Minnie's Recess - Cutout Sandwiches

Whereas this is no longer sufficient nor necessary (cute) for Takoyaki, Minnie certainly appreciates all her kawaii stuff d:)

Minnie's Recess - French Toast

There would have been one more sausage flower, but while I was getting my camera ready, Mouse came and gobbled one piece up!

Finally Friday - Yesterday's Pizza and Minnie's Recess

It's the last day of the Lunar New Year. And I still haven't eaten any bak kwa!

One each for Takoyaki and Roast meat

Minnie received two mini car buns filled with kaya, some chicken karaage and apple wedges.

Minnie's recess

Minnie's Recess - Mini Bunny Buns

It is hard to remember that a Primary One child, especially one who generally eats quite slowly, should have a somewhat less substantial box than RM or Takoyaki. It's just that I have been so used to preparing their portion sizes that I need reminders now and then to pack less for her. She did not manage to finish the box I gave her last week.

For today, she received two mini strawberry jam buns (ooh so cute Jiyee!), chicken karaage and fruits. I'm pretty sure she finished it this time i.e. no feedback.

Hope you're having a Chirashi Day!

I know Takoyaki, Roast Meat and Minnie are d<)

Chirashi bentos for the lot - tamagoyaki, edamame, cherry tomatoes and some clementine wedges over a bed of sushi rice. Oops I forgot to top with some nori strips.

Takoyaki and RM's chirashi bentos

Closeup of RM's bento

Next up, Minnie's, which is actually more or less the same thing except I had the time to make onigiris for her. The (comparative) leisure of making a late morning bento...

Minnie's chirashi onigiri bento

And we have finally reached the end of the first full school week of the year... *yay*

Minnie's Recess - New Dedicated Box

Here is my second school bento for Minnie (it was yesterday's).

Two fish-shaped mini buns, two pieces of seaweed chicken, grapes, cherry tomatoes and cuke sticks. Tiny portions for the almost 7yo girl.

Carb Stirfry Variety

Today is the first Monday of the first full school week of the year (quoted from mrbrown, adapted to school).

Simple fare for both Takoyaki and Roast Meat - kimchi fried rice (kimchi bokkeumbap) with leftover Christmas ham, and the usual fruits and veg.

Kimchi fried rice bento

But today we have a special, recurring guest! Minnie, who has begun Primary One, will also be receiving recess bentos occasionally (possibly even more frequently). For the very first bento on the first Monday of the first...... ok, forward. She had Fusili Napolitan (Spaghetti Napolitan is supposed to the authentic Japanese dish but I had to clear out some fusili) and I'm still waiting for reviews from that quarter. Not sure whether tomorrow I get to bento for her or not. It is enjoyable to bento leisurely in the late morning since she leaves for school at 12noon.

Spaghetti, er, Fusili Napolitan bento

Do two types make a variety? Well, who cares.

Minnie's Dinner - Herby Couscous Meal

Now that school is out, I am glad to still have an occasional chance to bento for my little niece.

Tonight's menu:

Couscous with parsley

Cilantro chicken

Baked halibut with herbs

Blanched broccoli

Cherry tomatoes

I hope she likes the bento!

Minnie's Dinner - Eclectic Chicken Dinner

In the upper tier is some fusili in tomato sauce, and in the bottom tier are some steamed chicken (always a favourite in our family), blanched broccoli and cherry tomatoes. I was told that she finished every last morsel d:)

Minnie's dinner - Three Colour, Rice Bento

Minnie's dinner tonight is a selection of foods from our own family meal this evening. On the menu are: 

1. Chinese-style braised chicken with sesame oil aka 麻油鸡 (ma2 you2 ji1) {brown}

2. Stir fried 奶白 (nai3 bai2)vegetables with dried shrimp {green}

3. Baked halibut fillet with Italian seasoning {white}
over fragrant Jasmine rice drizzled with some chicken gravy and wolfberries 枸杞子.

Minnie's Dinner - Ayam Siow Don

I was a little apprehensive about giving Minnie this because I wasn't sure she'd like it. Don't know if her parents have ever given her Peranakan food before. But they had told me before that as long as it's not one of the foods she's allergic to, they always want her to try and accept new flavours.

Ayam siow is served over plain Jasmine rice. On the side are corn kernels, carrot flowers, stirfried spinach, strawberry cherry tomatoes and some lotus root from our soup which I did not pack for her.

Baked Fish Rice Bento - And Minnie Too

Baked halibut and blanched choy sum to go with rice and fruits for Roast Meat.

I gave Minnie some tomato bunnies to cuten (is there such a word?) up her box.

Minnie's Dinner - Fish Maw Soup

Which is not pictured here but in a tiffin container. She will be sharing the soup with her Mum but this is her box.

Minnie's dinner packed by Takoyaki

I was pleased and glad to have Takoyaki be my assistant this evening while I rushed to pack another one for Minnie's Mum. She's got quite the touch, I must say.

Minnie's Mum's dinner

Minnie's Dinner - steamed chicken rice

I got to use some new boxes for Minnie and her Mum, to pack some multigrain rice, stirfried greens and tamagoyaki. Will post pics of the boxes another time.

Minnie's Dinner - Sesame Oil Chicken

I get to pack TWO dinner bentos today, because there's also one for my sis, who will be eating her dinner considerably later and I am a little fearful of whether the food will keep.

Minnie gets a cute little onigiri with a girl's hair and face.

Minnie's dinner bento

This is for my sister, Mummy to Minnie Mouse. My onigiris started to fall apart when I was rolling them in the furikake, so they look far from awesome d:( In addition to Minnie's food, she gets kimchi and some Korean-style seasoned soy bean sprouts.

Minnie's Dinner - Picture Frame Bento

By the shady eaves of the wood, two red bunnie graze on delicious grass as larks fly over a snow-capped mountain in the distance.

Edge of woodland scene

This is my first time making a bento picture, and I sure hope Minnie Mouse likes it! As far as I know, they're all her favourite foods, so the added picture factor will surely make her smile. Her Daddy gave me some feedback on the first bento that she didn't like the sesame seeds on the greens, so I'll take note of that. It's always important to ask for feedback from the bento diners.

The background is angel hair spaghetti tossed with chicken drippings from the boneless roast chicken thigh which forms the mountain. Sliced cheese was trimmed, placed on the chicken and toasted gently to allow the cheese to melt slightly. The trees and grass are blanched long stem broccoli while the birds are nori on the rest of the sliced cheese. Check out the How To for the tomato bunnies here.

New Bento Receiver - Minnie Mouse

It was with great pleasure that I presented her first bento to my niece, a lively 6-year-old, whom we shall call Minnie Mouse (not to be confused with my youngest child, Mouse). Minnie will be receiving occasional (and hopefully to become more regular) dinner bentos from me on some weekday evenings, as an effort on my part to relieve my parents who are caring for her and her 2-year-old little sister while their parents are away at work.

I had wanted to begin with some spaghetti to get her comfy with the idea of dinner bentos from 二姨 (Jee-Yee or Second Aunt as she calls me), because Minnie Mouse LOVES noodles, but it seems she may not like the pesto which I'd planned, so I gave her rice instead (which was what my family was having for dinner).

Menu:

Salmon-filled onigiris with gomashio (on the ends)

Cold boiled chicken with gomadare (sesame sauce)

Blanched 小白菜 (bokchoy)

Cherry tomatoes