BENTO #86 & # 87

Posting early this morning because #1 is driving the two sisters to school. She's got an early class so that saves me a trip.

#2 stays back till 3.00p.m. for Choir practice and so has two Bentos today. Hers is packed with Futomaki because she insisted for more. The blue break-time Bento contains her favorite Futomaki and two pieces of Gyoza from yesterday's dinner. There is some Gyoza dip in the 'car shoyu bottle'.

In the mustard colored two tier Bento, there is more Futomaki, another cheese tart from The Loaf, some Longan and three chocolate sticks. This time, I didn't forget the Oshibori. I wish I had more co-ordinated Bento sets and accessories but unfortunately they are too scarce to source locally and far too expensive to purchase over e-bay. Personally, I don't believe in splurging on expensive postage.



I think I'm doing pretty well with #3's daily Bento. She looks forward to it and is excited to help pack her food and even attempted to take this photo which I think is pretty good.

I'm really happy that she's bringing decent food to school to eat. It is just that mummy has to work a lot harder and put on many 'thinking caps' for menu ideas!!

#3's Bento is Futomaki laden with Japanese Kewpie Mayo and Sakura Denbu. She doesn't like it any other way. Whenever we lunch at any Japanese Restaurants, she would order 5 hand rolls with her specifications. Yeah! She knows what she wants, and it'll cost something like RM8 each! Same price as a California roll and far more expensive than my set lunch!! I try to avoid Japanese lunches when I'm out with her. Not worth it at all!


I added some chocolate sticks for just in case. #3 accessorized her Bento with the Bento strap, chopsticks and Oshibori.

I quipped - "Hey, you know how to use the chopsticks?" #3 replied - "Hehehe, just to make the picture look nice mah!" That's a 9 year old for you!

BENTO #83 & #84

I've been on an 'overdrive' mode over the weekend. Saturday night, we hosted a farewell party in our home for some of our senior youth members who are leaving for further studies overseas. Thank God it was pot luck and cooking was minimal for me.

Sunday morning, #2 had a Confirmands coffee morning at church. This 'food fest' was to raise money to fund their Confirmation camp leading to their sacrament of Confirmation next year. It's not so much for the monies raised but for the activity which brings the children to work together with their parents and with each other for the common purpose of the common faith.

I would have just sold sushi as I most often do for these fund raisers but with the recent increase in prices of Japanese ingredients, it was impossible make a decent margin from the effort.

I asked my mum if she'd help me make "Emperor noodles" (Wong Tai Meen - read in Cantonese) in Chicken soup for the coffee morning fund raiser.

A little insight on my mum - My late father says this of her "Give your mother anything "including a blob of sh*t" *joke* and she'd turn it into a gourmet dish"! My mum is an amazing cook and a terribly fussy one too.

She insisted on buying the chickens on Saturday morning itself and cooked and boiled the soup the whole day in preparation of the coffee morning on Sunday! Everything was FRESH and immensely delicious, as usual.

People kept coming back for seconds and 100 bowls were sold out on Sunday morning! It was exhausting and #2 quipped that 'hawkering' seemed like fun. At the end of the morning #2 added that perhaps studying for a Degree would better suffice!!! LOL!!!

After an exhausting morning and afternoon practice at Church, #2 had to go to Pudu for dance practice. On the way down, she said that she missed the bread from "The Loaf" owned by our former PM Tun Dr. Mahathir, which opened their first outlet in Langkawi and now at the Pavilion.

Hubs dropped #2 off to Pudu and zoomed off to Pavilion. So, we had tea at The Loaf and spent RM93 bucks on bread and cheese tarts!! Okay, I was a little greedy and I got carried away with all the nice looking pastries.

Hubs sat himself at a corner seat facing the main road overlooking a busy road. I ordered two cappuccinos and some pastries. First order RM49.

Then #1 calls hubs and asks him our whereabouts (she was out for an event with some friends and just got home). Hubs finishes his conversation with her and turns to me, asking me to 'ta pau' (take away) some 'plain' buns. Second order RM19.

Then I remembered that they had Cheese tarts, which incidentally I forgot to try the last time we were here. I went and 'ta pau' some. The girl behind the counter greeted me and told me the cheese tarts promo was buy 5 get 1 free. Being Malaysian and prone to greed I took up the promo. That cost me RM25.

Honestly, we enjoyed the cheese tarts and the pastries. It was delicious and it was worth every cent. Hubs teased #2 that she missed watching Dr. Mahathir tossing dough in the kitchen of The Loaf!!

Hahaha!!
Her reaction was classic - Yeah man! Dad!! *a little unsure* - looks in my direction - Huh!! You bluff me Dad!! As if Dr. Mahathir WUZ there!!! We all laugh and she had a great time munching her breads in the back of the car.

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Monday morning today! Woke up tired and dazed. Never mind, I already did my Bento homework last night.

#3 was going to have left over butter cake with butter icing from the party and the last 3 chocolate chip cookies. I packed an apple in the top box. The apple slices were soaked in salt water - #3 reminded me so that the apples won't turn brown.


#2's box had a cheese tart and a pumpkin seed bread from The Loaf. I blanched some broccoli and cut carrots and packed them into a silicon cup.

The blue tub contains frozen lychee in syrup. This is to keep the contents cool so that the cheese tart won't go bad. You notice that I put a silver foil cup under the blue tub to contain the liquids from the condensation as the contents defrost. I didn't want the bread to get soggy.

Both bento ready to go. After I sent them to school, I realized that I forgot their Oshibori! Blame it on Monday morning blues!!

Plastic Bento boxes

If you look at my chatter box, you will notice a query that NEE has posted:
21 Jun 08, 12:31

NEE: Hi Bento great reading your posts. i love all the cute bento boxes. I have one by thermos for my hub and it has three little containers stack up on one another and it will keep warm.

21 Jun 08, 12:32

NEE: my constant worry is whether those containers are good for eat from. you have any idea?

I'd like to link you to the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy (USA)/Food and Health website for some references and information. Look at the topic Healthier Food Uses of Plastic and download the PDF article on Smart Plastics Guide. In there you will find information of the different types of plastics used for different products and purposes. There are also recommended safe plastics and explanation of plastic labels.

I have several of those 'keep hot' bento flasks from Thermos and Tiger - both made in Japan. Come to think of it, I've never questioned their plastic composition. I guess it's because they have such a long standing reputation in the market.

In one of my previous post on Bento shopping @ the 100Yen shop, I wrote about buying Bento boxes made in China from the 100 Yen shop and how I had called one of their managers to check on the plastic material used to make the Bento boxes.

From my conversation with them and the documents I was provided with, I found that the Bento boxes from Japan and China which they carry are made of PP: Polypropylene which according to IATP/Food and Health reports is safe to use for food products.

Read this article about lead in lunch boxes by Simple Steps. There are steps which can be taken like buying a lead test kit to make a swab test. I read somewhere that the swab test basically tells you if there is lead in the plastic but not the content level.

To be honest I have asked myself the same plastic composition safety questions many times. I am no expert but I read a lot about lead in plastics, chemicals in plastics that can contaminate the food and plastic/ containers that are wrongly used for microwave purposes etc.

It's scary to imagine that I may be giving my kids a dose of 'poison' daily in the process of a loving sacrifice in preparing all the lovely and delicious food for my kids. I've tried to do some research and made calls to some of these suppliers of Bento boxes which I have purchased. I've come to a satisfactory conclusion that I am contented with my findings and pray for the best.

Disclaimer: Please be informed that I have no affiliations with the 100Yen shop other than being a regular paying customer. All opinions are mine personally and does not serve to be or claim to be an authority of any sort. I receive no monetory rewards or discounts from 100Yen shop (other than commercially available discounts for all customers) or any other companies or persons mentioned in this article.

BENTO #81 & #82

Bento for #2 was free and easy this morning. I marinated the salmon last night and fried it this morning. There was some Kewpie Mayo in the little Hello Kitty tub and a wedge of black pepper Laughing Cow cheese in the same box.

In the other box was some blanched broccoli, butterfly cut carrots and a mix of peanuts and golden raisins.

#2's Bento and Oshibori ready to go.

This challenge to pack #3's Bento box is quite encouraging. This morning, I quickly spread some pizza sauce on a ready made pizza base and topped it with lots of cheeses. Put half a piece into the toaster and when ready, I cut it into eight slices. I packed six and #3 ate two slices for breakfast. She was very happy with her pizza!!

I packed some biscuits and roasted almonds in the other box and gave her some golden raisins.

The box of biscuits, almonds and raisins came back un-touched! #3 said that she didn't like them and anyway the pizza was enough food for break time. Oh! I took the liberty to finish them up - I thought they were delicious!

See #3's Bento and Oshibori all ready to go with it's fancy strap.

BENTO #79 & #80

I was thinking aloud last night about packing #3's Bento box. Being an extremely picky eater, I couldn't think of anything other than her favorite tuna sandwiches and Oreo biscuits. How does one survive only on such limited food???

Oh! And #3 likes her food hot and literally pukes when served cold food. Biscuits, sandwiches and sorts are okay but otherwise, her stomach just convulses and the food cannot or refused to be consumed.

#2 suggested that I spread the soft 'President herb cheese' on her sandwich. "Huh?? When did she learn to eat that, I asked". Apparently the two of them had tea together yesterday and #3 tasted the sister's cheese sandwich and enjoyed it. #3 even chipped in and agreed that I should pack the herb cheese sandwich for her. Viola!! Another item added to her consumption list! LOL!!!

You can see below, the blue dog oshibori box and #3's simple Bento. President Herb cheese sandwiches cut into tulips and elephant shape and her favorite peanuts. You can't see the elephant shape because I was in a hurry and didn't have time to place the items properly. There is even a sandwich cut into a shape of an apple (hidden).



Salad days are back! Yesterday, #2 specifically asked for vegetables. Nothing heavy okay mum? I finish at 2.00p.m. after a quick Choir run-through and I'll be back for lunch. Okie dokie...instructions taken, so it's just Asparagus spears, plum cherry tomatoes with baby corns. Lots of hard veggies and crabsticks with a little tub of salad cream in this traditional looking Bento box.

In the bottom box, I put in two pieces of fruit cake (laden with lots of Brandy) and some home made chocolate chip cookies.




Before I could grab a strap for the Bentos. #2 took hold of this white fluffy one and declared that she wanted it for her box. Sure thing, there are lots to choose from so no need to fight.

I used the matching clickety click Bento strap for the matching box for #3.

All at peace and off we went to school!!!

BENTO #77 & #78

Choir practice is off till Thursday, so #2 comes home for lunch. I packed some Penne pasta tossed in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and garlic, boxed some tomato based sauce loaded with fresh button mushrooms and sausages.

I hate adding sausages to my kids meals! Terri, a fellow blogger used to drop comments in my comment box whenever she read my posts on wieners/sausages/franks, about the dangers of Sodium Nitrite - a preservative carcinogen. Read here!

I'd cringe at buying them after much 'brain washing' from her comments and articles. My kids love sausages and it's difficult to get fresh ones without sodium nitrite and I've been avoiding them for a long, long time. Recently, my favorite 'tea time haunt cafe owner' offered me some sausages to try. It was delicious. Apparently made with more meat, less flour and no preservatives.

I bought some from him and used them in this recipe. I'm sure #2 will love it because sausages has been sorely missed in this household! Thanks to Terri! Seriously! I'm sold to the idea of healthy eating that's why I work hard at cooking wholesome meals for my family.



Lately, #3 has been asking if she too could bring a Bento box to school instead of her regular boring box.

I was happy to oblige and explained that if I had to pack only cookies then there was no use for Bento boxes. I made tuna sandwiches and used some large cookie cutters to cut 'hearts and bear' shapes for her and she was trilled.

In the lower tier, I added some home made chocolate chip cookies which she loves. I'm happy to pack two boxes now and hope it can continue. #3 is a very, very picky eater but we've come to an understanding that she has to learn to expand her taste palette and she's agreed.

#3's Bento box all prettied up and ready to go~!

BENTO #76

#2 has warmed up to the idea of taking 'full meals' for lunch in this insulated Thermos flask. Well at least the soup keeps hot till lunch. She likes it.

Today's schedule ends at 3p.m. because of choir practice again. Today, the Choir Mistress will be in attendance to do some brushing up.

It was Miso soup in the Thermos again because she enjoyed it yesterday and requested for the same. Only this time no more clams, just Aburaage and fish cake.

I re-fried some nori pork balls and added the balance of the vegetables from her break-time bento. In the rice box, I added some Daikon pickle (her favourite) and furikake.


This blue bento contains her break-time snack. Baby corn, Asparagus spears, carrots and cucumbers wrapped in Vietnamese rice paper. Added some tomatoes and a little box of salad sauce. #2 hasn't acquired the taste for the Vietnamese peanut sauce yet.

BENTO #75

Today's Bento is mostly left overs from the weekend. Cut up the Kyuri and crab sticks to fit the box. Added the simmered shitake mushrooms and fried a quick tamagoyaki.
I made the miso soup fresh and it, in itself is a meal because I added in clams (lala), Japanese fish cake, Wakame seaweed and Aburaage (Japanese taufoo pok).

Notice my black Oshibori box on the right?

This is going to be a very filling lunch because #2 has Choir practice up to 3p.m. today. The school choir is going for the Trinity Choir examination this Friday and #2 says they are not ready. Good luck then!

Excursion Bento

We're off to Sungai Klah Hotsprings with some of our Church Youths. I packed a bento for hubs and I to snack on in the car. The youths together with my daughter travels in a 44 seater bus.

My bento box contains Tamagoyaki - cut to resemble a heart shape. There are 3 pieces of peanut 'muah chee' (mochi) which I bought at a Nyonya stall this morning. Lots of crunchy vegetables and crabsticks to dip in thousand island dressing. Yummy!!


I added another picture to this post after I got back from Sungkai. I made Tuna Onigiri with sesame seeds and furikake and some futomaki for my daughters and their friends for tea on Friday when we arrive Sungkai. They finished everything during tea. *Slaps forehead* Just four girls and they could finish so much!

The picture is a little dark, as usual I didn't check because the girls were ready and waiting to tuck in to the food when I wanted to take the picture.

BENTO #74

We're off for a short break over the weekend. Today's a rush and Bento was a quick fix!

In the left box there are some cashew nuts in a silicon cup and four pieces of turkey, cheese and butter sandwiches. In the right box are fruits - apples and kiwi. If you look close enough, you can see the apples cut in the shape of 'apples'. LOL!! Some plum cherry tomatoes and left over Mac and cheese.

School breaks at 12.30p.m today and I'm planning a Donburi for lunch. Wonder if I have time to post about it before I leave.

The complete Bento and it's pretty strap ready to go!!

Looking for space for my Bento boxes

No Bento today. #2 is the official photographer for the state level Choir competition held in Sri KDU today. We arrived at her school before 7.00a.m. this morning. I am told that she and some of her co-photographers will be going to Sri KDU with the Choir teacher and Choir mistress up to 4.00p.m. I insisted on packing her some chocolate chip cookies and some marshmallows to snack on.

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I need more shelves and space! After rummaging and re-packing my Bento boxes, these poor things were left with no space to keep them. I need to buy some more of those plastic drawer type shelves to shove these fellas in.

Don't you just love my Oshibori boxes?? I used to let #3 bring them to school everyday, now #2 has agreed to use the Oshibori packed in the box instead of 'wet ones'. I'm glad I have a couple more for spare.

The box of onigiri and sushi molds below are all packed in a lock & lock box. I tried using them before but it was too troublesome, I prefer to use my hands. The onigiri molds are too large - so says #2. She likes her onigiri the way mum makes them - small and cute! Lol!!



I bought these huge ramen bowls from the 100 Yen shop in Puchong today. I love the colourful soup bowls and the bags too. The 100 Yen shop is having a 20% discount on all items up to 22nd June or something. I have a membership card that entitles me to collect points but I'm not sure if you get the 20% if you're a member or not???


I've watched a couple of those Korean shows and they always have their 'lovestruck couple' slurping over a hot bowl of Korean Kimchi Ramen. Recently I bought some to try and #1, #2 and I have been addicted to the wonderful Kimchi Ramen flavour! Absolutely tasty and satisfactory. I made some for dinner tonight because I was out shopping the whole day and didn't have time to cook! " Shhhh.....not so loud!"

BENTO #73

I packed two sets of Bento this morning because #2 is staying back in school up to 3.30p.m. There's a debate going on and she's there to support her friends.

The blue Bento is for the 10a.m. break at school. It contains smoked turkey ham rolled with cheese, carrots, french beans and some red and green coral. I added sliced oranges and Kiwi for dessert.

For lunch, I packed rice (forgot to dust with furikake), some chicken karaage, blanched carrots, French beans and a hot pot of ABC soup.



The picture below shows the two Bento boxes and a set of Monokuro Boo cutlery. There was a bottle of frozen "Loh Han Koa" drink packed in a Yellow Urara water thermal insulated Bento bag and an oshibori box and towel.



#1's been talking about "green awareness" and I spoke to #2 to stop using 'wet ones' and to start using the oshibori towel instead. All agreed and it looks like the oshibori box will be a permanent feature in future pictures.

Packing and re-packing Bento accessories

During the last holidays, I had some time to re-pack my Bento collection.

I used a 3 tier drawer which I packed some of the Bento boxes.

Tier 1 - 9 boxes

Tier 2 - 8 boxes

Tier 3 - 7 boxes
(The rest of the boxes are still waiting to be packed)

Picks and food dividers

Forks and food dividers

My box of food dividers

All the food dividers and food picks packed together
in a larger container for convenience

My cup and mold collection:

Food cups

More food cups, egg molds, rice molds, etc

Some more food cups, silicon cups, Bento straps, Onigiri cases and sandwich bags

In the box - sandwich bag ties and forks

My cutlery collection:

Chopsticks

Cutlery and chopstick sets

More sets

All packed in one box for convenience

Cutters

Box of cutters

Some more cutters


Some side boxes, sauce containers and Furikake templates.

Cutters, cutters, cutters everywhere!!


All the cutters packed together

BENTO #72

I've been encouraging #2 to eat a little more, since her operation about 2 months ago. She's very tall so she doesn't have a weight problem, well at least that's what I think. However, she thinks otherwise. She now wants to go on a fruit and vegetable diet.

Today she stays back up to 3p.m. for Choir practice. I offered her 'Cha Soba' but she declined. It's 'fruits & vegetables' she says. So, I prepared this - some red and green coral, cucumbers, carrots, corn from yesterday, cashew nuts, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and salad cream.

In a side box, I added some toasted croutons.

I added a bottle of frozen apple juice and got them all ready
to be packed into the Tenmari kinchaku (bag).