Harry Potter Edible Geekery Blog Hop

Its time for another Edible Geekery blog hop. The Wizard world of Harry Potter is where we travel today.

My lunch is a sunbutter sandwich with seaweed and sweet bell pepper scarf.

The golden snitch is a babybel cheese and sweet pepper on spinach and kale salad.

The other compartments of the lunchbots quad are sweet bell peppers and sugar snap peas and raspberries and blackberries.

Now wave your wand or travel by Floo network to Lunches fit for a kid

International Talk like a Pirate day

Mabel's Labels is offering two great 50% off promotions! For today only, Mabel's Labels is offering 50% off Pirate Ship or Skull 'n' Crossbones Sticky Labels in honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Plus, on 9/20, Mabel's Labels is offering50% off Plane Sticky Labels for their second year of Talk Like a Pilot Day, created by Mabel's Labels. Don't miss your chance to shop these great offers! 

And to see lots off fun pirate lunches visit bentobloggers and friends where I am part of a link party for international pirates day

Back to School Bento Blog Hop

It's back to school time again so I am going to share with you some of my favorite tools for packing bento lunches and then you will get the chance to win some of them in the bento bloggers and friend back to school giveaway hop.

One of the easiest ways to start packing bentos is to buy a divided box. There are many different ones to choose from. Some of my favorites are PlanetBox, lunchbots, laptop lunches, Yubo and EasyLunchboxes which I used in my lunch below.

Then get a cute cutter. Cookie cutters work great or something like the multifunctional CuteZCute cutter. The cutter can be used on sandwiches, tortillas, fruit etc

Picks are a great way to add some fun quickly my favorite are theses alphabet picks. Put them all together and you have a quick and fun lunch for back to school.

Here is a Tiger lunch a salad with cheese, tortilla, and strawberries.

Now chance to win some great prizes visit all the blogs on the hop and collect the letters to the secret phrase, put them in order by number and enter you answer along with the required entries into the rafflecopter.
Open worldwide, collect the pieces and answer the 2 mandatory questions. Like our sponsors to unlock more entry options





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Collect this piece

Click the picture below to go to the next blog Keithas chaoas

6 FUN & EASY STEPS TO THROW A GREEN SUMMER PARTY

By:  Sandra Ann  Harris  Founder, ECOlunchbox  July 2014

As summertime begins and families head to the beach, the park, the mountains and other favorite spots in the great outdoors, it’s a good time to remember there are easy ways to celebrate our love of Mother Nature by throwing a green party.

Step 1: Location, Location, Location

Pick a picnic spot you can walk, bike or boat to or arrive by public transit. If that's not possible, carpool with friends.

Step 2: Choose an Eco-friendly Invitations

Whether throwing a baby shower, a beach party, birthday picnic or backyard BBQ, you’ve got to let your guests know about the green fun you're planning in eco-friendly style! If it's a neighborhood party, print invites on recycled paper and personally hand them to guests. Or use electronic invitations, which are convenient and don't waste paper.

Step 3: Green Menu Planning

Great produce makes the chef's job super easy. Think simple. Finger foods like cut fruit, nuts, local honey and peanut butter sandwiches are simple and nourishing for all ages. Also, some cheeses, like brie and camembert, are lovely softened in the sun over fresh-baked bread.

Farmer's markets have the freshest and tastiest fruits and vegetables available from the area. Organic products are hormone and pesticide-free, making them safe to eat.

Make your own beverage and serve it in a plastic-free pitcher. That way you don't have to deal with all the cans and bottles.

Step 4: Waste-Free Dinnerware

Say goodbye to throw-aways and plastics. Ask picnickers to BYO dishes, water bottles, utensils, etc. This can be done tastefully if you explain you're hosting a zero-waste party and need some help to accomplish this.

If that’s not your style, pack a sturdy cardboard box with reusable items to share with your invitees, such as non breakable stainless steel picnic plates, reusable bamboo utensils, reusable straws, washable cotton napkins and sturdy mason jars for use as cups.

Sure you may have to do some washing, but much of this stuff will naturally decompose. Plus, you're saving money by going waste free.

Step 5: Showcase Mother Nature

Nature’s beauty is inspiring when it comes to setting the table in eco-style. Leaves, flowers, pinecones, twigs, seashells and other natural treasures can be showcased on your eco-friendly BBQ or green a beach party blanket.

Step 6: Clean up!

Clearly mark bins for recycling, compost and waste for your guests. Since most public parks don't separate waste and your efforts will end up in the trash, toss your separated bags into the trunk to put out with your trash pickup at home.

4 bloggers 3 tools: Flower lunch

Today I am taking part in a series by Wendolonia called 3 blogger 3 tools.

We each use the same three tools and see what different lunches we come up with.

The tools were an EasyLunchbox Wilton nesting flower cutters and Leaf picks

My lunch features nut butter and sprinkle flower sandwiches, in a flowerpot with peanut butter and Oreo crumbles and leaf picks. Carrot and cucumber flowers and strawberries and blueberries. This was a very simple lunch to make. Go visit Wendolonia to see what the other bloggers made with the same tools.

Traditional Wappa Bento

This was a Bento for me. I have been wanting a Traditional Magewappa or bentwood box and finally got one. This is a cheaper version as most of these cost $100 this one was $25 shipped. So I ordered one for my birthday and patiently waited for it to arrive from Japan.

So a more traditional bento for a more traditional box.

Rice with furikoshi sprinkles. Lettuce, tomatoes, boiled egg and firecracker sushi with fried prawn.

I love the styling of this box . It's pretty enough to sit on a shelf for display. It doesn't come with a band for securing it but they are easily bought and I have a selection from other boxes.

Star Wars bento lunch hop May the 4th be with you

It's May the Fourth or Star Wars day again. So here is this years Bento Bloggers and friends Star Wars Lunch blog hop.

This year we travel to The ice planet Hoth to meet a rather sad looking Wampa, because Luke has cut his arm off with his lightsaber!

Sad Wampa is an open faced sandwich with whipped Philadephia cream cheese. I just cut a vaguely wampa-ish shape out of bread and spread the cream cheese on in a messy way. The features are cut out from tortilla with americolor markers to add details and a little strawberry jam dabbed where the poor Wampas arm used to be.

Also served is strawberries and blackberries and yoghurt with pineapple chunks for the Wampas ice cave.

All served in an EasyLunchboxes box.

Now travel the way of the force to Chaos and Confections to see what geeky delights she has made by clicking on the picture below.

Mabel's labels 50% off shamrock stick labels

Happy St Patrick's day 
Everyone can have a little luck this St. Patrick's Day because Mabel's Labels is offering 50% off Shamrock Sticky Labels. In addition to using shamrocks to decorate gifts and cards, these iconic labels are a fun way to tag your kids' belongings while giving them a little luck. Starting 5am EST and ending 11:59pm EST, Mar. 17th, use the coupon code MABELLUCK to receive 50% off of your purchase of Shamrock Sticky Labels. Plus, receive free shipping on all orders! Hurry - before this offer ends!
FTC Disclosure Statement: This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Pi day: Supernatural Pie "Love me some pie"

It's March 14th or 3.14 or Pi day or Pie day!

Who loves him some pie more than Dean Winchester from Supernatural so I made a protection symbol pie.

Here is is before I cooked it.

It's an Apple pie, I was worried it would get stuck in this bowl so I foolishly decided to move it. It didn't survive the transfer well, oops!

I also made a burger because you all know how much Dean likes his burgers. This is a beef and mushroom burger with Trader Joes 21 seasoning salute and cheese. Absolutely no leviathan food additives.

Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs 2 bento lunch

We finally got round to seeing this movie on DVD and the kids loved it, went around making Barry the Berry noises all week.  It also makes great bento lunch making inspiration. There are lots of foodimals to choose from.

In this lunch is
Tacodile:  taco with chicken, cheese, tomato and lettuce and a olive eye.
Marshmallow: face drawn with americolor food marker
Tomato: oh that's just a tomato! Eyes made from sesame seeds
Barry: strawberry with eye picks on a bed of other berries
Pickles: classic snackums with cut out mouth and sesame seed eyes.

All in an EasyLunchbox.

Mabel's labels 40% off sale

 

 Are you ready for some Spring cleaning? Let Mabel's Labels help you get organized! Now through March 4th, Mabel's Labels is offering 40% off Sticky Labels , Skinny Minis, Tag Mates and the Big Kaboodle Combo. No coupon code required. Plus, receive free shipping on all orders! Hurry - before this offer ends!


FTC Disclosure Statement: This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Doctor Suess Birthday Read across America day 1 fish 2 fish lunch

It is Doctor Suess birthday 2nd March and Read Across America day 3rd of  march so here is a quick Red fish, Blue fish, One Fish, Two fish lunch.

French toast, cheese cut out letters and fish. Berries, crackers and cheese.

In a planetbox  rover lunchbox.

Princess Mononoke Bento

I have been a bit lax in posting the lunches I make recently don't worry my kids are eating I just haven't been taking photos!

I thought I would go back to what got me into bento in the first place a Studio Ghibli movie.

So here is a Princess Mononoke Bento.

Her mask is made from half a large tomato with cheese and Nori decorations. The Fur part is made from Tortilla and under that is a sandwich.

In the other part is Brocoli for the trees, brown beech mushrooms and carrot flowers and you may spot a couple of Kodama in the forest.

The other bowl has soup (this bento box isn't leak proof but you can send a small flask and pour into the bowl that is the lid.)

The bento box is from bentousa.com and comes in penguin, panda and owl designs.

If you haven't seen this movie. What are you waiting for it is wonderful historical fantasy tale.

Valentine Hugs and Kisses lunch

It's almost valentines day so lots of hearts in lunches this week.  Several of my lunch making friend are doing a valentine hop to give you lots of ideas for those you live to pack lunch for.

I picked up these cute Hugs and Kisses cookie cutters at Walmart only 97c and they make great sandwich cutters. 

Also in this lunch berries and heart cut strawberries. Heart of lettuce and tomato salad and some crackers with a heart chocolate. 

All in a laptop lunch box.

Now hop on over to the next valentine lunch at Mama van de leukste

Jolly Holiday blog hop Santa sandwich

It's another Holiday Blog Hop from Bento Bloggers and friends today is the Jolly Holiday blog hop.

I did a simple Santa sandwich and turned a red velvet donut hole into a Mini Christmas Pudding with a pick and some tortilla cut into holly leaves. All in a laptop lunchbox

Now jump on over to Food for Harper to see more Jolly Holiday food.

Winter Wonderlunch Blog Hop

It's been feeling very wintery in Texas this week so its very fitting to do a winter themed lunch. We didn't quite get snow but it was icy.

In my Lunchbots duo lunchbox is a broccoli Christmas tree with sweet pepper star decorations. The snowman is onigiri rice balls on spinach with a carrot nose.

Now hop on over to see another winter Wonderlunch from Lunchfitforakid

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Edible Geekery Hop

It's finally here after watching the amazing Adventure in time and space last night, today it's the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who! I was one of those kids who hid behind the sofa from the Daleks and now love to watch again.

 I am teaming up with some fellow Whovians from Edible Geekery to celebrate.

 I made some snack plates to eat while watching today Ood versions of pigs in blankets made from lil smokies cut the ends into eight and pop in hot water they curl into little octopi or in this case Ood faces I then stuck then into crescent rounds and baked. Once cooked I added a couple of chocolate chip eyes. Super quick to make and fun too.

 Adipose marshmallow are stuck together from large and small marshmallows attached with spaghetti and face drawn on with americolor food writers.

 Jammie Dodgers because well I like them and if you are a fan you will know why.

 "Fish fingers" and "custard" well mozarella sticks and cheese sauce!

Finally a little red pepper fez and bow tie.

 I packed in a EasyLunchboxes and a PlanetBox. Happy 50th Doctor Who and here is to many more to come!

 Now hop in your TARDIS or strap on your vortex manipulator and travel over to see more Wibbly wobbly timey wimpy fun at BentonBetterLunches

Baby Cool Penguin bento box and Animal Palz sandwich cutters

Happy Halloween!

I just love this new bento box by cutezcute I bought from BentoUSA . This one is the baby bento buddies cool Penguin. There is also a panda and owl box available. I haven't found a CuteZcute product I haven't liked yet and these do not disappoint!

It has two layers and a lid which doubles as a bowl so if you want to send a thermos of soup you can pour into a bowl. There is also enough room for a sachet of instant soup or a packet of gummies to tuck inside. It comes with a elasticated band to hold it all together. It is a smaller sized lunch box if you are used to american lunch boxes (but an average size bento box) but I easily fit enough in it to feed my kids and it's great because of the bowl to send with soup or pasta for those extra hungry days.

I packed my last Halloween lunch for the year lettuce, raspberries, cheese crackers and three cutezcute bat pocket sandwiches!

The bats are one of four great designs in the new CuteZcute Animal Palz. There is a bat, panda, monkey and lamb.

The sandwiches are super easy to make and you can fill with what you like. I used pumpernickel bread and sun butter. Sealed sandwiches are great as the filling doesn't leak out and these are a great size for kids.

I also tucked in a spider cupcake ring and a Happy Halloween pick.

If the pocket sandwiches aren't adorable enough you can make molded boiled eggs here are the monkey and panda peeking out from egg cups.

Both the CuteZcute Baby Bento Buddies Box and the CuteZcute Animal Palz are available from Bentousa or from Amazon.
This post contains affiliate links please support my blog. All views are my own.

Simple Halloween lunch

Usually I post my fancy lunches that I have planned and thought about what I am going to make. Today you will see what I normally do day in day out. I have three kids to pack for everyday and I pack the night before often late at night so no brain power can be involved!

This is what I usually pack for my son who is a fussy eater, my two daughters lunches are usually healthier as they don't think vegetables are evil! So sandwich with spooky pick and bat pick, cheese stick, cheese crackers with a spider cupcake ring,  raspberries and a gummy eye. Takes less than 5 minutes to pack in a PlanetBox Rover Lunchbox. All the picks I get from All things for sale

This post contains affiliate links

Mabel's Labels stocking stuffer combos

Does your kid lose his stuff on the school bus, in the playground or leave it at a friends house? i know my son does. all my lunchboxes, snack boxes, drink boxes and jackets are labelled with Mabels labels so even if it does get left behind it usually works its way back home.




From now until 12/31, Mabel's Labels is offering their limited edition Stocking Stuffer Combos and Holiday Return Address Labels! The Stocking Stuffer Combos make the perfect stocking stuffer, party favour, and personalized add-on to other gifts. Best of all, you only pay $30 for 6 sets! The Holiday Return Address Labels are adorable and come in a variety of exclusive limited-edition Holiday designs. Don't miss your chance to shop these great offers! Happy Shopping!