The Ninja Baker - #bento

3 Back-to-School Bentos, #Glutino

NinjaBaker — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 06:02:08 +0000

Glutino gifted me with free gluten-free products for this post. All opinions are my own.

Autumn is on the horizon. Let the best school lunch box games begin! Are you ready? Glutino kindly sent me kid-friendly gluten-free lunch box items. Inspired, I set out to create 3 Back-to-School Bentos packed with Glutino gluten-free goodness.

Here’s why the Glutino products in the Ninja Baker’s bentos are great eats:
1. The Bread: The Glutino Gluten-Free Multigrain Bread is fluffy and filled with wholesome goodness. The Cinnamon Raisin sings spice and the plump, juicy raisins harmonize sweetly.
2. The Animal Crackers: Both Glutino Animal Crackers are slightly softer than the crisper counterpart. Both versions (original and graham) deliver greater depths of flavor.
3. The Pop Tarts and Breakfast Bars: Soft pastry hugs strawberry and blueberry jams. As a “regular” pop tart fan from way back I thought the lack of frosting might deter from deliciousness. It doesn’t. The uber-sweet frosting was not missed.

In Japan, bento lunch boxes range in presentation (and price!) From the silly to the sophisticated, bento lunch boxes are carried out of the home. Or purchased in depa chika department store basement food halls. (The grand displays definitely rival the aisles of the famed Harrods of London.) Homemade bento boxes – like anything homemade – are filled with love. And an opportunity to have a bit of creative fun…. What kind of bento boxes do you want to pack? Love to hear in the comments section.

Bunny Love Bento

A scrumptious scoop of animal crackers stars in this gluten-free bento lunch. The bento is chock full of veggies, nuts and fruits that a bunny would love. But Bunny Love Bentos are not just for “wabbits.” (Remember the Trix cereal commercial?)

You’ll need:
A Japanese bento box
Bunny rabbit cookie cutters

Ingredients:

Almond butter and a favorite jam
Apple slices
Carrot sticks
Glutino Gluten-Free Animal Crackers
Glutino Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin or Multigrain Bread
Raisins or dried cranberries

Directions:

Slather almond butter and jam on bread. Top with another slice of bread. Firmly but gently press the bunny cookie cutter into the sandwich.

Arrange the bunny sandwiches atop a nest of raisins or dried cranberries.

Fill the rest of the bento box with apple and carrot slices. Generously add a handful of animal crackers.

Gluten-Free Strawberry Pop Tart Sandwich Bento

This Gluten-Free Strawberry Pop Tart Sandwich Bento is a twist on a childhood lunch. Cream cheese and jam sandwiches were introduced to me in Tokyo by my stepmother. Apparently it was a ‘50s classic.

Go with red apples for an all red theme. Go for green apples if you prefer a bit of tart to balance sweet pastry.

Ingredients:

Dried cherries or cranberries
Green or red apple slices
Glutino Gluten-Free Strawberry or Cinnamon Apple Toaster Pastry (aka Pop Tarts)
Glutino Gluten-Free Animal Crackers
Vegan (or dairy) cream cheese
Optional: A small surprise gift for your child

Directions:

Scoop a tablespoon (or more!) of cream cheese between the halves of a Glutino Gluten-Free Strawberry Toaster Pastry. Sprinkle in dried fruit alongside fresh fruit. Add a generous handful of animal crackers. Tuck a surprise trinket into the bento box as an extra treat.

ABC Glutino Snack Pack

My ABC Glutino Snack Pack Bento is one smart way to approach snack time. Your child will give you an A+ for yumminess. (Shhh, don’t tell him/her the treats are actually healthy!)

Ingredients:

Almond Butter
Carrot Sticks
Glutino Apple, Blueberry, Cherry or Strawberry Breakfast Bar
Glutino Gluten-Free Animal Crackers

Directions:

Accompany a scoop of organic almond or peanut butter with carrot sticks. Throw a breakfast bar into the bento box. Plant a kiss on your child. Pat yourself for making smart choices and being a stellar parent!

Wishing you inspired bento boxes sprinkled with Love.

The Ninja Baker

© ™ Watkinson 2012

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

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Heart Healthy Salmon Bento, #SundaySupper

NinjaBaker — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 23:48:20 +0000

Japanese bento lunch boxes are budget-savers. Beautifully crafted bentos are often on sale hours before closing in department store basements in Japan. The artistic mosaics of foods arranged in accordance with the season are also available for a reasonable price on bullet train rides and station kiosks. Still, bento boxes like brown bags when homemade are inevitably infused with an invaluable ingredient – love.

A balanced bento:
Heart Healthy Salmon Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls) and almonds
are accompanied by Chocolate Péjoy Banana Rum Mini Cakes.

Bentos made by a parent or a spouse at home also allow for specific taste tailoring. Of course, the cookie monster in your house may vote for a cookie bento. But if the aim is providing a happy AND healthy lunch, a bento with onigiri rice balls stuffed with salmon (beef or other heart-healthy protein) is ideal. (Japanese – English dictionaries usually translate onigiri as Japanese rice balls. The translation is baffling to this Ninja Baker; traditionally the rice “balls” are actually more triangular in shape.)

Salmon: A fish with a myriad of virtues and versatility.

Salmon is a fantabulous choice for onigiri filling. Here are a few reasons why:

Salmon

reduces heart disease risk
decreases the chance of blood clots
keeps the heart beating normally (thanks to the potassium and unsaturated fats in salmon)
fights cancers
assists with anti-aging
contains phosphorus which works well with calcium to strengthen bones and teeth
flows with vitamin and mineral rich B6, B12, zinc, iron and niacin
Last and not least, salmon is packed with protein. Women need 46 grams of daily protein, men require 56 grams. 3 ounces of salmon holds 22 grams of protein – perfect for stuffing into a Japanese onigiri. And the triangular rice balls are marvelous companions in a bento box to almonds, leafy greens and the Ninja Baker’s Chocolate Péjoy Banana Rum Mini Cakes!

Click here for a brief onigiri how-to video.

One kitty who appreciates the benefits of salmon!

Thank you to Ethel of EatingInInstead and Lori of FoxesLoveLemons for hosting this Heart Healthy-themed SundaySupper. Besides attending the virtual dinner party at Twitter (scroll down for details) here are recipes to keep your heart healthy and your tummy happy!

Better for you breakfasts:

Apple Pie Oatmeal by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Scones by Brunch with Joy
Create-Your-Own Overnight Oatmeal by Rhubarb and Honey
Orange, Mango, Lime & Ginger Smoothie by The Wimpy Vegetarian
Pear Bran Muffins by Magnolia Days
Stovetop Fruit & Honey Granola by What Smells So Good?

Jump start your health with these appetizers and snacks:

Almond Crusted Chicken Nuggets by Momma's Meals
Chipotle Black Bean Dip by Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
Lemon Aioli with Spring Vegetables by Jane's Adventures in Dinner
Mala Baked Tofu Bites by Palatable Pastime
Parmesan Pistachio Kale Chips by The Texan New Yorker

Soups that'll win your heart:

Asian Soba Noodle Broth Bowl by Hip Foodie Mom
Kale, Spinach, and Bean Soup by Ruffles & Truffles
Mushroom Quinoa Soup by Pies and Plots
Quinoa Chickpea Soup with Roasted Garlic & Veggies by Sue's Nutrition Buzz
Turkey and Black-Eyed Peas Soup by Cindy's Recipes and Writings

Veggies, Sides, & Salads your heart will thank you for:

Collard Greens with Cumin and Paprika by Nik Snacks
Salmon Caesar Salad by Casa de Crews
Kale Roasted Beet Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing by Noshing with the Nolands
Lightened-Up Creamed Spinach au Gratin by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Roasted Teriyaki Green Beans and Mushrooms by NeighborFood
Salmon Salad Niçoise by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Seasoned Spinach & Bok Choy by Nosh My Way
Spinach Berry Salad by Country Girl in the Village
Sweet & Smokey Cauliflower Salad by Take a Bite Out of Boca
Winter Citrus Salad with Avocado-Basil Dressing by Foxes Love Lemons

Healthy is the center of attention in these main courses:

Baked Eggplant Parmesan by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Celeriac Noodles with Mushroom Ragu by The Joyful Foodie
Gluten Free Roasted Chicken and Kale by Gluten Free Crumbley
Heart Healthy Salmon Bento by The Ninja Baker
Lemony Grilled Chicken by Peaceful Cooking
Moroccan Salmon Tagine by Curious Cuisiniere
Olive Oil-Poached Salmon with Pickled Cherry Salsa by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
One Pot Mexican Quinoa by Have Fun Saving
Oven Baked Tilapia Tacos by Sew You Think You Can Cook
Piperies Yemistes me Pligouri - Bulgur Stuffed Peppers by Food Lust People Love
Salmon with Mango Salsa by Cooking Chat
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Quinoa Bake by Food Done Light
Vegetable and Ginger Congee by eating in instead
Vegetarian Cuban-Style Black Beans & Rice by MealDiva
White Bean, Corn, Tomato and Rice Skillet by Family Foodie

Staying healthy doesn't mean giving up desserts!

Baked Figs with Vanilla and Honey by Happy Baking Days
Caramelized Pear Tart by PancakeWarriors
Cherry-Blueberry Trifles by The Life and Loves of Grumpy's Honeybunch

We heart wine.

Wine Pairing Recommendations for Heart Healthy #SundaySupper by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Wishing you and yours healthy hearts that sing with happiness!

The Ninja Baker

© ™ Watkinson 2012

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

Follow Ninja Baker @NinjaBaking's board NinjaBaker.com Savories on Pinterest.

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Breakfast Bento, #WishFarms

NinjaBaker — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 22:14:29 +0000

Japanese bento boxes are traditionally packed with lunch goodies. But with many of us juggle must-dos the moment our eyes flutter open. A to-go breakfast bento delivers a healthy solution to the morning rush....Especially when sweetened with Wish Farms strawberries and blueberries.

Do you suffer from boring breakfast blues? As the popular songstress, Taylor Swift says, "Shake it off!" And visit Misty's Pixie Post at Wish Farms where this Ninja Baker reveals splendid solutions.

Wishing you beautiful mornings which melt into beautiful evenings.

The Ninja Baker

© ™ Watkinson 2012

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

Follow Ninja Baker @NinjaBaking's board NinjaBaker.com Sweets on Pinterest.

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Quinoa Donburi and Mini Bento, #Beyond Meat

NinjaBaker — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:41:53 +0000

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

I am honored that my friends at Beyond Meat included the Ninja Baker in spreading the word about Beyond Meat Beef-Free Crumbles. Visionaries, Bill Gates (Yes! The Bill Gates of Microsoft) and Twitter co-founders, Biz Stone and Evan Williams are among the investors.

CEO & Founder of Beyond Meat, Ethan Brown, is the son of a farmer. Mr. Brown is also an expert in the clean energy sector. Concerned about the astonishing number of cattle killed for consumption, he wondered if we'd continue our habits if the taste could be replicated with plants. Well, God Bless the scientists of our world. They accomplished the feat!

Beyond Meat Beef-Free Crumbles tastes like the “real” thing. (And I’m not just saying that because this is a sponsored post.) Equally impressive are the non-GMO, gluten-free and Kosher ingredients. (The same as ground beef.) An added bonus: No saturated or trans fats appear in Beef-Free Crumbles. Also, the Beyond Meat products contain no cholesterol but delivers 10 grams of protein.

There are two kinds of Beef-Free Crumbles at the moment - Beefy and Feisty. The beefy flavor is accented with garlic and citrus flavors. As you can imagine, the Feisty one is stellar for those who prefer a bit of heat in their tacos and chili.

For my quinoa donburi, I chose the Beefy crumbles. What is donburi? Sites on the American internet mostly define the Japanese dish as simmered meats and veggies poured atop mounds of rice. Although accurate the Japanese internet (and my Japanese cooking friends) confirm that a donburi can also be various items prepared separately then placed atop rice.

Quinoa Donburi Bowl

My donburi features predictable Asian veggies such as Chinese cabbage and Japanese daikon radish. However, I substituted quinoa for traditional Japanese sticky white rice. Also, to the best of my knowledge, Beef-Free Crumbles are yet to be seen atop donburi in Japan. (But, you never know what tomorrow brings, right?) The recipe below fits perfectly into one large bowl and one mini bento box.

Mini bento box with quinoa, Beef-Free Beefy Crumbles,
Chinese cabbage, purple cauliflower, Japanese daikon radish
and a yellow zucchini butterfly!

Here's a link to locate the closest store which carries Beyond Meat Beef-Free Crumbles. (You'll find it in the frozen section.)

Quinoa Donburi and Mini Bento

The Beefy Crumble when sautéed with the soy sauce and grapeseed oil tastes similar to a sweet sausage. (The good news is the No-Beef Beefy Crumble is gluten-free and contains no cholesterol!) The soy sauce contrasts nicely with the Beefy Crumble.

If you can get a hold of Satsuma Mandarin balsamic vinegar, do so. The citrus flavor enhances the squeeze of lemon juice in the crumble.

This recipe makes enough for one generous serving for a donburi rice bowl and one mini Japanese bento lunch box.

Ingredients:

½ cup quinoa
1 cup water
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1 cup Beyond Meat Beefy Beef-Free Crumble
2½ tablespoons soy sauce
2 cups Chinese cabbage, roughly chopped
1 or 2 large purple cauliflower florets
7 small slices of Japanese daikon radish
5 medium slices of yellow zucchini
1½ -2 tablespoons Satsuma Mandarin balsamic vinegar (or balsamic vinegar with a drop or two of lemon or lime juice)

Directions:

Bring water, quinoa and 1 tablespoon of the grapeseed oil to a boil. Stir. Simmer over medium-low heat for about 12 minutes (or until the liquid is absorbed.) Remove from the stove. Let the quinoa rest for 5 minutes. Fluff.

In a large skillet, sauté the Beefy Crumble with the soy sauce and remaining 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil.

Lightly steam the cabbage, cauliflower and Japanese daikon radish along with the zucchini. Drain in a colander.

Scoop mounds of quinoa into a bowl for donburi, into a bento box for a mini lunch treat. Arrange the Beefy Crumbles and vegetables atop the bowl and bento box. Sprinkle with the balsamic vinegar.

The Beyond Meat Mission:
We believe there is a better way to feed the planet. Our mission is to create mass-market solutions that perfectly replace animal protein with plant protein. We are dedicated to improving human health, positively impacting climate change, conserving natural resources and respecting animal welfare...At Beyond Meat, we want to make the world a better place and we’re starting one delicious meal at a time.?

What is Meat??? Meat is no mystery.
It’s actually pretty simple: amino acids, fats, trace carbohydrates and minerals, and a lot of water combined to give us that familiar chew, resistance, and variation.??What if we are able to take these inputs from plants and apply heating, cooling, and pressure so they combine just like animal meat? And what if you define meat by what it is—amino acids, fats, carbs, minerals, and water—versus where it is from (i.e cows, chickens, pigs)???What you’d have is meat for the future. Meat from plants.

For more information about Beyond Meat, visit their website, see them on The Today Show or in the New York Times.

Wishing you and me a planet where happiness and goodness surrounds us.

The Ninja Baker

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

Follow Ninja Baker @NinjaBaking's board NinjaBaking.com Savories on Pinterest.

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