An all purpose spice blend that I use for tacos and burritos to spice things up.
Bento: A Nice Variety
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
Menu: It’s Cold Out There…
It is VERY cold this past week so I tried to pick very warming recipes to make. It won’t as cold next week but in the middle of the winter, there’s nothing wrong with comforting, warm soups and stews.
Saturdayeggs and toast
salmon, couscous, roasted veg
Sunday out for lunch
bean burritos
Mondaycoconut lentils, bread, salad, apple
scotch eggs
Tuesdaybean burrito, corn salad, orange
chicken and rice soup
Wednesday scotch eggs, salad, carrots and red peppers with hummus, grapes
coconut lentils
Thursdaychicken and rice soup, bread, salad, grapes
scotch eggs
Fridayvegetable pancakes, boiled egg, grapes and apples
homemade pizza
Things to Make
bean burritos
scotch eggs
chicken and rice soup
vegetable pancakes
coconut lentils
Shopping List
pinto beans
canned tomatoes
zucchini
red pepper
carrots
tomatoes
grapes
apples
salad
lentils
pasta
chicken
flour
breadcrumbs
rolls
sour cream
cheese
ground turkey
dry cat food
frozen mixed veg
Bento: Bon Voyage
These were the last food remnants of 2016. It was a really colorful and largely successful week that included a day off at the beginning, so there’s only four but I think quality over quantity any day, right?
Chicken Stew, Rice, Spinach Salad
Arincini, Red Pepper Sauce, Carrots, Salad with Walnuts
Chicken Dumplings (Gyoza), Spinach salad, Soy Sauce, Apple, Mandarins
Baked Chicken Tenders, Green Beans and Cherry Tomatoes, Challah, Apple
Menu: 2017 Now!
The last menu of 2016! What a year it’s been and a really successful one for me re: cooking and baking. I made over 100 new recipes and I have more queued up already until March so I’m feeling really motivated to keep it going. This week I’m just re-making recipes though to give my brain a bit of a break before I jump in to 2017.
Saturday leftover rice balls
chicken caccitore
Sunday eggs and toast
fried rice
Monday vegetable quiche, salad, peaches
spaghettios
Tuesdayfried rice, dumplings, fruit
black bean burgers
Wednesday chicken afritada, rice, salad
quiche
Thursdayblack bean burgers, zucchini fries, carrots and hummus
chicken afritada
Fridayspaghettios, bread, fruit, salad
pasta with vegetables
Things to Make
Holiday Recipes:
Shaved Salad
Arinchini
Challah
Chicken Caccitore
Recipes:
quiche
spaghettios
fried rice
black bean burgers
chicken afritada
Shopping List
EVOO
canned tomatoes x 2
black beans
salad
peaches
apples
oranges
zucchini
cherry tomatoes
potatoes
carrots
peppers
chilies
pineapple (can)
coffee
ring pasta
rice
bread
cheese
milk
eggs
cat food
cereal
ground turkey
chicken thighs
green peas (frozen)
Recipe: Homemade Spaghettios with Meatballs
This is a delicious change from soup and a nice throwback to a lot of peoples childhoods. I haven’t had Spaghettios in probably over a decade and I’ve never eaten the one with meatballs but I can almost assure you this one is way more delicious than the one in a can and honestly, very easy to make! You can sub in any type of meatballs or leave them out for a vegetarian version.
Homemade Spaghettios with Meatballs
Adapted from The Budding TableBento: Sick Daze
Last week we both caught mild colds so half the week Andrew worked from home which means that two of these are not actually bento. One can argue that actually none or all of them are bentos though so I’m going to take my credit for making lunch while sick and just run with it either way.
Savory scone (goat cheese, pear, pepper), tomato and cucumber salad, boiled egg, apple 
Taco Bowl (rice, salad, turkey, peppers, onion, tomato, corn, sour cream) 
Turkey, Brie, and Cranberry Chutney Sandwich (there’s pickles and oranges on the plate too) 
Broccoli-Cheddar Soup, Rye Bread, Mandarins, Apple 
Vegetable Pot Pie, Side Salad (very sad looking), Apple, Mandarins
Menu: Holiday Cheer
We’re coming in to the final days of 2016. I’ll be happy to see it go. Even though it finished strong for me personally, overall it’s been a mixed year. Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah and the Eve of Christmas so I’m cooking up a slightly larger than usual dinner (with dessert!) for that day but everything else should just go on as usual.
Saturday leftovers
Starter: shaved brussel sprout salad, arinchini
Main Course: challah, chicken cacciatore
Dessert: gingerbread cookies, raspberry la flor (cocktail)
Sunday eggs and toast
leftovers
Monday vegetable thai curry, rice, fruit
baked chicken tenders, spiced couscous, green beans and cherry tomatoes
Tuesday falfel, yogurt sauce, corn salad, carrots, fruit
salmon and rice and salad
Wednesday egg and vegetable fried rice, gyoza, fruit
vegetable thai curry, rice
Thursdaybaked chicken tenders with green beans and tomatoes, spiced couscous, apple
falfel, salad, side dish, fruit
Fridayfancy salad, boiled egg, gyoza
egg and vegetable stir fry, gyoza, fruit
Things to Make
Holiday Recipes:
Shaved Salad
Arinchini
Challah
Chicken Caccitore
Recipes:
Vegetable Thai Curry
Sauted Corn Salad
Baked Chicken Tenders
Falfel
Fried Rice
Shopping List
EVOO
canned corn
coconut milk
walnuts
limes
apples
grapes
salad
basil
brussel sprouts
bell pepper
mushrooms
carrots
zucchini
eggplant
onions
cherry tomatoes
coffee
arborio rice
gingerbread stuff
2 colors of decorating stuff
milk
eggs
yogurt dip
mozzerella
parmesan
cat food (both)
TP
chicken thighs
chicken breast
frozen peas
frozen green beans
frozen mixed veg
gyoza
Recipe: Daigaku Imo (Candied Sweet Potatoes)
An easy and lightly sweet side dish if you want to make sweet potatoes just a little more fun. You can see in the picture I really got the edges a bit too dark but actually they still tasted really good like that. Just be more observant and you should be fine.
Candided Sweet Potatoes
Adapted from Otaku FoodBento: More Salads
Trying out some new recipes this week but somehow falling in to a pattern anyway. Oh well, at least we got fed right?
Vegetable Miso Soup, Rice with furikake, boiled egg, apple
Vegetable Pot Pie, Salad, apples and bananas 
Dum Aloo, Rice, Salad 
Pasta with meat sauce and roasted Vegetables, side salad, rye bread, apple 
Chicken Goulash, rice, apple