Bento # 26 - Another Quick and Easy Bento

It's been a while since my last bento and I feel sad about it. My schedule this past weeks prevented me from creating cute lunches for my daughter, that and the 2-week break they had in school, is the reason why I was in a forced hiatus. Anyway, I found a chance to do a quick and easy lunch for her this week my first and hopefully not the last  for this month. Inside the box: Tocino ( a local sweet cured pork), flower shaped mango bits, Jelly and cheese cubes.

Bento # 25 - Hearts and Stars

This is how I say "I love You" to my daughter.  I know other mommies out there who create bento for their kids will agree with me that bento creation is really a labor of love. The task needed to create even a simple one is really not that easy. But when you love someone, you'll do everything to make them happy, right? 

This morning I prepared heart shaped steamed rice for her, sausages (not really that healthy), flower shaped mangoes (her favorite fruit) and chocolate dipped animal cookies.

I resolved to look for recipes that are healthy to include in her lunch box but don't have the time yet. She's really a picky eater so sometimes the baon I make for her will return half empty.

Bento # 24 - Butterflies in the ganden

Maybe you're wondering why this type of bread are always present in my bento, these have actually became my daughter's favorite. I remember the first time I included this in her lunch box, she had a sad face and said "I don't like it Mommy". But I said she just need to try it and she'll find it's good. So after that she always request to have it as her baon. Now I running out of ideas on how to design or be creative about it, he, he.

Inside the box: Mamon (sponge cake), flower and butterfly shapes cheese, mango balls , cheese triangle and egg chocolates for a treat.

Bento #23 - 3 Happy Pals

I arrived late again from work so I had to do a very quick and easy bento for my daughter. Good thing I have animal shaped cutters that easily transform a simple lunch box into a creative bento. That and with the help of some animal picks. I'm really wishing more bento accessories , how I love to have more picks to choose from. I just hope that by December local sellers of bento gear will have new stocks, I'm so excited :))

Anyway, the box contains steamed rice decorated with a rabbit and two bears, the rabbit looks forlorn, though. On the other box are viena sausages decorated w/ animal picks. Looks to me they are about to sleep he, he :)). There's also a sliced banana sprinkled with cinnamon, I just love how it taste so I hope the kid will also like it, and chocolate wafer.

Bento # 22 - In my Garden

I arrived late from work due to traffic so I was not able to really do an elaborate bento for my daughter. Here's a quick one I did, I bought Pianono, a local sponge cake,  from a bakery near us and just add mango cubes and rainbow marshmallows. For her drink she got Chuckie, not in the picture though. I just hope that I'll have more time to prepare her bento in the days to come. I'm anticipating a change in our routine in the coming days and I still apprehensive of the outcome, bad or good. I hope it will be for the good. Enjoy the rest of the week everyone :))

Bento# 21 - Starry Starry Bento

Happy Monday everyone! I'm back after being absent for a week on my blog. Last week was a bit of a challenge. I was able to make a bento for my kid on monday however due to the morning rush I was not able to take a picture. The following day, there was no classes because of typhoon Nesat. I was a bit worried because it was exactly 2 years since typhoon Ondoy, which caused such a destruction in our country, and Nesat was almost the similar to it. It's really sad because although we were not really affected, my countrymen living in the northern part of the country was greatly affected. I just pray that they will recover soon after this trial.

Well, so much for sad news, it's a brand new day and the sun is shining. I asked my daughter yesterday what she wants for her lunch, and she answered shyly.. Bento! So here it is...

Inside the box: 2 fluffy sponge cake with stars and smiling moon, mango balls, and a deformed heart shaped egg  :))

Bento #20 - Two Sad Bears

I wonder why the two bears looks so sad. Maybe they don't want to be eaten, yay! I actually intended them to be smiling but lack of proper tool made them look so sad. How I wish I would have nori punchers to improved the facial expressions of my bentos. There are only a few stores selling bento gadget here in our area and sad to say nori punchers are so rare on their stocks. Anyway, sad expression aside, I know my little girl liked my creation coz her  smile was so big  when she got to look at the bear-shaped cheese.Yehey!

Bento No. 19 - PB and J Triangles

I want to try the new pocket sandwich maker, that i had my sister bought for me, for quite sometime now. It's been sitting on it packet for weeks already. So finally here it is! Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich pockets cut into triangles. I just hope my little girl will like it. When it comes to food she's a little bit wary of tasting new things and this is the first time I made PB and J. Normally it's just simple peanut butter. This is also the first time I'm using this box, bought it from SM Department Store and it's really intended to hold sandwiches and other thing you'd like to pack for lunch.

Bento No. 18 - Angry Birds Again

At last after more that a week of absence I'm back to bentoing. My daughter actually misses my creations and keeps on requesting for me to prepare her lunch box. I felt sad because I really love making bento but sad to say the recent change in my schedule at work hindered me from doing so.  So now that I finally have the time I granted her wish to do an angry bird bento again, the last one I made which I posted here, was eaten at home because of classes suspension

Bento No. 17 - Happy Bears

Happy Monday everyone!

I want to start the week right for my little girl. I actually tried to make a smiling bear but I think instead it looks a little bit confused, he he, maybe he's having a manic Monday.  It's been a long time since my last kyaraben and little girl had been requesting for an Angry Bird again. I told her I don't have the tools yet needed to make it so instead I surprised her with this bear inspired lunch which made her smile. She asked why the bea'rs smile is lopsided,  I said he's trying to be naughty, lol. Anyway, I was glad that she liked what she has on her bento.

Inside the box: fun shaped Chicken nuggets, the yellow bear contains barbeque sauce, panda biscuit, segments on an orange.

Bento No. 16 - Checks and Swirls

Another one of my quick and easy bento ideas. the box contain a slice of marble cake , checkered slab of apple, flower shaped boiled quail eggs (not too obvious on the pic he, he) and cheese cube. It's Friday and still I'm not able to buy bento staples... fridge is still empty haisst! I hope by next week I will be able to be more creative on my bento. It's jut frustrating to know that my schedule this month will change I'll be working from 10 pm to 7 am, so  I will not be able to do my daughter's lunch box except on my rest days. Thankfully it fell on week days so I will have 2 days to prepare her lunch box.

Bento No. 15 - Little Miss Muffins

Another quick bento. I ran out of ideas to put on my kid's lunch box and the fridge is already empty, yay! So the solution store bought staples on her bento. The muffins are cheese and pandan flavor, I also include cheese triangle and checkered apple. I just hope that next week I will have more time to prepare her lunch box, lately I'm kinda feelin' lazy that's why the fridge's supplies was not replenished.

Bento No. 14 - Mini Cakes

These past few weeks was rather a busy one and I know I've been neglecting my blog. The kids had a long weekend because of one holiday after the other (National Heroes' Day and Eid al Fitr). Our country's population is mostly Catholic and Christian but our government declared Eid al Fitr as a special holiday as a  respect to our Moslem countrymen. Today is the first day after the holiday and my kid's school have a mini program  so I just prepared a light snack. I know she will not be able to eat properly because they will be preparing their part in the program. I hope she will be able to do her part successfully. 

Inside the box: Inipit in 3 flavors (local mini cake), Ham rolls , flower shaped quail eggs (though not to visible)  and heart shape marshmallows

Bento No. 13 - Easy Peasy Bento

Quick and easy, that's my goal for today's bento. I don't have too many ideas on what to pack today so I stood in front of the fridge with doors open ( I know it's a little waste of energy)  to check what to add to my daughter's lunch box. I still have the purple yam siopao and mangoes, voila! instant bento stash! I've included steamed hacao (shrimp dumplings) It's good that when I started bentoing I purchased a mini microwave steamer, it really comes in handy when I want to shorten prep time.  So here it is my Easy Peasy Bento. I may do a lot of this quick and easy lunch box in the future.

By the way it includes two siopao because my daughter told me that some of her classmate really wants to check her lunch every day and I've told her to share some to her friends.

Bento No. 12 -Chicken Nuggets and Sunflower Sausages

Can't believe it's already Monday. I had a long vacation from work so I'm feelin' kinda lazy while I'm writing this post, another Manic Monday, haayst. Anyway, I woke up at around 3 A.M., I've been working night shift for many years now so my body clock gets a little confused when I'm off from work so I still feel awake and energized even in the wee hours of the morning.  So I decided to make a little elaborated bento for Alyssa today.

My kid's lunch  is consist of funky shaped chix nuggets, sunflower sausages which almost got burned, mango cubes , mini cookies with candy bits and cheese triangle

I hope everyone will have a fruitful week.

Bento # 11: Hello Kitty and Mimi

I guess the easiest character to consider in a charaben is Hello Kitty since you only need to mold the rice and put minimal facial features. I actually used my hands to mold Hello Kitty and her twin sister Mimi. I am able to make more bento for my Alyssa this week because I have five days off from work. I took the opportunity to spent more time with my family. Inside the box: cheese sprinkled chiken nuggets, some mixed veggies and edamame, rose fried eggs and  2 winking marshmallows. The yellow container have ketchup.

Have a happy weekend every one!

Bento #10 - Ube Siopao

I prepared a light snack for my daughter today because it's one of her classmate's birthday. Her classmate's parents will bring some food to school. I told her that I won't be preparing bento for her since there will be lunch for them but she requested for me prepare one. When I started doing her bento , she said that her classmates would always check her lunch box. I guess the kids are also curious on what art they would see on her baon. One kid actually said she brought a toy at the school referring to baran, yay! Here in the Philippines the art of bento is not too common since normally kids would buy their food from the school cafeteria so I guess my daughter's classmates find her lunch box a novelty. 

I also found out from my sister, who also started bentoing after me, that one of her blogger friend got curious on the lunches she prepare for her kid. By the way she also post her creation on her blog though it's theme is not really all about bento. It seems that this bento "addiction" is contagious huh?

Inside the box: Purple yam (ube) steamed bun, 2 octodogs , 3 alien quail eggs and a cheese cube

Bento No. 9 - Oh So Yummy Pancakes

It's my daughter's first quarter examination week so they only stay for two hours in school, I decided a light snack would be ideal for her. She requested pancakes for today so I prepared mini-pancakes  and added chicken nuggets. The green container has the maple syrup. For desert she has heart shaped marshmallows and cheese triangle. I just hope she will finish everything lately her appetite has changed.

Bento No. 8 - Two bunnies and a piggy

When I started doing bento lunch for my daughter my dilema included where to get bento supplies. Here in the Philippines there is limited suppliers of bento items so we actually have to make do with what we can find locally.  One of the problem was what to include in the box. Local supermarkets or groceries already includes Asian Food Section where you can get Japanese condiments like tonkatsu sauce, mirin, teriyake sauce and the like. They may also carry frozen products like potstickers and gyoza. So I was so happy when my sister told me that she was able to find in Rustan's supermaket's frozen section a pack they called Mix Shabu-shabu which includes this Rabbit Fish Cake (this makes life easier ;-D).It's just a disappointment when we found out  it only includes 4 pieces of the said rabbit  It also includes taro ball, fish tofu and veggie balls. I just wasn't able to take a picture. 

My sister  also started doing bento after she found out that I started this hobby.  Just like having a bento disciple, he he. You can read her post here. So we're actually into this sort of bento adventure searching for  bento goodies available locally.

Bento No. 7 - Pandesal Bento

My daughter Alyssa is really fond of this local bread, she likes it best with peanut butter but when I asked her if she wants variation she agreed to have ham and cheese pan de sal. It's a good thing that my shift this month starts at 8 pm and ends at 5 am. My travel  from the office only takes less than an hour so I still have time to prepare her baon which is Filipino for packed lunch.  I included sausage flowers and for desert frugurt (yogurt style fruit jelly), a smiling marshmallow and cream cheese.

Pan de sal (Spanish: pan de sal - salt bread) is a rounded bread that's very common food in the Philippines. It is a bread made of flour, eggs, yeast, sugar, and salt. Pandesal originally started out as a plain roll, traditionally served for breakfast accompanied by such items as butter, cheese, scrambled eggs or filled omelets, sausages, bacon, Spanish sardines, jams, jellies and marmalades, coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Originally, pandesal was similar to the French baguette, as the only ingredients needed were hard wheat flour, water, yeast and salt (Wikipedia)

I hope she'll eat everything, I'm a little worried coz when there is school she lacks appetite most of the time.

Bento #6 - Comfort Foods

 I work night shift so I'm not able to always prepare my daughter's lunch box. So I'm posting my own lunch for today.

Inside the box:  Pancit Miki (fresh egg noodles), Tortang Dilis (Anchovies Patties) and a slab of yellow corn.

Every morning, on my way from the office,   I  pass by our local wet market, so I'm able to always get the freshest produce. Today, my sister asked me to buy cream dory fillet but before I went to the fish vendor I chance upon fresh boneless dilis or anchovies. I remember my mother's recipe for anchovies patties, it is quite delicious specially if you will dip it vinegar with freshly mince garlic. Yummy!

Bento #5-Angry Birds Bento

It's an Angry Birds Invasion! Lol!

This mobile game is quite phenomenal! I bet almost everybody has played  or heard about this fun game. So my kid was not spared. I was searching the web for bento ideas when my I chanced upon a bento blog where the author made an Angry Bird themed lunch box, my daughter was watching me as a browse so she requested me to do the same for her lunch box. The author used ketchup and egg to color the rice, but since my daughter doesn't want flavored rice, I racked my brain on how I can do the same for her lunch. So since I don't have work last night ( I work night shift) I was able to grant her request. I used hard boiled egg for the body, cheese and nori for the eyes and carrots for the beak. All is already packed but when I checked the local news I found out that classes for elementary students in our city is suspended because of heavy rains, sad :(( Well, so much for the effort, I'll just let her eat her school lunch for her breakfast.

Inside the box: Grape Fruit, Tocino (Local cured young pork) and hard boiled egg

Bento #4

I made a light bento for Alyssa today. It consists of cheese sandwiches cut in half to fit the Lock and Lock lunch box. Flower chicken sausage and boiled quail eggs were added on the other box, and for the fruits 1 small kiat-kiat and kiwi slices. I guess she got tired of having rice for her school lunch so she requested for sammies instead.  My bento experiment, i think is lacking some kawaii factor, but who knows with constant practice I'll be able to get the hang of it and present cute bento lunches like the one Kao of Kichen Cow is doing.

Bento #3

This is a lunch bento i made for Alyssa last saturday consist of fried chicken wings, yellow corn, flower hotdogs and steam white rice. I was actually in a rush when i was preparing this coz she was so eager to eat it. The bento lunch box is new from Japan Home Center. I was in  search for the right size bento box for my kid  so i was glad when I spotted this in their Robinson's Metro East branch.

Bento #2

So okay, I don't know if I can consider this bento coz I just throw in steam white rice topped with furikake, fish fillet wrap in lettuce , apple rabbit (not too obvious on the photo, but tutorial can be found here) and grapes skewered by decorative picks in my pink bento box. I'm still new at this  but I hope that with more practice and reading I will get the hang of it and create cute and interesting bento. Thanks to all bento bloggers out there who is such an inspiration and great help.

My First Bento

My enthusiasm with bento started when I stumble upon this great way of packing lunch box  when I was searching the web for healthy lunch box ideas for my grade schooler. My eldest kid Alyssa is a picky eater. She also doesn't like to eat breakfast, she only drinks a glass of milk in the morning. Because of this I really need to pack a heavy meal for her lunch box. That's when I decided to start bentoing . So what is bento any way? You can find its definiton from wikipedia on this link. Here's my first attempt in Bentoing. The left stash contains meatball stuff with quail eggs  and buttered mixed veggies on a bed of lettuce leaves. The right stash has heart shaped  steamed white rice (I used my onigiri rice shaper)