bead caps. It was recommended by Happy Together by Jess. It was a little challenging to get the same ribbon we normally use in the bead cap hole but it worked. Then we hot glued the cap and ribbon to the top of the egg. We were pleased with the results.

Paint Inside Eggs
My niece painted the insides of the eggs after I emptied, cleaned, painted the outsides white (first coat), and cut the holes. She did not break any eggs during the painting process!

Bottom of Eggs
We did not put Styrofoam at the bottom of each egg. Some of the eggs have nothing special in the bottom but most of our scenes use moss, or one of two different types of paper Easter grass. The one we used the most was a fine paper grass that came with a gift box of cheese. We glued the moss or grass down first.

Glue
I have a wide variety of adhesives in the house but to create the scenes we used hot glue. In some cases it was easier for me to hold the egg while my niece used the hot glue gun. But be careful since the egg can get hot. (I did used fast drying tacky glue when making some of the pieces for inside the eggs). Since this is our first time making these, we don’t know how they will hold up to time.

Scenes
We did make and buy items for inside the eggs but it was also helpful to have a well-stocked craft room. We made two of most types so we each have one. We both ended up with 12 egg ornaments.

Sheep Easter Egg Ornament

I know that a traditional symbol of Easter is the lamb not sheep but I already had these cute sheep figures in my craft room. I love this little guy and hung it so I see it when I walk into the room.

Bird Easter Egg Ornament

This sweet little bird looks perfect in an egg.

Church Easter Egg Tree Ornament

I made this paper church from this template. I did not add the stairs or bunnies dressed for church as they were tiny and I decided not to deal with them. I also could not cut a cross small enough to go on top of the church but it is tall for the egg so you would not be able to easily see it anyway. Our church is in a rustic setting but I think it works.

Easter basket with eggs ornament

I already had miniature baskets, my niece had these beads that look like eggs.

Cotton ball bunny easter egg ornament

This funny little cotton ball bunny makes me smile when I see his egg hanging from my Easter Tree. I made him mostly following these directions but my cotton was large and I had to trim it. I could not find the right type of pipe cleaner but I still think he is cute. He has a tiny white pom pom tail that can’t be seen. My niece made the dyed Easter eggs from clay.

Flowers in Vase Easter Egg Ornament

I found the little wooden piece in a craft store. We painted it white and added silk flowers that I already had.

Easter Eggs in Grass Diorama Egg

My niece made these Easter eggs out of clay.

Sheep with Roses Easter Egg Ornament

I had this different sheep figure from a miniature snow globe I once had but it broke and I saved the sheep. I also had the silk flowers from a different project.

Easter Egg Diorama ornament

These miniature speckled eggs came on wire at a craft store. We cut them off and then hot glued them in the grass.

Cross Dove Easter Egg Ornament

I ordered the wooden cross (it is a bead) and plastic dove from Hobby Lobby.

Pom Pom chick easter egg diorama ornament

I made this little pom pom chick. I followed these directions (scroll down to Project #11) but could I not find pom pom’s at the scale they requested so mine is bigger. I still think he is very cute.

Chocolate bunny diorama easter egg ornament

I love how this one turned out. I had the basket. My niece made the chocolate bunny following these directions (scroll down to Project #3). The plastic mold we used can be found here. My niece made the Easter eggs out of clay. The two of us worked together to tie the tiny string into a bow.

Flowers Diorama Easter Egg

This simple egg has miniature silk flowers in moss.

We enjoyed this project and hope to enjoy these on our Easter trees for years to come. Please share if you have an Easter tree with homemade ornaments. I would love to see it!

 

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3 Easter Lunches

Easter Food Collage

This year I have 3 easy Easter themed lunches featuring a sandwich, pasta, and cheese & crackers.

Easter Bunny Sandwich

This lunch was simple to make but I was very happy with the results. So cute!!

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread, bunny cut out (press cookie cutter)

Top Right: Strawberries

Bottom Right: Sugar snap peas

Cheese Crackers Egg Bento Lunch

I made this Easter themed snack box for my husband. The chick shaped hard boiled egg was fun to make.

Container: LunchBots Trio

Top Left: Chick – Hard boiled egg made in Fred & Friends EGG-A-Matic Chick Egg Mold, lettuce

Bottom Left: Townhouse crackers, bunny Cheddar cheese (cookie cutter)

Right Sidc: Raspberries

Easter bento lunch

This is another meal I made for my husband. I am glad that he does not mind eating cute food since I love making it.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top: Pasta with butter and Trader Joes Parmesan cheese, green and orange bell peppers cut in egg shapes (cookie cutter)

Bottom Left: Strawberries

Bottom Right: Bunny – hard boiled egg with food coloring marker and ears food pick

Bunny Pick Egg Close

Close-up to show you the cute dome pick with a bunny inside.

Please share if you use any of these ideas, I would love to see your creation.

Other Easter Food:

Eight Easter Lunches

Six Easter Lunches

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Sun-dried Tomato Lunches

Sundried tomato dip lunch

Today I have two different lunches that feature sun-dried tomatoes. I love food with sun-dried tomatoes but my husband does not. So it is the perfect lunch for me.

This first lunch is a fun snack type lunch with a dip.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Broccoli, Triscuit crackers, celery, clementine

Top Right: Sun-dried tomato dip

Bottom Right: Marinated Mozzarella

Sundried tomato pasta lunch

I love pasta and leftover pasta and find it particularly satisfying for lunch.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Green beans sautéed in a little bit of olive oil with minced garlic and  sun-dried tomatoes

Bottom Left: Grapefruit

Right Side: Penne pasta with sundried tomatoes and herbs, sautéed spinach with a little bit of vegetable broth, toasted pine nuts

 

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Artichoke Heart Day Dinner

Artichoke Heart dinner on plate

My Mom is a big fan of artichoke hearts but since my Dad’s affection for them is not a great she does not eat them as often as she would like. When I found out about Artichoke Heart Day of course I decided to make a meal for my Mom (my Dad and husband also actually liked it). I did not photograph the dessert we had that night but it was peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream.

Artichoke Heart Day Dinner

Garlic Bread – Wegmans frozen garlic bread

Easy Artichoke Gratin – (We used Cheddar instead of Gruyere) This really was easy and delicious!

Chopped Salad – We cut grape tomatoes, cucumbers, red bell pepper and added fresh parsley and a drizzle of fresh squeezed lemon, some white wine vinegar, a little olive oil, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper (combined).

This was an easy weeknight meal that we all agreed would eat again.

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Mickey Mouse Pizza Lunch

Mickey Mouse Pizza

My friend and I made pizza together and we also made this cute Mickey pizza. Pizza is delicious as leftovers for lunch.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Mickey shaped pizza (cookie cutter) store bought wheat pizza dough, ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning, mozzarella, broccoli

Top Right: Mickey Cheddar cheese (c00kie cutter)

Bottom Right: Apple with Mickey food picks

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Saint Patrick’s Day Lunches

St Patricks Day lunch Collage

I enjoy celebrating my heritage so as usual I made many St. Patrick Day lunches. This year I have 6 different meals to share including rice, pizza, sandwich, quesadilla, and Quinoa.

irish flag st patricks day lunch

I made this fun lunch for myself but my Mom prepared the mashed rutabaga for me. I love mashed rutabaga with a little bit of butter, salt, and pepper. This lunch is made to heat in the microwave so I put the fruit in a silicone cup for easy removal before heating. If you use cute food picks you should also remove them before heating the meal.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Shamrock onigiri (pack cooked Nishiki or sticky rice into a shamrock cookie cutter – press down with plastic wrap then carefully remove from cookie cutter), use the same cookie cutter to cut a fresh spinach leaf and orange Cheddar cheese to form the Irish flag on the rice, cooked broccoli

Top Right: Mashed rutabaga

Bottom Right: Green grapes

Shamrock Face Lunch

This simple but satisfying meal was made with a shamrock cookie cutter, eye picks, and a food coloring marker.

Container: LunchBots Trio

Top Left: Peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread, eye picks, food coloring marker, pistachios

Top Right: Cherry tomatoes, cucumber shamrocks (cookie cutter)

Bottom: Green grapes

shamrock quesadilla lunch

I had some green tortillas in the house that were perfect to make shamrock quesadillas.

Container: LunchBots Trio

Top Left: Shamrock quesadillas made with Cheddar cheese, green tortillas, and cookie cutter, green grass baran

Top Right: Irish Flag – green grapes, white Cheddar, clementines

Bottom: Pistachios

shamrock pizza lunch

I made this awhile ago when I was still limited from shoulder surgery so my Dad helped me make this meal. He made the pizza dough, cut the Kiwi, and made the leprechaun hat using this as inspiration.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Shamrock pizza (cookie cutter) with mozzarella cheese and lightly sauteed spinach in the shape of a shamrock, spinach leaves

Top Right: Kiwi (cookie cutter)

Bottom Right: Cucumber leprechaun hat – my Dad used this as a guide but he used white and orange cheddar for the details.

celtic cross irish lunch

I found a beautiful Celtic cross cookie cutter and thought it would be perfect to make a cheese onigiri. This was a very easy meal to make.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Cross onigiri (pack cooked Nishiki or sticky rice into a shamrock cookie cutter – press down with plastic wrap then carefully remove from cookie cutter), place shredded orange Cheddar cheese on top of shaped rice and broil until melted. cooked broccoli

Top Right: Kiwi

Bottom Right: Pistachios

Irish Sheep Lunch

Since I like sheep/lambs of course I needed to make a sheep themed meal as part of my St. Patrick’s Day collection.

Container: Book Bento Box

Contents: Sheep – cream cheese, black olives, Near East Zesty Lemon Quinoa blend with brown rice, clementines, asparagus

I hope that this gave you some ideas for your own celebration. For more ideas, see my St. Patrick’s Day meals from previous years.

2015 – 6 Saint Patrick’s Day Lunches

2014 – 7 Saint Patrick’s Day Lunches

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Lion or Lamb?

lion or lamb sandwich lunch

Each year I enjoy making something special to celebrate the beginning of March. This year I made Lion and Lamb sandwiches using imprint cookie cutters. Yes, the lamb is a lot larger than the lion. I could say the reason is because I prefer lambs and would rather calm over fierce. But in truth my imprint lion cookie cutter was a lot smaller than my lamb one. Maybe this means I need more cookie cutters?

Container: LunchBots Trio

Top Left: Lion shaped peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread, spinach

Top Right: Lamb shaped peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread, pistachios decorated with food coloring markers

Bottom: Clementine and green grapes with “March” letter picks

Will March come in as a Lion and go out like a Lamb?

Previous Years March Lion or Lamb Meals

2012

2013

2014

2015

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Playing Cards Themed Lunch

Card themed bento lunch

My friend and I made this easy card themed lunch for her husband. It was quick to make with leftovers from the night before.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Strawberries

Bottom Left: Cashews

Right Side: Pasta and Broccoli leftovers, Cheddar cheese cut with mini cookie cutters

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Fit and Fresh Shake and Bag

Fit and Fresh Shake container meal

Fit & Fresh sent me this shake container and bag to try. Previously they sent this vegetable and dip container. I normally do not drink shakes or smoothies. But I know that is a good option for many people. In fact my 15 year old nephew requested the shake container and now has it. He likes the green Jaxx agitator and container better than the container he had before. I kept the pretty bag.

I tried a blueberry-peanut butter shake but I will not share the recipe because I did not like the recipe. But I can tell you that the shake container is easy to clean. In the vegetable and dip container is roasted pepper hummus, red bell pepper, and celery.

Fit and Fresh black and white bag

Disclosure: Fit & Fresh sent me the products shown here for review. I was not financially compensated. All opinions stated here are 100% my own.

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Cinderella and Prince Charming Lunch

Cinderella and Prince lunch

My friend and I made this lunch for her 8 year old daughter. Her daughter picked out the cutters and picks from my collection and decided on a Cinderella themed meal.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Carrot and celery

Bottom Left: Apple crowns cut with a cookie cutter and dipped in orange juice to prevent browning

Right Side: Prince Charming and Cinderella peanut butter sandwiches (vintage cookie cutters) with cheese crowns (cookie cutter)

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

Cat Quesadilla Lunch

Cat qusadilla lunch

My friend, her 10 year old daughter and I made this easy lunch. Making cute food is a fun activity to do with friends and family.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Flour tortilla and cheese Quesadilla (we cut the cats out after making a round quesadilla – the 10 year old ate the scraps as part of her lunch)

Top Right: Raspberries with cat pick

Bottom Right: Broccoli with bird pick

Fish Bowl: Plastic container with Cheddar gold fish crackers

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Abraham Lincoln Lunch

Abe Lincoln Money bento lunch

In honor of Abraham Lincoln ‘s birthday I have this money themed lunch.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Abe Lincoln 5 Dollar Bill Quesadillas – green tortilla, Cheddar cheese, food coloring marker details, baby carrots, salsa (in Mini Dippers)

Top Right: Cheddar cheese pennies (see below)

Bottom Right: Strawberries and blueberries

Cookie cutter cheese imprint

I used this penny cookie cutter to make an imprint on sharp Cheddar cheese.

Other Similar Lunches:

Benjamin Franklin lunch

Log Cabin lunch

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National Bagel Day

Today is National Bagel Day! My nephew and I never need an excuse to eat bagels but we were happy to celebrate. I packed these for a day that we were out and about.

Bagels with Strawberry Butter Lunch

My nephew requested my strawberry butter to go along with this meal. The first time I made it (years ago) my nephews were afraid to try it but once they did, they did not want to stop eating it!

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Mini homemade bagels, cheddar cheese

Top Right: Broccoli and baby carrots

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

Broccoli Bagel Pizza Lunch

I made these broccoli and cheese bagels for myself since I don’t think anyone else in the family would try them. I liked it.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Mini homemade bagels with mozzarella cheese and broccoli florets baked at 400 degrees until melted

Top Right: Strawberries

Bottom Right: Trader Joes Peanut Butter filled pretzels

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Mardi Gras Bento Lunch

Mardi Gras Bento Lunch

Tuesday February 9 is Mardi Gras this year. For those of you who do not know, Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday) is the day before some Christians fast for Lent. Traditionally people celebrate and eat rich and fattening foods. This bento lunch contains healthy food but it is still a celebration of color and flavor.

This lunch features masks and beads. It is my first Mardi Gras bento. I received the pick from a friend and found the cookie cutter so I took it as an opportunity to add to my collection of themed holiday meals.

Note: My Mom and Dad helped me to make and photograph this lunch during my recovery from shoulder surgery.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Sauteed carrots and zucchini (in vegetable broth), cooked hot Nishiki rice packed into a cookie cutter (push down with plastic wrap then carefully remove from cookie cutter), green peas

Top Right: Beads made by threading peas on raw spaghetti and then cooking it (my Dad did this for me), corn

Bottom Right: Orange slices, mask pick

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8 Valentine Themed Lunches

8 Valentine Lunches Collage

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.

XOXO Pasta Lunch

My friend and I made this easy pasta lunch during my recovery from shoulder surgery. The hardest part about it is getting the “O” shaped cheese out of the cookie cutter in one piece.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Mini Farfalle pasta with pasta sauce, X and O Cheddar cheese (cookie cutter)

Top Right: Raspberries with X and O letter picks

Bottom Right: Sugar-snap peas with heart pick

Heart Onigiri lunch with peanut butter and pretzels

Salsa rice and black beans is very popular here so it was a natural choice to make a salsa rice heart.

Container: LunchBots Trio

Top Left: Cooked Nishiki rice mixed with a little salsa, shaped into a heart with a rice mold, and served with black beans and salsa

Top Right: Pretzel Snaps

Bottom: Celery with natural peanut butter and heart sprinkles

Mr and Mrs Valentine Rice

Mr and Mrs Heart sit on a bed of red bell pepper and green beans. (To make it a complete meal you can serve protein with it.)

Note: My niece made and photographed this with me during my shoulder surgery recovery.

Container: ECO Lunchboxes

Contents: Cooked Nishiki rice shaped into a hearts with a rice mold, spinach mustache, red pepper lips, red pepper, green beans

Precious Moments Valentine Sandwich Lunch

I used a Precious Moments cookie cutter to make the sandwich in this lunch. The heart shaped skewer was given to me by my Mom. She got it on a recent flight.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Green grapes on a stick, peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread

Top Right: Heart shaped hard boiled egg (I used this mold)

Bottom Right: Pretzel Snaps

Valentine Calzone Lunch

My parents and I had these cute heart shaped calzones for lunch.

Note: My Dad made and photographed this with me during my shoulder surgery recovery.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Heart shaped calzones (pizza dough cut into heart shapes with a cookie cutter), filling: ricotta, basil, oregano, garlic powder, and mozzarella, baked in 400 degree oven until golden brown, small heart garnish, spinach

Top Right: Strawberries cut into hearts

Bottom Right: Tomato sauce (in Mini Dippers)

Swan Valentine Sandwich Lunch

My swans cookie cutter made a sweet Valentine sandwich.

Note: My niece made and photographed this with me during my shoulder surgery recovery.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread (we used an imprint cookie cutter and cut each piece of bread separately then made the sandwich), spinach

Top Right: Macadamia nuts

Bottom Right: Celery filled with cream cheese and topped with dried cherries pushed into heart shapes

Valentine envelope bento lunch

This Valentine envelope rice meal was easy to make but I think it is very cute!

Note: My niece made and photographed this with me during my shoulder surgery recovery.

Container: Book Bento Box

Contents: Nishiki rice with spinach lines and red bell pepper heart (cookie cutter)

Valentine Quesadilla Lunch

I made this simple Quesadilla lunch for my Mom and served it on a plate.

On Plate: Salsa, flour tortilla quesadillas with shredded cheddar cheese, heart shaped cucumbers (cookie cutter)

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope that you are able to enjoy a meal with someone you love.

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Happy Groundhog Day

Groundhog day food art

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 cooled them before cutting with a cookie cutter. I then heated in a microwave before serving.

Other Groundhog themed food

Rice Groundhog

Sandwich Groundhog

Posted in Bento / Cute Food, Food | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

7 Non-Sandwich Lunches

7 Non-sandwich lunches collage

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.

Easy Quesadilla Lunch

Cheese Quesadillas for lunch are very popular here for lunch. I made this one for my Mom.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Raw cauliflower

Bottom Left: Clementine

Right Side: Flour tortilla Quesadilla with shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, salsa (in Mini Dippers)

Pancake Lunch

On a day that I offered to make my nephew lunch to take to school, he requested pancakes. I was not surprised since this nephew loves pancakes and waffles for lunch.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Pancakes, maple syrup (in small sauce container)

Top Right: Mini sweet peppers

Bottom Right: Raspberries

Apple Muffin Lunch

I don’t make them often, but my husband loves it when I make muffins for his lunch.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Apple Strudel muffins

Top Right: Sugar-snap peas, mini sweet pepper

Bottom Right: Raspberries

Above the Box: Cheddar cheese sticks

Cheese Crackers Clementine snack lunch

I made this bistro snack lunch for my husband. It is one of his favorite types of lunches.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Clementine, sharp Cheddar cheese, Cheddar goldfish crackers, Town House crackers

Top Right: Cashews

Bottom Right: Cucumber with ranch dip (in sauce container)

Easy Snack Lunch

This was a very easy snack type meal.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Pretzels, string cheese

Top Right: Cashews

Bottom Right: Grapes

Above the Box: Yogurt

Easy to eat pizza lunch

This lunch was easy to make with leftover pizza.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Grapes

Bottom Left: Raw green beans

Right Side: Homemade cheese pizza cut into strips

Potato Salad lunch

I love this healthier potato salad recipe. My Mom, Dad, and I each enjoyed it in our lunches. I did not use the green onion in the lunch you see here but my parents had it in theirs.

Note: I had help from my parents with making and photographing this lunch as it was made shortly after my shoulder surgery.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Mixed lettuce, potato salad (instead of mayonnaise, this recipe uses a dressing that contains cottage cheese and milk).

Top Right: Pistachios

Bottom Right: Clementine

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A Lunch with Bows

bows lunch

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 theme idea and did most of the cutting and making, I just helped plan and did a little bit of styling.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Mini Farfalle (bow-tie) pasta with pesto sauce, Cheddar cheese bows cut with a cookie cutter

Top Right: Peanut butter filled celery with bows cut from a fruit strip

Bottom Right: Apple bows (cut with a cookie cutter and dipped in orange juice), strawberry and raspberry bow (on toothpick), raspberries underneath

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Car Bread Lunch

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 with toothpicks (not appropriate for a young child), Cheddar cheese stick cut in half

Top Right: Car shaped hard boiled egg

Bottom Right: Stoplight vegetables – cherry tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, cucumber

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10 Lego Bento Lunches

10 Lego Bento Lunches Collage

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.

Lego Lunch

This was previously published here. Depending on how cold you keep the lunch and how long before it is eaten, the yogurt bricks will lose part of their shape.

Container: ECO Lunchboxes

Bread: I baked french bread dough in a building blocks silicone mold. For more information, see this post.

Cheese: Cheddar cheese

Fruit: Raspberries

Vegetable: Carrot

Yogurt: Strawberry and Blackberry yogurt enhanced with a little bit of food coloring. I froze the yogurt in a building bricks silicone mold. For more information, see this post.

Lego Mashed Potato bento

I made this mashed potato Lego brick lunch for myself since I wanted to try something different with fun Lego food.

Container: Book Bento Box

Contents: Broccoli, Lego brick – Cheddar cheese mashed potatoes cooled in the refrigerator then shaped by hand with small round details on top, strawberries, blueberries, homemade Lego picks

Lego Rice for Lunch

This lunch was previously published here as part of a Lego Day I hosted at my house.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Peaches with homemade Lego picks

Bottom Left: Pistachios with Lego bricks drawn with food safe marker

Right Side: Rice Lego bricks – cooked Nishiki rice with salsa, tomato circles on top (mix some salsa into hot cooked rice, line mini loaf pans with plastic wrap, add salsa rice to lined loaf pan, cover rice with plastic wrap, press down, take out of mini loaf pan), spinach

Lego-Lunch

This is my first Lego lunch I ever made. My nephew put together a few bricks to go with it.

Container: Ziplock

Top Left: Blackberry yogurt: I dyed some bricks blue and kept some natural. I froze the yogurt in a building bricks silicone mold. Inspiration was from Veggie-Bento via a guest post on Bentoriffic.

Bottom Left: Watermelon – I used a large pastry bag tip to make the Lego dots.

Right Side: Cheddar cheese – I used a small pastry bag tip to make the Lego dots. Bread – I baked drop biscuit dough and french bread dough in a building blocks silicone mold. I used both types to see which one turned out better. The drop biscuit dough resulted in holes instead of bumps. The french bread dough resulted in a few bumps and a few holes. The drop biscuit dough was more consistent. Lego Man with Shield – I froze chocolate in a mini Lego figure ice cube tray, I cut a shield from a Wegmans Fruit Flat. I decorated the shield with a sprinkle leaf. I used melted chocolate to attach the shield to the Lego man.

Lego Sandwich Lunch

This colorful and easy Lego lunch was made for a nephew.

Container: LunchBots Trio

Top Left: Peanut butter sandwiches on wheat bread, the small rounds on top were made with a large pastry tip

Top Right: Pineapple, strawberries, blueberries with homemade Lego picks

Bottom: Cauliflower, broccoli, baby carrots, ranch dip in Lego container

Lego-Pirate-Lunch

My nephew enjoyed creating a Lego ship to go along with this meal.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Cannon Balls – black olives

Bottom Left: Lego Bricks – hummus with carrots

Right Side: Pirate Ship – cheese quesadilla, chocolate Lego man, fruit flat pirate hat with sprinkles details, blueberries

Lego Minifigure Head Lunch

This mini-figure themed lunch was previously published here. It was part of a Lego Day I hosted at my house.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Strawberries with a homemade Lego pick

Bottom Left: Green pepper Lego brick

Right Side: Lego Mini-figure Head cheese quesadilla with food marker details, Trader Joe’s Caramel Popcorn

Lego Cheese and Bricks Lunch

This Lego lunch featuring cheese and homemade brick crackers was previously published here.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Bricks: Pepper Jack Cheese and homemade crackers with cheese and carrots (recipe is from Baking Makes Things Better) I shaped them to look like Lego bricks. They were delicious!

Vegetable: Cucumber (I attached the small round pieces with spaghetti, it softens by lunch time)

Fruit: Kiwi with Lego picks

Homemade Lego shaped waffles

I made this for my waffle loving nephew. It was very easy to make!

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Waffles cut into Lego brick shapes with waffle details on top, Maple syrup in Lego sauce container

Top Right: Mandarin oranges, homemade Lego pick

Bottom Right: Broccoli, Ranch dip in Lego container, homemade Lego picks

Lego baked pancake melon lunch

My 11 year old nephew made this one. He worked on it for awhile to get it the way he wanted. The baked pancakes may look crumbly but they were delicious.

Container: LunchBots Trio

Top Left: Pancake batter baked in Lego brick Silicone molds, put on their side with round details

Top Right: Carrot, chocolate Lego mini-figures, Ranch dip in Lego container

Bottom: Cantaloupe with round details held on with small pieces of raw spaghetti (it will soften by lunch time)

I hope that you now have some ideas that you can use to make fun Lego food for someone in your life.

Here are some other Lego Food Ideas

becoming a Bentoholic – Another Bento Lunch

Bento School Lunches – Lego Lunch in a Lego Box

Dreams, Schemes, and Bento Themes – Lego My Lunch

Eats Amazing – Bento Lunch Ideas in the Lego Lunch Box

Glory’s Mischief – Lego Themed Kids School Lunch

JDaniel4’s Mom – Lunch Ideas with Lego

Lunchbox Dad – The Lego Movie Wyldstyle Bento Lunch

One Crafty Thing – Lego Bento

Posted in Bento / Cute Food, Food | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mushroom Bread with Cheese Gnome

Mushroom bread 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 and nephews) made into a mushroom shape with dried blueberry details, green bell pepper

Top Right: Cheddar cheese with food coloring marker details

Bottom Right: Black grapes

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Camel Corn Pancakes for Lunch

Camel corn pancake egypt 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 in yellow container, Cheddar cheese pyramid (my nephew made it)

Top Right: Orange and green bell pepper

Bottom Right: Apple with hieroglyphic carved into it with a channel knife

Posted in Bento / Cute Food, Food | 4 Comments

2 Sheep Themed Lunches

2 Sheep lunches Collage

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 chocolate. Here are some other sheep and lamb themed food and crafts. I also have a Pinterest board dedicated to lamb and sheep shaped food.

Sheep Cream Cheese Sandwich Lunch

Recently I received a few new sheep cookie cutters so I decided to use two in this sheep themed lunch.

Container: LunchBots Trio

Top Left: Sheep open-faced cream cheese sandwich – toasted wheat bread (cut with cookie cutter), cream cheese, chocolate sprinkles, raw broccoli

Top Right: Apple, cut-out with mini sheep cutter – pushed small cutter into apple, removed, used tip of knife to remove the skin, added lemon juice to prevent browning, walnuts

Bottom: Raw cauliflower, olives

Sheep Bread Lunch

I made this funny sheep bread meal as part of dinner for my nephew. I put the chocolate on the bread shortly before he ate it. Maybe it would have looked better with feet. I think it bothered my nephew that there was not a body so he drew one in using a sheep pick dipped in chocolate. (see image below)

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Clementine

Bottom Left: Cheddar cheese

Right Side: Sheep shaped bread with chocolate face and candy eyes, spinach

sheep bread drawing chocolate

This is my nephews chocolate sheep drawing.

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Snowman Mashed Potatoes Bento Lunch

Snowman mashed potatoes

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 had them in the house. Perhaps black olives would also look nice and taste better with the mashed potatoes?

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Cheddar cheese mashed potatoes, dried blueberries, carrot, broccoli

Top Right: Pistachios

Bottom Right: Rold Gold Peppermint Dipped Snowflake pretzels

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Snowman Bread Lunch

Snowman Bread

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 theme but they were sweet. Anyway, my nephew did not complain and happily ate this meal.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top: Snowman shaped bread using this recipe (my niece and nephews love this recipe!), dried blueberry details, sliver almond nose, pistachios

Bottom Left: Black grapes

Bottom Right: Snowman – hard boiled egg with food coloring marker details and carrot nose (I have heard that when using food coloring marker on a peeled hard boiled egg the color can bleed but it did not in my case and it sat in the refrigerator for several hours before serving)

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Boat Quesadilla with Life Preserver Bagel

Boat bento lunch

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 Right: Cucumber, shark pick

Bottom Right: Life preservers (mini bagels with cinnamon sugar details)

Posted in Bento / Cute Food, Food | 2 Comments

Happy New Year 2016

2016 pretzels

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 part of our lunch.

Posted in Bento / Cute Food, Food | 2 Comments

Top 15 Bento of 2015

top 15 bento 2015

Keeping with tradition I am happy to share my favorite bento from the year. I struggled to pick only 15.

Ice Skates

Ice Skate bento lunch

This is a very special one to me. I worked with my 11 year old niece to make this for her birthday.

Mermaid lunch with templates

Mermaid Bento Lunch

I complained that she was a little strange looking but I think it is because of her heart shaped head. Overall I liked this mermaid lunch.

Beehive Waffle

Bee Hive waffle with melon bees

I love that this lunch was a collaboration between my 13 year old niece, 11 year old nephew and myself.

Bird and Nest Lunch

Nest and Bird in Woods

This cute lunch just seemed to come together and I was happy with the result. It was also delicious!

Woven Carrot Egg

Chick with Woven Egg lunch easter food

I don’t use this bento box often but when I do the meals are usually special. This was my first time to weave a carrot then cut it with a cookie cutter.

Deer in Snow Covered Woods

Deer Snow Covered Tree Bento Lunch

I am very fond of the little deer cookie cutter I bought in Japan in 2014. I also like that I used a combination of green olives, feta, and cherry tomatoes.

Cheesy Fox

Fox head lunch

Cheese art is something I enjoy but don’t do very often. I was very happy with this cute fox.

Dragon Mashed Potatoes

Dragon Bento Lunch

The focus of this simple meal is Cheddar mashed potatoes cut with a cookie cutter.

Mario Sandwich

Super Mario Bros Food

This is another special one because it was made at the request of my nephew who is now 6. He wanted a Super Mario Bros themed lunch.

Reindeer Rice

Reindeer Rice Bento Lunch

I made this for my Mom as part of many Christmas themed onigiri. I had several completed lunches and she picked this one. I agree that it was the cutest.

New York, NY

New York Bento Lunch

I made this to enter into a  contest. It did not win but I am very fond of it.

Happy Snail

Snail bento lunch

This is another lunch I made for a contest. It did not win but I still think it is special.

Pretzel Lunch

Pretzel Shaped Lunch

I was happy to make a melon pretzel with a new cookie cutter. It made a memorable pretzel meal.

Fox Salsa Rice

Fox Onigiri Bento

Salsa rice and black beans is a favorite with my niece and nephews. I made this lunch for my 17 year old niece.

Frog Bread Lunch

Frog Bread

I enjoy making homemade bread lunches. This frog meal was simple but I love his goofy smile.

Happy New Year! I hope that 2016 will include attractive food.

Posted in Bento / Cute Food, Food | 1 Comment

3 Gingerbread Houses and a Bento Lunch

Gingerbread Bakery Front

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 her age category (11 – 18). Each of us spent a lot of time planning before we made the dough on baking day.

Rules: The theme was Sugar & Spice. The houses can’t be larger than 12 inches by 12 inches, only the base can be non-edible, and it can’t be a purchased kit.

Gingerbread Recipe: I used this recipe. It worked great last year. If you have time I recommend making it the night before.

Frosting Recipe: I did not want to deal with cracking and separating eggs so I used this recipe which uses Meringue Powder. It hardens fast and in works very well. But I do recommend gluing your house in sections and giving it time to dry and harden.

Miniature sweets bakery window

I had so many ideas for the bakery window that not everything would fit. The loaf of bread was a caramel square softened in the microwave for a few seconds. I then shaped it and cut some marks. The miniature Gingerbread cookies are sprinkles. I used candy melts for the plates. The small pastry balls are fondant. It was very easy to make peppermint candy cakes with royal icing and sprinkle decorations. I used a Rolo for another cake. Mini M&M’s outline the Gingerbread bakery window.

Gingerbread Bakery Side

My roof is chocolate Twizzlers cut into pieces. I sprinkled some powdered sugar on top. I sided the house with sliced almonds and royal icing. The tree is a ice cream cone with dyed royal icing, mini M&M’s, snowflake sprinkles and other edible decoration balls.

Other side pumpkin seed wreath gingerbread house

My nephew and I went to the seasonal Gingerbread display at the George Eastman Museum. That is where I got the idea for the licorice roof and pumpkin seed wreath. I used green frosting from my Christmas tree instead of white frosting and I like the effect. The bow is pull apart candy.

Gingerbread House Bakery Backyard

This is the back of my Tudor Style Gingerbread bakery. I used root beer barrel candy for the barrel near the door. Both doors are made from fondant with a edible decoration ball for the door know. Chocolate candy rocks are the pathway. The windows are pretzel snaps.

Gingerbread House Roof Line

A close-up view of the roof line.

Necco Gingerbread House Front

This is my nephews Gingerbread house. I think it is amazing! He carefully planned out the details and made it himself with very little help. He painstakingly added small sprinkles to the roof of the Gingerbread doghouse!

Necco Gingerbread house front close

Another view of the front yard. I loved how he used star anise for the star on top of the tree.

Necco Gingerbread House Side

My nephew unwrapped all of the caramel squares for the wall by himself!

Necco candy roof gingerbread house back

This shows the gorgeous Necco wafers candy roof and his candy wreaths that he made.

Winter Scene Gingerbread House Front

My 17 year old niece made this Gingerbread house. As I mentioned before, she won for her age category. She put a lot of time into planning and carrying out her plan. I love all of the little scenes! She baked crushed hard candy into the dough to create a Gingerbread girl window.

And Everything Nice Gingerbread House

Since the contest theme was Sugar and Spice, my niece focused on Girls being sugar and spice and everything nice.

Winter Scene Gingerbread House pond side

Outdoor scenes, including a skating pond.

Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Stand

This hot chocolate stand to accompany her Gingerbread house is amazing! She used chocolate wafer cookies and tootsie rolls.

Fondant Snowman Gingerbread House

My niece used gum paste to make this adorable snowman and another one in the middle of being made.

Winter Scene Gingerbread House tree

Her original plan did not work the way she wanted so at the last minute she made this Christmas tree out of part of an ice cream cone, used gum paste for the trunk and put it on a cinnamon stick sled with shoestring licorice handle.

Winter Scene Gingerbread House Back

The back of her house has a stone chimney (chocolate candy rocks) and cinnamon stick firewood.

Gingerbread House Onigiri Bento Lunch

I made this simple Gingerbread house bento for my niece. My nephew helped out by giving her a lot of mints.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Gingerbread rice – packed hot Nishiki rice into a cookie cutter and pressed down with plastic wrap, decorated with spinach, rainbow carrots, and cinnamon candy, sauteed zucchini and red bell pepper in a little bit of olive oil and then added vegetable broth to continue cooking.

Top Right: Mints (enough to share)

Bottom Right: Clementine

We had so much fun making our Gingerbread houses. Hopefully we can enter the contest again next year.

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Capricorn Bento Lunch

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 and photographed this meal.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Homemade soft pretzel with Cheddar cheese

Top Right:  Broccoli

Bottom Right: Orange

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Christmas Taco Lunch

Christmas taco salad 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 Go to use a cookie cutter as a holder for the lettuce in this lunch. Check out the author’s blog at Becoming a Bentoholic.

Container: Cool It! Meal Carrier

Left Side: Tree – cherry tomato, lettuce, black beans, cheese blend

Top Right: Scoops

Bottom Right: Black beans with salsa and cherry tomatoes

Above the Box: Banana, Taco Sauce in (in Mini Dippers)

Posted in Bento / Cute Food, Food | Tagged | 5 Comments

Christmas Onigiri Bento Lunches

Christmas Rice Lunches Collage

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 simple shape I just use the plastic wrap between my fingers and rice. I don’t usually line the cookie cutter with the plastic wrap.

Gingerbread Man rice bento lunch

I made this cute Gingerbread Man rice lunch for my Dad. Some people think that cute food is only for kids but I don’t hold that opinion.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Nishiki rice shaped in a cookie cutter, soy sauce brushed on, dried blueberries, spinach, red pepper, broccoli

Top Right: Cashews

Bottom Right: Apple with Gingerbread man cut-out with cookie cutter and knife, I put some lemon juice on it to prevent browning

Angel Onigiri Bento Lunch

I enjoyed this simple angel meal for lunch. I had thought about decorating her but decided to keep it quick and easy.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side:  White Nishiki rice, zucchini and carrots sauteed in vegetable broth

Top Right: Almonds

Bottom Right: Grapes

Candy Cane Rice Bento Lunch

I made these onigiri candy canes for my salsa and rice loving nephew. On the side, I gave him a Mini Dippers filled with extra salsa.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: White Nishiki rice alternated with white Nishiki rice mixed with a little bit of salsa and packed into a candy cane cookie cutter, sugar snap peas

Top Right: Pepper Jack cheese

Bottom Right: Grapes

Wreath Onigiri Bento Lunch

I tried to make a naturally green rice wreath by adding cooked broccoli and white Cheddar cheese. The wreath ended up being light green instead of a vibrant green. But I still think it is cute.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Chex cereal, dried cherries, walnuts

Bottom Left: Raspberries

Right Side: Nishiki rice mixed with white Cheddar cheese and broccoli, shaped in a round cookie cutter and the center is cut-out with a smaller round cookie cutter, red pepper decorations and bow, cauliflower

Holly Onigiri Bento Lunch

This holly leaf and berries are delicious. It was a fun and festive lunch.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side:  Nishiki rice mixed with white Cheddar cheese and broccoli shaped in a cookie cutter, spinach details, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower

Top Right: Kiwi and raspberries

Bottom Right: Holly sugar cookies with green sanding sugar

Reindeer Rice Bento Lunch

I shaped this cute reindeer by hand using plastic wrap.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Nishiki rice, soy sauce brushed on, baby carrots, dried blueberries, cherry tomato, broccoli

Top Right: White Cheddar cheese shaped with a snowflake cookie cutter

Bottom Right: Raspberries

It is so much fun to create cute rice shapes! Please let me know if you make any of these. Merry Christmas!

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Christmas Cookies 2015

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 with requests. When I ask him what he wants for dinner he says, “I don’t know”. When I asked him which cookies I should make, he came up with 4 ideas.

I assembled this cookie tray to send to my husband’s business. My husband helped me decorate some cookies. I also prepared small plates for a friend and neighbors. My large freezer is my friend at times like this. I still have more in my freezer for the next time I want to make a cookie tray.  I would just need to ice the ones that need frosting as I don’t put iced cookies in the freezer.

  • Mint Chocolate Delights – recipe is on Nestle Toll House Winter Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsels package
  • Frosted Gingerbread Cookies – I know that mine do not look like traditional gingerbread men but this is how my husband remembers them from his childhood. (I made my own frosting with confectionery sugar, butter, and milk) I ice them before serving.
  • Reindeer Spice Cookies (I made my own frosting with confectionery sugar, butter, and milk) I ice them before serving.
  • Pumpkin Pecan Tassies My husband loves these and requests them every year.
  • Sugar cookies (I made my own frosting with confectionery sugar, butter, and milk) I ice these before serving.
  • Cream Cheese Spritz – I don’t like working with the cookie press – it always causes me trouble but I like the taste of these cookies and wanted a great tasting non-frosted cookie.

What types of holiday cookies do you make?

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Reindeer Bread Bento Lunch

Reindeer bread 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 prepare.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Strawberries with Santa pick

Bottom Left: Carrot and rainbow carrot 3D reindeer, I used this cutter set. I find it difficult to find carrots large enough for this cutter so had to search.

Right Side: Reindeer bread with dried blueberries details, reindeer shaped Cheddar cheese

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Dreidel Rice Hanukkah Lunch

Dreidel Onigiri Bento 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 with a dreidel cookie cutter.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Dreidel onigiri made by pressing hot cooked Nishiki rice into a cookie cutter with plastic wrap, spinach details, spinach and lettuce under the rice

Top Right: Star of David – Cheddar and Jalapeno Jack cheese cut with a cookie cutter

Bottom Right: Raspberries

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Corn Husk Angel Tutorial Food and Crafts

Corn Husk Collage

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 October I presented a program on the history and uses for corn husk including decorative and culinary uses. We had a “make and take” of an corn husk angel ornament that members could make and bring home (see the end of this post for the corn husk angel ornament tutorial). As is the tradition of garden club, I set a pretty hostess table with arrangement (all corn husk flowers of course), and I served the food in corn husk containers.

Corn Husk Flower Arrangement

A garden club member helped me to make the corn husk flowers and crafts. Both of us made the flowers and she did an amazing job arranging them. We used this to get started and then made flowers up as we went along and made some leaves. This was my first time making corn husk crafts (I am not counting when I made a corn husk doll in grade school – I had a lot of help with that). I discovered during the process of making corn husk crafts that it is not my favorite material to craft but I was happy with the results.

Corn Husk Hostess Table

I signed up to be hostess for the meeting because I wanted to make a corn husk bouquet, corn husk containers, and feature corn in some food.

Menu:

  • Cheese and crackers in a corn husk boat
  • Jalapeño Popper Cornbread Muffins baked in corn husk liners (I soaked some corn husks in water for 30 minutes, then tore pieces, pushed down with one hand while I spooned batter into the liners with my other hand)
  • Grapes (in a corn husk bowl – I made the bowl by putting moist corn husks in a glass bowl with paper towels scrunched up in it and let it dry – it made a loose bowl)
  • Frosted cookies (made by a garden club member) – I followed these directions for the corn husk leaves and dyed them with food coloring in water.

Corn Husk Program Refreshment Table

Corn muffin in corn husk liner

frosted Cookies on corn husk leaves

Samples

To make my corn husk program more interesting I provided photos and some samples of crafts that I made myself. I found it very easy to dye the corn husks with RIT dye. It did turn my wooden spoons the color of the dye so think about that before using your favorite wooden spoon. In some cases I needed to wet the dyed corn husks again to make them more pliable and the dye did not come off in the water or on my hands!

Corn Husk Christmas Tree

This corn husk Christmas tree was very easy to make. I was inspired by this. I kept it simple and used hot glue to attach a wooden star to the top.

Corn Husk Calla Lilies

My helper and I made these gorgeous Calla Lilies. We followed these directions.

Simple Corn husk votive

I quickly made this corn husk covered votive. I kept it natural but of course you could decorate it more if you like. I tried to make it very safe – the candle will not get close to the corn or corn husk, it is in it’s own glass votive. I was inspired by this.

Corn husk votive inside

Corn Husk Rose Napkin Ring

I followed these basic directions to make the corn husk rose. I was worried when it was dry that it did not look like a rose but a little bit if hot glue helped make the shape. I also used hot glue to attach the rose to the twine to make a napkin ring.

Corn and Corn Husk Sunflower

I followed these directions to make a corn husk sunflower. It took a long time to make it. After I was done my husband who normally does not comment on crafts, said that he did not like it. My garden club members said that they liked it but maybe they were just being polite.

Corn Husk Ghost

This corn husk ghost was easy to make.

Corn husk flower barrette

My helper followed this tutorial to make a barrette and broach. We used hot glue to attach a metal barrette to the corn husk flower.

Corn Husk Flower Barrette back

Wearing Corn Husk Flower Barrette

I wore this flower in my hair when I gave the presentation.

Corn Husk Flower Brooch

My helper made and wore this corn husk flower broach. She used corn husk that we dyed red with RIT dye.

Angel Tutorial

Corn husk angel ornaments

Completed Corn Husk Angel Ornaments

My helper found a photo of a corn husk angel ornament but no directions. We came up with own version and prepared the craft for my garden club members to make and take home with them.

Supplies for Corn Husk Angel

Supplies Needed to Make Corn Husk Angels

You need the following supplies to make a corn husk angel ornament.

  • 3 pieces of dried corn husk (you can buy them in the Mexican section of your grocery store)
  • 1 inch wooden balls with hole
  • Thin ribbon for hanger and body
  • Corn husk silk (dried) or yarn to use for hair
  • Hot glue gun
  • Sharpie markers to draw the angel’s face
Corn Husk Angel Head

Angel’s Head and Hanger

Thread a thin ribbon through the wooden ball, knot and use a little bit of hot glue to keep the ribbon in place.

Corn Husk Angel Head and Body

Angel’s Head and Body

Soak your corn husk in warm water for about 5 minutes. Tear the corn husk to make it a little smaller (experiment to find the size you want). Fold the corn husk in half and tie with ribbon towards the top of the corn husk leaving room for the head as shown in the photo above.

Corn Husk Angel Head on Body

Attach Head to Body

Open up the corn husk to make room for the head and hot glue the head to the body. You may need to trim some of the corn husk afterwards.

Corn Corn Husk Angel Front

Attach Wings to the Body

Take two pieces of moistened corn husk, fold and hot glue to the back of the angel’s body to make the wings.

Corn Husk Angel Back Wings

Attach Hair to the Angel’s Head

Use dried corn silk, yarn, or the material of your choice and hot glue to the angel’s head.

Completed Corn Husk Angel

Completed Corn Husk Angel

Here are some angels that my garden club members made. Have fun making your own angels!

Cornhusk angel example hair in front

Corn husk angel example

angel back

angel ornament

Posted in Bento / Cute Food, Crafts, Food | 7 Comments

Sagittarius Zodiac Lunch

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

Panda rice 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)

Bottom: Star apples with cinnamon, carrots

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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 enjoyed my baptism themed side dishes.

Baptism chocolate covered cross strawberries

Chocolate covered strawberries are always a hit at a party. We put them on the dessert table. I made the strawberries special by piping small white crosses on them. I melted chocolate chips in my microwave and it was easy to dip the strawberries. I had a bit of a struggle with the white candy melts. They did not melt enough. I googled it and tried adding a little shortening. It worked! I kept it simple and cut a small end off of a zip-lock bag to pipe the crosses. In this photo you can’t really see the paper doily I put under the strawberries but it was visible and attractive as people ate the strawberries.

Cross Church Tortilla Chips

Even though I have a large cookie cutter collection I actually did not have a cross or a school/church so I borrowed the cutters from my sister-in-law. I used this recipe to make the chips. I had limited time the morning of the party so my husband and I cut the tortilla shapes the night before and I kept them in a zip-lock bag in my refrigerator. I baked them the morning of the party. My sister-in-law made a corn and bean dip to go along with my chips but you could also serve them with hummus.

Vegetable tray for baptism

I kept this vegetable tray simple by only cutting the carrots in the shape of doves. I used the largest cutter from this set. Originally I was going to cut everything in the shape of doves but I had limited time. It was my Mom’s idea to only cut some doves. I love the contrast between the dove shaped carrots and the cucumbers. I always have trouble finding carrots large enough to cut with small cutters. My mother-in-law gave me carrots from her garden which were larger and easier to cut since they were fresh. But when cutting carrots with cookie cutters I do find it more comfortable to put a folded dish towel between my hand and the cutter.

Baptism Cheese Tray Doves

I used the same concept with this cheese tray as I did with the vegetables. The doves were a contrast and by not cutting everything in shapes it was faster to make and I think ended up visually appealing. The doves are Cheddar and pepper jack, orange Cheddar surrounds the doves. I served crackers on the side.

Some of these items take a little time to cut but overall they would be easy to make for your party. Enjoy!

Posted in Bento / Cute Food, Food, Party Planning | 3 Comments

Elephant Sandwich for Lunch

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 is part of the ear.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Elephant shaped jelly sandwich on wheat bread, white Cheddar tusk, dried blueberry eye, snow-peas

Top Right: Peanuts

Bottom Right: Strawberries

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Fox Salsa Rice Bento Lunch

Fox Onigiri Bento

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 in a fox cookie cutter with plastic wrap, cooked broccoli, salsa rice with black beans, carrot flowers (cookie cutter)

Round Container: Vanilla Greek Yogurt, blueberries

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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 I hope will have a chocolate Snoopy on top. If it turns out alright I will add a photo to the end of this post. (Edited: see the end of this post for a photo of my cake)

Snoopy and Woodstock Rice

I made this lunch for my niece. I got a little crazy with the turmeric as a natural way to dye the rice yellow, I don’t know if she even tried it but she did not eat Woodstock. I did have an extra Snoopy that I gave to her.

Container: Blue Box from Japan

Top Tier: Black beans and salsa, Woodstock – cooked Nishiki rice with turmeric (too much), spinach details, Snoopy – cooked Nishiki rice with spinach details. I used these rice molds and this to make the facial features.

Bottom Tier: Blueberries, sliced almonds

Easy Snoopy Quesadilla Lunch

I am not pleased with this lunch because it started with forethought and ended in a hurry. But that is realistic. I almost did not include it here because I was not sure if it looked like Snoopy. If I had left myself more time, I would have made two Snoopy quesadillas, added vegetables near the Snoopy and somehow colored in the ear (with either chocolate or food coloring in water).

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top: Snoopy – cheese quesadilla with dried blueberry eye and dried cherry nose

Bottom Left: Charlie Brown’s shirt – pineapple with chocolate

Bottom Right: Peanuts

Snoopy Sandwich Stamp Lunch

This is a lunch of substitutions. I did not have these cute Snoopy containers so I put a sticker on a plain container. The only Peanuts stickers I had were for St. Patrick’s Day so I cut off the St. Patrick’s Day part. I do not have cute Snoopy picks but I had Snoopy push pins from my childhood. I would like to make them into food safe picks but I used them as-is for this lunch. I would not recommend using push pins in a lunch for children but I made this lunch for myself.

Container: LunchBots Trio

Left Side: Blackberries

Top Right: Stamped sandwiches – used these, peanut butter on wheat bread

Bottom Right: Broccoli, ranch in red cup

Bagels with Snoopy Cheese lunch

This lunch for my nephew was easy to make. I used this idea to decorate cheese to look like Snoopy.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Mini poppy-seed and cheese bagels, Cheddar cheese with snoopy (food coloring marker)

Top Right: Sugar snap peas

Bottom Right: Blackberries

Mini Dippers: Pistachios

Snoopy Stencil Rice

Here is another quick and easy lunch to make.

Container: Book Bento Box

Contents: Cooked Nishiki rice with Italian seasoning blend sprinkled over stencil, black beans (under the rice), blueberries and raspberries

Snoopy Ice Cream Cake

Here is my ice cream cake with a chocolate Snoopy garnish. I loosely followed this recipe but did not make my own fudge and did not make stabilized whipped cream because I don’t use gelatin. My nephews enjoyed the cake!

Previously Published Snoopy Food

Charlie Brown & Lucy Rice

Mashed Potato Snoopy & Woodstock

Mashed Potato Snoopy

Rice Snoopy with Bell Pepper Dog House & Woodstock

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Halloween Treats 2015

jack-o-lanterns dark

I love being at my house on Halloween. Usually we get around around 250 – 300 trick-or-treaters in a 2 hour period on Halloween night. This year we had 262 people come to my house. If parents are dressed up I give them treats also. In my opinion anyone can enjoy Halloween no matter their age.

Treat first 20

This is what I prepared for the first 20 this year. Every year I like to give something special to the first 20. I have done this since 2007 (our first Halloween in our house) and nobody ever comes back the next year asking if they are the first 20. So the kids don’t care but I enjoy doing it. I think I would have to hand out something much bigger (more expensive) for there to be an early run on my house of kids trying to be first.

Some treats for Halloween

These are some of the treats I handed out this year. It might be strange but I like to give an assortment of pretzels, cheese balls, candy and chocolate. I give out our favorite treats last in-case we have leftovers. I think that the pretzels were the least popular of what I handed out this year.

Teal Pumpkin Project Non Food Treats

I participated in the Teal Pumpkin Project again this year. This was my special basket of non-food treats that were available upon request. Two kids took a non-candy treat from my basket this year (the Jack-o-lantern note pad and Fairies puzzle). Their Mom said that they were avoiding a red food dye.

jack-o-lanterns light

My parents joined me for Halloween again this year. I was very happy for their visit. They live over 4 hours away. I painted and carved the teal pumpkin and my parents carved the other two pumpkins. This year the pumpkins came from my mother-in-laws garden. I received a lot of comments from kids and parents about my painted pumpkin but most did not know about the Teal Pumpkin Project.

pumpkin on balcony

We put a fake electric pumpkin on my balcony. One of my friends who lives in Japan asked me how kids know they can come to my house for Halloween. I told them that the universal symbol is to turn the porch light on. But that I also make it very obvious with carved and lit pumpkins. I am already looking forward to Halloween next year.

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Collection of 7 Lunches

7 Meatless Meals

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 of these were packed in my EasyLunchBoxes.

flower rice with spinach lunch

I made this meal for myself. I enjoyed eating the flower shaped rice ball. It was very easy to make and more satisfying than a scoop of rice.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Salad with assorted lettuce, snow peas, carrot

Bottom Left: Sliced strawberries

Right Side: Onigiri (cooked Nishiki rice ball), sauteed spinach with a little soy sauce and sesame seeds, cherry tomatoes

Cauliflower Pistachio Pasta Lunch

This is another meal I made for myself with ingredients I had in the house.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Penne, cauliflower, pistachio nuts, green bell pepper, salt, pepper, little olive oil

Top Right: Watermelon

Bottom Right: Cherry tomatoes, black olives, mozzarella balls, basil

Onigiri trio with vegetable medley

I made this meal for husband to heat up in the microwave on a night he came home late for dinner. I put the grapefruit and cashews in silicone cups so he could easily remove them before heating up the rest of this meal.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Grapefruit

Bottom Left: Cashews

Right Side: Cooked Nishiki rice shaped in rice molds, sauteed zucchini, red bell pepper and snow peas with vegetable broth

Pasta Broccoli Feta lunch

Since I love pasta and feta cheese, I made this dinner for myself.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Penne with a little butter, cooked broccoli and feta cheese

Top Right: Pistachios

Bottom Right: Blueberries

Pasta Potato Fruit Salads for lunch

This was a cold supper I made for my husband to eat when he came home. I made the potato salad to his specifications.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Salad with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, carrot, cheddar cheese

Top Right: Watermelon and blueberries

Bottom Right: Potato salad with hard boiled egg, yellow mustard, Miracle Whip, celery, salt, pepper, and paprika

Quinoa Salad for Lunch

I made 2 of these exactly the same for my sister-in-law when we met at the zoo. She brought her 3 boys and I brought 2 nephews. I also made lunches for the 5 boys but I blogged them separately.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Quinoa with black beans, red bell pepper, feta cheese, chili powder, salt, and lots of lime juice

Top Right: Snow-peas

Bottom Right: Blackberries

Rice ball zucchini lunch

This is another meal I made for my husband to heat up when he came home. The cashews and grapefruit are in silicone cups so he could easily remove them before heating the rest in the microwave.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Onigiri – shaped Nishiki rice with boiled zucchini and a little butter, salt and pepper

Top Right: Cashews

Bottom Right: Grapefruit

I hope that you now have some new ideas for easy, make ahead meals for lunch or dinner.

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Pretzel Lunch

Pretzel Shaped 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 put on the lid after taking the photo

Bottom Right: Cantaloupe

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Scorpio Bento Lunch

Scorpio zodiac 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

Birthday Cake Rice 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 rice packed in a round cookie cutter by pushing down with plastic wrap (then remove cutter), spinach details (used a small round cookie cutter and cut each piece in half), sauteed mini sweet pepper rings and zucchini in vegetable broth

Top Right: Kiwi

Bottom Right: Homemade trail mix – Rice Chex cereal, dark chocolate M&M’s, dried blueberries, almonds, walnuts, mini pretzels

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6 Halloween Lunches

6 Halloween Lunches Collage

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.

Bat themed food

I made this lunch for my husband. The sandwich was made with a Treat Inside bat cookie cutter set. I used this CuteZCute Animal Palz set to make the bat shaped egg.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top: Bat – peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread, chocolate sprinkles, Garden Veggie Chips Ghosts & Bats (I only used the bats in this lunch)

Bottom Left: Raspberries

Bottom Right: Bat – hard boiled egg shaped with this

Halloween Themed Lunch

This lunch was another one I made for myself. I love the combination of grains and cheese; fresh fruit and vegetables rounded out this healthy meal.

Container: LunchBots Trio

Top Left: Red grapes

Top Right: Boo – Cheddar cheese pushed into a stamp cookie cutter, Trader Joe’s Quinoa blend

Bottom: Cucumbers, black olives

Ghost Taco Salad

I am not sure how obvious this is but this is supposed to be a ghost taco salad. I was worried about my lettuce getting soggy – it was not crisp but it was edible and I would do this again. It was a satisfying lunch.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Ghost – Mexican cheese blend shaped with a ghost cookie cutter, taco salad – lettuce, black beans, salsa

Top Right: Pumpkins – cantaloupe cut with a cookie cutter

Bottom Right: Tostitos Scoops

Pumpkin Shaped Scrambled Eggs

My 13 year old niece designed this for herself and we made it together. If you look closely you can see the mushroom face on the scrambled eggs jack-o-lantern.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Jack-o-lantern – scrambled eggs, mushroom face, mushrooms sauteed in butter

Top Right: Mini cucumber slices

Bottom Right: Strawberries dipped in orange candy melts with chocolate details

Pumpkin Onigiri Lunch

I tried using pumpkin powder for the first time. It added a little color to my rice jack-o-lantern but only a mild taste. I think this bento would look better with orange Cheddar cheese next to the blackberries but it was a spur of the moment meal with ingredients I had in the house.

Container: LunchBots Trio

Top Left: Jack-o-lantern Onigiri (rice ball) – cooked Nishiki rice, I added some pumpkin powder after the rice was cooked, spinach details, leaf pick, lettuce

Top Right: Cucumbers, cherry tomatoes

Bottom: Blackberries, Cheddar cheese

witch stamped sandwich lunch

I made these happy witches with pumpernickel bread I had in the house and a stamp cookie cutter.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Witches – Pumpernickel bread cream cheese sandwiches, snow peas

Top Right: Moon and stars – Cheddar cheese, black beans, salsa

Bottom Right: Apple slices (treated the exposed sides with a dip in water and lemon juice)

Other Halloween lunches I have made:

10 Halloween Lunches

Spider Themed Halloween Lunch

Domino Halloween Costume Lunch

Spider, Boo, Eek Halloween Lunch

Jack-o-lantern Pizza Lunch with Cherry Tomato & Olive jack-o-lanterns

Pumpkin Patch Lunch

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Pumpkin Muffins for Lunch

Pumpkin Muffin 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 site – see image below). They made a perfect lunch for my husband. He loved it!

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Cauliflower and carrots

Bottom Left: Trader Joe’s Assorted Belgian Chocolate Pumpkins

Right Side: Pumpkin Streusel Muffins with Cream Cheese inside (see recipe below)

Above the Box: Yogurt

Not Pictured: Cheddar cheese sticks

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Octopus Bread for Lunch

Octopus Bread 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: Black olives (stand in for octopus ink)

Right Side: Octopus shaped homemade bread with food marker details, Cheddar cheese sticks, fish shaped carrots (cookie cutter)

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