Cookbooks from Hawaii are full of really great asian-fusion home style recipes, that are easy, ono (delicious), and adapted to american tastebuds. So when I heard from Lunch In A Box that a new Hawaii's Bento Cookbook is out, it's on my "need it now" list. It has bento recipes for Spam Musubi, Shoyu Hotdogs, Mochiko Chicken, and Kahlua Pork. Bring it on!
bento
tiffins 'n things
Japanese have bentos and Indians have tiffins. I'm just learning about tiffins and I love the concept. Each compartment carries a different food, like rice, curry, naan, and stacks tightly together. Great for saucy foods that might not work in a bento box. Traditionally, they are made of stainless steel or tin like this. In India, they have an fascinating tiffin delivery system called dabbawala, which delivers the tiffins from home to office. These melamine tiffin boxes are made by VIVO, and are available at Pearl River, one of my favorite shops in NYC. While at Pearl River, I spotted these adorable mushroom and apple bento containers. Now I'm craving to explore Little India...
hello kitty bento tools from japan
Bento cuteness can now be yours! {via JustBento} This Hello Kitty Bento Decorating Set is now available here
. I just ordered one myself. It comes with 3 rice molds, a food cutter (looks like a cookie cutter), and 3 nori punches. What the heck is a nori punch? Well, it's basically a paper puncher but for nori (dried seaweed). That is how they made the little eyes, noses, and whiskers on the rice balls. We'll see if I ever manage to use it. It's a must have for bento freaks!
Fish Sticks Bento
So I burnt half of the fish sticks in the oven today. Had to improvise by cutting off the burnt ends, and adding the hot dog. My four year old daughter's bento today contains a few lucky fish sticks, half of a nitrate free hot dog from Trader Joes, carrots, leftover grilled zucchini with soy sauce, brown rice with furikake seasoning, and Laughing Cow cheese. I also added (not in photo) a container of cut up melon and strawberries.
mini pancake sandwiches bento
Here's a quick bento lunch. Frozen mini pancake sandwiches. Don't bother to defrost the pancakes. They'll thaw by lunch time, like Smuckers Crustables. I made 3 types: peanut butter & jelly, honey & butter, and jelly & cream cheese. With a side of carrots, strawberries, and grapes the only thing I wish this bento had was something green to balance out the color.
Found! the ultimate bento box
I found this perfect little lacquer bento box in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, at a store called Utsuwa-No-Yakata. This is the ultimate bento box yet, and it has all things I look for in a bento box.
1. It's overflowing with cuteness and prettiness. Shiny woodlike lacquer is ladylike, but the gold bunny speaks to my inner child. (My bento box is talking to me? I'm going crazy)
2. English words on it actually make sense. Can't go wrong with "My Lunch Box".
3. Secure inner lid. Sweet.
4. Awesome inner compartments.
5. Pull this out at lunch time, and you'll be like Molly Ringwald's character in The Breakfast Club.
6. It was on sale for $9.99.
I originally bought this with my daughter in mind-- this puppy's mine. ALL MINE!
Do you have a favorite bento box? Show me!
rainbow bread bento
Now that spring is here I'm loving all the colorful flowers blooming everywhere. Here's a colorful bento I made for my preschooler.
grilled cheese on rainbow bread
leftover chinese food (noodles and broccoli)
mandarin orange
orange chicken and saran wrap riceballs bento
I haven't been posting much, we've been busy getting our house ready to sell. After much cleaning and decluttering, I'm ready to blog again! Sorry for the lull.
My daughter requested plain rice balls, or onigiri, for lunch. I made them by scooping rice into a piece of saran wrap, wrapping it up and twisting and forming into a ball. Easier done than said. Orange chicken is from Trader Joes. When making bentos, I like to balance out the colors. Adding a little bit of green or red always does the job. Of course it looks pretty that way, but it's healthy too.
bento box artist spotlight: shinzi katoh
I fell in love with these bento boxes designed by shinzi katoh. His illustration style is vintage, yet fresh, cute and colorful. The top 2 bento boxes hold onigiri, or triangular shaped rice balls. They sell some of his products online at sugarcharms.
pizza bento
Mama mia san! This is my daughter's lunch: 2 slices of pizza, half a nitrite free hot dog, tangerine, edamame and carrots. When packing a bento, I usually start with the main item. And then fill up the gaps with the other stuff from the fridge. I keep in mind the space I have to work with. Hence, this isn't a "turkey leg & pizza bento". Speaking of turkey legs, did you ever eat the giant turkey legs they sell at Disneyland? Had one for the first time last night. Tasty! Brings out your inner cave person.
