BENTO #158

When this morning's Bento was accomplished, there were two things I realized that I had blundered!

First, I have not been planning my Bentos and secondly, today #2 stays back at school for extra curricular activities up to 3.45p.m. which means that this morning's Bento would hardly be sufficient to last her till then.

I cooked lunch and so, put aside some food for her in a Bento box. There is a box of mixed tuna, salad, tomatoes and Basil.


For some proteins and carbo, there is roasted lemon chicken fried in fresh Basil and Oregano, some mango chutney and fried garlic rice. I hope she's hungry enough to eat this when she gets back!

BENTO #157

We had a very busy weekend. Saturday night, hubs and I attended a very close friend, daughter's wedding. The girls were invited to a birthday party but #2 declined to go (she's a little of a home body).

She decided to make pizza for #3 and herself for dinner. This below was the mushroom, oregano and onion pizza for herself.


This one was a fully CHEESE pizza for #3!



Each person had one pizza and obviously they couldn't finish them on their own. I used the left overs for her Bento box this morning!

I heated up the pizza this morning and then cut them up into bite sizes and skewered them for easy eating!

There was yet another raspberry chocolate tart, some kyuri and yellow zucchini and skewered jackfruit.

Meanwhile, my Kenwood is beating in the background some cookie batter and soon I will be making cookies the whole day! Look out for new cookies in tomorrow's Bento!

BENTO #156

This is Saturday and the two younger girls are off for replacement classes for the extra days to be taken off during the Chinese New Year break! I think it's a nuisance to have replacement classes. If #2 didn't insist on going, I would just allow #3 to give it a skip (even if there are more Saturday replacement classes! *nuisance*).

Today's Bento is really simple and more of a treat Bento! In the silver foil cup, I've got pesto topped with mayonnaise - to be eaten with the packet of Japanese crackers on the left. There is blanched Cauliflower topped with some more mayo and cheese and a black sesame mochi to fill the gap.

There is some very ripe persimmon pieces in a silicon cup and more sesame seed mochi and a raspberry chocolate tart - all purchased from Dessert's bar! They are having a 'new menu' promotion and all items are sold on a 50% discount!

Those of you who follow this blog will know that #2 is crazy for mochi! She ate a third piece for breakfast!

Have a good weekend everybody!
Fresh Bentos will appear on Monday again!
Cheers!

BENTO #154

It's fish Friday again! This time it's not the same old Salmon (even though, I'm sure #2 will not mind because she loves Salmon).

Two days ago, Hubs brought back a whole freezer box of seafood which he bought from some wholesaler in Klang. This is our Chinese New Year supply of fish, prawns, lala, fish and more fish!

I can't tell one fish from another so all seafood purchases are normally done by my mum or Hubs. Oh! I know Salmon, Cod fish and Promfrets but most others are just Greek to me.

Last night, I rummaged the freezer and picked up a slice of 'fish' - please don't ask me what fish because I don't know the name! Got to ask Hubs tonight.

This morning when I fried it, it was absolutely fresh and delicious! I fried some sprouts with slivered cuttle fish, some straw mushrooms fried with julienne carrots and added a small fruit compote for #2's Bento box.



The same stuff for #1's Bento box!


This is how the 3 tiered box looks like.



These mornings, I pack three Bento boxes, but because #3 is an extremely picky eater I only have very limited food stuff to pack. It's always rotating between tuna mayo sandwich, cookies, sushi, cookies, spaghetti aglio olio, cookies, orange, cookies and more cookies!

I really don't think #3's box can be called a "Bento" and sadly it doesn't require any effort at all to pack! I've been trying to encourage her to be a little more adventurous with her food but to no avail.

She 'eats' with her 'eyes and nose' and not by tasting! Fancy Bento cuts and patterns doesn't entice her enough either! *sad, sad*

BENTO #153

I just finished putting my fruit cake into the oven to bake. It should be ready after lunch and then my mum will be here and we'll probably begin baking some cookies for Chinese New Year.

This morning, after rushing #2 and #3 to school, I got back to pack #1's Bento. She goes to college for four days a week out of which three days begin mid mornings. I offered to make her brunch Bento to eat before she leave for college and she took me up on my offer! This morning was a little too rush to pack three Bentos so I only did two for the younger girls and went through a second cycle with this one when I got back.

This is a new Bento box which I picked up from Daiso at the Curve. Yeah! I finally visited and got some stuff. It is a three tier Bento box with individual lids, which hopefully will prevent leakage. I'll blog about Daiso in another post because I'm waiting for the pictures from #1's camera.

Anyway, everything is the same with previous Bento post #152 except for the potato and minced meat balls cooked in onions and oyster sauce. This was left over from yesterday's lunch and is #1's favorite dish.

BENTO #152

Since school commenced, #2 has been staying back at least 3-4 times a week. Since I only pack one Bento box for her, I tend to pack some rice so that the meal is substantial enough until tea time when she gets back.

This morning, I chopped and mixed up some Lollo Rosa, Basil leaves, tomatoes and ham. Then, I made a quick dressing with Olive oil, Balsamic vinegar, freshly ground black pepper and some salt. #2 had a plate full for breakfast before she left for school!

I packed the vegetable and ham combination into the smaller top box although I thought of packing it into the bigger bottom box. I realized that there was vinegar in the dressing and so refrained from doing that. I could only fit half an orange into the balance space.


I fried some chicken karaage this morning. I had prepared and coated the chicken bits in Katakuriko last night and that saved me some time. I moulded some rice and topped them with my favorite furikake.

This Bento box has kind of become a permanent feature because #2 complained about some spillage from the other plastic boxes. This box was a gift to me by Emily and is almost spill proof! I find that this Bento box size is just perfect and it has a matching bag which is not childish, which #2 is willing to bring to school.

BENTO #151

Another quick Bento this morning, the pineapple ham is proving to be a great investment! I indulge is buying a whole leg of ham from the factory producing cured meats once every Christmas. I've been doing this for years and the suppliers have been very accommodating. This year, I got smart and asked them to cut the whole leg of ham into four blocks and vacuum wrap them into individual blocks. This is the last block from Christmas and is still fresh as the first!

The left Bento box contains, again - sliced pineapple ham with PINEAPPLES!!! LOL! I bought some pineapples to cook for my tarts and left some for #2's Bento box. Last night, #1 asked to visit the new "Giant" outlet in Kota Damansara so that she could pick up some doughnuts from J.Co. We bought a dozen and stuffed our faces full last night. There were a few left for this morning for the two younger girls Bentos.



In the right Bento is a simple quarter of a tuna mayo sandwich and some fried French beans in garlic. What a delicious mix of flavors!!

BENTO #150

I'm uploading this post amidst cooking the fruits for my fruit cake, waiting for the chocolate chip cookies in the oven to be ready and waiting for time to go and fetch #3 from school!

I've had a very effective morning!

This morning's Bento is made up of cut oranges, some skewered pineapple ham slices sandwiched with tomatoes, Lollo Rosa and sweet basil leaves. I topped them with some Kewpie mayo for added flavor.



The right box which is also the top box had two-thirds of a croissant loaded with tuna mayo, onions and pickled gerkins. There was a slice of fruit cake from the same block I cut from yesterday.

Bento #149

Happy New Year everyone! I'm back and been packing Bento for #2 and #3 (occasionally) since school re-opened on 5th of January 2009! I didn't take any photos because I had wanted to 'crank up' on the mood and get my supplies in order.

I also prepared a lengthy and word-y post on some reading material which I managed to read the week before school re-opened but decided against posting it.

Finally, this morning, after sending another Bento off to school for #2 and forgetting to take a picture of it, I decided to make myself a Bento for lunch. #1 has a lunch appointment, #2 is staying back in school for extra curricular activities - she has in her Bento some Macaroni and a tomato based sauce, a kiwi and some Onigiri. #3, when she gets back will have some 'wantan noodles'.

I just ate this and it's delicious! In the left box is some dried cranberries in the yellow silicon cup, two pieces of bread, some 'beef serunding' in the blue silicon cup and slices of fruit cake stuffed in between the gaps.

In the right box, there is some freshly cut guava fruits in the orange silicon cup, some pea sprouts fried with dried cuttle fish, two pieces of Onigiri and some cracked almonds.

I ate bits of Onigiri with the pea sprouts and serunding and it was delicious! The fruit cake was a gift and that too was awesome! The different fruits and mixture of tastes just adds on to the deliciousness of this Bento! No wonder #2 looks forward to her Bento every day! There's no question of whether she needs a Bento or not, it's expected!

Sometimes I forget how delicious a Bento can get. I'm glad I made one for myself today and it's got me more enthusiastic about preparing them for this year!

Cheers!

Blogging Hiatus

I'm busy as a bee till school re-opens, January 2009! Before I completely and officially (temporary) sink and disappear from blogger-world, I leave you with this -

I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE. l


FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.


F OR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED .


FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.



FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE


FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. .


FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.


FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.


FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.


FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

AND I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE crazy people I work with
BECAUSE they make work interesting and fun!

AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL

BECAUSE ? IT MEANS
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

Christmas comes early!!

Today is #2's last day of exam! Fetched her and her debater friend Zaf from school and off to lunch. She annoyed me today with her eccentric conversation! Anyway they met the other debaters for dinner and a movie at the Curve. She called me to fetch her at 9.00p.m.

#1 had a long and stressful day at college and I invited her to shop at the Curve before fetching #2. While browsing, guess what I saw?

Scroll down!
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
some more!
-
-
-
-
-
Oh AWSOMENESS!!!!
-
-
-
-


Daiso is coming!!!!

I am so trilled!! I want to apply for a job with them!!! LOL!!


Looks like we West Malaysians are a blessed bunch! Don't need to go down south or to KK to buy a variety of Bento stuff anymore (hopefully)!

Everything sold @ 5 Ringgit. Awesome! I must contact them to request them to stock more Bento items! Yahoo!! So happy!!! Join me - YAHOOOOOO!!!!


Reality sets in......

scroll down
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

RENOVATIONS HAS JUST BEGUN!!!

* Sad face*

*Have to wait*

Well look at the bright side, DAISO, IS becoming a reality soon!

Cheers again!!!

Happy Birthday!

Extracted from #2's blog!

Yesterday we had mama’s 80th birthday party. OOooh. so tiring. :s but so fun! :) I’ll post up the pictures after exams. one of the few times that I really enjoyed performing – and surprisingly, I had not one bit of nervous-ness this time. LOL. usually I’d end up freaking out so much, to the extend of like shivering, and my voice shaking. =) yesterday was like “oh. okay. it’s over? wow.” lol. but it was fun. =) i love granny!

A homemaker, Granny taught us well
And showed us what to do
As strict, up-standing citizens.
She’s been our family’s glue.

She raised her children on her own,
So loving, strong and wise.
Small wonder that we look at her
With proud, adoring eyes.

Granny always kept our family unified,
We’re proud to be her descendants.

When we were small, she taught us girls
The way to fix a meal.
From list to store to kitchen, we
Learned how to make it real.

To make the perfect recipe
Takes discipline and skill.
In kitchens or in life, that’s true.
Granny always filled the bill.

And to that skill and discipline,
Add generosity,
For this warm-hearted woman is
As kind as she can be.

And that’s the metaphor for life
She taught her girls and boy –
Ye get from life just what you’ve earned,
The hard work, then the joy.

Granny was a looker, in her youth,
And she’s still quite a dish.
But what’s inside is lovely, too,
So here’s our birthday wish:

Eight lively decades have flown by
Since you began your life.
You’ve been the best of mothers and
A good and loving grandmother,

May all your years be joyful ones,
Now that the torch is passed.
You’ve earned your happy ending, and
You’ll never be out-classed!

We love you, Mama! Happy 80th birthday!

I’m so proud to have her as my granny! Although we may at times have our difference, she’s a real blessing and gem to us. =)

BENTO #148

#2 is sitting for 3 exam papers today, tomorrow is Saturday and the exam continues. Studying at 3.00a.m. seems like the norm. I'm fast asleep, I only notice her eye-bags and the increase sniffles (sinus attack) from lack of sleep.

Friday's lunch is normally fish. In the left Bento box is a slice of fried Norwegian Salmon cut into half length wise to take up minimal space in the box. There is a bed of salt blanched broccoli florets fried with garlic and topped with cheese. I added some Wonka Nerds for a treat. (actually to try to keep her awake)

In the right Bento box is some spaghetti aglio olio nests topped with some freshly ground black pepper and tomato ricotta cheese sauce.



Forgot to add the bottle of frozen orange juice when I took this picture.
Enjoy!

Restlessness and nervousness!

I EAT when I'm restless or nervous. My stress meter is riding high and nervousness plague me, especially when it involves the affairs of the heart. This weekend marks the celebration of my mother's 80th birthday.

Food to feed my nerves

My 2 girls, hubs and I have been planning and working hard towards this event to make it another memorable event for mum and as the day grows closer I seem to suddenly remember that I've missed some one else from the invitation list or something for the occasion!! Thankfully, friends do not take offense and gracefully accept the last minute invitations *phew* otherwise I'd have a lot of explaining to do!

#1 & #2 hand made these invitation cards

Perhaps it's just that mum is so 'perfect' that makes me nervous this way. Don't get me wrong, we get along fine and our relationship 'rocks' most of the time, although when it does hit rock bottom we have this love-hate relationship which usually takes a day or two to heal!

It's just that it's difficult to keep up with her and she's so hard to measure up to! Hahaha! I'm spilling my heart here! Sometimes it's really difficult to please mum because she's independent, independent and too independent!

At 80, she's still scooting around in her car, travels alone where ever and when ever she feels like it, eats for the sheer love of food without having to think about cholesterol level or weight gain. At 80, she can still cook up a storm and makes absolutely delicious cookies and even meddles with new recipes! *awesomeness* At 80, she entertains herself with Tai Chi, mahjong, breakfasts with her 'kaki' (friends), goes to the hairdresser 3 times a week to keep herself pretty and makes new clothes once a month to refresh her wardrobe, uses Channel No 5 to keep herself smelling like a million dollars, takes short holidays and regularly attends Church to nourish her soul.

This awesome 'young lady' is friends with everyone! When my daughters and I began working on her birthday guest list, they asked if we should invite the lady from the market who sells vegetables, the fish monger and her family and the pork seller who is liken to an artist in his trade.

There was also the electrician and the plumber, the Doctor, the Tai Chi friends, the hairdresser, the mahjong 'kaki', the 'sin seh' from the medical hall up the road and the list just continued. We had a good laugh because that's what represents their grandmother. A friend to everyone!

This is a woman with a wealth of experience, recipes, stories and a heart full of LOVE (sometimes fiery too)! She's the first to call to wish us Happy Birthday, the first to give Ang Pow, always there at the first sight of trouble, the first to initiate a party to celebrate my daughters birthdays, completely unconditional and the list goes on......!!

So much to measure up to......*sigh*

We've planned a pleasant surprise for her and that's where the nerves come in. Will it be good enough? Will she enjoy what's been planned? So many questions *sweat, sweat*. Personally, I think she'll just enjoy whatever that has been planned, it's just me, I feel she deserves the BEST.... but nothing seems to be good enough.....

BENTO #147

#2 didn't go back to school yesterday because she was exhausted! She was floating in and out of sleep at different times of the day. Woke up at 3.30a.m. to study Chemistry. I was told that one of her team mates didn't even sleep the whole night! Owwww....! In fact they were 'alarm clocks' waking each other up in the middle of the night/morning(????) to study. What desperation!! LOL!!

Today, exams began for six of her debate team mates. The seventh just finished PMR so the final exams doesn't affect her although her fair share of exam stress began earlier!

Yesterday, I asked her if she wanted a Bento for this morning but #2 declined. This morning on the way to school #2 decided she better opt for a lunch bento otherwise she'd be stuck with canteen food and she wasn't up to it as she only finishes at 4.00p.m.

So I prepared this for her lunch. In the left Bento box is rice with her favorite furikake and some chicken fried with red onions, fresh button mushrooms, shoyu and oyster sauce.
In the right Bento box are some sliced Kiwi fruit and a mixed salad with sliced cherry tomatoes and sesame seed dressing.


It feels good to be packing Bento for her again.
#2 sat for 4 exam papers today.