This is what my 6 year old's Bento box looks like. So far, no kids have picked on her lunch, and I hope Emi will continue to be proud and excited about the food she takes to school. Somebody asked her lately, "Where are you from?" She answered, "I'm from Japan!" Really, she believes that she's 100% Japanese. (Instead of 50%) :)
I am very happy that you're interested in my food culture - Thank you! I may not be able to update this blog as often as I want, plus, I will always have bad grammar and some typo.
Nonetheless, I hope you stop by once in a while, and see what's in the BOX!
I am very happy that you're interested in my food culture - Thank you! I may not be able to update this blog as often as I want, plus, I will always have bad grammar and some typo.
Nonetheless, I hope you stop by once in a while, and see what's in the BOX!
I can't believe that the whole year is about to pass by without posting any new bento box photo? Yes yes, I'm still making bento lunch almost every school day, except when I'm too sick or was up working till 4:30 AM ... So, here we go!
One of the things that my 7 yr old started to like is the sesame sauce. It's creamy and slightly sweet. What not to love? |
So I told you in my last year's post about my toddler's habit --- she still does that... She eats out of the lunch box for breakfast. She just doesn't understand that if she eats that, then I have to make another lunch. I probably just have to hide her box when she walks into the kitchen. I always forget to do that...
Happy New 2014 and same old bento box! :)
Well I hope I will be able to share something new with you this year... In the picture --- My 7 year old demanded that she needs the "big girl" chopsticks. She's really proud to use them during school lunch time... :) On that note, she's not afraid to bring sushi to school either. Inari-zushi in the pictures below are my family's favorite. |
Udon noodle for my toddler (without soup). She just loves the wakame seaweed and Udon together. Egg, beans and little piggy meat for some protein. Fried rice with ketchup shaped into small balls -- is what you're seeing in the bottom right corner. :)
DIY Sandwhich Bento!
Don't your kids love assembling their own sandwiches? Or maybe just my girl... I packed egg, lettuce and broccolini along with two slices of bread. Yes my kids new favorite veggie is broccolini. Emi thinks that the name is hilarious...
Don't your kids love assembling their own sandwiches? Or maybe just my girl... I packed egg, lettuce and broccolini along with two slices of bread. Yes my kids new favorite veggie is broccolini. Emi thinks that the name is hilarious...
Just another day, another week of bento...! I find apple slices make good "filler!" The Eggo mini French toasts do the same too.
I love when we have enough leftover (tomato & meat sauce pasta) from the night before!
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Again the cream sauce pasta finished with the dessert of pumpkin muffins that my dear friend brought us :)
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Rice balls with sea weed, veggie, fruits and just simply sauteed chicken.
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The girls always choose grape jam, but today I used apricot jam for Mika. The box came back empty. I guess when you're hungry, a jam is a jam!
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The pictures say it all --- ham and cheese rolls :)
I have had these three musketeers in my fridge for a long time and decided that today is their day... Emi loves Japanese sweets, and will eat anything with anko (cooked red bean paste). Simply roll out the triangle sheets and wrap the little hot dogs, or spoonful of red beans with them. I made 4 of each kind. Pop them into the bento box, along with breaded salmon (see below for breaded tilapia for how-to), finish with some lettuce and carrots!
So I have mentioned about Frozen Edamame beans from Trader Joe's (my life saver) earlier. To make it easier for kids to eat these, I use picks (regular toothpicks would work too!) For these, the beans have to be thawed (I guess you figured that already!) I don't use these picks for my 1 year old --- Who knows what she would do with these picks!
So, I'm following up with the post below --- I thought I'd share how to go about the easiest white fish fries. I skip the flour and egg, just because I don't have time for the extra steps, and... because the fish comes out great without them. 1. Thaw the fish from the night before. (They're Tilapia from the frozen fish section.) 2. Cut them into small size with cooking scissors. Sprinkle dash of salt. 3. Dump the breadcrumbs into some sort of cup / bowl. Scramble cut fish in it. 4. Fry them in minimum amount of oil. The breadcrumbs are flavored. Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) is not flavored. There are so many kinds. Any breadcrumbs will work fine though :)
This morning, I felt fresh and awake - after 4 hours of night sleep. I'm thankful of my cup of Italian Roast and my thyroid medication. :) Anyway, that's how I decided to make breaded tilapia for their lunch today. It is so easy - All you need is fish, breadcrumb and oil.
No eggs, no flour. I make sure to post the details here next time!
No eggs, no flour. I make sure to post the details here next time!
Curry for Dinner --- I know that this is not a bento related post, but I felt "pressured" to post something :) I use "mild" curry sauce for my kids, although this gal here can handle even hotter stuff! (You shouldn't really feed kids curry if they're wearing white shirts... Lesson learned.)
I thought these smiley potato would be a good stuffing to the box, but girls didn't like them too much... My toddler's new addiction - cranberry is in the box :) Just another morning of making pasta... Have a nice day, everyone!
So, here's how I make "Pink Fish Rice Ball." Pink fish = Salmon. Fry salmon with tiny bit of oil and some salt. Mix it with warm rice. Use plastic wrap to form the ball, or triangle in this case :) The ribbon tie is optional - I just happen to have these ribbon scraps all over my house. The reason to pack this fish rice ball in a wrap - It tends to fall apart unlike when it's just a plain rice ball. The other rice ball you see in the picture is bunny shaped, but I didn't have time to do the face :) The bunny ended up getting the mustache of sea kelp (soy sauce flavored).