Last Burst of Energy

Something came over me last night (maybe it's the presence of ham in my fridge) which spurred me up to put a little more effort into this last couple of bentos for this term.

Takoyaki's

RM's

Bento Mojo dropping

Which is why it's just something simple for Takoyaki who has CCA today and she really does not want to eat the same food from the school canteen twice. 

Simple one for Field Trip

Yawn... Stretch... Almost wind-down time

I feel a little rusty after a week of non-bento. Especially since this is the second week of exams and in between tutoring RM and schooling my Mouse, my battery is getting rather flat. However, I managed to drag myself up this morning to get these ready. 

Takoyaki's is shabu-shabu pork in broth over mixed red and brown rice.

Takoyaki's bento

RM's is leftover (really) beef fried rice from an eatery nearby.

RM's bento

And after that, I guess I'm feeling kiiiiinda less guilty.

Tis Exams Fortnight

And I am super stressed out over RM's prep, plus my close relative is in hospital, so there just won't be much mojo. For now, store bought buns will have to suffice.

Kimchi Chicken Macaroni

Leftover roast chicken + cucumber strips + kimchi + cooked macaroni = done. Simple.

The Day of Red Bentos

Everything is red.

Takoyaki is having Red glutinous rice wine chicken 红糟鸡 (cooked with my first successful batch of red glutinous rice wine) with red and brown rice.

RM doesn't like the red glut chook so I gave him some panfried chicken. And another sausage roll ( I made lots).

On a Roll-making Roll

Not sure what's come over me lately. I've been rather inspired and motivated to make rolls, first the crescent rolls, then now sausage rolls.

It helps that this meal, although simple, is all-in-one. In fact, RM brought two rolls today, one for recess and one for his field trip to the Science Centre.

Corn Rice?

I have no idea what to call this, hahaha! But Roast Meat (and his little brother) does love corn.

So I mixed some corn kernels into his rice (which means I don't have to add furikake). In the snack box are some grapes and a homemade crescent roll.

Scallion Tamagoyaki and Riceballs

And karaage, which I seriously wonder whether Takoyaki can eat, as she's just had her braces adjusted yesterday *ouch* 

She said she "should be able to". 

Macaroni Alla Marinara and Mushroom Cheese Omelette Bento

RM is down with flu, so I got to focus on whipping up one of Takoyaki's favourite meals - tomato sauce pasta. As I fell asleep too early, I woke up in the middle of the night (3am) and went to cook the sauce.

I'd accidentally bought lots of macaroni pasta (long story), so was just trying to find a way to start using them. The macaroni was topped with some sauteed spinach and a mushroom and cheese omelette. It's a one-egg omelette, although it doesn't look like it.

Recipe for One-Person Mushroom and Cheese Omelette

Ingredients:

One white button mushroom (sliced thinly)

One large egg (about 60g)

Pinch of salt

Half a slice of processed cheese

Method:

Heat up a small frying pan or tamagoyaki pan over medium-low heat and add 2 tsp of oil.

Once oil is hot but not smoking, add shroom slices and saute till brown.

Meanwhile, add a pinch of salt to the egg and beat it lightly.

Spread shrooms out evenly in pan and pour beaten egg over mushrooms. Tilt pan to achieve an even shape.

Quickly tear the cheese up into little pieces and spread them out on half the egg, keeping cheese bits away from the edge.

Fold the cheese-less half of the omelette over the cheesy side. 

Flip after 30secs. Give the other side another 30 secs and remove from heat to cool.

Back to Simple Jap-style Bentos

Roast Meat's has pickled herring from IKEA and cucumber chunks "scattered" over his rice. While not traditional, I hope this can be considered "chirashi don"?

Meanwhile, Takoyaki has chuuka kurage (Japanese seasoned jellyfish) and some preserved veg (all from the Kyushuu Fair) over hers. It is meant to be a surprise as she didn't know I'd bought them. This girl will do ANYTHING for chuuka kurage.

I served up some homemade kimchi to include some fibre and probiotics.

Tri-coloured Cold Udon Salad

I was going to toss it up, then realised it would look more colourful and appetising this way. This is for Takoyaki.

Cooked fresh wheat noodles are tossed with kaeshi (short cut for me), then topped with (from left):

Homemade salmon flakes

Julienned cucumber

Omelette strips

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.