BENTO PET'S BENTO COMPETITION

Today, 8th July, is supposed to be my 100th Bento post. Incidentally, 29th July 2008 commemorates my blog’s first anniversary. I’ve been cracking my grey cells in hope to find some interesting topic to commemorate this milestone in my life.

Unfortunately too many things are happening at one time and I’ve been hit by all life’s challenges all at once!

• Hubs and #1 leaves for Australia in a couple of hours to participate in the World Youth Day celebrations from 15th – 20th July in Sydney.

• #2 has incessant rehearsals at ungodly hours for the upcoming musical which debuts on 11th July and runs till 13th July.
  

• The Mega sale has just started and things are being sold at ridiculous prices.

• My blog has reached it’s 100th Bento post and is one year old on the 29th of July 2008!

Admittedly, all this is good, so I’m going to CELEBRATE to COMMEMORATE this wonderful occasion with a Bento competition. I know it’s not anything new, Bento competitions are quite rampant in Bento blogs but I’m doing this because I want to encourage and provide some incentive to Bento enthusiasts.

I notice that many people start to Bento and after a period of time, the passion dies off. This includes me, especially when life's' challenges become too difficult to handle and when we become busy elsewhere and we tend to take leave from Bento.

To get back into the Bento-action is almost impossible sometimes. I've gone through that roller coaster and it almost cost me the closure of this blog. *shivers at the thought*.

After sending Hubs and #1 off, I sent #2 to KLCC for her rehearsal. I shopped for a while and managed to get some stuff for the Winners Prize haul that I am putting up for the Bento competition. I also picked up some things from the 100 Yen store and I hope it's good enough to lure you Bento enthusiasts to submit a Bento for Bento Pet's Bento Competition.

The reason I am having this Bento competition is basically an incentive for people who are currently packing Bento. Please don't hate me. I am setting some criteria because I enjoy visiting Bento sites that are regularly updated and it inspires me that some people are so passionate about Bento-ing.

I've seen submissions for Bento competitions come in from first timers and even Bentos that don't really qualify as Bento - a sandwich and a fruit doesn't constitute a Bento (my personal opinion).

I feel disappointed that the regular Bento packers are not recognized because theirs was not a kyaraben (character) Bento. Don't get me wrong, I love kyaraben bentos. I am awed by what all the Japanese super mums are churning out for their kids. It's an ART form of it's kind flowed only from the love of these selfless mums.

But what about all the other 'regular people' who pack 'regular bentos'. I see them posting up on their blogs day after day, week after week and months after months. I'm inspired by their effort and their own creativeness. I feel their passion in updating their blogs with their Bentos - also made with care and much love. I want this competition to be for people like "us" - regular people packing regular bentos. I hope you understand.

Often we (yeah! I feel so too) get excited when someone drops a comment and it inspires us to keep going. When there is silence, we continue to plod on until the next challenge comes along to break our spirit or to inspire us to continue. I'm sure many of us Bento packers feel this way.

So, all said and done, I hope you don't get angry with my comments, which are solely my opinions and not meant to insult anyone.

The criteria for Bento Pet's Bento Competition will be:

• You must be currently packing bentos.
• You currently own a blog, please provide your blog link.
• Your blog must have at least blogged about ten bentos made by you.
• You may make a new bento for this competition or send in an old picture of Bento made by you. You may add some kawaii accessories, e.g. food picks, sauce bottles etc.
  
• This competition does not accept Kyaraben bentos (THOUSAND APOLOGIES). You can however have shaped onigiri or other food stuff using cutters or shapers.
  
• Describe your bento components. It does not necessarily have to follow the 3:2:1 formula but require some variety.
• Please provide your name and which country you are from.
• Entry deadline will be the date of my blog's first anniversary. i.e. 29th July 2008.
• (edit) Please e-mail to: japanesehomestylecooking@gmail.com
• (edit) Please link back to this post: http://onabentofrenzy.blogspot.com/2008/07/bento-pets-bento-competition.html
  
• (edit) If possible please include this icon
  

• (edit) More than one entry accepted but only the best, if selected will be posted.
  

I know that by putting up this post, I'm opening myself to much criticism. I plead for your understanding and ask of you to support my quest to promote and affirm 'us', the regular Bento packers.

So, for the rest of 'us' please send in your bento's ASAP (as soon as possible) to win this:

One packet of kawaii bag clips.
One pink Hello Kitty bag.
One pack of 4 pieces Hello Kitty color pencils.
One white 2 tier Bento box - 500ml capacity.
One Tulip wiener cutter.
One scoring wiener cutter.
Two face punches.


One insulated Winnie the Pooh bag (yellow).
One Rainbow Pooh Bento Box with divider (yellow) - 440ml capacity.
One Rainbow Pooh fruit box (yellow)- 200ml capacity.
One two tier Lube Sheep Bento box (blue) - 610ml capacity.
One packet of Japanese sweets.
One packet of dried Fu.

A close up look at the face punches.

One more close up shot.

All these items will go to the first prize winner of the Bento Pet Bento Competition. I will ship to the winner in any part of the world.


p/s
Sorry no Bento today. No more energy after shopping for this Winners prize haul!

BENTO #99

My #2 has rehearsals at ungodly hours for a musical which she's involved with. The musical begins this Friday (11th) and runs up to Sunday (13th).

Only yesterday I realized that I had signed a letter addressed to her school headmistress to excuse her for ONE WHOLE WEEK! Oops! I didn't read what I signed, but...even if I had read it, I wouldn't have a choice because there's no other option. *sigh*

So people, no Bento for one week!! Aiyah! Cannot lah! *thinks of what to do*.


I'll just have to eat the Bento myself. Yeah! I'll treat myself to my Bentos! How about that? I think it's a great idea. Hehehe!

I didn't have to rush to make my Bento so I took my time and tried to make some 'designer' sausages. The first one on the left is supposed to be a bird. Next to it are little lambs "baaa baaa baaa!" There is Mr. Octopus with a hat and the last one is supposed to be a rabbit? I had fun cutting them into shape and it was easy!



I lined the box with carrot flowers, packed some cucumbers and squeezed in a cup of corn kernels topped with cheddar cheese. Actually, I cut the corn kernels off the cob because the fibers from the cob sometimes get between the teeth and can be quite irritating.

I fried some asparagus spears wrapped with bacon and the balance left over strawberries dipped in delicious chocolate. I cut up the left over carrot bits to create a 'fountain' effect in the cup of asparagus spears to rid the dull brown colors.

After taking the photos, I sat down to eat and found that it was really 'too much food' like what #2 is always telling me. Seriously, while posting this, I am still struggling to finish my strawberries and corn. I am so FULL!!

This Bento box is certainly too big and the wrong size! It's capacity is 580ml and according to this, I should be using a 700ml box. No way! I'm sure #2 won't even have enough time during recess to eat this. Well, this is a good experience for me because if I didn't have to eat from this Bento, I would always be worried that my kids don't have enough to eat. Another day, another lesson!

By the way, the strawberries dipped in chocolate was divine!!

BENTO #98

Hmmmm.....I wonder how #2 will react when she sees Salmon in her salad. I'm guessing that she'll be happy because it is, after all her favorite fish!

She couldn't finish yesterday's Bento. It was too much, she said. Part of the orange and some croutons were left over. I need to remember that she's a small eater and that I shouldn't try to 'sneak' more food than necessary into her Bentos!

I used the same mixed salad that I bought on Wednesday. In it has a mixture of Baby Romaine & Lollo Rossa/Red Leaf. I bought the mixed pack because it's more economical than buying individual packs and not being able to finish before it all wilts away.

This morning I tossed the mixed salad with corn, freshly fried Salmon, plump cherry tomatoes, cheddar cheese and extra virgin olive oil. This is a delicious end to the week!!

In the other box, I sliced oranges and golden kiwi and placed them in a silicon cup. The monkey container is the teeniest-weeniest tub of Japanese Kewpie Mayo ever!! Next to it is the ever-favorite banana sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.

Bon Appetit!

BENTO #97

I went shopping for ideas and salads yesterday. I surfed the net for salad recipes. I went to the supermarket to buy salad related ingredients.

Hard boiled egg was a good option to fill the tummy and that's what #2 got for her Bento this morning. I sliced the hard boiled egg and laid it on a bed of mixed salad. I sprinkled some raisins all over and added her favorite plump cherry tomatoes. I tossed the salad with some extra virgin olive oil before I put them all into the Bento box.

In the other box, I filled a small container with some peanuts for her to snack on. In the silicon cup, I added some oven toasted croutons shaped in tulips, sakura flower and butterflies (all cut up using small vegetable cutters).

I skinned an orange for her and filled the small green tub with minimal amount Thousand Island salad cream. I'm sure today's box would be a substantial 'diet' meal, enough to last until lunch time.

Below, today's Bento box packed and ready to go!

#2 is really serious about her 'diet'. Yesterday, after school, she told me that she wanted to go swimming. Let me give you some history about this girl. #2 grew up with a very severe case of Sinusitis. When she was younger, she was a 'fragile' little girl. Sick in an instant and the Pediatrician was her best friend. She couldn't swim because it caused her Sinusitis to work up and she'd have trouble breathing. She hated exercise because it easily tired her.

Nevertheless, hubs and I journeyed with her through some terrible times of Sinus attacks and even bouts of misery. But, God is good! Her health has improved tremendously over the last couple of months because she's involved with a lot of dancing, and that means a lot of exercise and sweating. Her Sinus attacks has been reduced to minimal level and energy level has definitely doubled.

When she told me that she wanted to go swimming, I immediately took her shopping for a swimming costume at 1U. We managed to get a pretty orange two piece and two pairs of goggles. One for #3.

After that, I packed the both of them to the swimming pool and got #1 to fetch them much later. They had a great time although #2 said she had to look out for #3 all the time because she was all over the pool. #2 said she was worried about her sister, I was pleased to hear that she was looking out for her sister. It's just great that the two of them spent some 'bonding' time together. I'm happy!

Japanese Food Glossary

I've prepared a Glossary of Japanese ingredients which I use in my Bento blog. I've linked the Japanese name of the item to a previous post in this blog. The post that is linked may not be specifically mentioning the ingredient but there is some indication of the Japanese ingredient in the mentioned post.

I will be adding on more items to this list as I use other Japanese ingredients. I hope this will be helpful to some of you who are new to Japanese ingredients. Enjoy!


1. Abura-age - fried tofu slices. (abura = oil, age = fried)
2. Azuki - Small red beans used to make an.
3. Bento - traditional boxed lunch.
4. O-cha - green tea.
5. Chawan - rice bowl.
6. Chawan mushi - egg custard with diced vegetables.
7. Daikon - white carrot shaped Japanese radish.
8. Dashi - Fish stock for cooking, generally made from kombu (a type of sea weed) and
katsuobushi (dried bonito fish shavings.)
9. Donburi -This is a traditional lunch dish referring to the ceramic bowl and matching lid the
contents of this dish are served in.
Below are the individual names of each donburi dish depending on the contents.
• Gyūdon - rice with a beef topping.
• Yakitori donburi - rice with a chicken topping.
• Tendon - rice with a tempura topping.
• Unadon - rice with an unagi (Eel) topping.
• Katsudon - rice with a pork topping.
• Oyako donburi - rice with a chicken and fried egg topping.
10. Gohan - formal word for rice, also meaning "meal".
11. Gyoza - Chinese style dumplings of meat or vegetables.
12. Hijiki - a variety of seaweed.
13. Inari-zushi - sushi rice in fried tofu pockets.
14. Kombu - kelp - used in making dashi (soup stock).
15. Konnyaku - a gelatinous substance made from the "devils-tongue" tuber.
16. Kyuri - long and thin, Japanese cucumber.
17. Mirin - sweetened cooking sake.
18. Miso - fermented soybean paste.
19. Mochi - Sweet glutinous rice cakes.
20. Mochiko - Sweet glutinous rice flour.
21. Natto - sticky fermented soybeans.
22. Nori - dried seaweed which comes in very thin sheets.
23. Oden - fish, fish cake and vegetables simmered in broth.
24. Okonomiyaki - egg "pancakes" containing diced seafood, vegetables, or meat, that are grilled and topped with a savory sauce.
25. Onigiri - rice ball.
26. Ramen - Chinese style egg noodles.
27. Saba - Mackerel. 

28. Sake - Salmon.
29. Shoyu - soy sauce.
30. Soba - buckwheat noodles. Can be served hot or cold.
31. Tamago - egg.
32. Tamagoyaki - Fried egg.
33. Teriyaki sauce - A sweetened soy sauce.
34. Tempura - Battered and deep-fried seafood or vegetables.
35. Tonkatsu - Breaded and fried pork cutlet.
36. Usukuchi shoyu - Light Japanese soy sauce.
37. Wakame - a variety of seaweed.
38. Wasabi – a pungent mustard, made from green Japanese horseradish.
39. Yaki - grilled.
40. Yosenabe - A fish, seafood and vegetable soup made in a clay pot.

BENTO #96

#2 had a discussion with me after school about how she was putting on weight with all the food I was packing for her. Good gracious! I thought that I was already 'under packing' her food!

Apparently that is not the case. She insisted that she's putting on weight. She is declaring this week a "Fruit and Vegetable" Bento week!!

She's involved with a musical which will be launched next week end and she's already been measured for her costume since April. "Mum, I can't afford to be squeezing into the costume if I've put on weight"! She retorts with a grim face!

What the heck! She's taller than I am and certainly much thinner than many young girls her age. *Screams in my head but grins at #2* (Mum gets into this chilling mode again). Okay, I'm not going to argue about weight issues with #2. I just need to deal with it more positively.

Sometimes, even #3 will pose in front of the mirror with her bulging belly and ask if she's considered FAT? *sigh*

I decided to make #2 a fruit salad this morning. I cut up bananas, golden kiwi, apple, orange and strawberries. I squeezed the juice out of an orange, added some honey and some lime juice. It was a lovely and refreshing combination.

The citrus juice helps to keep the fruits from turning brown and gives it a light and refreshing taste.

The Bento box on the right is filled with a croissant cut into three pieces and slathered with Nutella. This is for #3. There is a pack of NIPs, just in case she wants to eat more.

I'm going shopping for salads later.
(My kid's diet has just turned into that of a COW! Moo!)

BENTO #95

When I was planning #2's box yesterday, we agreed on Mac & Cheese. This morning when she came downstairs, she said that she wanted her Mac & Cheese hot. How in the world was I going to keep the Mac & Cheese hot other than using a flask and for a 9 year old it could get tricky to have to wrestle with the screw top of the different layers. After much haggling, we decided on Chipsmore chocolate chip cookies and a bar of Cloud 9 (courtesy of Grandma).

I didn't think it constituted a "Bento" so I didn't take a picture to post in my blog. #3 pouted the whole morning and felt unhappy. I explained to her that if she didn't start eating more varieties of food then I was not going to post about her "Bento" because basically it isn't one!

One could hear pin drop SILENCE in the car the whole way to school.

When I went to fetch #2 yesterday from school. The first thing she responded after I asked if she finished her food was that she wanted more of those 'delicious, juicy sausages'.

Every night before I go to sleep, I would sit at the dining table with my green file and start planning the next morning's Bento box content. I would first write out the different types of food I planned to prepare the next morning, etc. I would then draw out the two layer box and roughly draw or write out the content in its sections. For example, for the top layer box, I would draw a divider to half the box, write the name of the food item on one side and another food item on the other side.

I would only decide on the size of the silicon cups on the morning itself because I had to have a gauge of the quantity. Obviously, what I plan to pack has to be in stock.

Late last night when I got home, I checked my green file to make sure I had everything in order, I saw this message scribbled on some empty space.
"Mum, I want breakfast too, please. Thank you. #1".
It's obviously the sausages!!!!

This is #2's Bento box for today. Her daddy is taking her to the dentist at 11.30a.m. That means she has to leave early today. I half expected her to tell me that she didn't need a box but that obviously didn't happen.

In the left lower box, are strawberries again (she loves them). Some more sausages, cut and skewered for easy eating. In the right upper box is a simple supply of crisp bread and a wedge of Happy cow Salmon cheese. I fried some French beans with prawns for a change.

Look at the Close-Up!

Viola! Another day! Another Bento!!

BENTO #93 & #94

Last weekend has been back to back with activities. Good thing I planned ahead to purchase strawberries from the Curve. They bring them in from Cameron Highlands and it's cheap. RM11 for three boxes. Only thing is you need to make sure not all the boxes are ripe and ready to eat unless you can finish them in a day or two. I usually tell the stall owner to select some not so ripe ones so that they can keep the week.

#3 was busy going out with Grandma. I didn't have time to discuss her menu with her. What I did was order two sourdough bread from Wilson. He freshly baked them and when I went to collect them I was surprised that he had fashioned one 'plait' style. #3 was with me then, she gave a squeal of surprise and was happy beyond words. In the car, she asked if she could pinch a piece to try. She finished half the plait loaf!

She was very upset this morning to find that #2 and mum had finished the balance half while she was away gallivanting with Grandma. Oopps! I had to spend the morning cajoling her into a better mood.

Finally, we discussed on the spot the contents of her box. It was going to be Sourdough bread and the last balance of tuna. She asked if she could have the 'Mr. Potato crisps' that Grandma bought for her. I had to try maintain her improved mood this morning and I had to respond positively, so I said yes.

#3 was gleaming and was happily helping me to set the Bento boxes for photography. Hmmm...the things we mothers have to undergo with young children. Gosh! I'm just glad she's growing up real fast. Jewel as she is, some mornings she can be a pain for all the wrong reasons!

#3 doesn't eat vegetables or fruits other than apples. In fact she doesn't eat most foods. There is a slight improvement lately but it's still a long and tedious journey. She does like McDonalds fried chicken, fries and junk foods. Personally I don't encourage my kids to patronize the fast food outlets but occasionally, we find ourselves there because of convenience. *sigh*


#2 has a box of fruits galore this morning. I filled the right lower box with some salad leaves, lined them with orange slices and topped with lovely strawberries and longan (all peeled, where can one get so good service?).

In the left upper box, I fried some cocktail sausages and skewered them with the balance salad leaves. This is a treat because we've not had sausages for a long while. Read here to know why.

I added the the last two slices of Brandy laden fruit cake and a heart shaped hard boiled egg. She didn't want Shoyu so there is no sauce bottle.

There is an Oshibori box which I think they both can't do without now. I don't hear any complaints or whining and that's a good sign!



p/s I managed to purchase another few Oshibori boxes from the Curve when I was there.
*grins*

How to select the right size Bento box

I picked this chart from : http://item.rakuten.co.jp/yellowstudio/c/0000000352/
This chart recommends the Bento box size to use for age group and height.

Biggie has a detailed, translated version but lately I've not been able to access her site. Another good reference for choosing the right Bento box is from Just Bento. The pink chart on the left is for female and the blue one on the right is for male.

• The first column is the age group.
• Second column is the height.
• Third column is calories/meal.
• The last column on the right is the recommended size box to use.

If you look under your Bento box, you will be able to see the capacity of the Bento box.
I remember reading somewhere that if your activity level and height exceeds the recommended size Bento box, you should add on 100ml capacity to what is recommended. The same vise-versa.

It's something you just adjust to suit your personal need. There's no hard and fast rule. If one is dieting, obviously pick a smaller box. I realized that my third daughter doesn't finish the two layer Bento box that I pack for her.

When I questioned her, she says that there is not enough time during recess. Being a mother, I'm all the time concerned that she's not got enough food to eat.

Looking at her age - 9 years old and her height at 139.7cm, she should be taking a 600ml Bento box. There's no way she can finish so much food - we're talking about packed capacity here, not loosely packed food. Knowing that she should have a 600ml box is one thing, the reality of it is she won't be able to finish the food. So, I just have to follow my gut feeling and go with the flow.

My second daughter is 16 years old and her height is 168cm. According to the chart above she is 11cm taller than stated and rightly should add another 100ml to the recommended 700ml box, which makes it to an 800ml box.

However, #2's a weight watcher and there's no way she'll eat so much. She's already on a permanent fruit and vegetable diet.

The boxes that I pack for her range from 500ml-600ml.

An example below would be the 330 ml for the upper box and 250ml for the lower box which makes a total of 580ml.




This one below also has two layers. The upper large box capacity is 320ml and the smaller box at the bottom is 180ml which makes a total of 500ml.

I usually use similar size boxes for her Bento. She's cool with it and most days finish what's inside if she's not rushing from one thing to another. I have larger capacity boxes but that's only used if I pack sushi for her.

BENTO #91 & #92

Yesterday afternoon when I brought #2 home, I asked her what she wanted to pack for her Bento on Friday (today). She said "I'll discuss with you later mum. Let me come back from my Chinese Oratory class first". "Huuuhhh? What if we forget and then what are you going to eat?" She gestures with her hand as if to calm me. "Wait till tonight first okay."

So mum just gets into this 'chilling mode'. Late last night when I was planning Friday's menu, #3 comes to me and says this "Mum, tomorrow, just give me croissant only lah." "What croissant? I don't have any croissants left" - I responded. OOoooops! #3 plucker's her lips in surprise. I wanted to rebuttal her about deciding so late but I responded "So how?".

She said simply, just give me biscuits will do. I didn't have the heart to revert to biscuits so I scanned around and rummaged the fridge. I found a packet of Soudough bread and Nutella. Before this, #3's tried Nutella but didn't like it. I told her about the Soudough bread - this is hand made by Wilson from my favorite tea time haunt. #3 likes Wilson because he's young, patient and very friendly with her. "Oohhhh! Wilson 'ko-ko' (a respectful greeting towards an elder young male) baked the Soudough bread. I like, okay I want".

"What so you want to eat it with?" She shrugs her shoulders and smiles at me. "What about Nutella?" I ask her. She looks at me and said "Can I try?" I spread some Nutella on a slice of the Soudough bread and she took a bite..... mmmmm....okay, taste nice, can I have some more for supper, I'm hungry". Bingo!!! Another food item added to her consumption menu!


#3's box is very simple and I can hardly call it a Bento other than the Box that she's asked to use. *shakes head from side to side*.

It's simply Sourdough bread with Nutella and another slice with tuna mayo from yesterday. I wanted to give her a variety and assure myself that she won't go hungry. She asked for her favorite fruits - apples, which I cut into huge tulips and 'apples'. LOL!!


#2's box is a real treat today. I boiled one potato and made potato salad last night. I am sure she will love this. So, in the bottom box I had potato salad, another Kiwi and two pieces of Brandy laden fruit cake. #2 told me that she shared a piece of fruit cake with a friend the last time and she's been raving about it - probably because of the Brandy, I quipped.

In the top box, I skewered halved tomatoes and crabstick rolled in grated cheddar cheese and wrapped in a salad leaf. Added another slice of fruit cake for #2 to share.

I have a busy week ahead. Here's wishing all of you an enjoyable weekend. Cheers!!

P/S
I'm having a time of my life with the silicon cups!!!

BENTO #89 & #90

Yesterday when I went to fetch #3 from school I asked if she finished her food. #3 said she finished the sardine croissant but not the cookies or bisccotti. "I ate half of the chocolate crayon, can I have the cookies for tea afterwards?" - said she. "Sure, I responded".

Then she added, "Mum, you know my friend Brenda?" (her best friend at school). "Ah ha" I responded while driving. "She says she loves my mummy best!" "Huh? What? Why?" I asked dumbfounded. She says you make the best-test food and she loves you best!

Wow! I was blown away by that statement! A kid I've never met making a statement like that. I hope her mother never hears it!

Last night I prepared tuna mayo. It has chopped yellow onions, gerkins, mayo, pepper and salt. I also cut up slices of bread into animal and flower shapes to bake. All I had to do this morning was to pack the tuna mayo into the Hello Kitty box and add the bread crisps. There is a little fork for use and a little tub of Meiji Chocolate for a treat.

I'm using the new single tier Bento box that my friend Felicity brought back from Singapore. There's a pink Oshibori to go too.


#2's box is made up of half a golden kiwi and a mango pudding. There are 3 pieces of animal face onigiri packed with tuna mayo on a bed of salad and two cherry tomatoes. Simple and easy this morning!

More Eye Candy

For me, Christmas has certainly arrived early! I feel like a 6 year old in Santa's toy factory! I've been Bento-ing for almost one whole year. During this journey, I've scourged many shopping outlets for Bento accessories and had to make do with the miserable few and far in between things being sold in non-Bento speciality shops (not that PJ or KL has one anyway).

The 100 Yen store was the best (of the worst) store which had limited collection and because I was kind of a local pioneer, I managed to build up quite a collection of Bento boxes from them. Often I would sweep across the store and manage to buy 8-10 Bento boxes plus it's limited accessories. But after a while, they ran out of stock too.

It's frustrating for Bento enthusiasts like me. I thank God for good friends who travel and bother to entertain my passion for Bento. Most of my Bento accessories was brought back from Japan by my friend Alice.

Since then, I've been surfing the internet and found lots of things that I like but didn't want to pay a ridiculous price for. I've had one bad encounter with an e-bay seller (now defunct) who conned me and I wasn't too keen to put my money where I already had a bad experience.

Often, I was tempted to purchase the Wilton silicon cups - something like RM55 for half dozen or something and that too you only get them in one size and shape. Wilton has two or three shapes I think.

One of the things I appreciate of my late Dad is, he forcibly taught me to be PATIENT. It's not my best virtue but "I can wait". That's what I did and today, my friend Felicity who travels Singapore quite often brought these back for me!! I am so excited, she bought 30 items from Daiso at 2 Singapore dollars each. I almost died of elation!

New Bento and Onigiri boxes - my dream come true!
I had seen the Onigiri boxes selling for RM39.90 and I refused to buy them.
Felicity bought them at 2 Sing each!

A pink furoshiki, Onigiri molds and tiny condiment boxes and another pink Onigiri box. *swoons*.

Silicon cups in all shapes, sizes and colors. SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT!
*Thank you! Thank you!*

New age Bento straps? Kung-Fu Panda - I think #3 will be trilled!! Cute chicky faces and matching pink balloon straps for the single tier balloon Bento box.

Sauce bottles, furikake shakers, mayo boxes. *I'm going crazeeeeee with happiness*

My dream food picks! *God is good!*

*I'm currently floating on 7th Heaven, walking on clouds and dreaming dreams*

Hugs to everyone. Thank you friends!

BENTO #88

I have to go to school to collect #2's report card this morning. It's 'open day'. #2 knows I have a busy schedule and has been reminding me the whole of last week.

Last night, she reminded me again and added "No Bento tomorrow mum". "Ah! Okay!", I responded.

I already planned to make tuna mayo and croissant for #3 but this morning realized that I ran out of tuna. I substituted with sardines instead. She had sampled sardines twice and it was 'okay' with her. I just hope it'll be okay when she eats her croissant later this morning.

For insurance, I put in some Chipsmore chocolate chip cookies, some Almond and orange bisccotti and a stick of chocolate crayon as a treat.

Everything looks too Blue and Brown this morning.

Good News or what?

I read My Lovely 'A' blog about her recent fruitless visit to the 100 Yen store. I just got back from the SS2 outlet and sure enough there is hardly anything for Bento enthusiasts like us. The Bentos left on the shelf are really OLD STOCK and there are only 2 or 3 pieces left.

I visit the SS2 branch almost weekly and the last time I was there I saw 3 packs of 'onigiri face molds' and they were all gone today. I guess I am able to get the stuff I want because I am very regular. I used to visit the Puchong branch once a month until the petrol price went up and I've decided that once in two months is good enough.

Anyway, after this morning's visit to the 100 Yen store I called one of their managers whom I had encountered before, about the status of their miserly Bento stock. He admitted that they had not been focusing on Bento because there was a lack of interest and sales turnover in that area was pretty slow.

We had a long chat and he assured me that he'd look into sourcing for Bento accessories again. He also mentioned that they've recently cleared some containers of new stock which will be hitting their 100 Yen stores soon. But, he also mentioned that there is minimal Bento stuff.

The other news that he shared with me is that they are opening another new outlet in Uptown, Damansara Utama. For those of you who work around there, you can visit the new 100 Yen store after mid July 2008. It is opposite to Uptown towers 2.

I don't know about you, but I'm sure to check out the place, with all the new stock coming and all, who can resist??


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 #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!