It was too hectic this week and I was only able to make 3 bentos and honestly they’re even more boring than average but it’s still better than zero bentos (in theory). I missed cooking though so I’m kind of looking forward to getting back in to the swing of things next week. Also I’m excited to study Estonian again! Four days was a good break but I feel like I forgot stuff!

Stir Fry Vegetable Noodles, Carrots and Hummus, Apple

PB and J on Black Bread, Chips, Boiled Egg, Apple, Salad

Savory Turnover (pear chutney, Havarti, walnuts), carrots and hummus, apple, salad

Even though I have more time to make food, I am still trying to keep things simple. When you I have an unlimited time frame to do something one of either two things happens: I procrastinate and never get anything done OR I pick extremely over elaborate things and I waste all the extra time I had on making it. I don’t want to replace 8 hours working with 8 hours cooking. I’m trying to remember that going forward.

Potato latke, sour cream and hot sauce, spicy pickles, carrots and hummus, apple Coconut Curry Chicken and Rice Soup, salad, banana Roasted vegetable pasta (sauce on the side), breadsticks, grapes, cheese, cherry tomatoes Shrimp fried rice, spicy pickles, boiled egg, orange Cheese and bean quesadillas, sour cream and salsa, spiced rice salad, oranges

Lotta salad this week. Can’t help it because Andrew loves salad so much but I tried to keep it interesting by shifting the types of salad and the mix-ins. Also all of these salads do have dressing on them but because it’s oil based it’s basically invisible and just kind of makes the whole thing look wet. Sometimes I have to remind myself that food needs to taste good too and not just look instagram good. Honestly that’s the hardest part because you want people to think your food looks great but also you have to live your life and eat it. I know for a fact a lot of the food made for food blogs goes uneaten because no one is baking three cakes in a week and chowing down on them.

Vegetable Baked Ziti, salad, orange, apple, boiled eggs

Chicken burrito, cornbread, grapes, salad, orange

Salmon onigiri, salad, orange, apple

Onion and goat cheese tart, grapes, carrots and hummus, apple Double bean soup I ruined with too much masa, cornbread, salad, apple

I’m thinking of going back to one new recipe per week since I feel like I post a ton without really getting anything back or having an audience. Part of me thinks I should attempt to build an audience and the other part of me is too busy worrying about having to pass my Estonian exam in two months. Oh well.

Chicken Teriyaki, Rice, Salad, Carrots and Hummus, Apple Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato, Grapes, Nuts, Chocolate Arancini, Cheese and Tomato Salad, Dipping Sauce, Carrots and Hummus Chicken Noodle Soup, Salad, Bread, Apple Baked Falafel, Couscous, Spicy Dip, Thai Pickles, Apple

Going to try the numbering thing so I don’t have to think about it. Only 4 bentos this past week and I think they’ll only be 4 for this week too but honestly we’re going to quality not quantity, right?

Vegetable Tortellini Soup, Salad, Grapes, Orange Bean and Cheese Quesadilla, Spiced Rice, Salsa, Sour Cream, Salad, Orange Vegetable Quiche, Pan Fried Potatoes, Black Grapes, Goat Cheese Salad, Yogurt with Jam and Honey and Walnuts Shrimp Red Curry, Rice, Thai Cucumber Salad, Apple

It’s so hard to come up with names for these so I’m wondering if I should just number them? I mean it just takes off a lot of pressure. I’ll think about it.

Homemade bagel with tomato cream cheese, omelette with salsa, tiny salad, strawberries and oranges Vegetable ramen, boiled egg, pickles, apple Pasta with vegetables and red sauce, salad, carrots, strawberries Turkey and cheese sandwich, salad, potato chips, carrots and hummus, grapes Cheese and spinach Piroshki, salad, red pepper and carrots with hummus, apple

Despite Andrew eating one of these before I could photograph it so I had to re-make it, this weeks bentos were a triumph. The funny thing is Andrew accidentally ate one of the ones last week too. How strange.Minestrone, salad, bread for dipping, apple

Bubble and squeak, salad, banana

Creamy paprika chicken, pasta, side salad, mandarins

Bean burrito, corn salad to switch it up, carrots and hummus, apple

Thai spiced falafel, rice, chili sauce, side salad now with walnuts, apple

Almost forgot to post this weeks bentos because I am not doing a fantastic job at multitasking lately (or maybe ever). But it’s still Monday so this counts. Hurrah!

Rice Bowl (there is rice under there) toppings are: tomatoes, beans, yellow pepper, limes, onions, salsa and chili flake on top. There’s also a salad. Chicken Vindaloo, rice, salad with walnuts Lentil Falafel, couscous with “panic” tomatoes, yogurt dipping sauce, salad, apple Shrimp Pad Thai, Roasted Spicy Veg (sweet potato, green bean, tomato), apple Cheese and spinach mini quiche, salad, rye toaste, jam, mandarins.

I know how much Andrew likes side salads but my god, they’re visually boring. He just doesn’t want other things and I can’t seem to get up the gumption to make other side dishes and be really cool. Looking around though it seems like everyone has trouble making side dishes at least so that’s some small consolation prize.

Pasta with spinach and red sauce, side salad, carrots and hummus

Carrot pancakes, jam, boiled eggs, mandarin

Chicken and pasta soup, bread, tomatoes, side salad

Mosaic of Scotch eggs, carrots, red peppers and side salad with tomatoes and walnuts

Creamy coconut lentils, salad, apple

Despite the fact that all of these lunches have a side salad, I actually feel good about the variety of foods. The bad lighting on Wednesday has to do with waking up too early to go out and not being able to use natural light (and being tired from waking up too early and being in a rush so I just took one really blurry picture and left it at that).

Vegetable Quiche, Oranges, Salad Egg Fried Rice, Chicken Gyoza, Salad Homemade Spaghettios with Meatballs, Apple, Salad Chicken Afritada, Rice, Salad Bean Burger, Baked Fries, Dipping Sauce, Pickles, Carrots and Hummus