Rice Bento

It's been some time since I last did something like this. Sure hits the bento spot ^^

Cold Udon Salad

Always well-received by RM. The others won't touch it with a ten foot pole *roll eyes*

For Mouse, it's basically a repeat *roll eyes*

Leftover Sukiyayi Don

Although that's not very accurate, given that Sukiyaki should be freshly cooked and the soup/stew should be accompanying.

I just cooked the remainder of the cabbage and pork belly that we had in the sukiyaki soup/stew and topped the rice with these.

Beef Soboro and Spinach Don

So simple but so tasty and satisfying (and so not natto).

A more colourful box for RM (above) and a less colourful but still pretty one for Mouse.

Natto. Cos there's nothing else.

When Natto makes its appearance it's usually because I really have nothing else to give my kids. In this case, Mouse doesn't like egg (much), but he'll gladly wolf down a whole box of natto. And I made myself go to the minimart nearby at 10pm to get some spinach just so I could give him some veg other than corn. The green looks so appetising, don't ya think?

I must be fair to RM too - he gets some natto on his rice, together with some scrambled fried egg (which I smuggled some of into Mouse's rice) and the spinach. Love the colours.

In a Japanese Frame of Mind...

I went to an excellent sushi restaurant yesterday, and enjoyed possibly the best quality sushi (handmade by the chef behind the counter) I've ever had in my life. Of course I haven't seen much, always going to more economical, machine-made sushi belt restaurants, but my taste buds are incredibly discerning.

Still reliving the taste of that wonderful food I had, my body automatically started making preparations for Japanese style bentos.

Although, regrettably, the rice is not the Japanese type but some blend of Thai rice (eww, not nice, not buying anymore after we finish this bag), but pretty much everything else is quite authentically prepared.

And my mojo felt that some picks were in order so out they came! Brighten up the boxes with their adorable faces no end.

I realise that I haven't been packing fruits into their bentos for a loooooonngg time, but it's obvious there's no space for anything else in most of my kid-sized bentos.

Perhaps it's time to get some bigger ones, since both kids can eat and Roast Meat is going to Secondary School next year (I'm sure his appetite will never grow less!)

Takikomi Gohan Don with Sauteed Prawns

The Japanese version of the Chinese Savoury Rice (I don't know any official name for it because different regions add different ingredients to cook with the rice). Japanese people call it Takikomi Gohan.

Essentially, it's rice cooked with dashi or some savoury stock, with other ingredients such as carrot and mushrooms and even meat to further flavour the rice. I added some miso to the stock this time, and it was AWESOME.

It's the first day of PSLE for Roast Meat and I am all nerves, despite this being my second child sitting for the PSLE. However, it's HIS first time right? So it doesn't mean I shouldn't be nervous, haha!

Chicken and Ham Onigirazu

The Onigirazu has returned! This time it's chicken breast and ham. Yummy~

Back to Tradition

I've been relying on my Zebra Lunchbox Set so much that I'm feeling very guilty towards all my other bento boxes. Although I admit that one of the greatest charms of a stainless steel bento box is the ease of cleaning, I don't think much of the presentation. Or perhaps it's just my lack of skill, hahaha!

Anyway, today I made it a point to use one of our old regular favourites, the Totoro bento, for Roast Meat. I think I gave him a little too much rice, but it's once in a long while so I'll just close one eye (besides, I didn't know what else to do with that extra one spoonful of rice I'd already steamed up).

As PSLE approaches, my nerves are getting jittery, so preparing a filling, nourishing meal does help take my mind off the (not very promising) situation.

Slimy Chasoba Bowl

And again it's natto, cos I've run out of suitable proteins that BOTH kids will like.

Tossed together with the cooked and washed soba are enoki, natto, cucumber and tomatoes. And of course, the dipping sauce, which has become tossing sauce.

Korean Japanese Mish-Mash

Japanese: Onigiri with furikake, chuka kurage (seasoned jellyfish), Japanese cucumber

Korean: chokbal (pork ankle), LocknLock bento box d=P

Natto et al Don

I love being able to prepare bentos like this once in a while... Don't they look pretty?

Takoyaki has some fried winged beans, while Roast Meat has a peeled cucumber salad.

Inarizushi Lunch

I went out for lunch at a Japanese restaurant with some old colleagues to celebrate someone's birthday, so to make up to RM who loves Japanese food, I left him a lunch bento of Jap foods. Oh, there was some leftover for Takoyaki as well.

What a beautiful box! I finally got to use this lovely Ojyu Picnic box I'd bought a few months back.

Now to get my hands on a furoshiki (cloth for wrapping a bento box) AND to get myself invited to a potluck so I can bring this gorgeous baby out for a trip!

Bento... Yummy Bento

Can't think of any name for it. As long as it's yummy right?

Four Colour Bento

Ahh... just looking at this picture makes me smile. Such vibrant colours to cheer up a day which might turn out rather gloomy (cos RM is getting his exam results today...).

A simple and, most of all, quick, bento assembled in under 15 minutes. And healthy too.

It's not very obvious but I filled the box pretty much to the brim so that the toppings wouldn't run around. Else all RM will see when he opens the box is a mashup of colours *grimace*

Exams are over! Hurray!

Onigirazu - Omelette and Cuke

Simple and quick to make, today's onigirazu is made of Japonica rice, cucumber slices and a quick onion omelette made in my tamagoyaki pan.

LTNS Chicken Teriyaki Bento

I finally got round to cooking Tori Teriyaki for our meal after quite a long hiatus. Couldn't resist a craving for the real thing, because the so-called "Teriyaki Chicken" sold by the cheap stalls outside really make me cringe. Just because it's chicken (read - deep fried chicken) and smothered in teriyaki sauce doesn't automatically make it "Teriyaki Chicken", ok?

The kids couldn't wait for me to finish cooking lunch yesterday because of all the wonderful smells that were permeating the house (and drifting out the front door when they came back from school). Tori Teriyaki Banzai!

This is how I cook my Chicken Teriyaki. And that's blanched and seasoned spinach in the silicone cup.

My Japanese Jiajiangmyun (Beef Soboro Udon) Bento

This was really easy, because I used up some beef soboro (Jap-style seasoned and fried ground beef) from a previous day's lunch which I'd store hygienically (but of course). So I just boiled the udon and tossed it with the soboro, then added the veggies on top.

RM had this for lunch because I had an appointment and after that, some errands to run, so couldn't be back in time to get him lunch.

I think it was a little greasy though (my fault when cooking the soboro). And customer feedback was not very positive although he could not exactly pinpoint the reason. I suspect it was because he ate it at room temp (about 2 hours after it was made) so the fat had kind of congealed.

Note to self: Serve this hot or at least warm.

Nabe (Japanese Hotpot) On The Go

This was packed right before everybody was seated for dinner last night. It was really nice to get the bentoing settled early.

What's in it:

Chuka kurage (jellyfish)

Shabu-shabu pork slices

Enoki mushrooms

Choy sum (菜心) vegetables

Rice

What's not shown:

A steaming hot jar of the soup, packed this morning.

Meow... Cat Onigiri Bento

I have a new toy!!

This is the cat version of the panda onigiri maker that was all the rage sometime back. A close friend went to Japan recently (hanami!) and got this for me, as well as some picks, which I have also used in today's bento. Thank you XH, you are so sweeet! *muaks*

It's surprisingly easy to use, as long as your nori is crisp. I thought I wouldn't kyaraben again untill Mouse hit school but I really couldn't resist this d:)

Roast Meat's cat bento

Takoyaki's cat bento

In the words of Takoyaki, "that's a face palm", or to put it more aptly, a paw-palm.