Berbere Meatball Bento

Back with a few bentos while I still can take a picture in natural light. I got the idea of berbere meatballs, on Lunchbox Blues he uses many different meats for his meatballs and such. I had to try some bison to see what it was all about. I picked up a roast from Whole Foods and prepared it in my Le Crueset French oven, almost like you would short ribs. It was very tasty, but very expensive.  Anyway I don't use ground beef so I used ground pork here in these meatballs. You could really use whatever you like, chicken, turkey, lamb, if you like it you can use it.

I didn't have a Berbere spice mix so after I cleaned out my spices, and re-labeled them and such, I had a clear view of what I had and what I needed. I like to use the stainless steel spice jars, they have a clear glass top, but I still think I can keep most of the light out from them. I mixed my own Ethiopian spice blend and I loved it. I know I will use it in many things not just stews and such. I will post the spice blend recipe for you later. These meatballs were quite addicting, he was lucky to get any in his lunch!

Today's bento:  Berbere meatballs, on a bed of organic mixed greens, enoki mushrooms. Strawberries and cherries. Mixed rice and grains pilaf with flowering chives. Some sweet and spicy mustard tucked in there and I send along some organic black cherry yogurt.

Mine was simple with the same meatballs, a couple slices of sesame crepe, strawberries. carrots, and the same yogurt. I didn't need to dip them in anything!

The berebere spice blend I just made. Recipe to come.

I thought I would share a few photos from yesterday while we were out on the ICW this is one of my favorite houses...there are many along the way that I could see myself living in...

A stop for lunch at The New Pass Grill, a perfect view, just don't feed the gulls!

Another favorite house...I see a theme here.

aaaaahhh, enjoying a relaxing Sunday on the water, with some friends. A swim at the sand bar, a good place to loose your anchor, lucky we could find it in shallow water.

An Osprey was just watching us as we went by, it's not easy getting a clear shot moving in a rocky boat as you are zooming in! Even if the boat wasn't moving it's rocking back and forth!

He flapped his wings for us, or maybe it was "she" but didn't leave the post

Kafta Bento in a Tiffin?

I have been off for the summer until school starts back up in August, I go back to work a week before the kids come back. I can't believe it's already July, and here I thought I'd be posting all my bento lunches. I have taken some pics, but they seem to be nothing new so they never made it up. We are finally getting the rain we needed so desperately. Otherwise we've been so dry our lawn was "crunchy" and this is our rainy season!


The last time I was in Michigan visiting family I picked up the small tiffin box...

... from the same place where I got my Indian spice box...which I absolutely LOVE! (Well I actually did buy my spice box my sister got it there for me for Christmas awhile ago) ... I wonder if you use a tiffin for a bento box is it a bento lunch in a tiffin? I guess if it was warmed and delivered to me it would be a tiffin lunch! :D

The other day I made some Lebanese 7 spice blend and posted it on The Tiny Skillet. The spice smelled so good I had to use it right away so I made kafta, they're like Lebanese lamb meatballs on a stick. They were good hot off the grill, warm and even cold the next day! perfect for a bento!

I have here some fried rice on the bottom, steamed snow peas and carrots, topped with kiwi. The top layer is some nice organic lettuce, cucumber slices, kafta with the yellow spiral skewers, some fresh pita bread, and tzatziki , the cucumber yogurt sauce that tasted so good on the kafta in the red silacone flower cup. All that's missing are the tomatoes. I wish I had some, can't really grow them well here in Florida!

Or maybe it's just me...I can grow a few herbs like the mint in the bento! My rosemary does the best, I also have chives, basil, sage, ginger, and just started to grow turmeric. I'm excited to see how that goes...or "grows"!

Later for dessert we had some Plum-Ginger Granita. It was wonderful...I made sure it had plenty of flavor, yummy! Perfect for summer so refreshing and not too sweet!


Everyone have a wonderful 4th of July!!!