Leftovers

Hubby Bento 7.29.07
Originally uploaded by tattooedmomma

Last night I made this kick ass casserole I found at KraftFoods.com. It was super simple and pretty much had all of hubby's favorite things. I was going to make everything seperate then remembered I had a can of mixed veggies so I threw this together instead.

His bento for tonight is basically all leftovers and I try to be the leftovers queen.

The ramen is what Puddin' didn't finish from her supper last night. The onigiri is what didn't get eaten from what I made the day before and the casserole and pudding were in the fridge waiting to be eaten. You can't go wrong with that.

*Recipe from KraftFoods.com*
EASY CHICKEN BAKE
1 pkg (6 oz) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1-1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 can (10-3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
1/3 cup Brakstone’s or Knudsen Sour Cream
1 bag (16 oz) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed, drained
Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package; set aside.
Mix chicken, soup, sour cream and vegetables in 13x9-inch baking dish; top with the stuffing.
Bake 30 min or until chicken is cooked through.

Orange & Green Bento

Orange & Green Bento
Originally uploaded by tattooedmomma

I haven't been motivated much to do my bentos but today I had such a joy cooking and doing food prep. This is hubby's bento for today.

Green box - 2 onigiri (from my new molds), green grapes & little fishy bottles of soy sauce

Big Orange Box - 2 ham & cheese pan-fried wraps & brown sugar glazed sweet potatoes (recipies below)

Small Orange Box - banana pudding I made last night

*Ham Wraps Recipe*
I threw this together with what I had, but you can change it to your taste

10 egg roll wrappers (the rest of the package from last time)
1 package of thin sliced deli ham (I used Kroger brand)
1/2 cup of shredded cheese
2 heaping tablespoons of mayo
spices to your liking (I used a spice mix by Emeril)
1 tablespoon of minced garlic

-Chop the ham up semi fine and mix ingredients
-spoon mix onto wrappers and roll as package indicates
-pan fry on medium for 2-4 minutes on each side depending on how brown you want them - I cook with EVOO but its your choice on the oil
-place on papertowel on a plate to drain- let cool about 5 minutes and ENJOY!
-These heat up really fast in the microwave and are not half bad cold

*Brown Sugar Glazed Sweet Potatoes
I can't credit for the recipie but its pretty simple - here is a link to the recipe that I used, though I added an extra Tbsp. of butter

Brown Sugar Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Bento Goodies!!!

Bento Goodies!!!
Originally uploaded by tattooedmomma

Look at all this awesome stuff I ordered from Sugar Charms! I cannot wait to use this it all in my bentos! Seriously, I am so damn excited!

I finished The Deahtly Hallows. It was simply amazing. I cried, I laughed, jeered and cheered. J.K. has done the series justice and brought the story to a very satisfying end. I am happy at how good it was but sad that it is over. I can't wait to read the books to Puddin' when she is older.

Missing in Action

See you when I have finished reading. I am excited but sad at the same time.

Yesterday I went to the international market that is closest to my house. There is another I want to visit that is by the airport, but I will have to hit that one earlier in the day. I found the furikake I wanted for my onigiri and opted for the freeze dried shrimp bits with nori and seasoning. I am not a big fan of sesame. I tried it on a little ramen last night... it's different, but not bad at all. I also got some pre-made, frozen chicken buns and when I opened the box, they were moldy. I was so pissed! I will take them back this weekend and get my damn $4 back. LOL! I also got various Japanese candies, treats, rice noodles & some Equadorian baby bananas. Puddin' is a little intimidated by them, but she realized they taste the same as the big ones, so she is okay with that.

I was going to have to wait a couple of more weeks to get my other rice cooker from my parents so today while at Target, I ended up getting a microwave rice cooker/vegetable steamer. It was only $8, so I figured it was worth trying. I also got some Reynold's steamer bags for the microwave. I hope to try it this weekend. The Dollar Spot at Target also was the Hello Kitty mother load for cheap bento/lunch supplies. I got a vinyl lunch bag, a 2 pack of gel ice packs, a pkg. of zip lock bags, 2 take a long snack boxes with lids (there were mini size boxes inside the big boxes as well), and a water bottle.... all of these were Hello Kitty mind you. I was completely chuffed!

The main reason I went to Target was to ogle over the back to school supplies. I friggin' love school supplies. I feel like I want at least one of eveything. I can actually justify not needing them, but some things are so cute, I just have to have them. LOL! Pencils, pens, notebooks, lunchboxes, backpacks, rulers.... ALL of it just makes me giddy, I don't know why I have such a love for school supplies, but it is something I have always loved. I got hubby some new hand soap for his bathroom because the bottle of Old Spice soap he was using was making my nose burn. It's back to Dial for him.

Hubby's friends from collge and their son stopped by this afternoon on their way back to Memphis. It was nice finally meeting them and they treated Puddin' and I to lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. Puddin' didn't have a good nap, so she was a little cranky. But, it was nice talking with them and we hope to visit them in the near future.

Jess' Cheesy Chicken

Jess' Cheesy Chicken is what I have decided to name my chicken creation that I posted the recipe for a few posts back. Tonight I unleashed my culinary genius again and created "Jess' Chicken Rolls." Yeah... I know it isn't very original, but I have never been one for creative writing. So prepare yourself for a quick and easy, BENTO FRIENDLY, delicious recipe from my kitchen to yers.

1 pkg. of spring roll wrappers (I only used 10 from the 20 count pkg.)
1 large can of chunk chicken (I used wal*mart brand)
6-8 baby carrots (chopped)
1/2 of a large cucumber or 1 whole small cucumber (chopped)
*spices to taste.... (personal preference)... I used
salt & pepper
basil
onion salt
garlic salt
paprika
and a little tobasco - because my Mother in Law was right that a little tobasco makes everything taste better

-while you are mixing your ingredients, have some oil warming in a skillet
-mix everything together - except for the wrappers of course
-spoon a decent amount of your mixture onto the wrappers and roll up according to instructions or however you please... just be sure that one corner is tucked under while frying so that it keeps that 'egg-roll' shape
-the ingredients makes 10 good sized rolls
-turn the oil you are warming up to medium
-place as your rolls in the oil and pan fry for approx. 2 minutes on each side.
-if you want a more brown roll, add 30 seconds to 1 minute to your cook time
-place on a paper towel to drain the grease while cooling
-ENJOY!

These are good even when cold - goes well with mustard or sweet and sour sauce - try it with whatever your favorite sauce is or add your own spin to the recipe and let me know about it!

I thought of this off the top of my head and am pleased as punch that it turned out so well. Hubby is über excited to try this in his bento tomorrow.

Its been a while

Pink Dress-7/15/07
Originally uploaded by tattooedmomma

Since my rice cooker died, I haven't really been in the mood to Bento. We also went to Knoxville this weekend to visit my pregnant friend to give her some of Puddin's baby clothes and things and to see family. We also saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix while there. It was pretty good. I think I need to see it again though.

I am going to try to start up my home organizing business again. I am really going to be proactive about it. I have a big organization/cleaning project coming up in the next few weeks and it is getting me motivated to get back into it again. I am excited to tackle this house and getting it back in order for the homeowner.

The picture of Puddin' was taken this morning. Hubby took her to visit Granna and her friends at sunday school before we headed back to Nashville. I am starting a blog page for my business and will have the link up soon. So, if you know anyone that needs some organization help.... please let me know.

Hubby 's 1st Bento

Hubby 1st Bento
Originally uploaded by tattooedmomma

My rice cooker crapped out on me today. I got to use it all of 3 times. Now that I want rice all the time, I guess I need to go buy a new one. Frackin' pisses me off.

I made this awesome spicy/cheesy chicken today. Hubby loved it so I fixed him his first bento with the leftovers. Also, in his bento is tortilla chips to crumble on the chicken, slightly salted edamame, caramel apple pieces, carrots with ranch dressing for dipping and 2 pieces of peanut butter candy.

He was really excited to take the to work. I hope he likes it!

*recipe* (feeds 2 or 3 depending on how many you eat)
-6 thawed boneless/skinless chicken tenderloins
-1 can of cheddar cheese soup
-1 can of rotell drained
-1 tsp. of tabasco or hot sauce
-1 tbsp. of dried basil
- salt & pepper to taste

cook the chicken on medium heat until its no longer pink (I cook it with a little EVOO)
add can of cheddar cheese soup, rotell, hot sauce and dry ingredients
cover and let cook for about 5 minutes then turn the chicken and let cook for another 5 minutes on low

It's really tender and taste super good. You can also use chicken from the meat department/butcher, but frozen tenderloins cook up fast and we keep them in our freezer all the time

New Hair & New Bod

New Hair
Originally uploaded by tattooedjess

While I was in Chattanooga, I got my hair cut. I used to wear it like this all of the time and haven't had it this short since before I gave birth. I decided I was tired of pulling my hair back to get it off my neck, so I got it lopped off. I love it! I missed having short hair.

Also while I was back home, I bought some new clothes; mainly pants. I am down 2 more sizes since last summer. I was still wearing all of my pants from last year and they were falling off my ass. It was time for some new cute, summery capris. I was so stoked to be in a size I hadn't been in since about the 10th grade. Overall, I have lost 121 pounds since I last weighed a little over a week ago.

I went to a tattoo convention while there and also got pierced by my good friend Jessica. I finally met the cool people she works with at Standard Ink and swapped toddler stories with Amber, the other piercer. There is a girl that works there named Brandy and she looks like she could be Maya Roudolf's twin.

Puddin' and I are settling in at home. She is happy to be with all of her stuffies & kitties and her new playhouse and swing set. Tomorrow I will get back to packing bento boxes. I got 3 new ones while in Chattanooga that I can't wait to try out. I also found some easy recipes in my mom's prevention magazines that I can't wait to try.

Tonight I am going to shower, shave, do a salt soak, paint my toenails and veg out. It's good to be back home.