Mochi, Mochi, Mochi

I made Moffles for tea today. I love this simple snack which I can just pop into my waffle machine and top with any flavor topping, sweet or savory.

I read about moffles in Obachan's Kitchen & Balcony Garden for the first time and I was curious. So happen I had mochi in the fridge and a waffle machine.

I popped this into the waffle machine and.....



... this was the result .... it was toasted crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside...



Topped it with home made anko and it was absolutely delicious!!



Later in the night, I decided to make daifuku mochi because I had left over anko.

This recipe yielded eleven pieces of daifuku mochi. I've tweaked the recipe a little and provided more details so it should be a lot easier to handle now. Here is the homemade anko recipe.

Bento 168

It was Thaipusam yesterday and a public holiday in Malaysia so there was no bento. Instead, we had the most coveted Malaysian breakfast ever - Nasi Lemak (store bought)! Hubs and I also enjoyed an aromatic Nasi Ulam. Nothing beats family bonding time while enjoying good food!

Anyway, this morning's bento consisted to two Inari tofu pockets filled with Hijiki.
#2 doesn't like Inari sushi (sushi rice in flavored tofu pockets) so I filled it with Hijiki instead. She's a big fan of Hijiki. There are also three sticks of skewered 'loong yoke' (barbequed pork) and kyuri.

#2 has to stay back again and I've provided a little extra food. A box full of gyoza and another side box of mixed veggies topped with sesame seed dressing.




There was no exercise this morning because hubs and I had to meet some people for a meeting early this morning. Perhaps tomorrow!

Bento 167

It's Friday again! There is no fish today for the bento. I decided on something simple because there is no extra curricular activities today and for the first time this week we can have lunch together.

There is Sawi sauted in garlic and topped with some corn. There was a silicon cup full of preserved figs.



Last night I prepared some macaroni and mushroom white sauce. This white sauce is delicious, packed with mushrooms, cream, milk, salt and pepper. It was easy this morning just to dish them out into the bento box.

An update on my exercise regime. Managed to clock the 2 1/2 km walk after dropping the kids at school. I was tired and was tempted not to walk but I encouraged myself by remembering how good and energetic I felt after walking and with my eyes half closed I pushed myself to walk with hubs.

Hubs has been very supportive and a great source of encouragement. I am baking (frozen) croissants accompanied with chopped shallots with canned mackerel in oil for breakfast. Hubs loves this and as usual there is coffee. Mmmmmm....can smell the wonderful smell of freshly baked bread!

Much ado about Bento

This is so funneeeeee! Click on picture to see a bigger image.

Bento 166

I had a very late night last night because we had guests at home. Went to bed about 2a.m. Didn't manage to do my 'homework' so preparing this morning's Bento was a little chaotic!

I was tired and couldn't focus, by the time I finished, I found out that #2 was staying back up to 3.30p.m. again and that means there's not enough food to last her till then. I added a packed "Tau Sar Peah" from Malacca for 'emergency'. This "Tau Sar Peah" is even tastier than the ones made famous in Penang.

Today's miserable Bento box had two slices of cooked salami sandwiches and a piece of really sweet dessert from "Royal Dates". A quick fix of chopped vegetables is a dash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar again. *sad face*



Mid morning found me packing more Bentos for #1 and myself.

We had a mini feast because I took my own leisure time to pack these.

I used some of my small jubako boxes to pack the food. This one belongs to #1. It's got an awesome cheese cake from TGI Fridays, some mandarin oranges, a quick fix salad and a cooked salami sandwich loaded with veggies and wasabi mayonnaise.



This is my brunch Bento. Moffles with red beans sandwiched in between, two Inari sushi and some of the delicious sandwiches with wasabi mayonnaise.

Today, my eyes were too big for my stomach and I packed another box full of fruits, salad and the killer cheese cake! I was feeling hungry when I was packing these Bentos and I just kept adding more and more food! Bad idea! There was much, much more than I could consume. Even delicious food begin to loose it's tastiness when there is too much.


My exercise regime was set back a little by the early morning drizzle. I was tired but looking forward to walk. Oh well, it'll give my blistered toe a little time to heal.

Do you know what you're missing out on?

Hey fellow Malaysian Bento Bloggers! Do you know what you are missing out on?

I do! I do! I do!

My friend here is giving away this awesome ensemble and you are not responding! I think that if she were to open this to everybody and not restricted to Malaysia only, there'd be a flood of responses.

You really don't know what you are missing! This is a great piece of work because it's leak proof (no soups though), it's a pretty pastel color and comes with a matching bag which has enough space for a set of cutlery and oshibori.

It's a great item if you are using it for a teenager or yourself. So don't miss out of this golden opportunity - Carpe Diem!

Bento 165

I made egg noodles yesterday. It was a first but the dough was too 'wet' and I had to improvise and finally managed a decent texture consistency. I shan't refer you to the recipe so that you won't have to sweat so much trying to produce it.

The noodle turned out nice but too much 'on the spot' changes. I'm going to try making spaghetti today. I've already bought the semolina flour.

This mornings Bento was filled with some Focaccia bread from yesterday and a piece of nougat.


The bottom box was packed with the home made noodles 'kon low' style and topped with duck meat fried with some garlic and oyster sauce. For vegetables, she had peas and a mushroom.

Back to my exercise regime, I made it through another 2 1/2 km this morning. My calf is aching and my toe has a blister from rubbing against my long forgotten sneakers. Besides all the aches, I feel a lot more energetic and seem to be able to do without my mid morning snooze!

I'm trilled with the increased energy level because I am able to bake and cook in a more elaborate scale. Of course always bearing in mind of my food intake at the same time.

#2 has to stay back up to 5.30 p.m. in school today and I promised to bring her lunch at school.

Daiso update!

Sorry people! Daiso @ The Curve has their containers stuck at customs at the port. Until the customs has cleared the items, there will not be new stock in their store.

I was there today and was told that the delay is indefinite at this point.

Anyway, just want to inform you to be careful when you buy stuff from Daiso. Please check for the item if it's packed in a box which is not transparent. Today, I was with my children and #3 picked up two 'magician items', when we got home and she opened it, it was EMPTY!

I asked #1 to call the store because I was busy preparing dinner and a guy by the name of Steven told her that 'that particular item' comes in an EMPTY box! BULLOCKS! Who pays 5 Ringgit for an empty box! #1 asked again if Daiso sells EMPTY boxes at 5 Ringgit and he said "YES"! And guess what? He hung up on her halfway through the conversation.

I called again and spoke to the supervisor who laughingly responded that the box was supposed to be EMPTY. When I started to drop some names, she started to get serious. When I described the item, she realized that we were NOT talking about the same item! Finally I told her to check the item out and call me back, which she did and informed me that there was supposed to be a scarf inside the box. I'm supposed to go back and have it replaced.

I'm pissed because I was there two times already, yesterday and today expecting new stock. Not only was I disappointed, I paid 5 Ringgit for an EMPTY box! And, my daughter encountered a JOKER who thought that it was funny to sell EMPTY boxes at 5 Ringgit a piece! I was quite annoyed at the way this was handled.

I think at 5 Ringgit per item, we're paying more than all our neighboring countries and even in the United States where similar items are being sold at USD 1.50/item (approx Ringgit 3.60). We aren't paying peanuts for our purchases so why are we getting 'monkey service'?

Bento 164

This morning, I packed 3 Bentos. The usual for #2, one for me and one more for #1, and of course a box of cookies for #3.

#2 finishes school at 2.30 p.m. today and so I need to pack a little extra food for her. Today's top box is a karaage chicken sandwich in between lots of Rollo Rosa. One cherry to fill a gap and a skewer of karaage chicken.

The bottom box was filled with a scone and a tub of strawberry jam. #2 made this lasagna two days ago, took out of the fridge to defrost and packed the balance for this box. (delicious!). One more cherry to fill the gap. Wish there was more space for one more!


Filled this cookie dunker with cold milk and chocolate chip cookies. The top half of the bottle was in the freezer all night to freeze the gel around it. It's supposed to keep the milk cold for a couple of hours.


The chocolate chip cookies filled the bottom half of the container.


On a separate note, I made a tremendous effort to begin exercise this morning. *SIGH*
I managed to walk 2 1/2 km, instead of going back to sleep!

Had a pleasant toast bread and coffee breakfast with hubs and then continued to make foccacia bread and the dough for gyoza. I already made the meat filling last night.

Now, waiting for noon to eat my own Bento!



Doesn't look like it's going to be enough for my lunch so I'll probably have a scone as well. Only advantage is, I can warm it up and have it with butter and jam!!

Must remember to control on the food intake here, after all I walked 2 1/2 km and must not waste the effort.


This Bento belongs to #1, she just finished it and is off to college. No cherries for this one because she's no fan of cherries!

Bento 163

This morning #3 requested for me to post up her "bento". She said that her box contains sushi and cut oranges and not cookies so I could post her box up. Hopefully, she continues to eat a variety of food stuff soon so that there is some continuity after #2 finishes high school, I don't think #2 will want Bento to go to college with her. If #3 doesn't attempt a variety of food, there will be no reason to Bento anymore.


This is #2's box. She stays back up to 3.30p.m. today for Choir practice. There is a mix of blanched cauliflowers, broccoli and carrots topped with mayo and cheese in the left box. In the center box which is also the bottom box, is a sliced button mushroom, some chicken katsu and some sliced oranges.


In a side box on the right is a mixture of Japanese vinegared rice with crabstick, carrots, kyuri, mayo and sakura denbu. This is a substantial break and lunch Bento and I'm sure she's one happy person today!

Baby Blues

This is for all the Bento newbies! Welcome on board Bento frenzy!

This probably depicts our kids in the initial conversion stage....

*rolls eyes*


... the rest is history!

Kids CNY party!

My youngest 9 year old baby had her friends and some cousins over for a CNY party today. I finally had a chance to use quite a number of my Bento boxes!! LOL!

I prepared 12 Bento boxes with the help of #1's God-sister and #2. #1 had last minute replacement class today.



There were tiny puff pastry pizza's, spaghetti Alio Oglio, tuna sandwiches,



nuggets, sushi, mixed salad with sesame seed dressing,


some chocolate sugar cookies, mini oranges and a free flow of Sarsi and Sprite!


The kids tucking into their Bento boxes!!


This was their dessert!



Mini Pavlova!!


The pictures of the Pavlova were quite dark so I edited them!

This is insanely addictive!!

Random

It's the 2nd day of CNY and we're supposed to be resting after all the reunion dinners in the different in-laws houses. We hosted last nights dinner at our home. The girls and I made a Pavlova (recipe here). (Excuse the soup spoons! It was chaotic in the house with so many relatives. Just grab whatever cutlery which was left in the cutlery box.)

Brother-in-law eldest daughter's 11th birthday was last night although the party is scheduled for tomorrow. #1 suggested we use the Pavlova as "Birthday cake" for her and sing her a Birthday song. This was the result.


some chocolate sugar cookies (recipe here)





and Tiramisu for dessert.

Mum, as usual cooked up a STORM!

Color of the pictures looks funny... must ask the camera woman!



On a different note, I just realized that this is my 381 st post!

BENTO #162

This is going to be the last Bento post for the week and fresh Bentos will be posted after 2nd February (remember, Daiso is re-stocking on this date).

I had brunch with #2 today. I made two Bentos of spaghetti and cauliflower doused in sesame seed dressing and some Chinese dessert call "Nien Kao" also known as "Kuih Bakul". It was a little nightmare trying to cut the "Nien Kao" into bits to roll them in fresh coconut mixed with some salt.

All I can say is it was sticky, sticky and sticky! I had oiled the knife before trying to cut through the "Nien Kao" but to no avail, I couldn't get a clean cut, it got stuck with the gooey "Nien Kao" all over. After a small 'war' between the knife and the "Nien Kao" and a lot of sweating and swearing in between, I managed to get them in bits all rolled up in the salted coconut!

The small 'war' was worth it because it was absolutely delicious! Now I know why my mum only does this after the "Nien Kao" turns solid after a week or so. It is so that the cutting process is much easier and she would oil a plate to steam the cut "Nien Kao" so that they would be soft and pliable again and then roll them in the salted coconut.

Right in the middle is a whole Bento box of cut up Kyuri, Zucchini, carrot sticks, alfalfa sprouts and Basil leaves wrapped up in some salad leaves. This is a delicious combination with the sesame seed dressing!

We had a ball with the deliciously sweet cherries and tiny mandarin oranges!

Happy Chinese New Year to all!!