I made this simple meal for myself. The elephant rice was easy to shape using this mold.
Container: Book Bento Box
Contents: Elephants (cooked Nishiki rice shaped using plastic rice mold), spinach details, carrots, broccoli, toasted sliced almonds
Last month I needed to make a morning sweet to go along with coffee for a crowd. I wanted something easy since I was adjusting to a new job and did not have most of my kitchen supplies yet. My niece suggested that I make coffee cake. I borrowed 2 pans and creamed the butter and sugar by hand since I did not have my mixer yet. I baked one the night before and the other was prepped the night before and baked in the morning. I cut them into small pieces.
I made Blueberry Coffee Cake and Make Ahead Coffee Cake (without the icing). The Make Ahead Coffee Cake is very convenient and delicious and I have made it twice now (also for a bring and share food day at work). My co-workers said that I can make coffee cake anytime.
I made this sheep themed salad for myself on a day that my niece and I went furniture shopping. We ate our lunches in my car. I used “daikon“, (Japanese radish) for the sheep. It is larger than typical radish and great for using small cookie cutters.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Sheep – daikon (cut with cookie cutter), cheddar cheese, pistachio nuts, mixed lettuce
Top Right: Raspberries
Bottom Right: Triscuit crackers
I made this salad for my niece on a day that she helped me go furniture shopping. We ate our bentos in the car between furniture stores.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Butterflies – melon (cut with cookie cutters), raspberries, pistachio nuts, mixed lettuce
Top Right: Butterfly crackers
Bottom Right: Butterflies – carrots (cut with tiny cutter), celery with peanut butter
I made this dog themed bread lunch for my nephew to bring to school. He loves my homemade rolls and requested them for lunch. I enjoy making shaped bread.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Dog shaped bread (used this recipe), added chocolate chips after the bread was cooled, bone shaped cheddar cheese (cookie cutter)
Top Right: Carrots
Bottom Right: Raspberries
Last week my lasagna loving nephew turned 15. I made this lasagna lunch for him to bring to school.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Homemade lasagna with a cheddar “15” cut with cookie cutters
Top Right: Pistachios
Bottom Right: Blackberries and raspberries
I made this simple Children’s day or kodomonihi dinner for my parents and me. The garnish for the main course and dessert is pie crust.
Main: Partially cook broccoli, carrots, potato, and celery. Make a cheese sauce. Mix sauce with vegetables. Put vegetables and sauce in individual baking dishes. Put panko breadcrumbs on top and bake at 375 for about 20 minutes or until topping is browned.
Dessert: Berries, Greek yogurt, cinnamon
Garnish: Pie crust cut with koinobori cutter and baked until browned, pie crust cut in the shape of a kabuto hat and baked until browned
