Monday, June 8, 2009

Porcupine Bento #14


This is actually a bento from a few days ago that I am now just posting. Porcupine is actually the name of the meat dish pictured. It is a surprisingly yummy twist on normal meatballs/meatloaf, and is adapted from one of my mother's old old Betty Crocker books.

Porcupines

1 pound hamburger or ground turkey
1/2 cup uncooked rice
1/2 cup water
~1/2 tsp. onion powder (depending on taste)
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. black pepper

1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
1 cup water
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Mix the hamburger, rice, 1/2 cup water, onion powder, salt, garlic powder, and pepper together. Shape the mixture into 12 balls. (Note: if using ground turkey, the mixture might be a bit soft and not hold shape very well, but won't affect the outcome.) Cook the meatballs in a skillet until brown on all sides. Drain of and residual liquid or fat.

Mix the tomato sauce, water, and Worcestershire sauce together and pour over the meatballs. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat. Cover and simmer for about 45 minutes. (Check it occasionally and add more water if looks too dry or threatens to stick.)

Monday, June 1, 2009

Piggie Bento (#13)

I went garage sale shopping over the weekend, and found something that would be perfect for bentos. They are ice cream sandwich molds in the shape of a cow and a pig. I couldn't help but see the potential in them, so I now have my first cute accessory for my bento lunches!





Here is today's lunch:

  • Piggies sandwiches (homemade Sally Lunn bread, turkey, provolone)
  • Spinch/Romaine salad, with carrots, cauliflower, celery, olives
  • Cottage cheese with dill and garnish
I was very pleased with how today's bento turned out. The ice cream sandwich molds worked perfectly for sandwiches, and I can't wait to see if they can mold onigiri as well. Basically I lined the box with lettuce, propped the sandwiches on carrots, and put the rest of the salad stuff on the right. It was looking a bit too "white" at first, so I put the cottage cheese in a red dish, and moved one of the sandwiches over to the middle of the box.