Say No to Bullying!

Bullying has become a great problem in many countries. In Australia, the National Safe Schools Framework defines bullying as repeated verbal, physical, social or psychological behaviour that is harmful and involves the misuse of power by an individual or group towards one or more persons.There are many forms of bullying. Bullying can take place in person or online (cyberbullying).

Bullying affects everyone involved, including the people who witness it. It can have serious and long-term emotional or psychological consequences in addition to the immediate harmful effects.

In regards to 2014 National Day of Action against bullying and violence in Australia, and the recent events of Michael Morones (11 year old suicide attempt because of bullying) - http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20783199,00.html and also Grayson Bruce (9 year old banned from carrying his My Little Pony bag to school) - http://www.salon.com/2014/03/17/north_carolina_school_bans_boys_my_little_pony_lunch_bag_rather_than_confront_its_bullying_problem/, we, Bento Bloggers & Friends gather together to show our love and support to anti bullying action with a blog hop.

For my little one, I prepared :
1. "No bully sign" sandwich (ham, cheese, eggsheet)
2. Corn on the cob
3. Sultanas
4. Carrot sticks
5. Apple for recess

And for my eldest son, I prepared :
1. "Bullying, no way sign" sandwich (ham, cheese, eggsheet)
2. Corn on the cob
3. Sultanas
4. Carrot sticks
5. Banana for recess

Here are the tools I used for this post :

      

Please click on the button below to continue to hop to "Bitting The Hand that Feeds You" blog. Enjoy!

Another Rice Paper Rolls bento

A little twist from Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls recipe. For the sauce, instead of using the dipping sauce, I just squirted in a little of BBQ sauce inside the rolls, so it will be easier for the kids to eat their lunches. The filling are simply rice vermicelli, prawn, carrot, cucumber, mint and coriander leaves.

Details as below :

For my pre-primary son, I prepared :
1. Rice paper rolls
2. Thai coconut pandan rolls
3. Corn on the cob
4. Yakult fermented milk drink
5. Kiwi fruit for recess

And for my year 3 son, I prepared :
1. Rice paper rolls
2. Thai coconut pandan rolls
3. Corn on the cob
4. "Clown" hard boiled egg (carrot, nori)
5. Shredded carrot and green grapes
6. Rockmelon cuts for recess


Bento tools I used for this post :

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We had Indonesian turmeric rice leftover from last night meal. The yellow rice was exactly what I needed for this bento. These birdies look so cute in lovely yellow color :) To make this bird, I wrapped the yellow rice with cling wrap, and made a ball-shaped. Then put on the wings, beak, and crown that made of carrots. And for the eyes, I used soft tortilla and nori.

Details as below :

For my youngest son, I prepared :
1. A "yellow bird" onigiri
2. "Hatching egg" hard boiled egg (carrot and black sesame seed)
3. Ma ling luncheon meat
4. Carrot and asparagus sticks
5. Yakult fermented milk drink
6. Green grapes for recess

For my eldest son, I prepared :
1. A "yellow bird" onigiri
2. "Hatching egg" hard boiled egg (carrot and black sesame seed)
3. Shredded fried chicken
4. Carrot and asparagus sticks
5. Melon cuts for recess

Bento tools for this post :

  

Pizza and Scrolls Bento

I used this simple dough from Gozleme recipe that is very easy and versatile. It can also be used as pizza, scrolls or garlic bread dough. Here is the recipe :

Simple and Easy Dough recipe

Ingredients
400g Greek style plain yoghurt
500g self-raising flour
4 tbsp olive oil

Extra flour for dusting the board

Method
In a bowl, combine the flour and yoghurt and bring together to form a ball
Turn out onto a floured board to knead and roll.
Knead for 2-3 minutes. Cut into 8 portions

Cover with a damp tea towel until ready to use.

Roll a dough into a pizza shape and add toppings. For the topping I put pineapple, ham, pepperoni, olive, mushroom, and Mozzarella cheese. Baked in 180°C oven for 15-20 minutes or until base is golden and crisp.

For the scrolls recipe, you may find it here. I just replace the puff pastry with this dough.

For my eldest son, I prepared :
1. Pizza and scroll
2. "Flower" carrot and a sultana
3. Corn on the cob
4. Hard boiled egg with salt & pepper
5. Rice cracker
6. Banana for recess

For my youngest son, I prepared :
1. Pizza and scroll
2. "Flower" carrot and a sultana
3. Corn on the cob
4. Hard boiled egg with salt & pepper
5. Rice cracker
6. Kiwi for recess

Salmon and Sweet Potato Patties Bento

Salmon has so many benefits for health. It is considered as one of nature's superfoods as it is rich of Omega 3s. Superfood is a term used to describe food that is naturally rich in a multiple number of essential vitamins and minerals. Studies show that superfoods provide significant disease prevention, beyond other foods.

Since Omega 3s are essential for brain development and function, I always try to incorporate it in my kids diet. This salmon & sweet potato patties are so easy to make and taste so good.

Salmon & Sweet Potato Patties

Ingredients
1 large sweet potato
2 x 185 gram cans red salmon, drained
1 cup breadcrumbs
2 tbs plain flour
1 garlic, mince
1 spring onion, finely chopped
1/3 cup herbs (mint leaves, dill), chopped
1 zest of lemon
1 egg
olive oil, to cook in

Method
1. Peel, dice and steam sweet potato
2. In a large bowl place the sweet potato, tuna, breadcrumbs, plain flour, garlic, herbs, spring onion, lemon zest and egg and mix to combine.
3. Heat frying pan to medium-high heat and add a little olive oil. Shape the tuna mixture into large patties and cook for 4-5 minutes, each side, or until golden and warmed through.

4. Ready to serve

For my eldest son, I prepared :
1. Salmon & sweet potato patties
2. Corn on the cob
3. Pork dumpling with tomato ketchup
4. Rice cracker
5. Banana for recess

For my youngest son, I prepared :
1. Salmon & sweet potato patties
2. Corn on the cob
3. Pork dumpling with tomato ketchup
4. Rice cracker
5. Kiwi fruit for recess

I found that just by putting in some cute foodpicks in the lunch box already make lunches looks interesting. Here the links where you may find them :

Sausage Bread Rolls

Inspired by Little Miss Bento - Japanese Bread Rolls, I tried to make sausage bread rolls. As my first attempt, the kids really enjoyed the flavour, even though for me, the texture was not quite right yet.

For my youngest son, I prepared :
1. Sausage bread roll
2. Corn on the cob
3. Milk jelly with nata de coco
4. Banana yogurt
5. Green grapes
6. Banana for recess

And for my eldest son, I prepared :
1. Sausage bread roll
2. Corn on the cob
3. Milk jelly with nata de coco
4. Tamagoyaki
5. Green grapes
6. Banana for recess

Similar tools I used for this post :

Frog Sandwich and Onigiri

Details as below :

For my eldest son, I prepared :
1. Onigiri three ways (with Salmon furikake, carrot, and pea on top)
2. Pork popcorn with corriander leaves
3. Broccoli and pork stir fried
4. Milk jelly with nata de coco
5. Watermelon cuts for recess

For my youngest son, I prepared :
1. "Frog" sandwich (with cheese, nori, carrot, and black sesame seed)
2. "Hatching chick" hard boiled egg (black sesame seed and carrot) with salt and pepper
3. Milk jelly with nata de coco
4. Banana for recess

Similar tools I used for this post :

 

Twins Bento

I usually don't make the exact same bento for my boys because they have different preferences. But this time, it's kinda cute to make this twins bento. My little one has promised me to eat the egg as much as he could (notes : he doesn't really like the egg yolk) :)

For my eldest son, I prepared :

1. Sausage and sandwich rolls (recipe is in here)

2. "Cow" hard boiled egg (cheese, nori, and black sesame seed) with salt & pepper

3. Carrot sticks

4. Green unseeded grapes

5. Watermelon cuts for recess

For my little one, I prepared :
1. Sausage and sandwich rolls 

2. "Cow" hard boiled egg (cheese, nori, and black sesame seed) with salt & pepper

3. Carrot sticks

4. Green unseeded grapes

5. Banana for recess

Owl Sandwich and Mouse Onigiri

Details as below :

For my pre-primary son, I prepared :
1. Owl sandwich (white sandwich, cheese, carrot, nori, and black sesame seed)
2. Corn on the cob
3. Carrot sticks and green unseeded grapes
4. Banana for recess

For my Year 3 son, I prepared :
1. Mouse Onigiri (white steamed rice, hard boiled egg, nori, and carrot)
2. Pork and broccoli stir fried
3. Corn on the cob
4. Watermelon cuts for recess

Tuna Bake and Rice Cracker Bento

My boys have different taste buds. My eldest son is more adventurous, he's willing to try something new, while the youngest is quite the opposite. Unlike his big brother, he is not really fond of eggs, but he loves smoked salmon so much. Every now and then, I try to introduce him broader options, and with bento lunches, I find it easier to do that.

For my eldest son, the bento consists of :
1. Tuna bake (puff pastry, tuna, capsicum, button mushroom, and cheese)
2. Corn on the cob
3. "Party clown" hard boiled egg (egg, nori, and carrot)
4. Carrot sticks and green unseeded grapes
5. Segmented orange for recess

And for my little one, the bento consists of :
1. Cruskits rice cracker with sour cream, smoked salmon, and dill
2. Corn on the cob
3. Carrot sticks and green unseeded grapes
4. Banana for recess

Similar bento tools I used for today post :

Jaffle Time

I made 2 versions of jaffles for the kids, sweet and savoury, with different fillings. The sweet version is with banana, chocolate sprinkle, and cheese, and the savoury version is with ham and cheese.

I just put a small flower- shaped carrot before wrapping them up so they will look pretty :)

Details as below :

For my eldest son :
1. Sweet and savoury jaffles
2. Corn on the cob
3. Sultana and dried apricot
4. Rockmelon cuts for recess

For my little one :
1. Sweet and savoury jaffles
2. Corn on the cob
3.Vanilla yogurt
4. Kiwi fruit for recess

Cutie Croissants

I love these mini croissants because it is perfect for little hands. Just add simple decoration with eyes (cheese, nori) and mouth (carrot) and it is ready to go :)

Details as below :

For my eldest son, I prepared :
1. Ham and cheese mini croissant
2. Tamagoyaki
3. Corn on the cob
4. Carrot sticks and green grapes
5. Rockmelon cuts for recess

For my little one, I prepared :
 1. Ham and cheese mini croissant
2. Rice cracker
3. Corn on the cob
4. Carrot sticks and green grapes
5. Banana yogurt
6. Kiwi fruit for recess

Another Pita Pocket Lunch

The kids love pita pocket, and they want it again for their lunch boxes. I made siomay as well. Here is the recipe :

SIOMAY/SIUMAI

Ingredients:

500 gr ground pork/chicken
2 garlic
3 green onions, sliced
5 button mushrooms
100 gr tapioca flour
1 tbs crushed shrimp
1/2 Tbsp. sesame oil
1 tsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. fish oil
Freshly ground black pepper

Wonton wrappers

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well with hands until the mixture becomes sticky.
2. Form one of your hand as if you are holding a tube. Put a sheet of wonton wrapper on top. Scoop 1 tsp of the mixture on top of the wonton and push it in. Fix the shape with hands and push in a green pea on top.
3. Place the ones you finish on top of parchment paper (baking sheet) inside the steamer.
4. When it’s almost done wrapping, boil water in the wok. Make sure the water will not touch the bamboo steamer.
5. When you are done wrapping and water is boiling, put the steamer in the wok. Cook for 8 minutes.
6. Ready to serve

For my little one, I prepared :
1. Pita Pocket (chicken, grated carrot, BBQ sauce, sour cream, cheese, and ham filling)
2. Corn on the cob
3. Rice cracker
4. Yakult
5. Carrot sticks and unseeded green grapes
6. Kiwi fruit for recess

For my eldest son, I prepared :
1. Pita Pocket (chicken, grated carrot, BBQ sauce, sour cream, cheese, and ham filling)
2. Corn on the cob
3. Siomay with tomato sauce
5. Carrot sticks and unseeded green grapes
6. Rockmelon cuts for recess