Lunch for Thursday, April 28, 2011

Today is my one year Bento Blog Anniversary. A little over one year ago I was reading an article online about cute stackable lunch boxes, tiffin style. Then I did some research and found a whole other world. The bento world that is. Some of these lunches were so creative and fun, I had to learn more. After finding some websites and blogs, I was hooked. I started buying some supplies, then more supplies, then more supplies. There are things I have bought that I found I don’t use as much. And there are things that I see that I feel like I should have bought in the beginning. I have a long wish list of things I want. And I have purchased many books as well to help me with ideas and recipes.

I have to say one of the best things about this journey has been the friends I have meet along the way. There are so many people out there to help guide, encourage and enable you. Less than two months ago I joined Flickr to share my bento pictures and shortly after that I joined Twitter. Between these two social outlets I can see what everyone is making or get inspiration for future bento. I was starting to get in a rut and no new cleaver ideas were coming out. Now I have a notebook with at least a month’s worth of bento ideas in it and I add to it almost daily.

My first bento is embarrassing to look at now. Just like with any hobby you get better with time and practice. I know I still have a ways to go to be at the level that some people are at. At first my friends thought I had lost my mind. I even had someone ask if I was a kindergartener. Most people now have come to accept my strange new hobby. They ask what my lunch looks like every day and of course I get pleasure in showing them my creations. It’s so much fun to play with your food. Grocery shopping has become fun again as well. I have begun to look at foods in a whole new way.

For today’s lunch I am using my very first bento box I purchased. When I bought it I thought that having all the dividers, bag, matching chopsticks and case was necessary. It is not necessary at all. And actually some people use a system of boxes that resemble my ziplock containers that I used for my first bento. If you want to see all my boxes click the “My Bento Boxes” tab at the top. I have them listed in the order I purchased them.

Today's lunch has bologna under some rice under a red egg sheet decorated with a provolone cheese ribbon and bow.  I was going to have a bologna sandwich but someone ate all the bread in the house.  So this was a last minute change.  In the other side I have a mini sweet pepper, broccoli, grape tomatoes, strawberries, a Babybel cheese, a baby portabella mushroom and a Double Chocolate Banana Nut Muffin.  I had intended to make these for the #twitterchocolateparty but since I got sick it had to wait a couple of days.  This was a new recipe that I tried.  I found it on The Sisters Cafe blog.  This recipe is definitely a keeper!


4 comments:

  1. Congrats on your blogoversary!! How exciting that you've come so far. I'm in total agreement about the best bento benefit being the wonderful friends and worldwide support network. Bento really transcends borders and connects us all :$

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  2. Happy blogoversary! Hope you are feeling better too, being sick is so not fun at all ;)

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  3. Happy blogiversary! It's always fun to look back to how you started something that turns into more of a passion. Glad you've had fun. You're totally teasing me with that first paragraph. What are some things you wish you had in the past? Which books are your favorites? Dont leave us in the dark!

    (And feel better! I'm still on the same road as you, so I can understand where you're coming from real-time!)

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  4. Happy Blog-Anniversary :)! I am glad to stumble upon your blog, it's always so nice to find other people who share the same passion as mine : bento making :)!

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