I got a new bento and a few new supplies!! But, I was lazy and did this bento in the morning which means very rushed. Spaghetti with a cheese pig, wine grapes, mini plums and some apple pigs in this rush of a bento. Annie loved the new box and the new carrying bag (oh, I need to get a picture of that too sometime, very pretty!).

It is so fall like here already and no matter how much the weather forecasters try to tell us it'll warm up in a day or two, it just isn't. I love it! Cold weather makes me happy. As I look at the garden, a few flowers are hanging on in the dirt so this bento is inspired by that. The bottom tier is fried rice with Kamaboko flowers decorated with nori centers. Surprise, Annie loved the wine grapes from yesterday so she gets more of them today in the middle tier along with some pear slices. And the top tier has a few of the leftover cherry tomatoes, the last of the sugar snap peas and, because she loves it so much, more kamaboko in the shape of flowers with nori dots. Just an aside, Norby couldn't help but comment on the lack of fairness when I sent Annie with her bento and him with a paper bag of Chinese containers of leftovers. Seriously, it doesn't mean I love you any less papa! :ox

You know, I forgot to warn Annie about the wine grapes in this bento. She has been asking and asking about them ever since they showed up at the coop so I finally got some to surprise her. I had Norby try them since I'm in the middle of a three hour glucose test that required I fast last night and he warned me of the seeds and slightly sour taste. I only put a few in but hopefully she'll survive. So that's the middle tier, local organic wine grapes and strawberries, "not crunchy". The top tier has Annie's Homegrown Sour Cream and Onion Bunnies and some Baked Snap Peas, "crunchy". The bottom tier has Kamaboko (pressed fish) slices, "not crunchy", with carrot and cucumber leaves, both "crunchy". I have to say, I really like these three tiered Bentos!

Annie would cringe a bit at me using her old nickname but I can't help myself, I'm a mom! So this has exactly the same herbs, contents and decorations as Norby's minus the sobas and chives. I like the mix of dark and light colors. Now that it's nearly freezing outside, I wonder how much longer my herbs will last.

Chives, dill and basil make this a very herby papa bento. Annie's is nearly identical minus the soba and chives. The top tier has strawberry slices, sugar snap peas, tomato roses with cheese hearts in fresh from the garden basil leaves. The bottom tier has some dilled new potatoes and two tomato roses on some more fresh basil leaves next to two pork dumplings adorned with basil flowers. In the insert are some soba noodles with the sesame oil and soy sauce dressing accompanied by chives and a cheesy heart. Such a lovey dovey bento but then again, I kinda love the big guy!

It turned fall like here almost overnight and I have to say, I'm loving it! Can't wait for fall colors and then the snow. Of course, I also can't wait for it all this year because the baby boys due date is in the fall, but that's another story. Leaves and mums are inspiring me today so tomato flowers and cheese hearts decorate everything. Top tier has leftover pork roast bites (with flowers and a leaf) accompanied by cucumber pieces (with flowers and leaves). The second tier has apple and pear wedges topped with strawberry slices (with leaves). Finally, the bottom tier has soba noodles dressed with sesame oil, soy sauce and scallions (with flowers and leaves). Bring on fall!

Apparently, only large eggs fill my egg presses completely so one half of the poor bunny has been silenced today. Each bunny half decorated with oyster sauce is lying on a bed of sugar snap peas and being encouraged by nori-ed cucumber hearts. The bottom tier has apple, peach and pear slices with muenster hearts. And it's the return of the now 100% Buckwheat (thank you United Noodles for stocking them) Soba Noodle Salad, also accompanied by three (because as everyone knows, three is THE lucky number) muenster hearts. As I'm looking at this bento, hearing Annie and papa take off on his motorcycle, I realize I forgot to put chopsticks in her lunch! D'oh!