Pikachu Bento

Hello! It's been a long time since posting. Both of my kids are homeschooled now so the need for packed lunches have, for the most part, ceased. However, my son is taking an enrichment class once a week, and he has missed his bentos.

Today I tried to make a free form Pikachu with cheese and nori. Here's how it turned out.  In the second tier there is: roasted chicken, Spam cutouts, pickled cucumber, edamame, and a fried mandu. It's not the most beautiful Pikachu, but my son was thrilled:)

I packed a second box with some cut up watermelon.

Happy Halloween

For the last school day before Halloween, I thought I would get into the spirit and make up a couple of themed bentos.  The first one is for my son.  It is a rice ghost with Spam Jack-o-lantern cutouts, and some yellow peppers.  

For my daughter, a Jack-o-lantern rice ball with Masago.  There is some shepherd's pie, celery sticks and a little Hello Kitty candy.

Roasted Chicken with Olive Calzone

Lunch today is a roasted chicken with olive calzone, skewered Graber olives, pickled sugar snap peas and a heart-shaped slice of pumpkin pie (with some raspberries for color). :)  Hope you all are doing well.  Sorry my posting has been so scarce.

School's Back in Session!

Today's bento consists of pork (topped with salsa), broccoli, seaweed, rice (seasoned with soy sauce and rice vinegar), and a cute cherry tomato.  The kids have missed their bento lunches:)

Galbi-Marinated Tri-Tip

Tri-tip that has been marinated in a Korean galbi marinade along with oi muchim (marinated cucumber) are what the kids are having for lunch today.  Also in the box is white rice with some Pokemon nori cutouts.  In a small separate container, there are some fresh whole apricots and a small packet of furikake.

Storm Trooper Bento

I found some really great Star Wars cookie cutters and used the Storm Trooper one this morning to make salami sandwiches.  I could have gotten more elaborate and made nori cutouts for the facial details, but I didn't have enough time. The little salami rosette doesn't really go with the Star Wars theme, but whatevs:)  Also in the box are pickles and apples.  My son is super excited about this one.

Spam Musubi

Last two weeks of school!!!  The kids want bento and of course they wanted these, their absolute favorites:)  They both got 6 pieces of the Spam musubi, cucumber that has been marinated in seasoned rice vinegar and soy sauce, and watermelon for dessert.  I put up the recipe for Spam musubi on my Martha site.

Kero Kero Keroppi

My Keroppi looks a little funny, but my daughter likes it anyway. ^^ Served with salmon, cucumber flowers, carrots, and a side of watermelon.

Panko Crusted Spicy Chicken Bento

Today's bento had crispy chicken breast pieces, sliced carrots, dipping sauce in the little container and a chocolate covered strawberry for dessert.   My son loved this one:)

Early Children's Day celebration

My Japanese friend and I celebrated Children's Day with our children earlier today. Japan and Korea celebrate on the same day. We both had previously scheduled activities on Wednesday after school, so we had to have a party a couple of days early.

I made two mini, strawberry cakes that look like koi nobori. I should have tested the icing before making the blue eye. It had some liquid that settled, which ran down the side of the cake.

I made bulgogi and formed rice into pandas, chicks, kitties, flowers, and onigiri, and filled in space with strawberries.

BBQ Ribs Bento

Today's lunch has leftover ribs from last night, some rice with furikake, a couple of edamame pods and fruit (mango, raspberries, and blueberries).  My son was a little disappointed that I could only fit in 2 ribs, but it's a minimum day today, so he can eat more when he comes home:)

Korean Galbii Bento

I have not been getting up early enough to do any character bentos.  Instead, I have been focusing more on the food.  Today I cut up freshly broiled galbi (making sure to trim off all of the fat) and put it alongside a cup of Asian coleslaw and some rice with furikake.  I added a couple of grape tomatoes for some color. The lime slice is for him to squeeze into the coleslaw if needed.  It's not the most exciting lunch, but as long as it gets eaten, that's all that matters.  If I weren't worried about the smell factor, I would have included some kimchee, but you know, I wouldn't want to cause him any unecessary embarrassment...not today anyway;p

Mini Meatballs

Today's colorful lunch consists of Tarako (cod roe) rice balls and mini meatballs with sweet and sour sauce.  Also in that tier are grape tomatoes and some sliced cucumber.  Second tier has grapes, strawberries, and blueberries. 

They haven't had a bento in a while so they were pretty excited to take these to school.  Also this happens to be a Totoro bento box, and my son has watched "My Neighbor Totoro" at least 8 times in the last few days (he was home sick) so he was extra excited:)

Spring Break

We are on Spring break so I will be taking a two week hiatus.  Hope you all have a wonderful Easter!  See you soon:)

Stromboli Bento

Stromboli is sort of a baked sandwich, cousin to the calzone.  This one is for my son who likes pepperoni.  The second container has some fresh fruit.
My daughter prefers a deli style stromboli. Her's has swiss cheese, ham and turkey.  Her bento box is slightly larger so she got four slices today:)

Recipe on my Martha Blog

Deli Chicken Sandwiches

Another sandwich day for the Krajee family.  This time it was on yummy Ciabatta bread and the sandwiches wrapped in deli paper so they don't fall apart.   Chicken, cheese, lettuce and tomato in the sandwich, sliced pepperoncini in smaller cup and sliced fruit in the larger cup.  Small piece of blondie for dessert.

Bad Badtz

Once again, I've fallen into a rut of not feeling like getting up early to prepare more than an average bento for DD. *sigh* Cutting out Badtz Maru from nori was simple, though, so this is what DD got this morning, along with mahi, carrots, and apple slices that are not pictured. Presentation is still the story of my life. One day!

Carnitas Bento

I made it for dinner last night, so it's another leftover.  But it's one that they like:)  In the box are carnitas, refried in a dry pan to crisp up, tortillas, fresh guacamole, and a side container of fresh salsa.

Steak Fried Rice Wth a Side of Steak

Still using the meat from the BBQ. Today, I chopped the steak up and stir fried it with cold rice and added some chopped kimchi. Then I slice some more steak and pan grilled it, cut it up into bite size pieces. This is lunch for the kids and breakfast for me.
Also in the box are edamame and apples.