BENTO #129

This morning, I had to send #2 to school because #1's first class at college begins at 9a.m. and I have to send her. She doesn't like to drive to college when classes begin later than 8a.m. because it is near impossible to find a car park and she'd be all worked up worrying about getting into her lectures late. So, mummy comes to the rescue and is chauffeur in times like these.

This morning's bento has a bed of salad sprouts and re-fried chicken bits in potato flour (leftovers I kept from last night's dinner) mixed in kewpie mayo. Some strawberries for fruit.

In the right bento box are some sliced yellow courgette and sauteed sprouts with straw mushrooms, carrots, garlic and oyster sauce. Quite a substantial meal for break time.


#2 has actually stayed away from rice for the last two days! Even at dinner, she avoids it!

Bento Party Part 3

I spent the whole evening sorting and uploading these photos from the Bento Party. Suddenly I'm insanely BUSY!! There are so many things to do and upcoming training camps to attend to.

#2 has exams and upcoming events to keep busy for a while to come. Just spent a small fortune on buying new gowns for upcoming events. *faints* Went to the laundry to get the gowns dry cleaned and the girl at the counter was swooning away about how lovely the gowns were. Obviously lah! Cost me an arm and a leg! *faints some more*

I'd like to say here that I'm sorry I haven't replied any of your comments, e-mail, SMS'es and calls because I'm running around like a headless chicken right now!

Please don't stop commenting because this blog author appreciates every one of them!!!! It's just that there are other more pressing issues (e.g. posting more pictures from the Bento Party) and priorities to take care of at this point in time!


Anyway, here are the pictures from the Bento Party competition. The first set of pictures are from the Beginner Bento competition section - no accessories. You can see the numbers on the sticker at the side of the Bento Box. The judges did not know who the Bento box belonged to when they judged it.
















Emily chose number 18 and it belonged to Evelyn! Congratulations Evelyn (Edit) AMY!

Coincidently the lucky number that I chose was also number 18 and AMY also got a prize from the lucky draw! Congratulations again!!





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These Bento boxes were for the Bento competition with accessories.










I judged this event and I chose number 7! I loved the animal theme and the little bear cup cake made by Su Yin matched the theme so well! I'm no Hello Kitty fanatic but I was awed with the soy sauce bottle and animal forks!

Congratulations Sharon of 3lilangels!!!

This long awaited prize was for Kelly of Kel's place, who won the Bento Competition commemorating my 100th Bento post and Blog anniversary.



There are still random pictures from the Bento Party. I will post them all soon!

BENTO #128

Yesterday, we had Ramadan food for dinner. I went to KJ to buy rendang, stuffed fish, 'tulang' soup, balitong and some vegetables. It was a refreshing change and surprisingly the food was not chilli hot even though everything looked so 'red'.

#2 says that she want to stay off carbo for a week. How to make bento for a week without carbo? *sweats-wipes forehead*


This morning I made a tortilla sandwich for the bento. This is how it looked before being rolled up. Butter the base, lay vegetables and salad sprouts, carrot sticks and tomatoes. Drizzle with tomato sauce and kewpie mayo on top of honey cured ham.



Roll them and pin them up with food picks and viola! Bon Appetite!
Added a bottle of Japanese 'Energy' drink - tastes like 100plus in jelly form.



This box is mine to bring to a ladies fellowship this morning. A friend invited me to a meeting of mothers who get together to pray for their children. It's my first time and everyone is supposed to bring some food - so typically Malaysian!



My Jyubako all packed and ready to go!



I'll try to update more pictures on the Bento Party. Blogger is just so SLOW!! Today is a busy day, I'll try my best!

Bento Party Part 2

I think pictures speak a thousand words. This is the second installment to the Bento Party. Unfortunately the yellow lights influenced the color of the pictures and they turned out too yellow!

Bento gear awesomeness!

Evelyn and Christene busy planning and packing.

Mashimaro anyone?

Eeeekkkk! What to do?

Yeah! I'm enjoying this!!

Gently does it...SueSue.

SueSue with the lovely Su Yin

Kelly from Kel's place during intro time.

Two sisters in a frenzy - Biblo and 3lilangels.

May, Jasmine, Hannah & Yatie

Hijack Queen!

Emily and I wish to thank all the following sponsors and supporters for their contribution in one way or another to the success of the Bento Party:

Mr. Kenny Tay - OSRAM
Ms. Pat Yam - Cosmetics and all non-bento items
SueSue of Cooking Momster
Su Yin of The Journal of a Girl who loves to cook
Ms. Veronica of NST
Aunty Loh
Ms. Joy Khoo
Ms. Dena Maxmillan
Ms. Michelle
Ms. Rachel
Mr. Ming and Mr. Tong of Onsen Japanese Restaurant
Mr. Saymond of 100 Yen Store
and
Especially all of you ladies who attended the Bento party!!!!

Thank You!
Gracias!
Terima Kasih!
Xie Xie!
Danke Schon!
Arigato Gozaimashita!
Do je!
Salamat!
Merci!
Mahalo!
Grazie!
Khop Khun Krab!
Kamsa Hamnida!

BENTO #127

I'm still working on my post on the Bento Party. I thought that I better update this morning's bento post first.

Today is a long day because #2 begins her Piano Theory classes to complete her Grade 8 early of 2009 before she finishes her final high school year. Her practical piano Diploma is in December of 2008 (edited). So she has double music class - first session from 1.30p.m. - 2.30p.m. and the second session from 4.30p.m. - 5.30p.m. and Add maths tuition @ 8.00p.m. - 10.00p.m. - all happening on Monday!!! AGgggghhhh......!!!

She had a performance on the night of the Bento Party last Saturday and I was really pleased that she delivered her piece beautifully.

This morning's bento is a 'quick fix'. Over the weekend I was so busy and didn't stock up on vegetables for this week's bento. (I'm going to the supermarket afterwards).

I've been 'instructed' to go GREEN this week. Unfortunately nothing is green other than the silicon cup and accessories! LOL!

You can see a side box of crinkle cut apples on the top left corner. In the left box, is some duck meat fried with fresh shitake mushrooms and some tomatoes in Oyster sauce. There is a piece of Korean rice cake for snack. The Korean rice cake is filled with sweet azuki beans and is very delicious.

Over in the right box is some crinkle cut carrots, cherry tomatoes and a tub of Thousand Island salad sauce.






p/s: Roast duck + Shitake mushrooms + tomatoes + oyster sauce = awesome taste!

Bento Party Part 1

I am lost for words! Today 6th September 2008, marked a historical day for us local bento enthusiasts/bloggers/stalkers and packers. We blogged about it, we commented about it, we discussed about it and finally we met about it - All about BENTO! Was it awesome, ladies?

I think I had a whale of a time meeting and trying to put a face to the blog name that I so often visit. Sharon of 3lilangels, SueSue of Cooking Momster, Christene of allthingspurple, Wendy of Biblo, Kelly of Kel's place, Jessie of Hijack Queen, Sue of Stargal, Diyana of This is me, Molly of undeniably jinxed and all the other ladies who silently blog or are beginning to blog and some, even thinking about how to start to blog?

One heart, one interest, one Bento!
That's what brought us together. Well, ladies, we came, we conquered and we all went home with overflowing bags!!! *The downside was that our wallets went home a little lighter,
the upside is, we have lots more Kawaii stuff to experiment with!!!*

The Bento party began with registration for 22 people and 3 able assistants in Saymond from 100 Yen shop taking care of the sale of Bento boxes and some other Bento gear, my two daughters Michelle and Rachel who looked after photography and sales of Bento accessories.

Jessie of Hijack Queen was the first to arrive and registration rolled on after that. Our program started at 12 noon and I think we kept time quite well!

This was basically the program of the day:

Programme:
11.45 noon: Arrival of participants Registration and seating
12.00 pm: Welcome speech by Bento Pet ~ outlining the day's programme
~ Ice-breaker introduction

**Powerpoint slide presentation:
How-to’s on bento

12.30pm Bento packing contest/Photography
Judging for two categories Lunch

** 1.30pm •

Emily shares her personal beginner Bento journey
• Presentation of prize to previous Bento contest winner - Kelly
• Presentation of prizes to current Bento contest winner
Open category – with accessories
Beginner category – without accessories
• Lucky draw

2.15 - 2.30pm Bento Goodies Sale! Sayonara! **

The Bento Party venue: Onsen Japanese Restaurant

The food: Chicken Kara-age and mixed Tempura

A variety of mixed maki





The lovely Su Yin
From L-R: Rachel (#2), Emily, Su Yin, Pat (Bento Pet) & Michelle (#1)

Tamagoyaki and sake sushi?

Onigiri cup cake anyone?

I almost didn't want to eat my cup cake!


Introduction session!


Lovely ladies all in a row, Stargal, Hijack Queen and Terri!

Emily sharing her beginner Bento experience!

This is 'moi' giving a short pep talk on Bento "how to".


Bento gear stalkers!!!

No pressure, No pressure!!! First of a series of updates from the Bento party!!