Sampler Bento
Today’s featured bento is a “hodge-podge” of items. A sampler of bento-stash, fresh fruit, and bento staples.
Saba Man and I have been CRAZY busy of late so I’ve been leaning heavily on my bento-stash items that lay dormant in the freezer. Foods such as falafel, mini tuna burgers (recipe here) , saffron rice and orange yam were quick to reheat and reshape!
The fresh fruits consists of kiwi, strawberry and the smallest mandarin I could find. To fill out the remaining space I used bento staples such as satsumaimo, sliced boiled egg, edamame and sausage.
The sausage is a vegan type that I sliced, simmered then wrapped in nori. I don’t think anyone would be able to tell that it’s not pork!
But there is something missing from this bento…
Vegetables!
Argh!!! I spout the merits of my bento-stash but didn’t realize that I was out of both fresh and frozen greenies!
Oh well… a cute meal with bite-sized pieces makes for a fun lunch! So for today, fun is better than healthy! Yes?
Yay for bento-stash! How about you? What’s in your freezer?
I really love this! I like bite size things in a large variety, and this box ticks all the right boxes, despite the lack of greens.
I cant even pick which one is my favourite…I love them all…..Go Bento buffet!
Thanks mils! I guess it does look like a bento buffet. Good call.
How pretty, like a wagashi sampler only more substantial! Nice way to practice what you’ve been preaching to us about thinking ahead and building frozen stores. Sad to say I have none. Does frozen store-bought ravioli count?
Hi sheri, frozen store-bought ravioli TOTALLY counts. And now I wish I would of added the same. Okay…next time.
Thanks for your sweet comments.
I’ve totally depleted my freezer stash and need to take some time rebuilding it. The farmer’s markets will open soon (this weekend for most of them) and I’m super excited to have fresh produce that doesn’t taste like it’s from 3 years ago ^_^
Hi Katie, Me too! I can’t wait to visit the farmer’s markets. Fresh AND local produce can’t be beat.
Wow that looks amazing, I just finished my lunch and yet, that made me hungry all over again..lol As far as my freezer…nada, zip, nothin.. but then again it’s close to payday
Hi mommyof2girlz, Thanks for your nice comments. I hear you about payday… I’m waiting too!
i think this still looks very healthy, with lean meat-free protein and tons of fiber! tons of things in here i would love to munch on… samplers are like a party in your lunchbox!
Thanks Megan! I like the idea of a party in a lunchbox.
There are veggies in my freezer
And prawns. But other than that I don’t have any bento stash yet 
Hi Flicksi, hey…veggies and prawns are a bento-stash if you plan on using them for your bento!
Love this bento! I’d take that two-prong fork and stab away at all the goodies.
My freezer needs some work unfortunately. Maybe this weekend I’ll play catch-up on building my stash.
Hi Judy, I also have some work to restore my freezer so we are both in the same boat! Thank you for your nice comments!
You still have a lot of fruits so I will say this is fun and healthy bento. Yellow rice is very nice decorated, so pretty
Hi Lia, Thanks! The yellow rice is a saffron and regular Japanese white rice mx. Yellow enough to be pretty and sticky enough to make musubi!
As sherimiya said, this looks like a lovely wagashi sampler, I love!! The flower imprinted mandarin is lovely, has been on my mind since seeing one in another recent bento of yours…this tidy collection of freezer stash treats is wonderfully styled and so fun, Debra!
Ahh… thanks Jenn, more sweet comments from you. Yes, I’ve been enjoying the mandarin embellishment technique…thanks for noticing.