4 Bento #220 - Lego Lunch

I finally got one!!!  Oh Lego lunch box, how I've wanted you for months now, but were only available in the UK....  Long story short, I ordered one and had it shipped to my cousin in London, and we were to meet up on our trip and make the hand off, but it slipped our minds and I returned home to the US empty-handed.  With busy schedules, my adorable pink Lego lunch box hasn't made it over to my side of the pond yet.

So how did I get my hands on this one?  Lo and behold! The Container Store carries them now!!  I was killing time with my daughter (who was off from school) Tuesday after lunch and we headed over to that dangerous wonderful place.  We were browsing a section that wasn't even food-related when we stumbled across these.  They had a range of colors (but no pink, alas) in both the large and small sizes.  By the way, these are food and dishwasher safe.

The small size wasn't available when I purchased my pink one, so that was a bonus!  It's really tiny, so it's a good size for dip, which is what I used it for here. It fits perfectly inside the large Lego box. They only had the two sizes, and I'm curious what a medium would look like.

I know what you're thinking.  "Are those croutons?  That poor kid gets croutons for a snack?"  People listen to me.  These are the most amazing croutons you will ever put in your mouth.  They are garlic/parmesan/herb croutons from a brand called Nonni's, which I picked up at Costco (shocker, I know.)  They are amazing (I want to type that with all caps.)  They are addictive, and yes, today they are a yummy snack.  Ella will thank me later today, I just know it. ;)

Bento #220 - Pasta Prima chicken & mozzarella ravioli, julienne yellow bell pepper, strawberries and ranch dip.  Snack - Nonni's croutons and applesauce.

1 Grilled Chicken Ravioli au Gratin with Bacon

Okay.  YUM.  I was so, so excited to try this last ravioli idea out.  The method is like a traditional gratin, but using this delicious grilled chicken & herb ravioli (again, compliments of Pasta Prima.)

Ingredients:

1 package of Grilled Chicken & Mozzarella Ravioli , uncooked
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1 cup heavy cream
4-5 strips of cooked and chopped crispy bacon
salt & pepper
soft butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Butter an oven and stove top-safe au gratin or baking dish.

Next, layer the ravioli pieces evenly in the bottom of the dish, and sprinkle with fresh cracked pepper and sea salt.

Sprinkle chopped bacon on top of the ravioli.

Spread shredded Swiss on top of the bacon.

Repeat with additional ravioli, if desired, topping with more salt, pepper, bacon and cheese.  After topping with the last bit of cheese, slowly add the cream over the top.  You may or may not need the whole cup, just so it comes about halfway up the dish.

Set the entire dish over a medium-low flame on the stove, and bring to just barely a bubble.  As soon as you see that, take it off and pop it in the hot oven.

Bake for about 35-45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and bubbling gently.  If it bubbles more than gently, turn down the heat so that the sauce doesn't break.

Voila!

Creamy, cheesy yumminess!  Serve and top with a bit of parsley or thyme on top.  The melted Swiss top is crunchy and amazing just by itself.  I'd love to try this method out with other ravioli fillings too, like spinach.  Easy and delicious, comfort food at its finest.

0 Bento #196 - House of Ravioli and Wagamama Ramen

Bento #196 - Grilled chicken ravioli with herbs and parm, dried blueberries & cherries, organic baby carrots and ranch dip (and a carnation.)

Getting back into the swing of things!  For the first lunch back home I knew I wanted to use this completely adorable Cath Kidston food tray.  I picked it up as they were closing their Windsor location just outside the castle.  Bless the saleswoman, she allowed me to snap a couple of pictures (usually not allowed) to show you just how darling the store is!

Miss E, holding up our new find.

Afterwards, we grabbed dinner at Wagamama around the corner.  It's a ramen bar with locations around the world.  Ella was in fits of ecstasy at the prospect of Chinese noodles and gyoza.  

Ella had the "mini" kids ramen bowl.  It was huge!  It had a chicken and pork broth with a grilled chicken breast, sweet corn, shredded carrot, watercress and cilantro.  They also had these super cool kids chopsticks, gleefully demonstrated by Ella in the picture below.  

My mother-in-law had the pork ribs.

And I had the Wagamama ramen, complete with smooth dory, shrimp, kamaboko, (type of surimi) fried tofu, wakame seaweed, menma (bamboo shoots), mushrooms, watercress and spring onions.  Delish!

Yum!

2 Bento #176 - Chicken Ravioli & Bruschetta

New bento box!  Yes, I have a problem.  My sister and I went to get our brows threaded at the mall, and we just had to stop in at Niko Niko.  They had this new Hello Kitty square box that I had to get.  I think this is the first purple one that we own, which is nice because it's E's favorite color.  I also threw in some Hello Kitty chocolate pocky as a special treat since World Market is donating 100% of the proceeds that come from the sale of Japanese products to earthquake/tsunami relief through September.  We stocked up on sake and other items, including the cute containers of pocky you see below.

Bento #176 - Chicken mozzarella ravioli, bruschetta & sliced grape tomatoes, organic steamed broccoli, red grapes and Hello Kitty choco-pocky.

3 Bento #137 - Chicken Ravioli & Cucumber Hearts

It promises to be a busy week!  My sister and my baby nephew arrived on Saturday, so we are planning all sorts of fun things.  Last night I was in my element cooking at my IL's house - pork chops two ways, sausage dressing with homemade bread, and pan roasted brussels sprouts with bacon.  So, I guess that's pork a whole lotta different ways!  It was really good.

As for this bento, I pan steamed some chicken ravioli and placed it on a bed of fresh organic baby spinach, and cut out some funky stars and hearts out of cucumber slices.

Bento #137 - Chicken ravioli, baby spinach, red grapes, and cucumber shapes.

0 Bento #34 - Chicken Ravioli

This Pasta Prima grilled chicken and mozzarella ravioli smells delicious!  I also added a Coleman Natural Italian chicken meatball (which are also wonderful.)  Both from Costco.

Bento #34 - chicken ravioli, chicken meatball (with sad giraffe picks), grapes (with happy kitty picks), carrots and spinach dip.