Happy New Year 2011

Just a note to wish all of my friends in the bento community a very Happy New Year. I hope you and your family are able to celebrate the beginning of a very special New Year filled with promise, hope and health.

A Really Big , Lovely Cabbage

Who knew I could fall for a beautiful red cabbage. This cabbage was on display at Teena's Pride Farm when I attended their open house last week. It is one of the vegetables available through my CSA program. I have plans to make sweet and sour cabbage with it for supper this week. But for now I just admire it.

Wishes For a Restful Christmas Week

I am looking forward to tieing up all of the loose ends that come with preparing for Christmas Day. Meanwhile my buddy Kee, the Siamese Cat, seems to the a better idea. I hope you have find a soft, cuddly couch to rest for a spell this Christmas. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas.

Lemon Grass Tea

Today marks the second official day of my Christmas Break. Yesterday was a busy blur. Before I lost total track of the day I made Lemon Grass Tea with Mint and popped it in the frig. Today I plan to bake in between dental appointments and trips to the store. Already in the bread machine I have started Cinnamon Bread. No planned bentos for the next two weeks but lots of cooking projects to prepare for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years. Bye the way the weather is beautiful here in Miami if you are already tired of snow. Clear skies, sunny days with the high in the sixties. Best wishes for a happy and special holiday.

Meet My New CSA

For months now I have secretly researched the CSA movement on the internet wishing for a Miami contact. I live in suburbia, the farms are a distant cry from my lifestyle. I have been longing for the fresh produce so many enjoy in more rural settings. Several weeks ago I visited a sustainable farm in an area south of the city. I found my farm. I signed up for their CSA and we are now a part of the real food movement tried and true. This photo is a glimpse of my gourment lettuce crop enjoying th morning sun. Every week for the next 6 months I will receive shares of the produce delivered to a family owned shop close to home. The farm is fully sustainable, grows heirloom tomatoes, lettuces, herbs and lots of other assorted vegetables. Their carbon footprint extends 45 miles from the farm. Their crops are mostly organic althought the farm is not organic certified, and many are grown in hydroponic green houses like these lettuce plants. Miami, being in the sub-tropics, grows the biggest collection of bugs that also love fresh produce. This is the closest I will ever get to home grown goodness many of you enjoy everyday. I am so ready for the change.

I'm Back and Baking

Meet my newest toy, the Zojirushi Home Bakery Machine. I cranked her up this morning and she made a 1-1/2 lb. loaf of Pesto Bread.  The house smells wonderful and my taste buds are already tingling.I know it's a little premature for Christmas but it will be a big part of my Christmas gift this year. I just couldn't wait with Thanksgiving just around the corner and lots of bread baking ahead of me with the Holidays. I can justify anything, just give me a second. I love the fact that the loaf pan makes a long bread like store bought brands. The machine makes up to a 2 lb. loaf which is great for when the whole family is around.

Boring But Tasty Bento

I have to admit that many days I am just hungry but uninspired. Today was was of those days. The bento is filled with healthy stuff but of the wrong color palate for inspiration. Missing are the red, and orange colors. Difficult to see from this picture the veggie straws are actually orange and the inside of the meat roll is red. Oh well...you win some and you lose some.