Hot off the presses, the first Bento Box Lunch

Bento Box times.
I have been really hitting my sad gym at home. Working out several times a week and changing the eating habits in the evenings.
A nice breakfast and good wholesome stuff for dinner with lots more veggies and less meat. Smaller portions as well.
but I think im still taking in more calories than I need at lunch with my leftovers.
So I have been chatting it up with people on the Bento Box kick and I have started using it myself.

First I did some research on several websites and bumped into a buddy on LJ that has been doing this for some time.
She has lost over 100 lbs with these smaller lunches and is a wealth of information on things.
Then I started looking at recipes and learning about them. More about Japanese cooking and such.
Next I got some supplies I went nuts at first and shopped at Kozys for some things, but man they were expensive.
I will only be going there for ingredients like green tea and other limited speciality items from now on.
I can most of the other stuff at the Asian Market behind me or at Kroger and Walmart for crying out loud.
Supplies such as bowls and molds and such can be gotten at Shop Minoya for super cheap.

I got the “mens” case for me and few green ones for Applehead.

I can’t find any really good images of them so I will have to take some later to post up.

Ok, what I mean to say is I’m afraid to do any really in depth searching for them right now because the company that makes them is called “Lube Sheep” I am afraid of the items that will come up when searching for that.

My  first try  was simple.

I made a marinade of
buttermilk, green tea, balsamic vinegar, kelp granules and soy sauce.
I got that really mixed up so there were no lumps of green tea powder.
The tofu was the extra firm block and was drained with paper towels for a whole day ahead.
I planned to use it on something else but then had this idea.

After letting it sit for about 6 hours in the marinade. I removed it and let it get to room temp.
I then made a bag of dredge to use on it.

Flour, toasted sesame seeds and some creole seasoning(cayenne, garlic and onion and salt).

I lightly browned these in Canola oil. Then moved them to the side to drain a bit.

The Japanese essence mix was made with
Soy sauce, Mirin, Sake, Bonito shavings and some konbu kelp.
I got the recipe from this site. www.justhungry.com/2004/08/japanese_basics.html

Simmered for a bit until it reduced some. Strained, and cooled and poured up for later user.

After the tofu was cooked I add some water to that pan and some Essence sauce with a spoon of sugar.
Let t his come to a boil then add the tofu back and lower and let simmer and cook down until very thick.

For the Spinach

Spinach and pan toasted almonds

I blanched some huge hand fulls of it in some water with a dab of vinegar I thought I read somewhere it woudl keep them pretty
and green. Who knows. After blancing and drainging I shaped them into little loaves and set them aside.
I pan toasted some almonds with a it of sesame oil and then added the spinach to that. I let the spinach get browned on each side a bit and added
some Essence and that was it.

The Spinach was very good and the tofu was the best non meat I have had in a while.

I like how it was compact and easy and that I got a chance to just do stupid stuff in my box. As I continue I will have more fun and more
strangeness I presume.