Whale of ATime Bento

The bento biz has actually been going on and off for a while with me, although I haven't been posting pictures as of late. I have been recording them but due to work, scholarships and school - I haven't had as much time to make, photograph and/or eat them. But here were are now withthis adorable sea-creature scene that was so simple and still so fun. We had ordered out for American-Chinese takeout and the rice was already shaped like this, all I needed to do was split the tail and add a chocolate chip. Below there's a strip of zucchini from a raw lasagna (yet to be prepared) and a red pepper crab with tofu eyes.

Whale of A Time Bento Ingredients:
White Rice
Basic Spicy Stirfry
Red Pepper
Chocolate Chip
Tofu
Broccoli
Green Bell Pepper
Baby Corn


Hope you enjoy this quick and simple bento!

Tofu Stir-Fry w/Spicy Garlic Sauce (Gluten-Free Option, Sugar-Free Option)

This was incredibly fun to make and I've only made it once before when I tried to figure out one of the sauces for my favorite "treat", stir-fried tofu in garlic sauce. Once a month or so, my family and I will get American-style Chinese takeout and this is my go-to dish aside from dumplings, desserts and steamed veggies. It is quite fattening so I won't eat it often, but it is especially addicting with the conflicting flavors and textures...and probably because I make it extra-spicy. You've probably had it before, and every restaurant has a slightly variating style - so I'm going to put my own little "Shin-Spin" on things. Whatever veggies you have on hand will do, so I'll list what I put in my stir-fry later.

(Spicy Garlic Sauce Ingredients)

• 1 & 1/2 tbl Rice Vinegar
• 2 & 1/2 tbl Rice Wine Vinegar
• 2 tsp Raw Sugar or Stevia (optional)
• 1/4 tsp Good Sesame Oil (retains both taste and smell)
• 1 tbl Veggie Oil
• 2 tbl Good Soy Sauce or Tamari
• 1/2 tsp Sriracha
• 5 Crushed & Minced Garlic Cloves
• 1 pinch of Red Pepper Flakes
• 1 tsp Cornstarch
• 2 tbl Water

(Directions)

• First, mix the water with the cornstarch.
• Saute your minced and crushed garlic in the veggie oil until softened and is lighter in color slightly.
• Add in your vinegars, soy sauce, and oil. Stir and let bubble
• Squirt in your sriracha and sugar, add a bit of pepper flakes and wait about 15 seconds.
• Mix in the slurry of cornstarch and water, then stir it in until it has thickened to your liking.
• Quickly coat your preferred veggies in this addictively spicy sauce and serve over a nice bed of rice.
• Enjoy!

My personal stir-fry contained mung bean sprouts, brocolli sprouts, carrots, baby corn, pan-fried tofu, steamed mushrooms, sweet peas, green bell pepper and broccoli. Since the garlic sauce is so flavorful and has a lot of sodium, I wouldn't suggest adding salt or anything else to the other ingredients so to keep it healthier.

Peruvian Stirfry, Lomo Saltado with Cauliflower Rice (Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Low-Fat, Low-Sugar)

I've been wanting to try this forever! The ingredients fit so well, you get a vinegary punch from hot sauce and a kick from that and some jalapenos with a bit of sweet and acidic flavor from caramelized onions with home-stewed tomatoes. This truly is a stirfry with great balance, and to absorb this melody of flavors you just need some thick-cut fries to sop it all up, they never get soggy and they always stay delicious. Instead of using seitan as I usually would, I decided to make it extra simple and just used some portabella mushrooms that I had in the fridge and it worked perfectly!

(Lomo Saltado Ingredients)

• 1/2 Large Red Onion
• 2 tbl of Sambal Oelek
• 2 Garlic Cloves
• 1/2 Jalapeno
• 2 Mini Yellow & Orange Bell Peppers
• 1 & 1/2 Large Tomatoes
• 1/4 tsp of Vinegar
• 1 tsp of Hot Sauce (your choice)
• 1/4 cup of Collard Greens
• 1/4 cup of Sliced Portabella Mushrooms
• 1/2 tsp of Stevia (optional)
• Salt to taste (optional)
• Cumin and Garlic Powder to taste
• Cilantro

(Cauliflower Rice Ingredients)

• 1/3 head of Cauliflower
• 2 tbl of Olive Oil
• Salt to taste (optional)

A large amount of Thick-Cut Fries (pre-cooked in an oven)

(Directions)

• Simply roast your cauliflower until softened and crisped a bit.
• run through a blender of food processor until it has the light texture of rice - but don't allow it to get mushy. Place aside.


• Mince your jalapeno, garlic and onion and then saute in a dry pan over low heat until they lightly caramelize.
• Season and then add in your bell peppers and tomatoes with your liquids.
• Continue to cook on low until the tomato has softened and released more juices, then mix in your collard greens, mushrooms and seasonings. Cook and taste, adding what you feel is needed.
• Then, turn off the heat and add your cilantro before folding in your fries and serving with your cauliflower rice.

I hope that you enjoy! ^^