Bento!

Today I did my first Bento.

Yes, this is the direction that my cooking blog is going in. I've been wanting to try it for a while, and am happy that I figured out something that is fairly unique for me to focus on.

There are several benefits to bento (Japanese for "box lunch") for me- first is portion control. Second, it's just so much fun. Third, it's a great way to express some creativity and definitely helps with this no gluten thing that I am trying this year.

Here's today's bento:

I took some chicken tenders, dipped them in egg, then in a cream of rice dry cereal that I added a teaspoon each of ginger, garlic salt, and garam masala. Then I baked them at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Along side of the chicken tenders I have some little rice balls, in different shapes, with a little rice wine vinegar on them for flavor. On the bottom left is a salad of green apples, dried cranberries, and blue cheese. Above that are some rounds of apple with slices of red bell peppers.

I got the bento box at the Japanese marketplace in Edgewater New Jersey earlier this week when I went up there for a visit. I really could live there.

So: first you get photos of the box (and I love the little sayings they put on everything! It's so cute!):



The box pulled apart:


The chopsticks with a case that I bought to take back and forth to work with me:



And finally, the bento all put together:


I added another piece of the chicken and put the lid on top:


I think I will probably get more creative as I go along, but I am pleased with my first attempt!!