Bento Boxes!!!!!

Mr. X and I recently took a trip to Japan. It was amazing. I fell in love with the country, the people, the food, the culture - if someone offered us a chance to move there, I would go in a split second. Honestly, I was hesitant about our trip, I originally wanted to go to France. But Mr. X convinced me on Japan and I am so grateful!

Unfortunately no one has offered us a free ticket back (yet), but I have brought one thing home (aside from amazing memories and pictures): the bento box.

We purchased a couple of bento boxes while we were there for quick meals on a train between cities. They were each very different, but very good. Convenient stores don't sell bento boxes here (although they should), but another thing that is popular in Japan is to bring your own packed bento box for lunch. When I got back I ordered a small bento box online (I kept forgetting to pick one up while we were there), and I packed a bento box for lunch a few times this week. Unfortunately I don't have access to tons of Japanese ingredients, although I can find a few at my local store, but between some ingenuity and the cookbook, The Just Bento Cookbook, that I found and ordered online - I have had some great lunches!

The thing I really like is the automatic portion control. With the size of the bento box it doesn't seem like it will hold much food, but you can pack quite a bit in there - and it is always the right portions, as opposed to our tendency to eat portions two or three times the right size.

I forgot to take a picture of my bento box before I left the house, so this is just a quick camera phone picture, but you get the idea...

The container on the right is black bean burgers. I had made them for dinner the night before, and simply made extra smaller slider-sized black bean burgers in addition to the two I made for Mr. X and I last night. They are resting on a bed of cabbage leaves, with a nice squeeze of sriracha.

The other container is some quick-steamed broccoli (with some pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice), along with some basic cherry tomatoes and a quick pickled cucumber and cabbage recipe from the Just Bento cookbook.

I was able to make everything the night before, and just had to pack it into a bento box this morning. In fact, if I plan better in future weeks I could make a large batch of things like the broccoli or the pickled cucumber and cabbage and use it for bentos throughout the week.

Earlier this week I made a cold soba noodle dish, which we ate while we were in Japan, along with some cabbage & crab salad. I forgot to snap a picture of that one, but I will definitely be making it again next week and give more details and pictures then!

I want to alternate between experimenting with some Japanese flavors and foods, and packing some more American-type food. But if this week is an example, I think that will be easy enough.

For now, my bento box will have to be my little daily piece of Japan....unless someone wants to send us back!!!!