Penelope's first day of Spring Break bento! Excited to have a break from school for a couple weeks and even more excited for a visit from the grandparents. Can't wait to show them around San Diego for the first time!

Top Tier: Blueberries, Tulip Turkey and Cheddar open faced sandwich

Bottom Tier: Tulip Hard Boiled Egg, Cuties and Easter M&M's She also had some barbecue chips not pictured.

Happy Spring Break!

When I was a little girl in elementary school my grandmother used to sew me the greatest outfits. They were always in style, I mean she even made me a tube skirt and fluorescent lace top, I rocked the 80's! I even remember someone saying that my family had a lot of money because I was always wearing fancy clothes, which was so far from the truth. I just had the best grandma. When I became a teenager my grandma shared her love of sewing with me and taught me the craft. I made pants, tops, mini dresses, you name it. Unfortunately, I very rarely sew these days, my fault. However over the summer Penelope took a week long sewing camp at Moore's Sewing Center so it's time I dust off my machine and so we can start sewing! When I first signed her up I wasn't sure if she was going to enjoy it, I was also concerned that it might be a little to difficult for her to learn at 8. I was so wrong! In fact one of the amazing ladies that taught the class told me that they had taught their grandchild to sew at five years old!

This is what you get for lunch when I need to go grocery shopping...


An assortment of random things from the kitchen. Oh well, I had not complaints.

2 Hard boiled eggs and a lil' salt, Hello Kitty cucumbers, Hello Kitty jack cheese, "prinkles" as Penelope calls them, seaweed, chocolate chip cookie and a green tea hard candy. I made up for it by slipping in a coupon for an hour later bedtime and taking her out to sushi for dinner. ;)

I made this version of Hamburger Jun or Korean Beef Patties a while ago but forgot to post. These turned out delicious and Chris, who wasn't very excited at first, ended up loving them.


Hamburger Jun

1 lb. Ground Beef
3 Green onions minced
1 Garlic clove minced
1 tsp. Fresh ginger minced
2 tbs. Soy sauce
1/4 tsp. Pepper
3 Eggs
2 tsp. Brown sugar
1/2 cup Flour
1 tsp. Sesame oil


In a bowl mix all ingredients except 2 eggs and the flour and form the meat into patties. In another bowl take the remaining two eggs and beat with a fork. In a separate bowl add the flour. Take each patty and dip first into the flour and then into the egg. Add some cooking oil to cover the bottom of a pan and fry the patties until cooked through.

Sauce

2 tbs. Soy sauce
1 tbs. Chili garlic sauce
1 tbs. Rice wine vinegar

Mix all the sauce ingredients in a bowl.

I served my patties in lettuce cups with the sauce poured over the top. Delicious!

Here is Penelope's panda bento. It is a rare pink nosed panda, probably the only one of it's kind...

Top tier: Panda made with rice, olive ears, nori face and a bologna pink nose. Chicken strips and soy sauce in the fishy container.

Bottom tier: Baby carrots, mixed greens, cherry tomato and ranch dressing.


Yep, looks just like him.

I made some bean-less chili the other day for Chris, who loves chili but is trying to eat a low carb diet. It came out really good, piled on some all beef franks with cheese and jalapenos! I am rather fond of Weinerschnitzel's chili cheese dogs, and he said my chili was better then their hotdog chili. While that may not mean much to some of you, to someone who has cravings for Weinerschnitzel chili cheese dogs it means a lot.

Bean-Less Chili

1 lb. Ground beef
1 Onion chopped into small pieces
2 Garlic cloves minced
4 cups of water, divided in half
15 oz. can of tomato sauce
1 tbs. Tajin 
1 tbs. Cumin
1 tbs. Red pepper chili flakes
1tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Pepper
2 tbs. Oil

Put ground beef in a bowl and add 1/2 of the water (2 cups) Squish it around with your hands until meat is loose and it looks like a squishy mess. Add all the spices to the bowl and mix well. Set aside.
In a pot over medium heat cook onions and garlic in cooking oil util soft, about 10 minutes. Add the meat mixture and turn up heat to high. Mix everything well. Add the remaining 2 cups of water and the tomato sauce. Stir and bring to a boil. Once it begins to boil lower heat and simmer uncovered for approximately 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The chili will start to thicken up as it simmers.



We had leftovers and Chris and Penelope enjoyed a bowl of chili topped with cheese, sour cream and olives for lunch the next day.