Thesis has taken over my life

Well, since I officially haven't been able to keep up with making bento lunches in Sweden, I am going to post old photos that I just never got around to posting.  At least there will be something nice to look at. 

So...in the top of the bento box is an apple and satsuma.  Satsuma oranges are my absolute favorite and I really wish they grew them here in Sweden.  

In the bottom of the bento, there is some potatoes, green beens and carrot sticks.  I don't remember how the potatoes or beans were cooked, but I bet they were delicious!  The little piggy (hard boiled egg) is really happy with the lunch!  Although, I'm not too happy tha

t the left side of his face didn't turn out so well.  I'll have to work on finding larger eggs to fit the molds better.

So, the second bento lunch we have here makes me wish that delicious thai food existed in Sweden.  I'm going to bet that this leftover pad thai was purchased from Chow,

which was just down the street from me when lived in San Diego.  YUM. 

 The gyoza are most likely frozen ones from Trader Joe's.  Frozen corn, half an apple and some edemame are in the top tier.  Mmm...I'm getting super hungry just looking at this!  I'll be back in the US soon enough, where the food actually has flavor and spice!  I can't wait!

Pre-lunch Posting!

I always feel like I get more accomplished in a day when I make myself a good well-rounded lunch.  It must be a self-fulfulling prophecy since it is the night before and my bento is still sitting in the fridge waiting to be eaten in 12 hours!  Making bento lunches gives my hectic life a bit of routine, and I'm finally trying to get back into it here in Sweden.  Even if I'm making just one bento a week.  So, here we go!

In this lovely lunch we have some green grapes

and half an orange in the bottom tier.  Nothing too fancy.  In the top tier I made some noodle-y thing using some instant buckwheat noodles, carrots, spinach, and a can of stir-fry veggies, tossed in with some teriyaki sauce.  A halved boiled egg tops off the mix.  

I have to admit, it wasn't the best tasting concoction in the world (I made it for lunch today), but sometimes you are doomed to eat what you cook.  I'd like to think that my culinary skills are improving, but then I am humbled by making a dish that just isn't quite right.  At least I managed to make myself a delicious dinner.  

Take 2!

In the spirit of FARthesis blogging, I have decided to start bento-blogging again.  Well, first, I had to decide to start making bento lunches again.  Since moving to Sweden, it has been a challenge for me to make my own (healthy) lunches.  I sorely miss ingredients from the United States.  I really just need to suck it up and use my creative brain to get myself eating better again.  I actually noticed a difference in how I felt due to my poor eating habits and lack of variety in my diet.  So, here's to a late resolution of making more lunches!  I think my wallet and belly will both be glad I'm doing this...

Unfortunately, I have yet to figure out a good picture taking strategy, so deal.  Top of the lunch contains 1 dl of rice (a measuring cup makes for a creative rice mold!), homemeade dumplings (recipe here), and some soy sacue spiced up with a little siracha.  The bottom has some frozen blueberries and a stir-fry of napa cabbage, bamboo shoots, and carrots.  Not the most colorful lunch, but really, I was just happy I was able to scrounge one together.

I've been experimenting with more and more recipes and making more food from scratch.  I think that is what you have to do when you live in a "culinary wasteland".  This is the first time I made dumplings from scratch, and I think they turned out pretty well if I do say so myself.  It is really easy to make a big batch and freeze the rest for a rainy day.  Perfect!