Rice Bento

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

Hainanese Chicken Rice Bento (Again)

I am so glad that Mouse now likes Ginger Scallion Sauce, cos it's good for him and tastes especially good with steamed chicken and rice. Here is a simple, small box for his recess (he can't eat much).

And the upsized version for RM ^^.

I am so going to enjoy the loooonnggg CNY break from bentoing! Yes!

Curry Chicken!

Too good for words.

But RM doesn't like to bring a food jar to school so he brought yesterday's Kimchi Chicken Stir fry.

Stir-fried Kimchi Chicken Don

I couldn't find a recipe online for a dish like this, so I invented my own. It's rather like the Chinese dish of 咸菜炒肉丝 (preserved mustard and pork stir fry) except I used chicken breast (couldn't find thigh) and kimchi. Delicious, if you like kimchi.

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!)

Chicken and Ham Onigirazu

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

Chicken Macaroni Soup

This is possibly one of the favourite comfort foods of Singaporeans. We eat it when we are unwell (thanks to loving mothers), when we are craving a filling hot chicken soup, when the weather is cold and rainy, and when we don't know what else to cook.

I am thankful to have at least one child who, despite carrying a heavy school bag, is still willing and happy to bring hot soup to school on cold days such as today. The other one... I don't know why he doesn't want to bring.

Under the chicken and 菜心 (caixin) are large macaroni elbows, while in the sauce cup is some sambal belacan, which girl loves (like me) to dip her chicken into.

Teriyaki Chicken Salad Don

Which just means there's teriyaki chicken, over salad, over rice.

These days, I've taken to warming the box of cold rice (from the fridge) in a pot of hot water in the mornings. As Takoyaki has her recess around 9.30am, the rice has not had time to warm up to room temperature. The only exception is onigiri, which is fine eaten not so warm too.

Man, this girl can eat a lot of rice these days! Growth spurt again?

Chicken Spaghetti Bolognaise

... deconstructed.

Girl reported that this was awesome. Guess pasta sauce from a jar is still fine once in a while...

Kimchi Chicken Don

Yes, it's kimchi chicken again... I have no choice, since it was requested by the customer. 

Roast Chicken Somen

Yum. New bento box. Yay! One each for RM and Takoyaki.

Baked Cajun Chicken Rice + Winter Melon Soup

Delicious, juicy chicken thighs, baked the same way as my Roast Chicken, deboned. Hot steamed rice tossed with the chicken drippings. Crunchy vegetables to add some freshness to the meal. And hot, stewed soup to warm the palette and moisten the mouth... Aaahhh... my kind of meal. Takoyaki's lunch.

And here's the no-soup version for RM.

Welcome back to Term 3 of 2016

School reopens and the Obentosama Mama returns. First off, we have some yummy Thai BBQ chicken over rice for Takoyaki.

Cold Somen and Fried Stuff Bento

It's the June holidays but the poor PSLE-due Roast Meat has to go to school for supplementary classes and a science programme after that *sob sob* And what's more, the school canteen is not open after recess *sob sob sob*

So it's Mum to the rescue with a yummy, part healthy part unhealthy bento.

Menu:

Somen tossed with mentsuyu, julienned cucumber and cherry tomatoes

Fried chicken wings and fishball courtesy of Grandma

A Very Chinese Bento

And it's for me, yay!

I had to attend a Parent Volunteers committee meeting and had already cooked dinner for my brood, so I decided to pack some of it along.

Menu:

Sesame oil chicken soup (麻油鸡汤)

Pork chop (in strips for easy eating)

Stir fried pea sprouts

Steamed rice

So gooooood.......

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.

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.

Sourdough Focaccia Picnic Bento

I've been experimenting with sourdough in recent months, in the sense that many instant yeast bread recipes that are in my repertoire are being converted to sourdough recipes, using my almost-a-year-old sourdough starter as the leavening agent. I think I've found a pretty efficacious formula and it works with most yeast recipes.

Menu:

Sourdough focaccia

Roast chicken drumstick

Veggies

Bet You Were Expecting This Again - Chicken Rice

It's unavoidable and inevitable. Chicken Rice is a happy ghost in our family that keeps coming back to visit. OooooooooOOOOOOoooooooo...

I tried to add some variety by making the Whole Tomato Rice that was all the rage sometime back, then realised it was overkill because what with the Ginger Scallion Sauce (must have for chicken) and the chicken gravy, there was simply no need for the rice to be seasoned as well.

Happy recess, Takoyaki. Although I wish you had accepted the obligatory shake of sesame seeds d:/

Everyday Bento Week Day Four - Honey Mustard Chicken On Rice

It's the very same thing for both kids, because Mum's battery is running low. The obligatory shake of sesame seeds makes the whole thing look much nicer, doesn't it?