Bento Corner

Just in case the 102F degree weather gives way to snow...

Sometimes our son is a goof...

Note: the video is now on YouTube...hope everyone can view it now. Thanks for the help, Cafe1

I got a request to display cookie cutters or sandwich bread cutters (or pancake cutters even!) I bought in Japan. Here are the ones I used in the bentos I made earlier this month.

Bu-ta-chan onigiri bento with gyoza, tamagoyaki, salad, and grapes.

My daughter is quirky sometimes. She took a look at the pig onigiri and said, "No, I don't want this bento. The pig is scary. Please make me a new bento." 

But. The pig. Is. Smiling. 

Is my daughter crazy? Sometimes I wonder...I suggested that maybe we can put a cute umeboshi ribbon on it to make it less scary. She was happy with that answer and everything was fine again.

The gyoza is made by Shirakiku -- it's the pork and nira (chives?) flavor. I think they make the best frozen gyoza around. We usually eat it without the dipping sauce since it's already pretty flavorful. The tamagoyaki has shirasu and spinach mixed in. The kids like it, but my husband refused to take a bite no matter how much my daughter yelled at him to, "DADDY JUST EAT IT!!!" I think it has to do with the eyes on the shirasu.

The salad is made of cucumber and radish slices. I decided to let the sliced vegetables sit in salt and then rinse them in water to squeeze out the excess salt and water. I then mixed it with a creamy sesame dressing. It turned out OK but I think it would have been better (and faster) to just skip that whole salt and water process the next time.

It is going to be so hot today...we turned on the AC at 8 am this morning. I know, I know. That's nothing compared to people who live in hotter climates, but where we live, these things are pretty rare...Hope you all stay cool over the weekend!