Preparing for the Bento Week Ahead

Jan bought me this lovely spicewood cutting board and pink-handled knife in honor of our commitment to Mr. Bento lunches in 2009. The cutting board is almost too pretty to use and so far, I have not been able to bring myself to cut anything on it.

This morning I rose up outlandishly early as usual and rather than immediately go out to shovel snow (we got a foot of it last night), I started preparations for the lunches of the week.

First was jello in tiny portions; I bought these little containers at a dollar store last year and they are handy for fitting into Mr. Bento:



Then I found a nice recipe for lowfat ginger cookies on the internet; it uses molasses and applesauce instead of oil or butter.

I highly recommend this recipe, especially for anyone baking with little helpers. It makes a very tasty cookie with a slight crunch on the outside and a gum-drop texture inside. It is very easy, and there are no dangerous steps like melting.

So you see I have the dessert taken care of for the week, and need only the actual lunch! This is pretty much the way I think -- what's for dessert?? The caboose drives the train. My diabetic husband also does like a sweet taste, so the little portions of jello are great for him - and one cookie will do fine.