Bento Corner

This bento is modeled after this:

Kewpie dressed in Cinnamon. Don't really see it? Humor me, please -- if my daughter can do it, you can too.

The Kewpie/Cinnamon is made of cheese, hanpen (fish cake), nori, and tomatoes.

Bento also includes yakiudon, kiwi, and Anpanman sweet potatoes which look like this:

This bento was a logistical disaster as too many things shifted about in transport and by the time the girl opened up to eat it, there was just a pile of mess. Ooops.

Only one more day of kindergarten to go and then the girl will finally be going into first grade.

This bento is a variation of the rolled sandwich and pancake sandwich.

The pancakes were super easy to roll -- I have never made roll sponge cake or jelly roll  cakes, but I imagine it's a miniature version of that. I actually prefer the taste of these over the rolled sandwiches. The pancakes were made fresh in the morning so that might have added to the better texture.

First spread the cream cheese all over the pancake and spread the jelly only on the edge of the part you will roll -- like you would roll maki-sushi. It was less messy to roll this way -- the jelly does spread out a bit but it makes for a cleaner, prettier roll in the end. Plus they were pliable enough that they kept their shape without the use of saranwrap to help hold the log roll shape.

Super easy lunch to pack and knocked out both breakfast and lunch in one shot -- always a plus for us slackers! My kids love pancakes so they can eat them for days without getting bored.

Bento also includes sausages, apple slices, and edamame.

In other news, it's White Day today and my daughter got a return gift from Yun-chan and everyone in the family cheered. Then my husband started in...

husband: Hey, it's White Day today?

me: Yes...

husband: What am I getting?

me: ??

husband: I got you a Valentine, remember? Where's my gift?

me: *grabbing one of Yun-chan's chocolates* Here you go, honey! Happy White Day!!

husband: *silence*

So obviously, I suck in a big way. I offered to make him a bento as an afterthought but he wasn't impressed.

Any ideas out there? If you have a rock star idea please share. My husband is a S/W Architect and his interests are anything technical, cool gadgets, Dilbert, South Park, and Dr. Stephen Hawking.

For the best idea, I'll send you a couple of the Kewpie keychains of your choice. On second thought,  to make it more democratic, I'll enter your name in a drawing and have my girl pick out a name -- that's pretty fair, right? Just comment below and I'll collect ideas for one week and then we'll do the drawing.

Couple of things I am currently hooked on:

Tokyo fashion trends There is an English menu, so you can navigate if you don't read Japanese.

And this:

Do you know the Kewpie doll? These versions are miniature keychain size and they are in costume (cosplay). I'm usually not into super cutesy things*  but this, I cannot resist.

*I make cute bentos for my kids, but the bentos do not reflect my persona at all. I'm quite obsessive, yes, but cute I am not.

Cinnamon is made of cheese, imitation crab, and nori. Underneath is a tuna salad sandwich.

Basic recipe for tuna sandwich is as follows:

• Can of tuna (packed in oil tastes better, but I used the non-oil type)
• 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice
• salt
• pepper
• 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1.5 Tablespoons chopped onion
• lettuce
• bread

Drain tuna and  mix with lemon juice, mayo, and onion. Add salt and pepper to taste. Adjust taste and consistency by adding more or less of certain ingredients. Toast the bread lightly and spread with tuna salad, top with lettuce.

Bento also includes cut kiwi and apple cut into round flower shapes. Apples are dipped in citrus juice to keep from turning brown.

You may notice that Cinnamon's tail is a bit detached -- it was added after everything was done. I first had a short tail on Cinnamon but the girl informed me that Cinnamon has a long tail which curls in a circular pattern. And then continued the lecture, at length, to tell me what characteristics make Cinnamon unique.

Indeed.

Not much sank in except this:

• At  7:30 am, I need coffee before anyone lectures me.
• Next time, Cinnamon must be created as a bodyless character.
• Man, is this what it feels like to be my husband? Oy.

Entering this into Margot's Wholesome Lunchbox Event.