Whale of ATime Bento

The bento biz has actually been going on and off for a while with me, although I haven't been posting pictures as of late. I have been recording them but due to work, scholarships and school - I haven't had as much time to make, photograph and/or eat them. But here were are now withthis adorable sea-creature scene that was so simple and still so fun. We had ordered out for American-Chinese takeout and the rice was already shaped like this, all I needed to do was split the tail and add a chocolate chip. Below there's a strip of zucchini from a raw lasagna (yet to be prepared) and a red pepper crab with tofu eyes.

Whale of A Time Bento Ingredients:
White Rice
Basic Spicy Stirfry
Red Pepper
Chocolate Chip
Tofu
Broccoli
Green Bell Pepper
Baby Corn


Hope you enjoy this quick and simple bento!

Sunshine and Lollipops Lunch

At first I was going to make this a whole collection of planets, with earth being the blue cookie where the grapes are. I decided that this was too much sweetness and instead opted with a few things that were fresh from my garden after my mini-hiatus. It was especially fun to see it being eaten like a lollipop - and it leaves unmessy hands as well as plates! That's a bonus for parents,  dishware and children alike.

SS & Lollipops Lunch Ingredients:
1 PB & J sandwich (cut out with a Daisy cutter)
Red Pepper
Grapes
Collard Greens
Carrots

A great lunch or snack that would make anyone smile! ^^

Hungry? Why Not Zoidberg? Bento

Yes, this is "that" meme, I like doing bentos and foods on memes sometimes - they're fun for me. This was a really simple bento with gorgeous yellow pepper slices, crinkle-cut carrots and a strawberry and peanut butter sandwich surrounded by sushi grass. On top I have a nice tortilla which I colored and cut out for a simplified Zoidberg yesterday morning.

Do you mind memes? Or do you think they've just all become washed out once they've become common?

Zoidberg Bento Ingredients:

Corn Tortilla

Crinkle-Cut Carrots

Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam

Whole Wheat Bread

Yellow Bell Pepper

Seasoned Nori

Enjoy!

Dexter's Laboratory Bento

This bento was a super easy "throw into the container" bentothat I made. I decided to make it simple and it was so delicious! I made some more cheesy chickpea sauce over the weekend and poured it over some homemade farfalle noodles, then cut up some seitan sausages I made, used some masa sheets and decorated it with vegetables.

Dexter's Laboratory Bento Ingredients:
Broccoli
Radishes
Carrots
Tomatoes
Chickpea Mac
Masa Sheets
Mini Peppers
Seitan Sausage
Nori

Enjoy - and have a happy Sunday!

Wybie Bento - Coraline

I tried to make this as simple as possible because and so I made some single-serving toast (coming soon - I promise!) with two mini dried mushroom burgers. The burgers are excellent although they do have a bit of oil in them I put them on a napkin for a while to de-oil. Added in are just some cherry tomatoes, carrots and kale with a sprig of cilantro for color.

What's your favorite macabre-style film?

Wybie Bento Ingredients:
Nori
Kale
Corn Tortilla
Mushroom Burger and Bits
Single-Serving Toast
Carrots
Cherry Tomatoes

Hope that you enjoy! The recipes for the burgers and toast will be here by Tuesday after I've finished the "Mr. Bobinski" bento.

Coraline "The Other Mother" Soboro Bento

Hi again guys! I promise that I haven't abandoned you, but I've been working extra hard with volunteering for charities, making up some surprises (for you guys!) and cooking. But when I could crawl away from the self-beatings and trekked the desert of tiredness I was able to snag a few pictures and recipes down for you guys. I hope that you can forgive me for not having the greatest carving or nori art here but I was really smart with this idea. Notice her sweater? Yep, that's a little piece of apple that had been exposed to the air for about four hours...I dunked it in a little rice vinegar to keep it from becoming gross but allowed enough air to hit it to make the sweater look "knitted".

Coraline #2 Bento Ingredient List:

Soft Tortilla

Nori

Jamaican-style Soboro

Black Rice

Radishes

Carrots,

Jalapenos

Tomatoes

Cauliflower

Apple Slice w/ Rice Vinegar

Cilantro

To make the soboro all you have to do is add your favorite crumbles (or lentils, or beans, ect) and combine them with chopped onion, peas, allspice, curry powder, sliced cabbage, black pepper, minced garlic, carrots, water and cinnamon until it has all come together and it is no longer liquidy. Let cool and then place in your bento to enjoy!

Powerpuff Girls Bento

Fighting crime just to save the world! The lyrics went something like that, right? Eh, my childhood is fuzzy...but what I do remember is Blossom being one of my favorite PowerPuff girls since she was the medium between both Bubbles and Buttercup...but as I got older I've liked the butt-kicking attitude of Buttercup. Who was your favorite character from the show?

Powerpuff Girls Bento Ingredients:
Peanut Butter, Cinnamon and Raisin Sandwich Balls
Radishes
Nori
Carrots
Raw Sweet Potato
Broccoli
Zucchini
Herbs
Caulifower

Who should I make a bento of next? Feel free to comment and tell me! ^^ I hope that you liked this post!

Phineas and Pherb Valentine's Bento

This was the last bento I made and I was really sad that I didn't have anything besides white for the girl's skin. I would have used yellow - but that doesn't look so much as brown skin as it does jaundice. I've placed half of a mini deep dish pizza, a cinnamon and flax nut butter sandwich alongside plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. This was one of the few bentos that was able to be finished but I think that I'll wrap up my sandwiches with green plastic wrap from now on.

Phineas and Pherb Bento:

Rice Cheese

Carrots
Nori
Radishes
Broccoli
Mini Pizza
Peanut Butter and Flax Sandwich
Strawberries
Spinach
Pineapple
Banana

I hope you have a chance to make your own soon - and that you enjoy what I've created now! ^^

Mickey and Minnie Valentine's Bento

This is my retro version of Mickie and Minnie for my bento on Monday (I made it Sunday night). I think its one of my cutest and most simple bentos - the meatloaf made this one especially filling and had little crunchy and chewy bits of roasted cauliflower rounds and leaves. It was absolutely delicious and I fell in /love/ with it! You'll also notice the cloves and heart shapes that I've carved into the apple which are supposed to represent the saying "When one door closes, another door opens.".

Mickey and Minnie Bento Ingredients:

Roasted Cauliflower Stem and Pressed Leaves

Roasted Potatoes

Chickpea Meatloaf with Spaghetti Sauce

Apple with Lemon Juice and Cloves

Broccoli

Carrots

Radish Slices

Spinach

I hope you enjoy! ^^



Business-Love Chick Bento

At first I couldn't decide if I wanted this to be a Rilakkuma and Friends bento or a Homer Simpson bento. I guess I kind of went into the middle there - and what was supposed to have a Harry Potter element in it ended up being a lonely business man. Around him is an easy-peel banana (with lime juice), my favorite fruit - olives, some stewed kidney beans, carrots and brocolli. The rice is a mix of annato, turmeric and the usual brown and white rices. Of course his chest has a slice of avocado for his shirt and tie.

Business Love Bento Ingredients:

Avocado

Nori

Olives

Celery

Brown and White Rice

Carrots

Brocolli

Bananas

Stewed Kidney Beans

Heart Sticker (....not edible)

I hope that you enjoy! ^^



Monster's Inc Bento (Mike and Sully)

This bento is probably one of my favorites - everyone in the house loves Monster's Inc and this bento makes them look more like little kids. What kid wouldn't want to see a smiling Mike and Sully in their lunch with plenty of tasty food? And don't let the word "haggis" put you off - there are some delicious haggis meatballs made with bulgur, lentil and oats that are extremely delicious.

Monsters Inc Bento Ingredient List:

Two Brown and White Rice Balls

Nori

Carrots

Steamed Brocolli

Cucumbers

Tofutti Cheese

Cubed Asian Pear

Celery Sticks

I hope that you enjoy! ^^



Year of The Dragon Bento

It looks more like a puppy than a dragon - but that's okay because it makes it that much more adorable. As normal, this bento is quite healthy and filled with loads of fruits, vegetables and legumes that would give your little dragon lots of energy. I had some slices of char siu leftover from my last seitan-session so I decided to put them in the bottom bento. This is all pretty and colorful but my favorite are the little rice "packets" that are cubed to make them easier to pick up with chopsticks or fingers.

Year of The Dragon Bento Ingredients:

Starfruit

Blanched Brocolli and Brussels Sprouts

Seitan Char Siu

Julienned Carrots

Peeled Parsnips

White and Brown Rice Packets

Mixed Beans

Nori

Soy Cheese

I hope that you enjoy it!

Yummy Mummy Bento

You don't have to use eggsheets to make a mummy, even if it is vegan. This was the first half of the bento, as I always have a fruit/salad with it to make sure that it's extra healthy. It would have been even cuter if I had some sriracha, but alas - it has vanished like a ghost in our house. Hm, I wonder if this little mushroom ghost took it?

Yummy Mummy Ingredient List:
Whole Grain Brown Rice Onigiri
(Soaked, folded and cut into strips) Rice Paper
Grapes
Brocolli Stir-fry
Carrots
Vegan Sausage Meatballs
Nori
Mushroom
Vegan Shrimp Slices
"Jack-O-Lantern" Radishes

Enjoy!

Signed,

<3 Bou Shin <3

Happy Halloween! Happy Invader Zim Bento

It looks like a few of the Irkens (and happy bee) got their holidays mixed up. But I guess a few people go trick-or-treating while dressed as a rabbit. Either way - these non-human life forms are having a good time!

Ingredient List:
Radishes
Green Bell Pepper
Vegan Sausage Patties (Bulgur and Green Lentils)
Sticky Rice
Sriracha
Soy Cheese
Plum
Grapes
Broccoli
Carrots
Mushrooms

Enjoy!

Signed,

<3 Bou Shin <3

How To Make A (Vegan) Egg Sheet


<> </> <> </> <> </>

Four tofu sheets and one Lightlife Smartdog 

I mentioned this in my Adventure Time Sushi post but I decided to make a whole tutorial on it. Here is what you will need -

Tofu Sheet Recipe:
1/4-1/2 Block of Tofu (soft - not silken works best)
1/2-1 tbl Cornstarch
1/2-1 tbl Liquid Food Dye (I used chlorophyll for this example)
1/4 tsp Iodized Salt
A few teaspoons of Flavor-less Oil (to coat the bottom but not to make it oily)

Tools List:
1 Rubber Spatula (for lifting the sheet)
1 Rubber Spatula (used for mixing)
1 Food Processor
1 Medium-sized Pan (that heats well)
1 Lid for the pan (preferably clear)

Slurry for the Pig Face

Step 1. Mix your liquid food dye with the cornstarch. Put the liquid in a ramekin or cup first and then add your cornstarch. Stir it into a slurry and set aside.






Step 2. Break up your tofu but don't squeeze it out. Simply place it in a food processor and sprinkle with a bit of salt. Pour your slurry over it but just remember that the end result will be a much lighter color than what you started with. Get as much of the liquid onto the tofu and then puree it. There might be some color around the rim that hasn't been fully incorporated so you will need a small rubber spatula to mix it thoroughly. It should look like this -

Step 3. Oil your pan lightly and set it on the eye but don't light the fire yet. Spread your tofu around as smoothly as possible and if you have a large and round Wilton cutter then you can try to use it as your mold and guide. Just try to spread it as thinly and evenly as possible without having any holes. Place the lid on top of the pan and then set the heating level on low. Wait until it starts to steam and sputter a bit and then you can remove the top. Let that cook for a few minutes until the top has firmed completely. It won't be completely round, but if you want it to be you can take a smaller plastic top (as in from a crock pot) and place it in the middle while it is still steaming. Once the edges firm up you can remove it carefully and then cut it more easily from the ridges. If you're making the crown like I did, then you have to use water in place of the dye and add a bit of turmeric. Carefully scrape along the ridges with the bigger spatula, being careful with the center. Place it onto a plate and repeat the process until you have as many different egg sheet colors as you want.

Spreading the paste

Before cooking

Finished sheet

Enjoy!

Signed,

<3 Bou Shin <3

Lunch With Totoro

I planned on making a bigger bento but forgot to buy a few things so I just stuck to some of the key characters and parts from "My Neighbor Totoro". Since I normally see Totoro made with black sesame seeds I decided instead to use cocoa powder and soy sauce (it tastes like coffee) to create a rather tasty Totoro. Next it was a vegan Chu Totoro egg. What? A vegan egg that isn't tofu? Yes, ladies and gentlemen - it's true. But first we have to get through the rest of the bowl. I made a catbus head out of couscous and store-bought hummus that was absolutely delicious, wrapped it up in plastic and stashed it in the fridge to keep it fresh. Next I added a nice English cucumber that you normally see in oi sun or Japanese pickles. I added radishes to symbolize the seeds and carrots for stability and a s a filler. As another filler and a double-agent I also used cauliflower for clouds. Nori and cheese made up the rest of the Totoros and then you're done.

I peered through two recipes for the vegan egg but ended up with my own combination. Because I didn't have soy creamer like most of the recipes required I ended up with an off-white egg instead. Still cute though, right?

Shin's Vegan Egg Recipe:

1 tbl Agar Agar

1/2 cup Soymilk

2 tbl All-Purpose Flour

2 tbl Cold Water

A pinch of Salt

Let the agar agar mix with the water for about 5-10 minutes and start to boil your soymilk with the flour, once that is done you can add the agar mixture and cook it for about 2-3 minutes. Whisk it together a few times and strain it into your choice of mold. I didn't have any actual egg molds that were shaped like eggs so I decided to use some of those 30 cent "eggs" used to hold pantyhose. After snapping on the tops and making sure that they didn't move, I stashed them in the fridge for about 2-3 hours and made my own Chu Totoro as per AnnaTheRed's instructions here, subbing soy cheese for the kamaboko and the whole egg for the agar mixture.



Other Recipes Links:
First Egg Recipe (that I found)
Second Egg Recipe (that I found)

Enjoy!

Signed,

<3 Bou Shin <3

Sushi Time

Okay, I've been going a little crazy with tofu lately - I know. But there are so many things that you can do with it especially with the fatfree vegan recipe that I just used in my breakfast bento. I found that when you start the tofu omelette off in a cold pan and keep the lid on until the top solidifies - it's very similar to egg sheets used for kyaraben. They didn't turn out as smooth as normal egg sheets but I think that was because I didn't use silken tofu.

Finn's Face:
1/2 block of Tofu (of your choice)
1/2 tbl Tahini
1 tbl Cornstarch
1 tbl Beet Juice
1/4-1/2 tsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Iodized Salt

Jake's Face:
1/2 block of Tofu (of your choice)
1 tbl Cornstarch
1 tbl Water
1/4 cup of Nutritional Yeast
1/2 tsp Turmeric (I didn't have this)
1/2 tsp Iodized Salt

For Jake's face I had actually only used a fourth of a package of tofu, so if you follow the recipe exactly you may need to split it up into two batches. After you oil your medium-sized non-stick pan, spread in your tofu mixture and make it as round as possible and as smooth and even on top as possible. Turn on the heat and quickly put on a (hopefully clear) lid on top. Check it every so often and once the top solidifies, turn off the heat and remove the lid and use a rubber spatula to carefully scrape around the sides. Turn it upside down on a plate until it cools then pat it down once corrected.

Cut out and place on top of sushi rice and decorate with nori, soy cheese, carrots and sriracha as you like.

Enjoy!

Signed,

<3 Bou Shin <3

A Bento For Mom

This is just one of the bentos that I made for my mom, cute isn't it? I'm so glad that I'm getting better and just wanted to show off my skills (and my love). Why not do the same or show your love with something a little different like Bento4Japan?

Ingredient List:

Brocolli

Radish

Spinach

Tofu + Beet Juice (for words)

Sticky Rice

Soy Cheese + Soy Sauce

Nori

Sriracha

Kale, Avocado and Sweet Pepper Salad

Enjoy!

Signed,

<3 Bou Shin <3

Silly Raccoon

I'm in love with J.G Quintel, or moreso - his works (and hair) and wanted to show off some things totally inspired by him. This bento features a nice little healthy surprise for Rigby the Raccoon when he tries to get off of his diet. The little rascal thinks that he can eat all of the "french fries" in the bento and get away with no fruits or  vegetables. I'm sorry to say tell him that this is a healthy vegan lunch box.

Rigby's Body:

California Brown Rice (I used a different type, but this works much better)

Nori

Sticky Rice + Soy Sauce (for color)

Steamed Tofu

Make Rigby's body anyway you want to after fluffing the rice. Wrap it up into plastic wrap and with the back of a spoon, drag a dugout for Rigby's stomach. Place the packaged rice into the fridge for about five minutes and steam the white rice. After steaming your sticky rice and mixing it lightly with some good quality soy sauce, unwrap the brown rice package and pack the other rice onto it. Add a pointy nose out of brown rice and stick some nori onto it with a touch of water. Place the hair around Rigby's head, place thin strips of nori there for hair follicles and then place rounds of nori onto Rigby's face. Cut out smaller rounds of tofu and place them onto the nori, then place some nori eyes onto his face. Add a tail and an arm and do whatever els you like with it.

Enjoy!

Signed,

<3 Bou Shin <3