Latest Ichiban Kan shipment

I got so excited when I learned on the Lunch In A Box forums that Ichiban Kan had received a new container from Japan and were uploading new items to their online store. I got a little "panicky" when I heard that they were quickly selling out of egg molds and I hopped online and bought stuff without really planning it out.

So... what did I get?

I got two Hakoya boxes for my "boys" -- and I like how they are large enough to hold a sandwich as well as other lunch items. What I had thought was a repositionable divider was actually a small, angled-sided "cup" -- not quite what I needed, but I can see a use for it. The belts on these are rather nice, very strong, and secure. They come with a bag as well, but we tuck our bento boxes into thermal bags so I'm not sure how I'll use these.

I got the small red one for me -- and boy, was it S.M.A.L.L. It's practically a snack box!

Then I filled out my egg mold collection with fish, car, star, and heart. (But I have to admit that I'm the only one in the family who will eat a hard-boiled egg!)

I added to my Natural Lunch collection with the small, tight-lidded containers, one in each color -- sold as a set! These were much smaller than I'd assumed (see how big my hand looks... and my hands are small), but they will be good as mayo cups or to hold small items.

All in all, a pretty good haul, but I wish I'd waited until they were completely done cataloging and uploading the new items -- I've already found new things I want!

Mom & Dad bentos (#24 & #25) and Boy's bento (#26)

On Thursday night, I had 4 lbs of ground beef to use up, so I made a big batch of sloppy joes and another of burrito filling (ground beef, salsa, black beans, and melted cheese.) I wanted to freeze them for future lunches, so I put all my silicon cupcake cups on a cookie sheet and then filled them with these two mixes. I put them into my stand-up freezer and was able to remove the silicon cups the next morning and put these foods into freezer bags for quick bento building later.

I mostly defrosted two cups each for the adult bentos today and added a hot dog bun to eat them on.

I had a side salad with the last of the homemade honey mustard dressing (which I think I'm totally sick of right now!) The Hubster got grape tomatoes and we both got baby carrots and some chocolate bars for dessert.

I tried an experiment of using a little plastic shot glass (gotten from Dollar Tree in their current "Luau" promotion) to pack the salad dressing. I sealed the top with plastic wrap and, I have to say, it worked pretty well.

The Boy had been asking for make-your-own peanut butter and jelly crackers as a bento for several days, so I was happy to oblige. I just plopped PB in one silicon cup and jelly in another, tucked crackers, carrots and a couple chocolates into his box and sent him off with a plastic knife from Ikea.

He liked it, but the Hubster took umbrage with the term "deconstructed" when I told him what it was. He said that sounded a tad pretentious.
Harrrumph.

Dad's bento (#23)

This was a post-shot morning for me and, despite my wonderful husband getting up to get the boy in gear and out for school, I had to drag my achy, side-effecty carcass out of bed so I could finish up with the rented carpet shampooer that a girlfriend and I had shared. It needed to be back at the grocery store by 9:30 and I still had one room and a set of stairs to finish.

Soooo, I was saved having to feed the dogs or make the boy's lunch, but arrived in time to feed the boy his breakfast and make the hubster *his* lunch.

For bento #23, he got another "unlunchable" with meats and cheeses, plus a side salad. I keep worrying that he's not eating well enough during his loooooong days, so I tucked in a yogurt and some chocolate chips to fill out his bag.

I didn't bother to photograph it -- you've seen the unlunchables so many times already. :::smirk:::

Happy lunching, sweetie.

Dad's bento (#22)

I had made some meatloaf and meatloaf "meatballs" last Friday and the hubster was mad that I only let him have one slice for a late dinner and put all the other goodies in the freezer to be bagged up for lunches.

Today, I relented and defrosted a slice for his lunch. I was feeling so accomodating that I also whipped up some mashed potatoes and barbeque sauce for his dining pleasure. I included my latest food obsession -- edamame! Yummy scrummy!

I made him another side salad in my Putifresh lockable container -- it had sliced carrots and almonds. The cup holds more mustard vinaigrette. I tucked three mini Kit Kats into the lid of the green Putifresh 2-tier bento box. His lunch bag also has some dried apple slices and a small apple too!

I'm not winning any Mother of the Year awards for the boy's lunch -- he got a PB&J, a fruit cup and a Capri Sun. I guess I'm holding a grudge today since he forgot to bring home his lunchbag ....from FRIDAY!!

Sheesh

Grown-up bentos - #20 and #21

The hubster has been working crazy hours lately finishing up a big project, so I wanted to pack him a variety of foods that he could snack on throughout the day and evening, if he so chose. (I had the same bento, even though I was only at work thru lunch.)

I started with a salad, using my mini mandolin to slice up carrots and radishes, then added sliced almonds and a cup of homemade mustard vinaigrette.

The hubster doesn't like radishes, so his didn't get any!

I made us a little "unlunchable" bento of grapes, tomatoes, cheeses and sliced meats with crackers and a chocolate treat.

I used my Natural Lunch boxes (mine in pink, hubsters in green) to pack them up. I have the lockable side container for the salad.

The boy's "unlunchable" - #19

I seem to be in a rut over what to pack my son in his bento -- he doesn't have a microwave, and cold leftovers don't appeal to him. That basically has me stumped on a choice between sandwiches (which don't fit into my current boxes well) and deconstructed cracker sandwiches. I've taken to thinking of these as "unlunchables" -- my own version of a home-made Lunchable.

It's nothing more than cut up ham and cheese, crackers, grapes, and chocolates. His lunchbag also included a drink pouch.

I need to start making some corn dog muffins today!

New food picks from OTC

I just got my shipment of food picks from Oriental Trading Co. What fun! Now, if only I'd have time for more than PB&J sandwiches these days...

Here are some close-ups:

Heeeee!

Dollar Tree's bento-ish items

I had to waste an hour while my son was at tae kwon do and, since they just moved to a new location in a strip mall, I had the opportunity to wander through a large Dollar Tree.

I found these in the baby aisle:

They have bowls and small containers - in hipppo, monkey, tiger and pig themes.

These flower-shaped cups were in the Easter aisle. There were two cups per pack.

Neat for decorating a bento. (Too bad my son wouldn't stand for it! ;))

My latest Ichiban Kan order!

No bentos for us today -- I wasn't feeling well, so my son got a PB&J and the hubster got leftover spaghetti. Me? I got the opportunity to sleep in a little. :o)

I got busy with projects later this afternoon and was surprised by the dogs barking at our front door. Oooooh... it was the UPS guy and he had goodies for me from Ichiban Kan.

A lockable "side" container for my biege "Natural Lunch Time" 2-tier bento box (that my son usually uses. I also got some cutesy food picks for me and some more punches.

A pink Natural Lunch Time two-tier box, an oval box, a lockable side dish and some box belts.

I've threatened my son with sending this very "girlie pink" box the day after he forgets to bring home his "manly" box.

I love my banana Puti-fresh 2-tier box so much, that I decided to add a green grape version to my collection.