Bento lately

Aaww...it has been a while since I did the entry posting for blog.

The reason because I was in bento hiatus too.

However, on last week I made some bento due to several occassions :)

I made one Japchae bento in the past 

It composed of japchae with ground beef, red and yellow bell peppers, carrots and zucchini. Added in box are apples and mini mandarin.

Everyone in my house loves japchae :D

This bento was made to celebrate the birthday of one dear friend.
It composed of brown rice (made from mixing white rice with sweet soy sauce). The rice is "tied" with kani ribbon as to resemble a gift. Surrounded the rice, I put blanched broccoli, carrots, boiled egg. In paper cup, I added honey glazed salmon teriyaki. To complete the box, I put some apples and grapes.

Notice from the carrot, you can read the recipient's name.
At first, I wanted to put cheese cut-out for letters. At the very moment, I just realized that I ran out of cheese sheet. My bad habit, not to check all needed ingredients before hand. The cheese was apparently being treated as snack by my kids.
So, as last resort, I punched the letter on carrot and then to slice out a bit of its surface.
Taadaaa...I hope you can read the letters.

This bento was made for twins' school project.

The school asked the students to bring balanced meal. They will be evaluated from content of box, from carb, protein, veggie and fruit. To get more fun, they also be evaluated from their eating manner. In fact, school will see if they can finish the meal during lunch time.

I found this project is quite easy. Kids are accustomed to eat balanced meal and they have well eating manner, I believe.

Once again, I put brown rice (white rice+sweet soy sauce). This is only to give contrast color, since I wanted to put something white on top.

Could you guess what did I put on top of brown rice? 

I made a winged helmet and a hammer of famous Thor :) I created them from meatballs and kani sheet.

On the side is green squash, brocolli, flower-y carrot, pan-fried salmon with salt and black pepper, cherry tomato, apples and mixed frozen berries.

I prepared 3 identical boxes and just as I thought, they all finished their lunches. 

Yay...

See you next time >,<

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His latest menu

Last week I was tied up with my son. 

He underwent an appendectomy. Thank God it went very well. I will post the complete story in different post.

However, hubby is still going for his low carb diet. 
I didn't have a choice but to tightly manage my time.

Few of his menu that I've captured

#251

What's inside:

* Halved-boiled eggs, removed the yellow, to fill in the sauteed ground beef with red beans

* Stir-fried green beans with baby corn

* Steamed tofu with salt pepper, basil leaves, red chilli and edamame

* Pan-fried boneless skinless chicken breast with dried herb

#252

What's inside:

* Ratatouille - omit the tomato

I followed the original recipe in here. 

The recipe is in Indonesian, but I am sure the English version will be easy to find

* Mini tempeh burger

I followed the original recipe in here

* Shrimp Scampi - omit the dry white wine and butter

I followed the original recipe in here

#253

This is a combo for our dinner

 

What's inside:

* Stir-fried broccoli with mushrooms and onions

* Steamed chicken (Pepes Ayam) - omit the tomato

I referred to this recipe

* Pan-fried salmon with lemon and dried herb

* Fried rice with egg, vegetarian ham and frozen veggies --> this is mine

* Watermelon, strawberries and blueberries

He will finish Step One very soon

Later, I will have more options of ingredients to cook. Yay...!

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Bento - some late posts and his diet

Hi there,

The net connection was down since last Monday.

I wonder why it has problem when I had many things to post. LOL

Well, to begin with, I made bento for kids' late lunch during last weekend. 

I made an extra box -just like this one- for a friend since we visited their house for playdate.

bento 246

What's inside

Baked salmon in alu foil, blanched broccoli, fried rice, Hello Kitty kamaboko and apples.

Lately, I love to bake this and that.

For salmon, I rubbed it with salt, pepper and mixed dried herb (parsley, oregano, thyme - didn't notice what else inside- found this ready bought package in a supermarket). I drizzled the salmon with olive oil and inserted a sliced of lemon on salmon, just between the skin and alu foil. I did it all onto foil surface, then just wrapped it and put into the oven. Using 200 C in about 20 min, the salmon will be done and smell wonderful.

In middle of baking time, I put sliced red and yellow bell pepper in tin pan next to the wrapped salmon in oven.

While waiting for the salmon, I made fried rice. Simply done, using white rice, some bites of vegetarian ham, egg being scrambled and shredded bell peppers. At the same time, Hello Kitty kamaboko and edamame were being boiled, also some sliced apples being soaked into salty water.

When all done, put salmon, bell pepper, broccoli, lettuce, fried rice, edamame and apples in place. Voila! it's so yummy {^,^}

Next ......

Bento for some lazy busy mornings

Remember my story about the Bakery and Meat shop? 

I got some chocolate rolls and croissants in store, frozen of course. They needed to be re-heated by oven within 5 minutes on 180-200 C.

bento 247 mister J

bento 247 miss L

What's inside

Chocolate roll, butter croissant, a cup of sliced rock melon and grapes, two quail eggs, purple sweet potato and garlic n herb butter in tiny cup. 

I let the kids know that they can smear the butter onto croissant. They came home and told me that some of their friends have bits of croissant. Some preferred the croissant while others preferred the butter. Some even said to my kids "you always have the 'strangest' lunches" I take that as a compliment \>,</

As a bonus, mister J loved his lunch. 

He normally didn't like to find bread in his box.

Last one for today, I promise.

Hubby is thinking to get himself into a diet program. Well, it is about time, I suppose. He is currently very overweight. Although looks healthy, I am deeply concerned for his general condition in the long run. I couldn't force him to change his way of eating until he decides himself to do so.

A type of diet that he is considering now involving 2 steps.

First step is to have 2 weeks free of carbohydrate meals. Meaning, yup..no carbohydrate at all, including pasta, potato, and friends. Fruits are out from meal-plan too. Basically, vegetables (except carrot and tomato), legumes, olive/canola oil, white egg and other kinds of protein (like tofu, tempeh, we have the list) are allowed. Oh yes, no sugar too! You can cross out tea and coffee, only plain water. You can have garden salad without dressing. Looks tough? How about if I say, you can get rid from 4 to 6 kg of your weight, within 2 weeks time? \^o^/

I do not yet put too much attention for second step, since he is in doubt if he can manage first step very well. He is quite hooked with carbohydrate, none of his days will be passed on without any white rice or noodle. So....he is not firmly decide yet to follow the program, but he would like to try.

Bento 248

What's inside

Baked skinless boneless chicken breast (using the same method as salmon's on above-omit the lemon), stir-fried (with just some drops of oil) veggies: green beans, baby corn, yellow and red bell peppers, steamed white egg with frozen corn and green peas in papercup, some edamame and lettuce.

Both stir-fried veggie and white egg were seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper only.

I added both yellow and red bell pepper to give a color highlight (carrot is usually my rescue) otherwise his box will be too dull.

It looks yummy. 

It smells delicious  

Most importantly, he loved it *yay...dancing around the kitchen*

So, if he sees carb-free meal isn't so bad, perhaps he will SERIOUSLY consider the program. Hahaha...

When he says yes, I will partly participate just to support him.

I don't have problem with my weight and to get carb-free meals but I care so much for sweets. When the time comes, ehm..bye bye my cappuccino and cheesecakes...Ouch!

How is your day so far ?

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Bento 219

Hello again... ^,^

It's been a while since my last post and I blame it to my routines. 

Should think of another creative and crazy excuse..Haha!

a weekend bento

Content of the box:

* Onigiri bear, with sausage ears, pinned with uncooked angel hair or spaghetti stick for steady position. Within few hours or so, the pasta will be softened and ready to eat.

* Decorate his face with punched nori, cheese sheet and a dab of ketchup. Cheese cutters are widely available but the simplest way is to use the drinking straw to create perfect round cheese cut-outs. Cut short the straw first before punched the cheese and pushed it out gently using the round tip of a toothpick. Using a toothpick, smeared ketchup onto his check for healthy glowing of face.

* Pan-fried salmon piece using butter and some lemonade juice (one teaspoon of juice is enough for me!) also salt and pepper to taste. When it cooked (the pink color looked wonderful), I drained the excess oil in kitchen towel and sprinkled vegetable furikake on top and sides of salmon. I inserted the lemon wedge on side.

* Grapes in silicon cups, added with edamame

* Some edamame (again) in food picks

* A cherry tomato, topped with takuan flower and cheese. Once again, use the pasta to keep both takuan and cheese in their place. *Yeah, I can imagine how kids carry their boxes and I don't want this cute lunch will look awful during opening*

Happy lunch o:)

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Bento 216

Hello Monday...

I made butter lemon salmon for their lunch.

Butter lemon salmon wrapped in aluminum foil with sliced lemon on top. 

Accompanied with purple potato-rice mixed, sugar peas, edamame, cherry tomato, zucchini, apples and grapes.

For bigger boy and girl, I added 2 pieces of tamago

I am very pleased, this time the tamago turned out in nice square shape with smooth surface.

I should remember to omit ground pepper for next time, it makes brown patches in my tamago!

See the white green noddle-like on top of cherry tomato?

I used the peeler knife to have "zucchini noddle" and big J said he loved it.

Amazing...previously he dislike zucchini :b

 

A friend of mine shared her recipe.

Put salmon on top of aluminum foil, insert lemon underneath and place butter on top.

Well wrap and steam it using low heat approximately 20 minutes. 

Voila...! 

Bon appétit

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