Haiku that Blog! v1.0 And the Winner Is ...

When the call went out seventeen fierce competitors came forward to Haiku that Blog! v1.0.

Anonymous, Agathe, edamame, Fuji Mama, Jenn, kaxxina, Katie B., Cynthia A., Ima Wurdibitsch, Beth, Yvo, Kiriel du Papillon, Jason, Dan, DJM, Sarah, and Desi Mommy

But only one poet can reign supreme, only one wins the coveted prize, only one will lay claim to the Justice League Sandwich Box!

And the winner is ...

DJM!

A blog of boxes
Small containers, filled just so
Lunch, separated.

Kinda takes your breath away, does it not?

Thank you all so much for playing along! DJM please contact me (lunchbuckets AT gmail.com)with your mailing address and your blog URL. You do have a blog don't you? If not, well, there's plenty of time to get one started!

Warning! Gratuitous Pet Photo Ahead



This particular judge lobbied hard for Dan - I think because he mentioned he had Cheetos. Cheater.

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Pork & Beans

1. roast pork tenderloin with a chipotle & garlic rub
2. island black beans
3. pineapple salsa
4. cheesecake with strawberry puree

I don't really know why these are "Island" black beans. There really isn't much that's islandy about them. I do know that I bought a pre-packaged bean soup mix one time that was labeled that way, and we kinda liked it so I decided to make it without the mix, and it's kind of morphed into something else entirely. Not that there was anything particularly islandy about the mix either, but anyway, it's very delicious :)



Island Black Beans

2 cups of black beans (soaked overnight)
1 diced onion
1 chopped red pepper
2 sliced garlic cloves
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon oregano
1 tablespoon salt
couple of stems of thyme
chipotle pepper or 2 with a tablespoon or 2 of the adobo sauce
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Put 2 cups of black beans in a pot with 8 cups of water and the chipotle(s) and bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about an hour (or 90 minutes if you didn't soak them first). Meanwhile, caramelize an onion in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. When the onion is nice and brown add the garlic and the red pepper and cook until they are soft. Add this to the beans along with the bay leaf, oregano and thyme, and salt and continue to cook for another half hour or so, until the beans are tender. Add the vinegar and check the salt. I usually add some black pepper too, cause we like it.

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Shawarma, شاورما‎ , שווארמה‎, Chawarma, Shwarma, Shuarma, Shawerma, Shoarma or Shaorma

1. chunks of chicken
2. saffron rice
3. zucchini with tomatoes and caramelized red onion
4. pita chips and roasted red pepper hummus

However you spell it (or say it) chicken shawarma is dang good eatin'. This lunch was made from leftovers from the previous night's dinner. Gotta love those leftovers! I used a spice mix from a local restaurant/grocery called Haji Baba. It's definitely better when they make it but we still managed to choke it down. I drizzled a tiny bit of pomegranate molasses on the top of mine for a little change o' pace.

Title shamelessly stolen from Wikipedia

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Daring Baker #5 Cheesecake on a Stick

This month's challenge is brought to you by Elle, Deborah and the letter P. P as in precious. As in just too, too precious. Oh and T, for tedious. Seriously. Now you guys know I dig cute food, but this was a bit much, even for me. Of course prior to actually making these things this would have been brought to you by the letters E and C. As in exciting and clever. But that was then.



They are kinda cute though aren't they? I had to decorate them with some buttercream. There was NO butter in this recipe! I know, I know!



This is what happened when I got bored with the buttercream. And when one fell off the stick. And into my mouth.

Did I mention how many of these things there were? We were supposed to make 2 ounce sized pops. I'm not sure if that's weight ounces or volume ounces but either way my big scoop made them way too freakin' big. They just popped right off the sticks. So these are a little smaller, about golf ball sized. And there are lots of them. Lots and lots and lots. And another full pan still in the fridge. Though as the boy reminded me, "having lots of cheesecake isn't really a bad thing". Smart boy that one. Taught him everything he knows.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad recipe. I'm just not sure that taking a perfectly good cheese cake and mushing it into balls and impaling it on a stick and them covering it in chocolate really adds anything to the whole cheesecake eating experience. You have a cheesecake, you have a spoon. End of story, right?

I haven't looked at any of the other DB's creations, but past experience tells me there will be some mighty fine lookin' cheesecake pops out there. Check them out here at the Daring Bakers Blogroll.

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Basketti & Meatballs

I have a habit of picking up different lunch containers as I come across them whether I really need them or not. This particular container is a two peice plastic "tiffin" made in India that I found at a local dollar store. I really like this set - it's perfect for this type of meal.



1. spaghetti with a giant halved meatball and shaved parmesan
2. green salad with dressing in the small bottle

Here's what it looks like all stacked up and ready to go.



There's still time to enter Haiku That Blog! v1.0

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Just Call Me Jane

Jane Lunchbucket that is. Cause I'm a hard-workin' man. Uh, woman. Uh, workin' woman. No! Not that kinda workin' woman! Just call me Jane. Anyway.



1. bratwurst on a bun
2. apple
3. mozzerella stuffed yellow tomato
4. small containers of saurkraut, olive oil & vinegar, and mustard
5. sort of creepy Hello Kitty head filled with peanut butter filled pretzels

Since the bratwurst was on top I obviously had to get a bite of it first before I took out the other things. It tasted so damn good that I ate it all. What a waste of condiments.

Did you haiku?

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Move Along Here Folks, Just Move Along

Move along - there's nothing to see here. You've seen it all before.

Jamie Oliver's kick-ass goulash on egg noodles
my Phat Lunch peanut butter stuffed dates
strawberries

You may have noticed I'm still not making lunch for the spawn. I truly though they'd crack by now - come begging to me "oh please Momma please make me a lunch". Didn't happen. I can't help but wonder if maybe they just don't want me to pack lunch for them but are afraid they'll hurt my feelings with that truth. Maybe what seems nice and fun at home is just weird and embarrassing at school. Boo says that the lines are so long that sometimes she doesn't even get anything to eat at all and Boy says that the greasy cafeteria food makes him nauseated but the fact remains that they seem to prefer it to a packed lunch. At least for now.

In other news - don't forget to Haiku That Blog! Take another look at the totally awesome super cool prize that's on the line.

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