Vote for No. 9

Many of you may not know this but my entry into Bento world was an inspiration I got from SueSue of Cooking Momster.

If you have read my very first post archived in my blog, I mentioned about encountering her bento posts and her bento gear and it set me on full speed to the stage that I have reached today - past my 100th bento post!

I read yesterday that she had entered the USD$100 competition and is currently in first place. Let's give her our support to maintain her in that position. I've voted for her because I think she deserves it. Sue is unconditional where it comes to sharing her recipes and takes the trouble to make it simple and understandable. Not only her recipes are popular, her rantings are exciting too and I like her honest and comfortable-in-her-own-skin type of attitude.

Please help maintain SueSue of Cooking Momster in first place by voting for her @ No. 9 here!

Thank you all in advance!!

Update on Bento Party

I'm sorry that there are no Bento posts lately.
Emily and I have been busy as bees co-ordinating the final details of the Bento Party.

This is our checklist:

Final registration list - DONE
Booking of Restaurant and confirmation of numbers - DONE
Collect Bento boxes, etc, for Goodie bags - DONE
Final e-mail to be sent by 2nd Sept 2008 - DONE
Prizes - DONE
Co-ordinate and confirm Bento gear sales - DONE
Photography - DONE
Finalize Program - DONE

Goodie bags (waiting for several other items) - By Friday
Wash Bento boxes - By Friday
Meeting with Emily - By Friday


Bento Party, here we come!!

Bento Party registration closed!

Thank you everybody! I am awed by the support and would like to announce to you that the registration and payment for the Bento Party is officially closed.

We have already reached our target number and our preparations are almost finalized.


Bento Party participants please take note:

The Bento party will commence with:

Registrations @ 11.45a.m. and the program will commence sharp at noon -12.00p.m. and end @ 2.30p.m.

Bento boxes, egg moulds, bento accessories and lots of stuff will be available for you to purchase.

There will be two categories of competition:
Bento presentation with accessories.
Participants need to bring their own Kawaii accessories e.g. barans, sauce containers, food picks, etc, etc, to make your Bento more attractive.

Bento presentation without accessories.
This is a beginner category where the participant just require to pack the ready food into the Bento box without any accessories and to present it as aesthetic as possible.

Please click here for directions to the Japanese restaurant.

I will send an e-mail to you by Tuesday just to confirm your participation and if you do not receive the e-mail, please contact me @ japanesehomestylecooking@gmail.com

Looking forward to meeting all you Bento enthusiasts and bloggers!!!

BENTO #126

Fish balls and plump cherry tomatoes! I think #2 can live on these everyday and not get bored! She commented last night after dinner at the "Pork knuckle restaurant" that it's the multi eating sessions and food that's making her put on weight!

"In Korea, there are only 3 main meals and no tea time in between" she says. "We are all so busy practicing the piano that we don't have time to think of eating".

Well sweetheart, this is NOT Korea and mum's around and don't like to see your protruding cheek bones and sunken cheeks! I'll just feed you until you look 'right' again.

Lot's of proteins in today's bento. In the left box there are 2 types of fish balls, one fried and one boiled (notice the different texture and color). Sliced them into half and sandwiched a slice of tomato in between.

In the right bento box is a heart shaped hard boiled egg with a pink flower bottle containing shoyu, some Korean seeded delicacies and some sliced oranges.



NOTE:

3 more days to register and pay up for the Bento Party!!

BENTO #125

This is #2's first Bento since coming back from Korea. She's still sleeping in and will find this waiting for her when she wakes up.

In the left box, a cheese tart from The Loaf. Four rice balls rolled in some Korean seaweed mixed with sesame seeds.

In the right box are some skewered Tamagoyaki, carrots, crabsticks, cucumber and simmered mushrooms (all left over from a meal of sushi) and the ever green Kiwi, for fruit.



p/s
An update on the Bento Party

We're 4 days away from the dateline of the Bento Party. We have another 5 more places left. Those of you who intend to come but have not banked in your participating fee, please do so immediately so that we can finalize the numbers with the restaurant and the goodie bags.

Meanwhile, just to let you know, we have lots of Bento gear on the way and will be sold at the Bento Party!

Looking forward to meeting all of you!!

Some Eye candy and more rambling!

#2 brought back lots of food stuff and souvenirs from Korea. This is a pack of caramelized sugar mixed with delicious grains, nuts and seeds. There was flavored seaweed, rice cakes, candies, Korean noodles, everything except Kim Chee!


#2 said that Miss Mezzaforte (her music teacher) told her not to buy from Seoul because it's more expensive than buying from a Korean outlet in Sri Hartamas. So, no Kim Chee for mummy. Mummy has to buy her own Kim Chee.

She made many friends from the competition and has lots of beautiful memories. This was an amazing exposure for her.

This guy got the Gold award! Awesome!

*******************************************************

I copied a post #1 did on #2's competition.

"The sister flew to Korea last week for a piano competition.
Honestly, the family and I weren't expecting much, 'cept for her to gain experience.

Few days into the trip when mom called her, she went on and on ranting about how the 10 and 12 year old Indonesian kids could play well and what not. Mom and I made this bet with dad that she would come back a changed woman. She'd forget her quaintly planned music career and become a scientist of some sort. Yeah. And we bet on it with freaking German pork knuckles (which my hairdresser introduced to us, btw).

Today was the big day. The competition day. It was THE day.

Mom tried calling her the whole day but only managed to get her answering machine.

Mom was like "aiyo. Habis la. Dunno what happened already. Aiyo. She off her phone la. Aiyo how la..." *moans groan boans and every sighing in every language*

Suddenly, there was a message.


MY SISTER GOT SILVER FOR THE SOLO CATEGORY MANNNN.


Congrats laaaaa..


Omgosh. =_= wasted all the aiyos.


Like she said, all glory goes to God who has blessed her/us so abundantly.


Anyway Sis, I lost the bet. *bah

haha.

Oh and if you think we're proud of the sister, think twice.


There's more than just us who're proud of her. There's a whole lot of us. :)


The baby's growing up. :)



Ps: I think the fact that a whole bunch of priests coming over to our house for the annual or semi-annual luncheon brought all the grace and blessings of change. :)"

**************************************************

This picture, I took from my garden. Didn't even realize that the tree was fruiting until I saw jambu all over the path leading to the garage!

BENTO #124

School begins today after a week of holidays. #1 is back to college for the beginning of her second semester. She did pretty well for her first semester exams despite missing two weeks of it because of her participation in the WYD celebrations in Australia. Hubs and I are very proud of her!

#2 SMS'ed me from the airport in Seoul, Korea. She's boarding the plane back to KLIA in an hour's time and arrive about midnight. We were a little frenzied last night because the phone and internet lines were cranky and we couldn't communicate for very long before the line kept cutting off.

Finally we got her message that she had won the Silver medal for the Solo category which she competed in. I was elated! I didn't expected her to win anything because the week preceding the trip, #2 had been very sick and had 3 different doctor's consultation in 5 days! I am trilled and really praise God for the wonderful things He has blessed upon my family!

It was #3's first day of school after the holidays and she was grumpy that the holidays ended so fast!! I think that she was the only one who had a 'real holiday' because she slept over at her god-brother's house for 2 nights and on the fourth day had a great time enjoying a picnic near a stream in the Taman Tun Park.

Back home, we had a party on Monday night for some of our Church Youth team and then a "luicha" fellowship for some Priests' and one who was back here to visit family. Had a great time enjoying the company and delicious "lui cha". The visiting Priest was the one who initiated my first "lui cha" experience. He taught me the formula and how to cook it. His comment "Well done! You have maintained the standard well!" Hahaha! That made my day!


*********************************************************************

My lunch bento today consists of the left over "lui cha". See the black flask on the left? It's got my hot "lui cha" soup in it. The soup is a mixture of basil, mint leaves, peanuts, sesame seeds, pepper corns, tea leaves, salt, some bitter herbs, some 'jambu' leaves and some Thai coriander leaves. It's all blended together into a paste and mixed into hot boiling water to make a wonderful, aromatic herbal soup!

In the left bento box is a bed of vegetables on top of a layer of garlic rice. From top to bottom: Kai Lan, salty Choy Poh (pickled vegetables), Choy Sum, white firm tau foo and long beans.



In the right bento box, from top to bottom: 5 spice tau foo, sweet potato leaves, leek and peanuts. This is an awesome meal. I love the flavor of "lui cha" because of the herbs in the soup and the lovely blend of all flavors from the vegetables and ingredients. Most of the items are fried with garlic and dried prawns so it's very aromatic and sweet.



Yummilicious!!!

More Updates on Bento Party

The registration for the upcoming Bento Party is quite encouraging. E-mail was sent out yesterday in regard to the mode of payment and we had an almost immediate response of the first credit to secure a place for the Bento Party from Terri.

SueSue of Cooking Momster has offered to contribute some items to our goodie bag and I'm awaiting for one more confirmation. If any of you readers would like to sponsor some items for the goodie bag or prizes for the two categories of competition, please contact me at: japanesehomestylecooking@gmail.com. We would be most grateful for any support!


Allow me to let you in to a secret. On top of a brand new Bento box, one other item in the goodie bag will be a wiener cutter (sausage cutter). There is a mixed number of shapes and one goes into each bag so let's hope you get the one you want or just swap around till you are happy! The rest of the items is a surprise, can't be spoiling the fun for you!


You can be sure that you are getting more than your RM50/= worth in terms of food, fun, fellowship and Bento toys! So, make your payment and send me the details before it's too late!

The deadline is 31 August 2008 but if we reach our target number, we will close registration because we want to keep this Bento party as cosy and personal as possible.

Cross your fingers because I'm also trying to arrange for accessories like sauce bottles, cutters, food picks, silicon cups, egg moulds, etc, to be sold at the Bento Party.



These items are not from the 100 Yen shop and are very limited. Sales will be on first come first serve basis.

Emily and I are looking forward to meeting all of you!


For more details, check these links:

Bento enthusiasts/bloggers meet

Bento Party updates

Bento Party updates!

Wow! There is so much planning and follow-up to do for our upcoming Bento party! Emily and I have been checking out some potential restaurants to host this event and finally decided on "Onsen, a Japanese restaurant".


We have this information to update you:

Venue: "Onsen"
Lot: B-G01, Block B Jalan Persiaran Surian, Palm Spring @ Damansara.
Kota Damansara. Tel: 7801 5366.

(Map to Onsen, please click for a bigger picture)


Date: 6th September 2008
Time: 12.00p.m. - 2.30p.m.
Participating Fee: RM50/= inclusive of a complete Japanese lunch, free flow of Ocha (Green Tea), goodie bag of surprises and an afternoon of Bento-licious fun!

The lunch menu includes:
Kani Salada - Crabstick Salad
Mixed Tempura
Mixed Maki
Tori Karaage - Fried chicken
Niniku Chahan - Garlic fried rice
Mixed fruits
Ice-cream

What we have in mind is to have a buffet spread of food items that can be packed into a Bento box. After that, each participant can decorate and accessorize her bento box with their own barans, food picks, sauce bottles/boxes, etc, etc.



We will then each get to vote for the 'fanciest or best decorated' bento box. There will be a prize for the winner.

There will be a second category for beginners which will not include accessories. We have a prize for this too!


There is a participating fee of RM50 which will include a goodie bag. One of the items included in the goodie bag is a brand new Bento box! We have other surprise items in the goodie bag for you. Your new Bento box will be used for packing the food in the competition.



To be fair, all the participants will use the Bento boxes from their goodie bag (we'll have them all washed before hand). Bento boxes provided will be similar but in different colors.

The accessories (baran, food picks etc, etc) will have to be the participant's own.


I'm pleased to inform you that the 100 Yen store management has upon consultation with me, ordered new Bento boxes and related Bento gear from Japan and China.

All the pictures of Bento boxes posted in this post (except for the cup) will be available for sale at the Bento Party. The colors may vary a little depending on the stock available. So, if you are interested, please bring enough cash. There are lots of other Bento gear that will be sold at the Bento Party so don't miss out on this!


Different types of Onigiri and Gyoza moulds, Bento straps, cutlery and chopstick sets, new Bento boxes (some as in the pictures), insulated bags, fruit boxes and side boxes will be sold at the Bento Party! There is limited stock, so sales will be on a first come, first serve basis.



Thank you to those of you who have already e-mail me your details. I will send you details of how to make payment for this event. Please understand that we will need you to credit the RM50 participating fee before we can confirm a place for you.


The cut off date for registration (via e-mail to: japanesehomestylecooking@gmail.com) and payment will be 31st August 2008.

p/s This is an all adult event - so that all us mum's can have a few hours off to enjoy this event!


For more details, check these links:

Bento enthusiasts/bloggers meet

More updates on Bento Party





*Pictures taken off Ichiban Kan site. The pictures provided by 100 Yen store is too small and cannot be posted.*

BENTO #123

I'm back! Camp was awesome! I was exhausted but I needed to follow up with Emily and the people involved in the Bento Party. We've almost finalized all the details and now awaiting for one final confirmation before we can make the announcement of details!

It's going to be a fun Bento experience!!

Keep your date with us on 6th September 2008 for lunch between 12.00p.m. - 2.30p.m, for the Bento Party!!

#2 is already in Korea. She had 3 doctor's consultation in the five days preceding her departure to Korea and I'm glad to say that she's recovered. We're constantly communicating via SMS and I think on first two days, she missed us and was a little low in spirits.

Since she arrived, she's attended some concerts, master classes and even gone shopping! This morning, she was quite chirpy even though she's still having problems adjusting to the "awful food". (she doesn't like spicy food).

Before she left for Korea, I took her for Korean lunches for her to taste the variety of what she would be eating. We've tried Korean food before but because Hubs is not a great fan, we stuck to Japanese. I took to the lunches like a fish in water, absolutely loved every Korean dish I tried - it was even quite addictive! #2's reaction wasn't as positive but she could still eat. Apparently the local Korean food isn't as exciting.

Some of them had lunch with Professor Chang Hew Won and Professor Panovska Snezona, the organisers of the Piano camp and are now site seeing and shopping in a nearby town.

Two months ago, Benjamin Loh from Singapore was in Malaysia, and #2 had gone under his tutelage for a two hour masterclass. She was looking forward to be able to meet this amazing teacher again.

On this end, it's LONELY!! #1 is quite independent with her college and activities except when she joins the family for meals and Church activities. She's now on semester break and being a homebody, she's either in front of the TV or in her room or furiously icing cakes or cuppie cakes!

Today, she's out for a movie and because we woke up at different times, we didn't see each other. #2 is in Korea and #3 arranged to stay over at her God-brother's house for 3 days! She arranged and shifted all her tuition and piano classes to avail her a gap of 3 days for her hiatus!

This 9 year old is just too independent! After she planned and arranged everything, she informed me and what was I to say? I was too surprised and shocked to stop her! Last night when Hubs came back, he asked me where was #3 and I reported to him the status and he said "let her enjoy herself", well, that's what I felt too!

But, I'm alone in the house with the maid and 5 dogs. I'm cooking 'tongue' again because hubs asked for it several times already. It's not too bad now, quite a simple process.

Meanwhile, I made myself a delicious bento today. I looked in the fridge to scavenge for some food. Initially, when I opened the can of Norwegian Salmon fillets in herb sauce, I didn't know what to do with it because there was so much sauce. I laid a bed of alfalfa sprouts (you can't see it under all the sauce and salmon) at the bottom of the left box. Poured the fillets and sauce on it and cut some lovely white button mushrooms and tomatoes for vegetables.

In the right box, I sliced the corners of a muesli grain bread to dip and eat with the Norwegian Salmon fillet in herb sauce. My mum baked an awesome chicken pie on Monday, which I added to the bento.

Initially, I thought that it wouldn't be enough for my lunch but it turned out very filling and absolutely delicious! I'm surprised at how all the flavors blended and was so very satisfying. The Salmon fillet was really, really good. I bought this at a Norwegian cafe in Ikano .




Delicious! Delicious!!

BENTO #122

Occasionally, I visit SaladTalk.Com for ideas on low calorie meals. I liked this recipe "Warm Chicken Salad with Mango on Baby Arugula", it looked easy enough. I didn't have Tandoori chicken as recommended by SaladTalk.Com so I used some left over roasted duck which we had for dinner yesterday. I also dropped the cashew nuts because I didn't have time to roast my raw stock.

So with a little improvisation, I present to you "Duck Salad with Mango on Baby Arugula". It turned out pretty good, in fact there was a delicious fragrant mango taste in the strong pepperish flavor of the Arugula a.k.a. Rocket.

#2 is 'drowning' in her sinus attack and didn't go to school today. I shared this bento with her. The Kiwi slices and Persimmon was for her and the Duck salad was mine! *smacks lips*

This will be the last bento for the week. Tomorrow I'll be off to a camp and there won't be any posts till Monday. Will be busy as a bee! Take care and I hope you view "Smilebox" recipes and try them out!!

Cheerio!!!

Bento enthusiasts/bloggers meet?

Emily and I have been coining this idea of a Bento blogger's (non-bloggers too) party. Before we do that, we need to know how many 'local bento enthusiasts' are interested to participate.

We're planning for first week of September 2008. It's likely to be held in or around PJ/KL, depending on where the crowd comes from.

Emily and I are working out the details. It's going to be a great melting pot of passionate Bento enthusiasts!

Meanwhile if you have suggestions, please drop some comments.

If you are interested to be part of this event, please e-mail: japanesehomestylecooking@gmail.com
and provide the following information:
Name:
H/P no:
e-mail address:
Which area are you residing in: e.g. PJ - section 12 or SS5 or Bandar Utama or Sri Hartamas etc, etc. This is the deciding factor where we will hold the party. We don't need your detailed address.

Please be assured that your details will be kept private and will not be used for any other purpose other than for the purpose of updating you on our intended Bento Party!

All are welcome and we hope you come and join us in this inaugural event!

Don't worry about being a beginner, an observer, a veteran or just a passer-by, please come and join us! If you don't reside around the area and you want to fly in for the event, please feel welcome to join us! Don't forget to e-mail me at: japanesehomestylecooking@gmail.com

For more details, check these links:

Bento Party updates

More updates on Bento Party

BENTO #121

Again, #2 has asked to skip her break time bento @ school and have one after school. "I'll come back to eat my bento" she says!

I made something more substantial because she would have 'starved' herself over break time.

In the left box is some left over "Sake no Nanbantsuke" (marinated salmon) from last night's dinner and some blanched cauliflowers. The green container contains the vinegared sauce from the "Sake no Nanbantsuke". #2 doesn't like liquids in her Bento because sometimes it spills out onto her school bag and I've learnt to keep her food quite dry.

In the right box there are skewered water chestnuts again. She loved this yesterday and asked for more of it because it's so surprisingly sweet! Initially I tried using the 'cutesy' skewers from Daiso but the water chestnuts split into half because it was too thick. Finally I found these 'dolphin' ones with really fine skewers and it managed to go through very nicely.

Finally, more proteins! Skewered more crabsticks and some nori meat patties.



I ate the balance of the marinated Salmon. Mmmmm...really yummy!

Smilebox recipe will be uploaded soon (I hope!). Been so busy!

BENTO #120

Bento box for school has been scarce lately. #2 is going out for lunch with her friends and asked to pass her break time bento.

She did, however add that she'd like to have a light bento for after her music class.

This is a two tier box which is like a 'tiffin carrier'. In the left box, is marinated tofu slabs fried in minimal oil. There are some seedless grapes and 3 pieces of water chestnuts.

In the right box, there is alfalfa sprouts and tuna mayo and a silicon cup full of some lightly fried straw mushrooms, carrot bits and angle beans.



The good news is, #2 now fits better into her sister's cream colored dress and quite pleased with the progress of her 'diet'. *Phew! Wipes sweat away*

Tamagoyaki

This is another slide show on my favorite Japanese rolled omelet called Tamagoyaki.

I hope you don't feel intimidated by this recipe because it is very easy. Remember no pain no gain!

The recipe:
Ingredients:

90ml Dashi
4 eggs
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp sake
1 tsp mirin
pinch of salt


Method:
Gently mix all the eggs and the above ingredients together. Do not whisk.
Soak a small piece of cloth or kitchen towel with oil and wipe the tamagoyaki rectangle pan.
Set fire on medium and scoop enough of the egg mixture to have a thin layer of egg cover the pan.
For the rest of the method, please view the slide show. It will show you more than I can explain in words.

Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Other smilebox slides:

All purpose Dashi

Soy sauce pork

Salted fish and vegetables curry