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!

Rice Waffles (Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Wheat-Free, Fat/Oil-Free)

I haven't had wheat flour in the house for about a month now, and I'm really enjoying it. I'm able to get out of the whole "dry wheat toast for breakfast with fruit" and instead moving on to other carbs. These are great for those that can't have gluten or wheat, and thankfully they have stevia to make them slightly sweet without rotting your teeth. These are toothy, crispy and absolutely delicious with a  great texture. They're very similar to hand-pounded mochi waffles and are, infact, half-hand pounded to give them that nice texture. Cinnamon sprinkled throughout, topped with fruit and agave nectar makes this an amazingly cheap, quick and fun breakfast.

(Ingredients)

• 2 cups Cooked White & Brown Rice
• 1 tsp of Baking Powder
• 2 & 1/2 tsp Stevia Powder
• 2 tsp of Cinnamon

(Directions)

• Cook your rice according to the directions and once it has steamed for about 15 minutes (after full cooking) you can take half of the rice and put it into a large metal bowl.
• Use a crab mallet, mortar and pestle or whatever you can and start to pound the grain. The goal here is to let everything get mashed together so that the grains stick. Once it has gotten into a sticky paste, fold in your dry ingredients and pound them in, stretching and pulling the rice across the bowl as you pound and mix.
• Then, take an electric mixer and continue to beat the rice down until only a few half-shaped grains are left.
• Preheat your waffle iron and spray heavily, then place a big dollop in the middle and cook until crisp - you may need to "cook" it twice. Be sure to watch out for the steam.
• Serve with your favorite toppings, a big glass of non-dairy milk and enjoy!

Baked Kinako Rice Pudding (Gluten-Free)

Have you ever been making a rice dish, be it casserole, onigiri or stir-fry, and found that it was too mushy to be used as is? Don't fear - if you just have some sugar, organic soybeans and peanut butter you can have an absolutely mouthwatering and addicting, enjoyable dessert. This sweet and salty treat is traditionally served on Japanese new years in squares after being broiled in the oven until puffy in crispy, then it is quickly dipped in hot water and rolled in sugar, salt and roasted soy beans. It is so delicious and, in my opinion, the best type of mochi there is - even besting my coconut mochi

(Ingredients)

• About 1 cup of cooked Mixed Rice (Brown + White)
• 1/4 cup of Crunchy Peanut Butter
• 1/2 cup of Raw Sugar
• 4 tbl Vegan Margarine
• Toasted and Ground Soybeans
• Water to Mix
• Salt to taste

(Directions)

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Take about half of your mushy rice and place into a blender with some water. Blend until it is a thick paste and mix with your rice and other ingredients other than the soybeans.
• Pack into a parchment-paper lined baking dish and then coat liberally with more sugar and a bit of salt, being just as liberal with your beans.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, take out and see if it is done - if it is still sticky but has started to brown then you are at a great place.
• Using a large and clean knife, cut into sizable squares and crank the heat up to 400 degrees. Continue baking until it has finally started to crisp and finally be fully cooked.
• Allow it to rest slightly but keep it warm, and give a slice to everyone with a nice small scoop of vanilla ice cream or to add more fun to it. You could also put each slice on a stick and let everyone (under careful supervision) toast their mochi pudding to their liking in a nice toaster oven.
• Enjoy!

Mandrake Bento (Harry Potter)

This bento I decided to be more or-less artistic with since my shaping of a human face wasn't working out that well. Because of the color of the rice and the fact that the head was pretty close anyway, I decided to make a mandrake bento. Broccoli sprouts make up the hair, meatless ground made up the dirt and a put a few, pearl-like, beans around. You may have heard of a mandrake if you've ever watched Harry Potter (poor Neville) or mayhaps even if you've seen plants with oddly humanoid bodies and hair.

Mandrake Bento Ingredients:
Brown and White Rice
White Beans
Tomatoes
Kale
Broccoli Sprouts
Cucumbers

Enjoy!

Mr Bobinsky Bento (Coraline Bento)

Sergei Alexander Bobinski (aka Mr. Bobisnky) happens to be my favorite character from the book and movie "Coraline". How couldn't you love him? He's strong and athletic, handsome, blue and quite kind to Coraline - plus he loves vegetables (namely beets)! So, instead of me telling you what went into making this super fun I decided to call up Mr. Bobinsky himself! Take it away Bobo!

How do you feel about Mr. Bobinsky?

Bobinsky: Oh hello, Ms. Shine! What is it that I am to be taking away? This "benuto"?

Me: "Be-n-to" and yes, Mr. Bobinsky! Tell us how you really feel about it!

Bobinsky: Well let me first say that there are no beets in this bento. How can you have a strong Bobinsky bento without beets? They make you strong and able to aerodynamic! *lifts up small car and throws it* Do you see what I mean Ms. Shine? Otherwise this bento is fantastic and looks like Mr. Bobo himself! Those little mice are made of Russian Miysniy Bitki, yes? So inventive with the brown and white rice covering, cranberries (red, like beets), noree eyes, almond ears and soba noodle tails! The kale that surrounds it all added with the red grapes, cherry tomatoes, masa sheet, red and orange bell peppers and blue onigiri me are amazing! The tortilla you used for my shirt is eeehh, how I would say in my Mother tongue, vyglyadit krasivo. More tortilla for the eyes, some nori and boom! You've got a Bobinsky - eh? Ey, where's my badge from Chernobyl - I was there for the cleanup after the-

Me: Oh, lookie here we're out of time so soon! Thanks for visiting Mr. Bobinsky, I think that its time for you to go back to the Pink Palace!

Bobinsky: But I haven't even told you about my wonderful Mouse Circus improvements yet! Come with me - you must see how they go "Oompa peep" now! Halfway there I must say! *grabs Ms. Shin's hands*

Me: Maybe some other time - woah! See you next time and I hope that you enjoyed this segment of Coraline Bentos, everybody! If you need the list its at the bottooooooom - The tutorial for the mice is coming soon!

Mr. Bobinsky Bento Ingredients:

Kale

Cherry Tomatoes

Red Grapes

Red and Yellow Bell Peppers

White and Brown Rice Onigiri

Miysniy Bitki Meatballs

Almonds

Dark Blue Masa Sheet

Nori

Cranberries

Corn Tortilla

Enjoy everyone!

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