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!