Peanut Butter Puppy Bento

This is one of my girlies' favorite bento lunches. I create the puppy's face from whole wheat bread and peanut butter, using dried fruit for the eyes, nose and tongue. I used a dried plum for the one in this picture, but a dried cherry works really nicely too. The puppy is resting on a bed of kibble, which I usually make from pretzels, nuts, granola and other small crunchy things. The bones are cut out of apple slices and placed with some cherry tomatoes on some sweet, crunchy carrot slaw. I mix a shredded carrot with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, a teaspoon of honey and a sprinkle of salt.

If you're in the Columbus, Ohio area and would like to learn how to create this bento, come to Sprout Soup at 4310 North High St. tomorrow (November 17th) at 11am for my "Build-a-Bento" workshop. It's only $10 and you will get hands-on experience making your own peanut butter puppy, which you can take home or eat for lunch along with some kibble and carrot slaw.

Visit Sprout Soup's website for more information: www.sproutsoup.com

Onigiri Piglet Bento

I pack bento lunches for my two daughters every day. It's convenient, fun, nutritious and doesn't create a lot of waste like items packed into baggies or individual serving sizes.

The girls (ages 7 and 9 currently) love their lunches and tell me that they look forward to them every day. But, their favorites are definitely when I make the ingredients into animal shapes, like this cute little onigiri piglet I create out of onigiri (rice balls) and ham slices. I use nitrate-free natural ham, but you could also use vegetarian deli slices or even turkey if you would prefer.

The piglet is nestled in a bed of corn and edamame salad, which looks to me like something a little piggy would love to eat. The veggies were simply thawed and tossed with a little olive oil, vinegar and salt. The compartment above has apple slices (locally grown wine-sap apples which I am so going to miss when they are gone.) baby carrots and a sesame seed and craisin trail mix.

If you're in the Columbus, Ohio area and would like to learn how to create this bento, come to Sprout Soup at 4310 North High St. tonight at 6:30pm for my "Build-a-Bento" workshop. It's only $10 and you will get to create your very own onigiri piglet to have and hold and love... and eat!

Visit Sprout Soup's website for more information: www.sproutsoup.com