Two Different Sandwich Bentos - Why do I do this to myself?

Aaaand here we are at another special episode of Two Different Bentos for Two Different Fussy Kids.

Granted they have certain same elements, but the overall concept is rather different.

Takoyaki is bringing her share of the patties to share with friends (if she and they so desire), plus a PB and Lingonberry Jam sandwich. Oh and I included chocolates for sharing.

Roast Meat, on the other hand, had patties yesterday so "I don't want to eat the same thing, Mum". Oh, these fussy children! So upon the suggestion of Takoyaki, I fried a leek omelette which was essentially the filling for HIS sandwich. If I had to go cook some other carb such as noodles I think I would scream.

It was tough trying to pack it in neatly and I almost couldn't close the box. 

Great practice for the annual Bento&Co contest! More details here. Alas, I will not be joining it this year because I have absolutely no inspiration or mojo. Not that it would make any difference. My bentos cannot make it.

Why have Two when you can have Three?

I do apologise if this sounds like a Singapore campaign to have more babies.

But I really think three stars look so much better than two. And they fill up the space more nicely too. Perhaps if I show this to Mouse he will say the first one is Ga-jeh, the second one is Gorgor and the one at the back ('cos it looks smaller in the background) is him.

I was lazy at first to haul out the star egg mould with which I made these moulded buns (How To here), but then I remembered that sooner than I can believe, Roast Meat would be a teenager in Secondary School, and who knows whether he might reject all cutesy stuff then? So, better make now while he still doesn't complain.

On the side are two beef patties (recipe here) with ketchup in a twist of cling wrap, cherry tomatoes and a delicious clementine.

Lovely Stink to start the week

Roast Meat will be over the moon today when he opens his bento and sees the natto.

Menu:
Cold somen tossed with kaeshi/mentsuyu, natto and corn nibblets
Salad kosong (no dressing)

Back to Nutritious and Filling Bentos

My guilt finally caught up with me. I decided to spend some effort giving my kids wholesome yet delicious foods to bring to school today. Well, actually, I have quite a lot of planned overs from dinner yesterday, so...

Mixed brown and red rice, I love the texture of this rice - slightly chewy and has a flavour reminiscent of hot black glutinous rice porridge 黑糯米粥 (hei1 nuo4 mi3 zhou1) or pulut hitam as it's known in Malay, which is one of my favourite local desserts. It took me three tries to get the proportion of water and rice right, as the ratio given on the packaging produces cooked rice that is too wet and mushy. So if you're thinking of giving this Songhe red and brown rice mix a try, for perfectly cooked rice that is fully cooked yet not mushy or sticky, the ratio of rice to water should be 1:1.5.

Takoyaki's bento is up first. She has a long break today, during which the entire school will be queueing up at the tuckshop stalls, so she appreciates bringing a filling bento which she can take her time to eat and not have to join the mad rush.

Red and brown rice bento

Her rice is topped with some furikake and to with that she has some leftover shredded roast chicken.

Roast Meat's is pretty much the same, it just has fewer fruits 'cos his lunch time is only 30 min or less.

Amazing how good Messy can look Bento

Just simple sandwiches in one half of the box, and an "artistic" (haha) mess of tamagoyaki, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli florets in the other half. Traffic light colours all over the place.

Simple Snack also must Bento

So these boxes are for the "healthy 10 min snack time" that both have on this day. I decided to include some cherry tomatoes to up the fibre content, then HAD to take a pic and put it up.

Not Worthy to be called Bento

Another simple day - ham-cheese-cucumber sandwiches with watermelon and some koala poo cereal for snack time.

Planned over Onigiri and Pork Jerky

Weird, eclectic selection of foods. Who cares? They're all yummy.

Term Two Begins with Sandwiches

Simple ham-and-cucumber sarnies with cherry tomatoes and watermelon to start the day/week/term.

March Hols Ahead

After a hot and tiring Sports Day for RM yesterday, today is the last day of Term One. Yay! We are looking forward to some rest in the week ahead, perhaps a spot of shopping in Malaysia, and catching up with some revision and Scouting. Did I mention that RM is a Cub Scout? Well, he has lots of badgework to catch up on.

Today's menu consists of an onigiri mixed with homemade salmon flakes, cheese and some grapes.

Happy hols and see you one week later!

Chinese Sausage Fried Rice Bento

Another of our regular rotations - Fly Lice with whatever ingredients I have on hand.

To up the fibre, I topped it with some pea shoots 豆苗.

Kimchi Chicken Two Ways

For Takoyaki, with rice, steamed egg and tomato soup (made by her). She recently got her braces done, so her gums are very sore and everything has to be small (read: cut up) and soft. Poor thing, couldn't even eat her birthday party food. Yes, today is her birthday!

And in our standard pocket sandwich for Roast Meat.

Quinoa Stir Fry with BBQ Ribs

I finally managed to persuade RM to try this quinoa dish which I served last night at dinner together with the tender, oven-baked pork ribs. A very quick stir fry, I chopped some onions, carrot, olives an broccoli and tossed them into the wok with the quinoa. Seasoned with salt and pepper and it was done!

I've been trying to get him to eat alternative carbs to help him control his weight. Previously, RM only accepted quinoa when it was in my Quinoa Patties. 

This is turning out to be Onigiri Week

Yup. No one's complaining, except maybe my husband who had to wash the rice moulds. Haha!

Planned-Over Monday - Pizza Box

Both Takoyaki and Roast Meat had a blast guzzling pizza yesterday. We seldom order pizza these days so they were really very delighted, and no complaints were voiced about the next day's bentos featuring pizza again (personally, I would object, but then I'm not a pizza person).

After the rueful condition of my fridge and pantry last week, I made sure my kitchen is better stocked this week. This week's menus promise to be more varied and balanced in nutrition.