Category: About Me

Posted in Cookbooks

BENTO BOX QUICK ADULT LUNCHES

Posted on by BookReviews

Simple Real Food Recipes for Healthy Lunchbox Meals (Bento box lunch recipes kitchen)

Tired of sad desk lunches and expensive takeout? Transform your midday meal with simple, satisfying bento boxes designed specifically for busy adults.

This practical cookbook revolutionizes lunch with 70 real food recipes and strategies that help you:

  • Break free from processed convenience foods without sacrificing time
  • Master efficient meal prep techniques that fit into even the busiest schedules
  • Create perfectly balanced, visually appealing lunches that keep you energized all day
  • Enjoy diverse flavors from around the world—from Thai-inspired to Mediterranean classics

This BENTO BOX COOKBOOK FOR ADULTS isn’t just another pretty cookbook with complicated recipes. It’s your complete system for creating healthy, delicious adult lunches using simple ingredients and time-saving techniques.

You’ll discover:

  • The essential bento equipment guide—from budget-friendly basics to premium options
  • Real food foundations that eliminate preservatives and empty calories
  • Make-ahead proteins, grains, and vegetables that maintain perfect texture
  • Quick-assembly strategies for 15-minute morning prep
  • Five complete meal prep plans with shopping lists and weekend prep schedules

Perfect for professionals, work-from-home parents, and anyone who wants to elevate their lunch routine without spending hours in the kitchen.

What sets this bento book apart? Every recipe is designed specifically for adult palates and nutritional needs, using accessible ingredients and straightforward techniques. No more adapting kid-focused bento ideas or complex gourmet recipes!

Say goodbye to midday meal monotony and hello to lunches you’ll actually look forward to eating.

Posted in Cookbooks

Bento for Beginners

Posted on by BookReviews

60 Recipes for Easy Bento Box Lunches

Bento for Beginners is the perfect introduction to bento box lunches and includes 60 simple recipes and helpful tips to get started! helpful tips for getting started and 60 recipes. 

This bento box cookbook is filled with easy-to-follow recipes and everything you need to create a bento-ready kitchen, including the best type of bento box to purchase, ingredients to keep on hand, and how to plan for the week ahead. Discover how easy it is to make bento box lunches at home with this cookbook!

From Japanese classics to simple fusion and Western-inspired bento boxes, you’ll be eating variety-filled, home-cooked lunches in no time, with:

  • Tips, tools, and ingredients—everything you need to get into a regular bento routine.
  • Step-by-step instructions for each recipe in a box—the Timing and Prep guide will help you plan meals for the future.
  • Delicious recipes and bento menu suggestions—recipes such as crispy Japanese-Style Fried Chicken and sweet-and-savory Pan-Fried Potato and Carrot, and Rice Croquettes with juicy Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs with a crunchy Celery and Apple Salad.

Make bento part of your lunch routine with Bento for Beginners!


Editorial Reviews

Review

“This book teaches you basic Japanese bento (lunch box) recipes using ingredients you can easily find in the United States. Each recipe is simple (but delicious) and teaches you how to season the food to make each ingredient stand out. The colorful vegetables have a great look and provide nutritional balance. When I was a child, I loved the moment when I opened my lunch box. I always felt my mother’s affection in every beautiful and delicious detail.”―Hitomi Takeuchi, food protection manager California, founder of Coloridoh LLC (coloridoh.com)

“I own many Japanese cookbooks―including some from my favorite Japanese chefs―but I find them to be a little intimidating. I also own a collection of bento boxes that, until I read this book, I never used! What I enjoy most about Chika Ravitch’s book are the simple instructions that don’t compromise the taste and sophistication of the dishes. She makes cooking Japanese food very accessible for beginners and experienced chefs alike.” ―Andy Burstein, nutritionist

“Always looking for ways to eat healthier without expending too much time in the kitchen. Bento for Beginners was the perfect book for helping achieve this goal. In addition to the great recipes it was very helpful to learn how to improve storage life and tricks to making larger quantities (saving time in the long run).” ―Barbara W.

About the Author

CHIKA RAVITCH grew up near Osaka, Japan. After moving to the United States, she created Japanese-Food.org to share her tips on making traditional, healthy, homemade Japanese food using familiar ingredients.

Posted in About Me, Cozy Mysteries

Vistas, Vices, & Valentines

Posted on by BookReviews

(A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series Book 24)

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY WITH A SMIDGEN OF HOMICIDE

USA Today Bestselling author Tonya Kappes brings you southern and quirky characters in her mystery series. Her stories are charged with humor, friendship, family and life in small southern towns.

Join Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies as they cha cha and twirl their way around Happy Trails Campground as they put on some sleuthing dance shoes to bring closure to this southern and fun cozy Valentine’s mystery.
When I begged Hank Sharp to take dance lessons to celebrate Valentine’s Day, I knew I was getting more than I had bargained for. But when a dancer’s dead body shows up at the height of the competition and Hank is hired to investigate the murder, I had no idea what we were in store for when he had Dottie Swaggert and Henry Bryant go undercover as a dance competition couple to get insider information.

After a little snooping around, we discovered there were deep running feuds and passions behind those sequins and smiles that gave motive and opportunity to kill for the desires to win the most coveted dancing title.

Time is running out and we fear Dottie’s life is in danger. Let’s face it, she has a hard time keeping her mouth shut. And NO ONE puts Dottie in the corner.

 #Contemporary, #Mystery, #Romance, #Reviews,

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I’m a Mom, a Grandmom, and a Veteran. Nothing scares me! That’s the saying on my favorite T Shirt. I’m enjoying life too much to let the little things slow me down. If you can’t tell from my Avatar, I live in Florida where I enjoy the sunshine and endure the hurricanes with good grace. Sometimes you have to take the bad with the good!

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Posted in Cookbooks

Mostly Meatless

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Green Up Your Plate Without Totally Ditching the Meat

200+ plant-forward recipes for the modern-day omnivore looking to eat less meat

Vegetables take center stage in globally inspired nutritious meals, perfect for anyone following a Mediterranean diet

Attention plant-curious cooks, occasional vegetarians, even conflicted carnivores—anyone looking to reduce their meat consumption. This vibrant collection fills a needed middle ground with 200+ hearty recipes that center vegetables and make meat the sidekick. (About half the recipes include some form of meat!)

  • Re-engineers Your Favorites with Less Meat: Swiss Chard Enchiladas, Mostly Meatless Meatballs and Marinara, Bacon and Cheese Black Bean Burgers, and Parsnip and Chicken Shawarma bulk up comforting favorites with plants, while paring down the meat.
  • Vegetables at the Center (with Meat as a Seasoning): Embrace anchovies, bacon, and chorizo to season a heap of vegetables with a little meat—like in our Almost Beefless Beef Stew, Caldo Verde, and Breakfast Fried Rice with Spinach and Shiitakes.
  • Flavors from the Mediterranean, Asia, Central America, and Beyond: Recipes take inspiration from healthful eating traditions around the world, whether you’re craving Okonomiyaki, Hot Ukrainian Borscht, Peruvian Arroz con Pollo, or Mapo Tofu.
  • Emphasizes Ease and Efficiency: Cooking more plants doesn’t have to mean spending more time shopping or chopping. We streamlined at every stage of our recipes—leaning on widely available ingredients and shelf-stable pantry goods—to give you time back in your day.

Find more recipes like this on my companion blog, “Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let’s Eat!”

Posted in From My Kitchen

Hearty Cowboy Soup: A Taste of the Wild West

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Anyone who’s lived in a cowboy town knows that the Wild West is still very much alive. Rodeos, cattle drives, and coal-powered railroad rides continue on. There are also mining tours in a picturesque mountain town. In addition to Wild West vibes, the cowboy appetite is also quite real. After a long day of working outdoors, there’s nothing more comforting than a big bowl of cowboy soup.

The best part about this hearty, filling recipe is that it’s super easy to make and almost completely customizable. You can make it with a variety of ingredients you have on hand in the pantry.

What is cowboy soup?

Cowboy soup is a simple yet flavorful dish. It’s packed with filling ingredients like ground beef, tomatoes, green chiles, pinto beans, and other vegetables. It’s a one-pot meal that comes together in about 30 minutes.

Some say cowboy soup is similar to a hearty chili. Cowboy soup has a comparable spice profile thanks to the combination of tomatoes, chili powder, and ground cumin. However, it is not typically as spicy as most chili recipes. It contains additional ingredients that make the soup more filling. These include chunks of potatoes, sweet corn, and canned mixed vegetables.

Ingredients for Cowboy Soup

overhead shot of ingredients for Cowboy Soup; wooden background;
Taste of Home
  • Ground beef: You can use fresh or frozen ground beef for this recipe. It’s best to defrost ground beef in the fridge overnight. If you forgot, you can still cook ground beef from frozen. Just make sure to flip the frozen brick over frequently and scrape off the outer layers as they brown.
  • Onion and garlic: These aromatic vegetables season the ground beef. They add the first layer of flavor to this hearty cowboy soup.
  • Beef broth: Use low-sodium or homemade beef broth if you want to keep the salt content low. Alternatively, you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth.
  • Ranch-style beans: These canned pinto beans are seasoned with tomato sauce, spices, and a splash of vinegar. This combination gives them a tangy finish. They’re available at most grocery stores, but regular pinto beans also work. (You can make homemade ranch-style beans if you prefer to cook from scratch.)
  • Tomatoes and green chiles: The combination of drained diced tomatoes gives the soup a bold flavor. Undrained diced tomatoes with green chiles contribute to this boldness. It provides a stew-like consistency. This combination adds the perfect hint of heat.
  • Veggies: You can use any type of vegetable in this soup. We like peeled and chopped potatoes, frozen corn and a can of mixed vegetables, but feel free to experiment.
  • Seasonings: Chili powder adds a hint of spice, while ground cumin boosts the smoky vibes. A little bit of salt and pepper rounds it all out.
  • Jalapeno pepper: Garnish the soup with thinly sliced jalapeno peppers for some spice.

Taste of Home

Find more recipes like this on my companion blog, “Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let’s Eat!”