Samaree.com

My Bento Lunch for 2/27

samaree — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:34:22 +0000

Top: Tuna snacks on romaine; roma tomato; cantaloupe; blueberries; cucumber slices; penguin soy sauce bottle (Thank you Candace for the handy funnel!)

Bottom: shrimp ramen (My first experience… Loved it!); carrot; broccoli; Italian beans

This bento was so tasty, I think I might make the same one for Monday!

Michael’s Bento Lunch for 2/22

samaree — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:29:15 +0000

Michael said he didn’t care what I packed him for lunch, so I had a little fun.

Top: Cantaloupe and blueberries

Middle: tomato and hard boiled egg; sauteed veg

Bottom: bbq chicken; mushroom barley pilaf

Much healthier than delivery pizza!

My Bento Lunch for 2/22

samaree — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:26:20 +0000

Top: Bunny egg (this was the first time I used my new egg molds); turkey

Middle: sauteed veg

Bottom: cantaloupe and blueberries

Hard boiled eggs are more fun to eat when they have a cute bunny face on them.

Just One Thing

samaree — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:12:49 +0000

Sometimes the smallest thing can make or break my day. A jerk can make me stew in anger for hours. Or a nice guy can make me smile to myself all day.

A young man, young enough to be my… ahem, brother asked me a question this morning about Big Box Mart’s return policy. I called the Return Desk to double check policy. The man laughed at the woman on the other end as she was so loud I didn’t even have to repeat what she said.

As he went to walk away, he said “You know who you look like?”

A few names went through my head, mostly unflattering comparisons to celebrities I don’t feel I resemble at all.

“That girl from Titanic.”

Kate Winslet? Really? Thanks! I don’t think I’ve smiled that gratefully and genuinely in a while.

He told me to have a good day as he left. You betcha I will!

My Bento Lunch for 2/18

samaree — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:01:56 +0000

I had some faux crab to use up and thought, what better contents for a bento than sushi? I attempted my own California rolls. They were tasty and pretty, but when I tried to pick them up they crumbled. Oh, well. I just dug in with a spoon.

Top: the sushi is: rice, faux crab, radish, carrot and spinach (for lack of seaweed); borrowed Michael’s penguin soy sauce bottle

Middle: cantalope and blueberries

Bottom: pickles and olives

This was very visually appealing. Plus, I had all five tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami. Perhaps I need to find a sushi-making tutorial?

My Bento Lunch for 2/17

samaree — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:51:48 +0000

(Forgive fuzzy pic. Batteries were dying.)

Top: mushroom barley risotto, yogurt cheese cubes, mixed veg

Middle: pomegranate yogurt and blueberries

Bottom: granola

I should start portioning all my meals into my bento box. When I open it at lunch, it seems like so little food, but by the time I’m done, I’m full.

My Bento Lunch for 2/15

samaree — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:43:09 +0000

Top: Homemade beef, barley and mushroom soup (from the freezer)

Middle: garlic breadstick, herb yogurt cheese, pomegranate yogurt with blueberries

Bottom: granola to sprinkle on yogurt

Okay, so my soup container clashes with my bento and my middle layer is very monochromatic, but this met my Eating from the Pantry Challenge guidelines about not buying anything. The granola was left over from Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters (I got free a couple months ago) and the blueberries were free from the sample lady at Big Box Mart. Nothing tastes better than free!

Sunday is Baking Day!

samaree — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:37:16 +0000

I usually spend my Sundays in the kitchen – making soup, precooking meat, making bread or cookies. I decided to use this Sunday to work on the Eat from the Pantry Challenge. I made garlic breadsticks, tortillas, green tomato relish, and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. It was took me a couple hours, but we now have some great homemade food in the fridge and freezer for later use.

And I didn’t have to buy a thing!

Green Tomato Relish

samaree — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:31:48 +0000

I had bought two green tomatoes at the Farmer’s Market with the intention of making fried ones. I didn’t get to them and I noticed today they were starting to get spots. I researched recipes online (bread, salsa, chutney) and found I was lacking a lot of ingredients. However, I did have all the ingredients for this one.

Green Tomato Relish

2 green tomatoes, chopped

1/4 bell pepper, seeded

1/2 medium onion

1/2 t. celery salt

1/2 t. dry mustard powder

1/4 t. salt

1/8 c. sugar

2 T. cider vinegar

Finely chop vegetables. Place in cheesecloth or coffee filter in a colander and let drain for one hour. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Place in a jar or other tightly closing container. Refrigerate.

Makes about 12 ounces

Tips: You can use red, yellow or green bell peppers. Use white, yellow, or red onions.

Serve this relish on sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, with crackers or tortilla chips.

You can add a hot pepper such as a jalapeno or serrano if a hotter relish is desired.

This recipe is easily doubled or quadrupled.

Eat From the Pantry Challenge

samaree — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:45:59 +0000

Since money is going to be tight this month, I decided that we will eat from the pantry and freezer. The only items I will purchase are milk, bread, fresh fruit and vegetables. We have plenty of meat, dry goods, cheese, eggs, frozen vegetables, etc. I’ve started a menu which will save me from buying items to make meals, when I have plenty at home.

ham steaks, asparagus, mushroom-barley pilaf
ribs, potato salad, corn
fish sticks, tater tots, broccoli & cauliflower with cheese
spaghetti, garlic breadsticks, salad
frittata, fried potatoes, fruit
beef and bean enchilada casserole, salad
oven-fried pollock, macaroni & cheese, mixed vegetables
chicken curry, Israeli cous cous, fruit
salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, broccoli
chicken with spinach and cheese, garlic pasta, fruit

This gives me two weeks of meals as there are at least two nights a week we both work late and don’t eat at home. Everything is from my freezer, pantry and fridge. How much can I save by not buying a little here and a little there?