Finally, bentos! I'm just making them for the Spousal Unit these days, as I've gone half time at work. And yes, I'd rather leave at noon than have a bento.

Today's yummies are rice and eggs on the left. I thought it would be pretty to mix a plain egg with a soy-soaked egg, and that's a little dill you see peeking through. On the right are hummous rolls (hummous with red pepper and little jalapeno tabasco, rolled in a tortilla), peanuts, and some wonderful homemade pickles from our friend Wendie.

Sometimes, you just don't feel like making a fuss. That's when it's time to CHEAT, and get out the bachelor food. Sandra Lee on Almost Homemade would be proud of:

Rice and Beans

• Dump a cup of rice (I use basmati for almost everything) in a microwave-safe casserole
  
• Dump a 16-oz can of your favorite salsa (I'm fond of Newman's Own) on top
  
• Fill the salsa jar with water, and dump that in too
  
• Stir
  
• Nuke on high for 15 minutes
  
• Stir (it will be a little runny)
  
• Let it sit for another 10 minutes
  
• Dump in a can of refried beans
  
• Stir

Serve on a tortilla or in a bowl with a little cheese or sour cream on top. Or right out of the casserole, natch. Mmmmm.

420 SW College St.
Ordered through D-dish
Me: Beef Shawarma Sandwich, Chicken Shawarma Sandwich
Spousal Unit: Falafel Sandwich, Dolmas with Hummus Plate
Dessert: Baklava, Halawa

I'm not a fan of Greek food, thus the backup sandwich. Turns out both of them were just wonderful. Bill still favors the Falafel at the cart on SW 3rd, but he says this is second-best ever, and he inhaled the dolmas with hummus, declaring the hummus king of all hummuses.

I liked the Halawa better than Bill did. It has a dry, candy-like texture that is strange to an American palate, but I would have eaten it happily, had it not been shown up entirely by the amazing, mouth-watering, baklava.

I could stand some baklava tonight...