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

Casual Bento

I usually pack my husband a lunch and sometimes a nice looking bento. Co workers would look at his lunch and wish they had it...said they would eat out next door either if they brought a lunch like that. Well, my husband has opened his own business and told be I didn't have to pack a bento lunch anymore because no one was there to see it...except himself that is.

I do pack his lunch but maybe a little more casual than normal. He also has a fridge and microwave if he needed to use it. A simple bento of a sandwich, fruit and a little greens.

Just trying out my new camera and my zoom lens. I can take a photo of our neighbor's cat who thinks he lives at our house and he doesn't even know it.

We had to trim back our tall night blooming cereus peruvianus after the tropical storm Debby. What a relief getting rid of the two oh-so-tall stalks that were leaning over the driveway.

Shortly after Debby left us we went to Siesta beach to check on how it looked out there...after all these lifeguard stands were all over the weather channel as a video was shown trying to move them to safety.

It looked pretty clear, but amazing to see where the water had been.

It is a large beach, not many around here have such a long distance to walk over the sand to get to the Gulf of Mexico.

It is always a beautiful walk.

Green Mango Bento

After Debby blew through and left plenty of my mangoes on the ground, I decided to collect them rather than have the squirrels have a feast on these delights. On my food blog The Tiny Skillet I asked if anyone had some ideas what to do with the green mangoes. Here is one of the suggestions green mango salad it came out quite tasty and my whole family loved it.

Not only that, it worked out so nice in a bento! Along with the green mango salad I have some ginger, lime shrimp, good fresh raspberries (which is hard to come across here in Florida) and some fish shaped Korean mixed grains onigiri on shiso leaves.



Another recipe I made with the green mangoes are some Indian pickles, that recipe will be coming to The Tiny Skillet soon.





My large prickly pear cactus fell over from the weight and the thoroughly saturated ground from all the rain that Debby brought to us. We were having drought like weather up until now. Usually we just get the afternoon thunder showers...not 3 days and nights straight of a steady rain.

Here is the same cacti from the other side. I had just asked my husband to trim it back the day before because it was leaning and getting so big Now it's all gone the yard men took care of it for us. I saved a few stalks to replant, it will grow from a pad that has fallen on the ground.

We have a fun weekend coming up, with the off shore boat races in town and going to St Pete to a Tampa Bay Rays game. I'll bee back soon, I promise!

Fresh Bento

Well I can't believe I've made bentos all winter and didn't post one. That's what happens when you get up early before anyone else is up, and make lunches in the dark....no not totally dark I do turn some lights on, but not many. I make my coffee, just one cup at a time with some organic blend that is bold enough for one cup a day. Then I start on the lunches, sometimes my daughter will let me use the Hello Kitty bento for her but she won't let me do anything too cute....you know how it is at her age. Anyway photographing food before the sun comes up is not easy and then there is the time restraint. If we are not running behind I will start making breakfast, then it is my turn in the bathroom.




So often we will enjoy our bentos at poolside on the weekend where we can relax and enjoy the. That is if we aren't trying new regional cuisines that we've come across.


In this bento I've used some leftover squash, local orange slices, grape tomatoes, marinated green beans, little Mediterranean chicken patties with feta and 7 spice, carrots, and shallots
and a touch of arugula.


So I am back sharing my day...


...from early morning...

to late evening...



I plan to be back with you all soon!