Bento Box - Savory Coconut Curry and Rice

Enjoy this curry mild or spicy according to your preference. Balance the meal with some tart apples and sweet peanut butter and dark chocolate--a lovely meal for a cold, wintery day!

Menu

• Long Grain Brown Rice
• Tofu Potato Curry
• Fuji Apple Slices
• Peanut Butter
• Dark Chocolate

Preparation Notes

• Prepare the curry according to the recipe HERE. (included below)
• Cook the rice.
• Slice the apple.
• Scoop the peanut butter into the dip container.
• Add a square of your favorite chocolate.

Source: Laptop Lunches


Tofu Potato Curry


There's nothing like a hot curry on a cold day. Make it mild or spicy according to your preference. Serve over brown rice, or take the opportunity to introduce yourself to a whole grain that you've never tried before.

Ingredients:

• 1 can Vegetable Broth
• 1 can Coconut Milk
• 2 Tbs. Curry powder (or to taste)
• 1 Brick of Firm Tofu
• 2 White Potatoes
• 2 Red Potatoes
• 4 Carrots
• ½ medium Red Pepper
• 1 Serrano Pepper (optional)
• 1 Stalk of Lemon Grass (optional)

Directions:
  1. Cut tofu and vegetables into cubes.
  2. Mix broth, coconut milk, and curry in a sauce pan.
  3. Add peppers, lemon grass, and tofu.
  4. Cook on medium heat until liquid comes to a low boil.
  5. Turn heat to low and add potatoes and carrots.
  6. Cover and cook until carrots and potatoes are tender.

Francesca Battistelli - This is the Stuff

I lost my keys

In the great unknown

And call me please

'Cause I can't find my phone

This is the stuff 

That drives me crazy

This is the stuff 

That's getting to me lately

In the middle of my little mess

I forget how big I'm blessed

This is the stuff 

That gets under my skin

But I've gotta trust

You know exactly what 

You're doing

Might not be what I

would choose

But this is the stuff You use

45 in a 35

Sirens and fines

While I'm running behind

This is the stuff 

That drives me crazy

This is the stuff 

That's getting to me lately

In the middle of my little mess

I forget how big I'm blessed

This is the stuff 

That gets under my skin

But I've gotta trust

You know exactly what 

You're doing

Might not be what I

would choose

But this is the stuff You use

So break me of impatience

Conquer my frustrations

I've got a new appreciation

It's not the end of the world

This is the stuff 

That drives me crazy

This is the stuff 

Someone save me

In the middle of my little mess

I forget how big I'm blessed

This is the stuff 

That gets under my skin

And I've gotta trust

You know exactly what 

You're doing

Might not be what I

would choose

But this is the stuff You use

This is the stuff You use

Bento Box - Potato Pancakes and Applesauce

Few things go together as well as potato pancakes and applesauce. Combine that with a bit of spinach, salad dressing and some sausages, and you've got an awfully good lunch.

Menu

• Cinnamon Applesauce
• Potato Pancakes
• Mini Spinach Salad
• Italian Dressing
• Sun-dried Tomato & Basil Sausages

Preparation Notes

• Prepare the potato pancakes.
• Scoop some applesauce into the large water-tight container.
• Fill the dip container with Italian dressing.
• Pack the spinach around the dip container.
• Add some of your favorite sausages. (Pictured here: Tofurky brand Italian Sun-dried Tomato Basil Sausages.)

Source: Laptop Lunches

Bento Box - Lasagne Leftovers

Pack your leftover lasagne from last night's dinner. Consider updating your favorite recipe by using whole wheat noodles, eliminating the meat, reducing the amount of cheese, using lowfat cheese, and including a layer or two of spinach or sauteed vegetables.

Menu

• Lasagne
• Steamed Cauliflower
• Oatmeal Bars
• Orange Slices

Preparation Notes

• Pack your leftover lasagne from last night's dinner. Consider updating your favorite recipe by using whole wheat noodles, eliminating the meat, reducing the amount of cheese, using lowfat cheese, and including a layer or two of spinach or sauteed vegetables.
• Steam the cauliflower.
• Prepare the oatmeal bars, a healthier alternative to many pre-packaged cereal bars and cookies. Use the recipe from page 74 of the Laptop Lunch User's Guide.
• Slice the oranges.

Source: Laptop Lunches

Bento Box - Comforting Bento Lunch

As the winter continues on, we decided to put together a healthy, yet comforting bento lunch. Eaten hot or cold, this week’s lunch is sure to warm you up and keep you plowing through these final weeks of the season.

Menu

• Macaroni and Cheese
• Tomato Soup
• Steamed Cauliflower
• Sliced Bosc Pear

Preparation Notes

• Prepare macaroni and cheese, let cool and put in your large unlidded container.
• Prepare tomato soup, let cool, put in your large lidded container and sprinkle with minced parsley.
• Steam cauliflower for one of your medium containers.
• Slice a bosc pear for your other medium container.

Laptop Lunches Products Used:
Bento Set Original or 2.0

Source: Laptop Lunches

Bento Box - Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and cheese may not be the most nutritious choice, but preparing it from scratch provides an opportunity to have fun and add value to an otherwise starchy meal. Select whole wheat pasta, use lowfat milk and cheese, and add some fresh chopped herbs or vegetables like parsley, broccoli, peas, zucchini, onions, and mushrooms.

Menu

• Cabbage Salad
• Made from Scratch Macaroni and Cheese
• Sliced Banana
• Steamed Yams

Preparation Notes

• Prepare the a shredded cabbage salad according to the recipe HERE. (included below)
• Prepare the macaroni and cheese from scratch. Mollie Katzen's "Not-from-a-box Macaroni and Cheese" recipe from her Honest Pretzels Cookbook is one of our favorites.
• Slice the banana.
• Peel, cube, and steam the yam.
• If you're cooking for kids, getting them involved in the kitchen will foster excitement for this great lunch.

Nutty Cabbage Salad

Keep a head of cabbage in the refrigerator for those days when you need a fresh vegetable and don't have time to run to the store. It's versatile and doesn't spoil as quickly as many other vegetables.

Ingredients:

• 1 heaping Tbs. almond butter
• 2 Tbs. rice vinegar
• 1 Tbs. tamari or soy sauce
• 1 Tbs. water
• 5 cups shredded cabbage
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds or pecans
• 2 chopped scallions
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions:
  1. Stir the almond butter, vinegar, tamari and water to form a smooth paste.
  2. Chop the cabbage, nuts, scallions and cilantro.
  3. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly.