Bento #312 - Kodomo

In the box:  Homemade fried wantons, stir fry chicken with capsicum, melon balls and mayo in container.

We had wanton for lunch and dinner today.  For dinner, Z to help me in the kitchen.  Actually both my boys were supposed to help me this evening but Beanie fell asleep.  L was busied with her school work.

He volunteered to help me wrapped the wantons.  His first time doing it and he had fun!  My boys usually are the ones that are very eager to help me in the kitchen.  As for my girl, she would be the first if I need someone to help me finish the food!  Haha..  I know she wants to help but at P5, she has lots of work everyday from school.

Bento #311 - Chicken Rice

In the box: Chicken rice, bean sprouts, apple & soup

My kiddos can't get enough of the chicken rice and asked for it again.

Today the school has some invited guests from China and Z were one of the students to perform for them with the CO and thereafter they also interact with them.  One of the boys gave Z this keychain. That's so nice of him.

Bento #310 - Ladybird

In the boxes: Cold soba, homemade fried chicken balls, golden kiwis, edamame & seaweed salad.

Kiddos requested for cold soba and find it too 'boring' so added ladybirds on it.  I also tried making the food picks with the tapes. Not too bad looking, I think. :p

Bento #309 - Pokemon Pansage

In the box:  Seaweed salad, seaweed omelette, chicken with capsicum & grapes

Ever since Z tried out the seaweed at the mall promotion, he has been requesting for it every other day. So he had 2 of the dishes with seaweed for today's bento.  I'm more than happy to prepare that for him coz he doesn't like veggie.

I have a tough time doing this character today..  Just couldn't cut the line properly and I made it quite small so the details were more difficult to cut.  The effort is worth it when my boy told me he likes it very much. ♥

My boy, already in P3, yet at times behaves like his little bro.  He acts like a 3 year old and calls me "Mama..."  and hugs me.  Today he did it again when walking towards the lift.  I asked him,"why are you still so cute?" He said "Because I love you more and more that's why I am still so cute!"  Simply love it!  Even outside school, when he collects his lunchbox from me, he often gives me goodbye kiss, oblivious to the surrounding. ♥   I love moments like this with my 老二.  He may stops doing this next year or anytime, so I better enjoys every time he does that.  Hehe...    I wonder if other P3s do such things too?

Bento #308 - Charmander

In the box: stew pork, golden kiwi, veg & corn. 

Z likes pokemon so I tried to come up with one of the characters using cheese.   Didn't turn out well as I used food marker and it smudged.. At least he knew which character it was! Phew!

Bento #307 - Sleepy Rilakkuma

In the boxes:  Rice, beef stew, cherries & corn. 

Some time back my niece tagged me in a pic of Rilakkuma sleeping with a blanket.  I sort of promised her I will try my best to do one similar to it.  So here it is, my niece! For your eyes only!  Hehe... 

Bento #306 - Doraemon

In the boxes: Chicken stew, peas with mushroom, capsicum egg ring, golden kiwi & cherries.

Haven't been making 'cute' bento for the kiddos and so thought of making one for today's bento.  Unfortunately, I didn't have time to let the colour dries up.  Thus, it smudged onto the rice when I placed it.  I usually prepare the character earlier if I can but today I spent too much doing other stuffs! :p

Bento # 305 - Bees

In the boxes: Strawberries, egg roll with minced crabstick, pan fry pork, fine beans & corn.

When I'm not in a good mood, even my bento don't look good too. Sigh...  Colour on the 'bee' is too light that I can't see it all all....  At least the pork was yummy and tender.

Parent - Child Bento Making Workshop

I conducted a bento workshop!  I was apprehensive initially, but with encouragement from my dearest hubby and my friends (Eileen & Grace), I went ahead! Didn't think it was real, even when I was preparing the notes and stuffs for the workshop...  Till I was standing in front of the class, then I knew it was for real!  Haha!  Thank you Angie!

 The place that I conducted the workshop.

Below are some of the pics taken during the workshop.   Credit goes to my girl!  She took pics while I was busied.  Thank you my Sweetie!

 Some of the creations.... 

She didn't feel bored at all coz Rosalind's son (organiser) was there too!  When L was not taking pics, she helped him to make bento and they even have time to play chess.

Thank you to all those that attended the workshop and my dear friend, Joanne.  She and her friend came with their kids..  I hope all of you enjoyed the workshop!  Even though I wasn't feeling well,   I enjoyed it and it was great to share with you what I have learned throughout these few years of bento making.

Bento #304 (2 sets - Lunch) - Little Doggies

In the boxes: Teriyaki chicken thigh, corn, egg roll with capsicum & mushroom, strawberries & quail eggs.

Love how the teriyaki chicken turned out today.    The little doggies are made of quail eggs and it was a last mins decision to do that coz I find the rice container was too plain.

Benot #303 ( 2 sets) Lunch - Panda

In the boxes: sweet peas fried with baby corn, homemade chicken balls, homemade prawn tempura & blueberries.  Small containers: mayo. 

I was afraid not enough rice for kiddos that I put too much rice to mold the pandas' head.  End up the eyes, mouth & nose looked small...

For sure they liked today's bento coz the boxes came back empty!  Yay!  So it doesn't matter if the features looked small at all!

Bento #302 (2 sets) - Lunch

In the boxes:  Cold soba, yakitori, quail eggs, strawberries & cherries.

My kiddos missed having soba and requested that for their bento today.   I wonder when will they get tired of it...  They probably won't.  They can have it every other day or everyday!

Bento #301 (2 sets) - Kiiroitori

Fried rice, fried tofu, sliced orange & strawberry.  Small containers:  fish floss. 

Using egg sheets, I wrapped the fried rice inside.   This is one of the characters that my girl and I liked and I liked what I prepared for them today.   Z has no idea what this is but he thinks it's cute too.

Bento #300 (2 sets) - Valentine Bears

In the boxes: Corn, broccoli, homemade nuggets, strawberries. Bears holding cut out cheese hearts. 

Didn't realise it was my 300th bento!  Time flies....  This is the 5th year (ever since L was in P1) since I started preparing bento.  I definitely have prepared more than 300 coz sometimes I prepare 2 sets identical ones or I didn't post it.

Will I continue preparing bento for them?  I don't know, as long as they ask for it, there will be bento posts.  So far, they like having cute bento.  Yes, both of them.  They often tell me when their friends are eager to see what's in the bag when they see LZ with bento bags.  Of coz they are disappointed at times coz it's just simple bento.

I thought L may not like it coz she is at the pre-teen age but I was wrong.  She will probably not like cute ones from next year or in secondary, I don't know....  I told my girl to tell me if she decided she doesn't want anymore cute ones.  My drama girl often said eg: "Oh mommy!  The bear you did was sooooo cute!  My friends said that too!"  or worst "Mommy!  So-so thinks you are crazy!  How can you make food look cute!" 

As for my boy, he told me he feels proud.  He is very happy when his friends are able to guess what was the character in the box.  He feels even better when his friends said nice things about me! "Mommy!  My friends envy me for having such cute bento!  They wish they have a mommy like you!"  (Of coz I told him his friends shouldn't say that coz every mommy express their love for their kids in different ways and so happen that one of my ways was this) Sometimes, they asked him to share or give it to them.  Awwww....  My babies are so sweeeet!  But you are stressing me too!  Haha...  That means I have to always crack my brain to think of what to make!

There are times when I am not inspired at all and prepare simple ones...  But my kids are forever so sweet, they said it's ok, as long as they have home-cooked food and they don't have to queue up to buy food.

My little one is too young to ask for any.   When it is his turn, I will also do the same for him if he asks for it.  Hopefully he won't ask for things that are too difficult for me! Hehe...  Otherwise I will have lots of white hair!

Bento #299 (2 sets) - Lunch

In the boxes:  Chawanmushi,  veggie, sliced orange, & homemade ngoh hiang. 

Another attempt in making Valentine's bento but failed again...   This was totally not what I want.  *sob*  I used edible food marker on the features.   Nevertheless, my babies have been very sweet to appreciate what I have been preparing for them.

My first homemade baked ngoh hiang!  Thanks to my friend, Jasmine, for sharing her mom's recipe with me.  It was delicious!

Bento #298 (2 sets) - Lunch

In the boxes: Homemade fried wanton, pork rolled with radish & carrot, beansprout, cherries & a love candy. 

I am trying to come up with a Valentine's bento but my brain has not been working well lately....  So made a simple heart bento for LZ.

Naughty little one almost finished off all the beansprout while I was busied in the kitchen.  Lucky I was able to stop him in time, otherwise my older ones will not have any veggie in their bento today! Phew!

Bento #297 (2 sets) - Ninjago

 In the boxes: Fried chicken, saba fish, snow peas, cherries & corn.

I tried to do a full body ninja but failed....  So here's the head of the ninja, did at the last mins. The alphabets & ninja is cheese.  Z is into ninja now, so he was happy when he saw this.  L doesn't mind having something like this.  Phew!  If I prepare girly bento for Z, think he would protest!  Coz his friends often crowd around him to see what's in his box.  I don't think I like that too if it's me.  Cute is ok for him but not girly.

We had 汤圆 this evening.  My kiddos don't fancy it but naughty mommy insisted that they must have at least one!

Bento # 296 (2 sets) - Lunch

 In the boxes:  Cherries, lotus, sausages, egg rolls, orange, choc bars and fried rice.

Fried rice with lotus, chicken, & bacon. 

First time cooking this fried rice which I got the recipe from a Japanese website.   Tasted yummy!  Kiddos love it coz there are lotus which is their favourite.

Bento #295 (2 sets) - Lunch

In the boxes: Homemade fried chicken nuggets, apple, corn & soba. Next to boxes: Bear shaped bread balls with pork floss. (Seaweed for soba not in pic)

Today besides the usual bentos, I prepared 2 little bread balls for their breaks.  They usually have breaks on CCA days and I will pack extra snacks for them.  Can't prepare too much for their breaks as Z usually has only 5 mins of it and L will finishes it before even its her break time!  Then I will hear her complaining she's putting on weight! Haha... 

My poor boy did not have time to finish his bento today. He was the last leave and teacher asked him to clean up the classroom.  Left with little time to eat and he had to go for CO.

 I packed the bears and a small choc bar each into small transparent goody bags. 

Little one had the same thing for lunch.  He was so happy when he knew what we were having for lunch and said "Yay mommy!  Hurry!  Let's go home and have our cold noodle!"

Bento #294 (L's Lunch) - Mamegoma

In the boxes:  Teriyaki chicken, corn, cherry tomatoes, rice, broccoli, fish cake & apple.

I have been searching the internet for cute character to do for L.  I find mamegoma so cute and simple to do which is good for me coz I always don't have enough time.   Surprisingly my gal knew what is was!   She was happy that I packed her food into the new bento box that we bought from HK. Yeah, her favourite character for now.