Cooking With Trader Joe's Cookbook & Easy Lunchboxes

It's finally here! The Cooking with Trader Joe's Cookbook featuring Easy Lunchboxes!! Even if you are not a regular reader of my blog, you undoubtedly have seen me mention Easy Lunchboxes aka ELB. Well the super fabulous Kelly Lester and the publishers of the popular Cooking with Trader Joe's Cookbook series teamed up to create a cookbook all about delicious recipes packed inside ELB's. 

This cookbook is chalk full of recipes for kids and adults, fun facts and Kelly's tips. Each recipe is better than the last and the photography and page layouts make you want to read on. I love pictures with my recipes so I really like that every recipe in this book has a picture of what it looks like packed into the Easy Lunchbox containers.

Because the ingredients for these recipes can be found at Trader Joe's, you can totally browse the isles book in hand and create your meals. The contributors of this book are everyday moms and dads. No celebrity uber chef wrote this cookbook so there are no impossible recipes to follow, and no ingredients you have never heard of. Just fast and tasty recipes, simply made. Included in the cookbook are plenty of recipes for the Vegan, Gluten Free and Vegetarian lifestyles.

I look forward to getting my hands on a hard copy and you can get your Cooking with Trader Joe's Cookbook, Easy Lunchboxes right now on Amazon. This is a must have cookbook for your kitchen and would make a perfect gift!

One Hump Wump Bento - Happy Birthday Dr Seuss!

Bump!

Bump!

Bump!

Did you ever ride a Whump?

We Have a Wump

with just one hump.

Today is Dr. Seuss 108th birthday!! C's one hump Wump bento rounds out our week of Seuss inspired bento's. Missed our other bento's from the week? Chick on the link below each bento to see more information and detail about that fun lunch. 

Thursday - Inside Your Outside Bento

Weds - Green Eggs and Ham Bento

Tuesday - One Fish Two Fish Bento

Want to see more creative bentos inspired by Dr Suess?  Stop on by Bent On Better Lunches and see what wonderful creations she made this week. Then follow the theme hop from her page to another wonderful participating blog and so on.

Inside Your Outside Bento

I'm the Cat in the Hat

here to share some good news.

from the tips of your hair

to the toes in your shoes...

Bones shape our bodies

and help us stand tall.

We've two hundred and six.

Some are big. Some are small.

{Cat in the Hat's hat}

{Bony grape tomatoes and  cross bone zucchini bread}

Green Eggs and Ham Bento

Do you like green eggs and ham? 

I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I Am

You may like them. You will see.

You might like them in a tree?

A train! A train!

A train! A train!

Could you would you on a train? 

The idea for the eggs came from Random Thoughts of a SuperMom. She used white melts for the fried egg part, I only had  bright green melts left over from Halloween but really...how fitting was it :) I love the way they turned out..so super cute! Oh and the "ham" I carved out of a piece of summer sausage!

One Fish, Two Fish Bento

Friday is Dr Seuss's Birthday so I am hopping along with a fabulous FB group Bento Bloggers & Friends. Lately I have been posting a weeks worth of bentos at once. This week hopefully I will be posting my Dr. Seuss inspired bentos every day for the rest of the week.

My favorite Dr Seuss book to read the girls is One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. I haven't yet decided if I will do all of the bentos this week from this one book, or from several. Guess it will be a surprise to all of us..lol

"One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish." " This one has a little star."

"This one has a little car."

"Say! what a lot of fish there are."

Goodnight Bento

"The stars on high are shining bright-
Sweet dreams, my darling, sleep well.....


...goodnight!"

(Quote from Time For Bed by Mem Fox)

Sleeping little girl turkey and cheese sami with somen noodles and strawberry and nori accents. Packed around her is sweet peas, carrots, grapes, turkey pastrami roll ups, melon stars, strawberry flowers and cheese teddy bears. What little girl doesn't go to sleep without her favorite stuffed teddy..mine sure do.

I can not believe we have come to the end of the book. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as we have for the past several years. Now I am kind of at a loss for what to do next! Any suggestions would be appreciated...lol

Oh..I mentioned yesterday I bought two new boxes. The box I used today I actually bought for hubby...but am thinking I need to buy one for myself. It's awesome, much bigger than the girls and has a cool lid and at $6.50 how can I pass it up!

This is my What's For Lunch Week 3!!

Little Pup, Little Pup Bento

"It's time to sleep, little pup. little pup,
If you don't sleep soon the sun will be up!"

(Quote from Time For Bed by Mem Fox)

C's Box

M's Box

We are so close to the end of this wonderful book, just one more animal to go and then the end. Today in the main box is a turkey and cheese spotted pup with turkey pastrami for the floppy ears, nori spots and a sprinkle for the eyes. String cheese flowers, cucumbers, pickle blooming flowers, sugar snap peas and a happy face blue star egg. The fruit box has grapes, melon flowers, strawberries and cheese pups..aren't they so cute! At first I thought it was a Scottie dog, but now I'm not sure..lol

Little Snake, Little Snake Bento

"It's time for sleep, little snake, little snake,
Good gracious me, your still awake!"

(Quote from Time For Bed by Mem Fox)

C's Box

M's Box

Today we did a cheese & turkey snake with a fruit roll up tongue and nori accents. He is slithering over pickle spear "logs" with cherry tomatoes and carrot flowers. C's fruit box has star melon and M's has mini hearts. Both girls have grapes, checkered apples and a chocolate covered strawberry for dessert.

I planned on making the snakes out of rice. I had just made a fresh batch when at the last minute C informed me that she wanted a sandwich today..okay then. As usual the girls loved it and at it all up. I forgot yesterday to post the new additions to M's lunch box. Yesterday after coffee Muffin Tin Mom and I went shopping at Marukai..wahoo! Along with some other stuff I bought M a couple accompanying boxes to go along with her original box..they are so adorable.

The 3 square boxes are new from yesterday. Love them!

Little Bee, Little Bee Bento

"It's time to sleep, little bee, little bee,
Yes I love you and you love me."

(Quote from Time For Bed by Mem Fox)

This page was and still is one of my most favorite ones because C and I would resit the last line in unison to each other.

This was C's box

This was M's box

Each box has a Bee shaped with rice and nori details, flower hot dogs, carrots, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. M's fruit box has melon and C's has "BZZ" made from apples. They both have strawberries and grapes. I did not color the rice all the way through. I was using rice I made yesterday so after un-molding the bees I used a paint brush and yellow food coloring diluted in water to paint on the yellow color. It works great and less mess to my hands..lol


Linking this Bento to What's For Lunch Weds Week 2!!!

Little Bird, Little Bird Bento

"It's time to sleep, little bird, little bird,
So close your eyes, not another word."

(Quote from Time For Bed by Mem Fox)

We are more than half way through this book and I have been having blast creating boxes from it. Only 4 more animals left!

My little bird is a version of this one over at Lilys kleiner Bentoservice. Hers is much cuter I think, but I do like my birds little feet. Thinking I should have used yellow cheese instead of pepper jack, but oh well, she was still very tasty. I used spinach for the base of my box and had a great salad after the rice and hot dogs where gone.

A special thank you to Cleo over at Wemmicks-In-Training for passing on to me The Versatile Award!

*Webster's definition.* 

Versatile

Date: 1605

1 : changing or fluctuating readily : variable

2 : embracing a variety of subjects, fields, or skills; also : turning with ease from one thing to another

3 a (1): capable of turning forward or backward : reversible (2): capable of moving laterally and up and down b of an anther : having the filaments attached at or near the middle so as to swing freely

4 : having many uses or applications

Thanks Cleo of thinking of me and my lil 'ol blog, your awesome ;)

Little Sheep, Little Sheep Bento

"It's time for bed, little sheep, little sheep,
The whole wide world is going to sleep."



(Quote from Time for Bed by Mem Fox)

PB&J lamb surrounded by carrot flowers. Rice with decorations and fruit and veggies for the bottom box.


Today is the first day of our summer brake. I have to say it was nice not having to get up and rush, rush, rush out the door. Today is also our first playdate of the summer brake so since we will be out and about I made a box for M and I to share.

Mama bear and baby bear.....

After making C's lunch I didn't have much time left so I whipped this one up..nice and simple. Leftover Baked Ziti, with mama and baby bear tortillas. A cute pink bear egg (finally got it right). A mixed fruit salad and corn on the cob with carrot flowers. In the little bear case is salt for my egg :)

I love C's box it's so cute and perfect size for her but sometimes I need more. Think I will start looking for a laptop box, however I can never go wrong using my Easy Lunchboxes containers and as you see we use it just as much as our other boxes.

Okay I have just enough time to get everyone dressed and out the door, have a wonderful day!

Little Fish, Little Fish Bento

"It's time for bed, little fish, little fish,
So hold your breath and make a wish"

(Quote from Time For Bed by Mem Fox)

Our little angel fish tuna sandwich is swimming in colored Top Ramen with a carrot crab and apple starfish. Coloring the pasta was not my idea but that of one of the very clever bento blogs I follow (list is on my right side bar). However because my memory is crap I can not recall which one (so sorry). But when I do, I will edit this post to include the blog because I always try to give credit where credit is due. The top compartments are filled with larger apple starfish and a Taro Mochi. All this packaged up nicely in our Easy Lunchbox container.

Edit: The wonderful colored pasta idea was from Shannon @ What's For Lunch! I saw the box she made for her sons last day of school and it was adorable! Thanks Shannon :)

C had her last day of PreK today. I think I am more shocked that I will have both girls 24-7 now..lol I kinda got used to having the brake of two kids at once. That's okay, I see lots of playdates, park adventures, beach trips and Sea World trips in our near future :)

Little Foal, Little Foal Bento

"It's time for bed, little foal, little foal,
I'll whisper a secret, but don't tell a soul."

(Quote from Time For Bed by Mem Fox)

This is one for my favorite pages because I would get really close to C and "whisper" the second line into her ear. She always laughs and sometimes would whisper it back..lol

* Foal quesadilla's on rice with cheese/cucumber flowers
* Cherries, grape tomatoes and flower carrots.

Little Calf, Little Calf Bento

"It's time for bed little calf, little calf,
What happened today that made you laugh?"

(Quote from the book Time For Bed by Mem Fox)

Top Box: Melon flowers, sesame mochi and carrot blossoms
Front Box : Turkey & cheese roll ups and Wheat Thins with Laughing Cow Cheese

I thought the addition of the Laughing Cow cheese and the "L O L" was whimsical. The "4" represents the page we are on and my little calf is detailed with nori.

Just found today this awesome set of cookie cutters at Target!! 101 cutters...numbers 0-9, full alphabet as well as holiday themed and just because shapes. They rock and for only $10...score baby!

Sorry the picture and color is so off. My camera along with everything else is having issues today :)


Linking this bento box to What's For Lunch Week1. Stop by and join us!

Little Cat, Little Cat Bento

"It's time for bed, little cat, little cat,
So snuggle in tight, that's right, like that."


(Quote from Time For Bed by Mem Fox)

Our kitten is snuggled tight into a bed of red romaine lettuce with her yummy turkey pastrami quilt with patchwork cheese flowers. Under the blanket are carrot sticks and grapes. I used sprinkles for the details of the face.

Had to show the new box I got for M today, now she has her own and it is perfect size!

Little Goose, Little Goose Bento

"It's time for bed, little goose, little goose,
The stars are out and on the loose."


(Quote from Time for bed by Mem Fox)

I forgot C is getting hot lunch delivered to her today and tomorrow at school. P.S... Ki's School Lunches in San Diego North County is amazing.They deliver the tastiest fresh, organic cold & hot lunchs to kids in C's school, she loves it. So because she is getting hot lunches, M is borrowing her bento box. In keeping with our theme we started yesterday, the book is  Time For Bed by Mem Fox, today's page is little "goose, little goose".

Rear box: grapes, bird container with Cool Whip and apple stars
Forward box: Star PB&J's, scrambled eggs with sauteed red onions and spices topped with a baby goose  made of cheese. Not sure exactly what a goose chick looks like, but I imagine it could look like this right?

Shout out to Bento For Kidlet and her tutorial on how to make cheese creatures. She does awesome/amazing graphics with the cheese slices and I think gives the extra little technique I need to make better boxes. So thanks Jenn!

Little Mouse, Little Mouse Bento

C has this favorite book we have read to her at bedtime since she was born called Time For Bed by Mem Fox. It is a little worn and falling apart but will soon be replaced with a new version  as we could not live with out it. The very last page is a picture of a little blond curly haired girl fast asleep. When C was much younger she would always point to it and say "me mommy me". So adorable still to this day.

So I am going to "try" to make the lunch based on each page in order. One page a day.  Lord help me but I think I can do it so here we go..

"It's time for bed, little mouse, little mouse
Darkness has fallen all over the house."

Now after my not so successful attempt a few days ago of cutting details out of Nori I thought I would try fruit roll ups. *shrugs shoulders* Not sure it is any better but there's my little mouse. With cheddar daisy's and cantaloupe stars.

See the pink Onigiri? This is my by accident find. I have not Googled whether this has been done before so maybe it has..but if not I am sooooo claiming it...that's right you heard it hear first...patent pending...LOL

While eating the sausage Onigiri yesterday I happened to mix some of the rice and the strawberry stars together...WOW. It was awesome. So then I took the rice and mixed it with cantaloupe..knocked my socks off. AH HA I said to myself so I smashed up strawberries and folded it into the leftover sticky rice. I then made the balls and placed cantaloupe in the middle...Fruity Onigiri!

Here is my lunch for today (why can't mama have some fun too). A cucumber sandwich with the fruity Onigiri, cantaloupe flowers and Cool Whip for dipping. P.S. the Onigiri dipped in the Cool Whip...THE BOMB!