Princess Mononoke Bento

I wanted to make this bento very simple as my bentos are (mostly) already natural. I used some leftover black bean chili that I had for last night's dinner and a bit of white rice with some vegetables (I also had a seperate veggie platter). The "H" is made out of a nori and it stands for both Hime (princess) and Hayao Miyazaki. The recipe is a bit different than what I did because I just mixed corn meal (sub rice flour) with chili.

Black Bean Burger Recipe:
1/4 cup of Cooked Black Beans + Juice
1 Jumbo Garlic Clove (minced and cooked)
1/4 Small Onion (minced and cooked)
1/2 Green Bell Pepper (minced)
Cumin, pepper, salt and chili powder to taste
Cornstarch or other thickener mixed + water (depending on your allergies)
Corn Meal or Rice flour (enough to make a paste)

Mix the ingredients together until they create a paste and then lightly oil or spray your cooking pan. Place the mixture in the pan and then cover it with a top until the bottom has cooked, flip it and then repeat until it has cooked to your liking. Add it on top of rice colored with chlorophyll and brocolli then create your kodama onigiri.

Enjoy!

Signed,

<3 Bou Shin <3

The Ghibli Bits (It's Snack Time, Princess!)



The tree bark/jerky scene between Ashitaka and Princess Mononoke

I love seeing food in cartoons as most people do. And I absolutely love recreating the food so it looks and sounds as it does in the cartoons. Sometimes it isn't easy and requires a lot of time and sometimes it can come out within a few minutes after drawing up the idea. In this case it was just combining ingredients that I already had.

Jerky Recipe:
Soft Tofu (I only had three medium-thin slices)
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
3 tbl Agave Nectar
2 tbl Olive Oil (from Sun-Dried Tomatoes)
1 and 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
A few tbl of Paprika (enough to coat it and change the color)
Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

Combine all of the ingredients after you've pressed your tofu and place on a baking sheet. I used my toaster oven and cooked these for about 15 minutes or so in a toaster oven. Afterwards, simply turn on the toaster oven to toast (if you're using one) and bake it for about 10 more minutes until it is darkened to your liking.

Enjoy this and the Ghibli-bits to come!

Signed,

<3 Bou Shin <3

Susuwatari Meatballs

Sorry that I didn't post this yesterday but happy late 4th of July for those who celebrate it! Last night's dish was another straight from Hayao Miyazaki's cookbook (okay, I made that up). Ever see spaghetti that had dark marks on it? Yeah, that's the soot sprites. I told them to try to clean up their mess this time though since it was a holiday and all.

(Ingredients)

• Lightlife Gimme Lean Sausage Style
• Pepper, Cracked Red Pepper, Garlic Powder, Rosemary, Oregano and Basil to taste
• Organic Red and Orange Peppers
• Olive Oil (to cook the meatballs)
• Soy Cheese
• Nori
• Spaghetti  + Sauce

(Directions)

• Fold the spices into about half of the package of veggie sausage
• Shape into balls. If it gets sticky you can use some water on your hands to prevent it.
• Fry them in olive oil to your liking and drain them on a paper towel while you cut out your cheese eyes, nori, and peppers in the shape of stars. .
• Cook your spaghetti and sauce.
• Arrange them as you like once finished.
• Enjoy!

Spirited Away Bread

Despite some obvious mistakes and cracks, this bread tastes delicious and looks completely adorable. If you want you can fill his cheeks with some (vegan) cheese or even make it into a sandwich. I did the latter with some apples and peanut butter, and showed it to my mother. We both love Hayao Miyazaki and all of the animated films that we've seen of his - and we both screamed in delight at the finished bread.

(Spirited Away Bread Ingredients)

• 1 and 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 and 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 and 1/4 tsp Rapid-Rise Yeast
• 1/2 tsp Iodized Salt
• 1/2-3/4 cup Warm Water

(Directions)

• Mix the ingredients together (adding the salt at the last minute) and knead it for about 10 minutes or until it is a nice elastic ball.
• Place it into an oiled bowl and turn it around to coat it in the oil, put a damp towel over it and let it sit in a heated area for about an hour.
• After time has elapsed, punch it down and cut about 1/4 of the bread dough off.
• Roll the bigger piece into the shape of the mouse's head and then use the ends of the leftover dough to make the ears by rolling them into balls and placing them firmly on top of the mouse's head. Use a little of the dough to make his cheeks more exaggerated and then make his nose.
• Bake it at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until your knife comes out clean from the side of his head.
• Use cocoa powder mixed with water to mark his nose, ears and to draw his eyes.
• Keep it as is or make it into a sandwich as I did.
• Enjoy!


• Make sure to tuck any excess dough underneath the head. If necessary, you may need to roll the extra dough out to make it smoother and less cracked like mine.