Dukkah Crusted Salmon Bento ~

I grabbed a shot of my Bird of Paradise and the sun was already setting when I noticed it. I wanted to get a picture before the freeze if we should get it. The colors were so vibrant, and I got it in the bloom before it had some of the die offs. I love how it has the purple which looks brighter in person.

I just popped in to let you know that I am still here. I've have been posting more on my recipe blog, but my heart is here on my bento blog. For those of you who read both I hope you don't mind if you see a few repeat photos.

A little while back I posted my Dukkah Crusted Salmon and it was quite a large piece of salmon. For bento makers this is okay because you can always use it in a bento for lunch. I make my own dukkah and it makes a lot so I keep it in the freezer and just pull it out when I want to use it. It is great with some crusty bread dipped in a good olive oil, or toss it on top of a salad. It works wonderful with chicken too you can check out my chicken breast with goat cheese and dukkah.

The left over salmon was what I used for this bento.

I have here broccoli, apple half, star fruit (which is so nice for bentos) I loved this one the flavor was so good. In the pink flower cup I have a handful of umbrella cookies from the Asian store, I love these because they are not very sweet.

The salmon and grape tomatoes are sitting on a watercress salad ! In the side dish I have My mom's rice pilaf . I didn't realize I had used so many recipes that I've already posted. Well that makes it easy if you want to make it yourself!


We've had some very clear days this winter, which I guess we usually do. The summer is when all that warm air builds up the clouds that come across the land and afternoon showers come falling down. Not now though...crystal blue skies, over white sand beach, what could be better? Crescent beach is the closest beach to our house, about 5 minutes away. We really should ride our bikes there.

For some reason this time of year is when we can find the sea urchins washed up on shore. Then I need a bag to carry these. They are not alive, the ones that I take home.

My mom's rice pilaf has sliced almonds and rosemary, vermicelli and broth make it oh so nice, perfect for company, and great for leftovers!

There were a lot of sponges and little conch shells on the beach too that day, but I didn't take any conch since they were still alive.

I thought the seahorse pick would work well here, it came with a coral, and shell pick...you'll see those another time. Actually they are corn cob picks, or holders.

Last year I made this "jellyfish" from a sea urchin shell, I've made many into sea urchin shell snowmen.

I've added a photo of my sea urchin "snowman"

Shell angels I make from the scallop shells that I collect throughout the year...I have many of those too.

Another sea urchin shell, but not from around here. I picked this up at The Green Turtle, it was so pretty and pink!
The shells are so pretty when the lights shine through all the little dots and designs that nature gave it.

I hope to be around more often or you can see what I've been up to on my other blogs!

See you soon!

Casual Snack Bento - and a boat trip

A quick post of a fun little (I should say "tiny") bento. Jasmine rice with some furikake, pickled plum with a pick, and basil flowers. Oven roasted chickpeas sprinkled with chipotle powder and sea salt, grape tomatoes, sliced persimmons, tiny eggplant, fresh rosemary, and baby romaine leaves tucked in.

I try to fit in a few bentos here and there. Most of them are just functional and really not photo
worthy!

Here are a few shots of Maranda's birthday outing last weekend. She invited a few friends for a boat ride. We went down the inter-coastal waterway from Turtle beach in Sarasota to Venice, where we stopped for lunch.

She got to open her gifts on the way...it was a little overcast, but plenty warm.

I actually got a chance to get a close up photo of a dolphin friend who peeked up to see what was going on.

He was swimming right next to us...I'm sure looking for food, but just got some hellos, and ahwwws instead! We often will see dolphins, but I usually will catch the tails or fins in the photos. They move so fast you have to guess where they'll pop up next. He hung out pretty close to us for a little bit, but it's still hard to photograph because the boat moving too.
I am adding him to this weeks Camera Critters.

Lunch at the Marker Four restaurant in Venice Florida...

I didn't bring this bento along this was from the day before! Just wanted to share the whole weekend with you all!

Fun Shapes ~Bento~

I found some templates that you use with a fancy cutter, they were on Clarence so I thought I could use them for a bento. It is made out of a very thick plastic so I think it will work well. I let Maranda choose the shape. Sure she wanted the spiral-curly-Q! My first attempt so it's a little messy. I first tried to cut the lunch meat with a tiny paring knife I had but it slipped too easy, so then I use a toothpick. The smaller hearts were on the same stencil. The Havarti cheese wasn't the best choice as it has little holes in it and makes it a little sloppy looking!
A very simple bento:
The right side: Bamboo Jade rice, lunch meat shapes - Havarti cheese heart with a tiny nori punched out heart.
The left side: diced tomatoes and cheese in the yellow silicone flower cup, basil tucked in around it. Sliced orange sweet peppers on a fun, blue, square, spiral pick. Sliced kiwi. I also had some olive oil and balsamic vinegar for the tomato-mozzarella-basil, it didn't make it in the photo!

Just a few yard pictures!
My pineapple is in a pot, they will fruit quicker than when planted in the ground.

Pink plumeria

Yellow plumeria

Pink bougainvillea with a butterfly.

Our friend Neji!

Red passion flower! Have a happy Wednesday!

Round Bento

I wanted to try out my round bento again. A lot going on this time of year even though it's summer and I have off from work. I used some new picks that was sent to me from a dear friend, thanks J. The center dish is tri-color pasta salad, with some fennel and tomato blossom on top. Sliced zucchini - on those cute bamboo picks is kalamata olives, marinated mozzarella balls, & grape tomatoes - sliced fresh mango in the blue silicone cup - cherries - mini chicken, green chili, burgers (put them on a tiny bun and it would be a slider) This is great for a good lunch before the beach run tonight!