Back To School Bentos

 School lunch is on every parent's mind right now. What to give that fussy back to schooler? Should there be a treat? More protein than veggies? The opposite? Luckily there is a solution. The classic Japanese bento box - a must have for every student big or small.

Regular contributor and chef J Kenji Lopez-Alt write about this in yesterday's New York Times Food section. He is a father himself and uses the handy Bento box for his kids lunches. These are nothing new . originating during Japan's Edo period which was from 1603 to 1868.Travelers would pack rice balls into bamboo pouches carried around the waist according to Emiko Davies, author of Gohan, her upcoming book on Japanese cooking.In recent years Tupperware was used when transporting rice balls to picnics.Now there is a whole new gneration of fun and colorful Bento boxes. The food choices should be just as colorful. Namiko Chen of the blog Just One Cookbook recommneds this by pairing white rice with brown meats and red fruits. There should also be yellow eggs for more protein. The philosophy is that if its' colorful, then it's pleasing to the eye and fun to eat. Chef Lopez-Alt gives his daughter,s favorte Bento filler , a take on sanshoko-don, He gives the rice for  this three color rice bowl with chicken cooked with ginger mirin and shoyu or soy sauce. It's mixed with such healthy greens as spinach or kale. It's founded out wuth scambled eggs made with mirin, a sweet condiment that tastes like saki but without the alcohol.

What should parents put in their kids. Bentos? Chef Lopez-Alt recommneds deconstructed foods. Think homemade Luncables those easy lunches where kids can construct their own sandwiches and pizzas. Add cut pieces of carrots, avocados and cucumbers . Microwave sushi rice the night before and pack it in foil for the morning. Keep in mind that even salads and  salads can be constructed at school. Pack tuna salald  and bread separately. Pack salad ingredients separately too, with a small cup of dressing on the side. Parents should plan ahead but not that far ahead. He usually scours his fridge after doing the dishes or when the kids have gone to bed. There could be leftover meatballs or dumplings to microwave for the next day. He also gives four recomnedations. Kids could munch on rice with toppings along with having raw fruit and a cookie for dessert. A noodle Bento could include soba or udon noodles along with dumplings and a hard boiled egg. You could also go traditional with a sandwich , pickles or a treat. If they're not into that then think a pasta salad  along with fruit and cheese and a raw veggie. Include a treat like a brownie ro a cookie.

Bento boxes are kust as important as notebooks and pencils for the school year. Pack them with healthy and fun choices. The kids will definitely appreciate them and the work that went into them. 

Happy Birthday Coleridge!

                                         HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE!

It's not a Devon cream tea with scones and jams and good English tea!

Yet this is how we celebrate birthdays nowadays across the sea!

It is good chocolate cake!

I did not bake!

But it's yummy and tasty, a real treat for you and me!

Holiday Luxe Eating

This is the time of year when you can treat yourself to some culinary luxuries. It could be caviar on a Ritz or a buttery Christmas cookie. Or a big bubbly flute of good champagne. Or even a sundae with all the works. Give your palate a holiday vacation to rich flavors and foods.

Again caviar is always a lush treat. Most grocery stores sell it, even Costco  has tins of it.There are four different types. There is the lightly salted or the Malossol method that is only 3.5% salt., followed by the semi preserved kind  which contains 8 %  salt. ,Pressed caviar is made from damaged or broken eggs, highly salted and jamlike in consistency . The cheapest and most affordable is the pasteurized kind which is heat treated and vacuum packed. Serve on butter rounds of French bread or Ritz crackers wash it down with a good champagne like Asti Spumente or Bollinger Special Cuvee from France's Marne valley. Another affordable luxe brand is Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve. These are in the price range of about $50.00. Finish this meal with well made macarons.Many bakeries now sell them however you can make them yourself, using ground almonds flour and egg whites to create lovely little luxe puffs. Another luxurious baked treat is the French brioche. This is a egg and butter rich yeast roll that is just pure heaven to have. Again these can be made at home or bought at your local French patisserie.

Of course luxe dining could mean a good steak too. Nothing beats a well cooked filet mignon , seasoned with butter, salt and pepper. The same goes for a juicy T bone steak. my idea of luxe is steak PIedmontese style. This involved cooking filet migon in a bagna calda , a mouth watering  anchovy bath rich with the fish, oil and garlic.Another lush meat idea is pheasant.This is actually a low calorie bird with a flavor that's between chicken and turkey. Some butchers will sell it , but mostly you can get it from on line pheasant farms.If you want to try vegan luxury , then go for truffles. These are smoky in flavor and can be bought at online gourmet food stores.  The average price is around $80.00. some . Big cities like New York and Los Angeles do have stores that will sell this fungi fresh and even truffle oil for cooking. If you can't afford any of these, then treat yourself to some good chocolate. Belgian chocolate is the most coveted however the American Godiva brand is delicious and affordable as well.Buy their ultra rich  box of chocolate truffles or even a foil wrapped Santa as a midnight snack.

Give your palate a rich holiday treat. It could be sweet or savory , as long as it's lush and flavorful. Enjoy it . Savor every nibble , sip and bite.

Dining For One

Being single does have it's advantages, especially in the kitchen.You can make what you want when you want.You can also splurge on expensive ingredients and have it with a good wine or even champagne.That's the joy of dining for one. Eating alone can always mean sticking with favorites.One of my culinary specials is filet mignon with bagna calda sauce.This last is a blend of anchovies, butter ,oil and garlic ,cooked with the meat.It's a wonderful blend of flavors, both briny and earthy.The dish is just pure heaven.I can never make this for my friends because they have a strong aversion to the fish.(I can't even order anchovy pizza except when I'm on my own).The same applies to surprisingly enough, kale.Forget making kale chips for any kind of get togethers.Yet it's one of my favorite vegetables. Luckily I have a family who enjoys this vitamin rich veggie and enjoys both kale and Brussel sprouts chips.A splurge is usually expensive.If that's the case, wait until your supermarket has a sale or is offering coupons.You can also use alternatives.For my indulgence, it doesn't always have to be filet mignon.It could even be flank steak or beef tips. What happens if your splurge is a good chocolate chip or oatmeal cookie? What about if you crave a slice of red velvet cake? Many people find buying the whole box or cake too much.It's all that effort and time just for one slice.Bakeries can help that, with offering bigger size of your favorites.Grocery stores are now offering individual sliced cake served in a size appropriate plastic container.As for A one chocolate, many candy stores like Rocky Mountain sell individual pieces like the chocolate covered Oreos and graham crackers.If you're craving ganache or fudge, you could make those yourself. There are a million recipes on the web regarding them and you can use primo ingredients like Dutch cocoa and French butter as ingredients.What about chocolate fondue for one? It can be done and you can have a ball dipping anything and everything into it.Another great aspect of eating alone is there 's no one to shame you if you exceed your calorie count or go off your diet for a super banana split or a bottomless ice cream soda. Dining for one can be fun.You can treat yourself to all sorts of fun dishes and desserts.Best of all you don't have to share.It's all yours!

Memorial Day Tributes

Today is Memorial Day  - remember our troops and soldiers from wars past. They sacrificed their lives so that all of us can have this beautiful Spring day to lounge by the pool or beach, enjoy our barbecues and picnics.

Rememeber them when they come home. Celebrate them with healthy homecomings, full of the good foods America is known for. Offer to buy them a beer at your local bar. Buy their kids ice cream or ices. They are the ones that make this country safe  - and great.

Most of all  - honor them as they have honored the USA with their time and service!

Cool Desserts

No matter what time of year it is, you still feel like a good dessert or sweet treat to snack on. This is not, however the the best season to bake. It's too hot and your kitchen probably feels like an oven anyway. If that's the case then stick with easy to make desserts that require little or no fuss. You'll still have a sweet treat but without the sweat.

Fruit is always a good starting off point. This is the season for rich berries that can be made into an easy shortcake. Take any pound or angel food cake , slice and serve with fresh berries and a side of Cool Whip or even freshly whipped cream. You can mix fruits like strawberries and blueberries or try a new spin with fresh cut peaches. This is a light dessert and also makes a good treat for summer birthdays. A fruit parfait is excellent. Layer peaches, cut melon and berries in a tall glass. If you want a bit of fizz. add a splash of club soda or seltzer. This is a wonderful on hot evenings when you're craving something sugary but light.

Never discount instant puddings or Jello during the summer. These are a snap to make and work well with just about everything. There's nothing like a quick creamy pie where all you have to do is fill a prebaked pie shell with pudding. A really fun and quick dessert is a banana chocolate pie. Filled a chocolate pie crust with a layer of instant chocolate pudding. Add topping and right before you serve it , arrange sliced bananas on top. Another fun one is an instant zabaglione pie. This involves vanilla pudding , a splash of Marsala and Cool Whip or nay whipped topping (see recipe below).Jello, that old standby, makes another quick dessert. For a bubbly frothy variation add ginger ale or club soda. This is perfect for kids parties and isn't as messy as cupcakes or cookies in hot weather.

Another easy dessert ingredient is ice cream. This is great not only for sundaes and soda but also as a base for ice cream pies and tarts. A really fun but classy dessert is filling premade tart shells with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, adding a layer of slivered almonds and then whipped cream and strawberries. It's a spin of a baked French tart with the ice cream standing in for the custard. Don't forget that new standard, the ice cream sandwich . Get a fun flavor, such as mint chocolate chip or cherry swirl and put between two large cookies. You can then roll the sandwich in sprinkles or chopped nuts for added decoration.

It's easy to make a satisfying , sweet treat this summer without firing up the oven. Just use pre made ingredients and your imagination. You're bound to come up with a treat that's just as good as any fresh baked cake or pie.

Easy Zabaglione Pie

1 prebaked pie shell, preferably graham cracker crust.
1 package instant vanilla pudding
2 -3 tablespoons Marsala wine
Whipped topping.

Make pudding according to package instructions. Fold in Marsala wine and then pour into prebaked pie shell. Let set. Cover with whipped topping or whipped cream when ready to serve.