The Piggy Bento

The beginning of term 2, I made these piggy bento for the boys. Although they are big boys now (8 and 6 years old), they still don't mind to have cute lunches at school. 

Details as below :

For my eldest son, I prepared :
1. Piggy hard boiled egg (with nori, ham, and tomato ketchup)
2. Corn on the cob
3. Sandwich roll (recipe here)
4. Lettuce and carrot sticks
5. Apple cuts for recess

And for my youngest son, I prepared :
1. Piggy hard boiled egg (with nori, ham, and tomato ketchup)
2. Corn on the cob
3. Sandwich roll (recipe here)
4. Lettuce and carrot sticks
5. Banana yogurt for recess

Tempura Bento

The boys were swimming with their dad, and I was pretty sure they were going to be very hungry when they got home. So I quickly searched what I had left in the fridge and found prawn and vegetables. The idea just came up to make tempura bento because I've been longing to use my new bento box that I bought from Bento & Co.

I am really happy with the tempura batter, it is so easy to prepare, and the result is just crispy and light. The recipe is below :

Tempura batter 

Ingredients :

 3/4 cup (115g) Self raising flour
 1/4 cup (35g) cornflour
 1 cup (250ml) soda water or beer, chilled
 a pinch of salt
 Vegetable oil, to deep-fry
 Plain flour, extra, to coat
 1 carrot, peeled, diagonally sliced
 1/2 white cabbage thinly sliced
 300g green king prawns, peeled, deveined, leaving tails intact

Method :
1. Sift the flour and cornflour in a medium bowl. 
2. Make a well in the centre. 
3. Add the soda water/beer and a pinch of salt. Use chopsticks to gently whisk until just combined (do not overmix - the mixture should be lumpy). 
4. Place the bowl in a larger bowl filled with iced water.
5. Add enough oil to a large saucepan to reach a depth of 6cm. 
6. Place over high heat. To test when oil is ready, stick an unvarnished wooden or bamboo chopstick into the oil to test the heat. If the oil is hot enough, a steady stream of bubbles will issue from the submerged end of the chopstick.
7. Place extra flour on a plate. Dip the vegetables in the flour to lightly coat. Dip one quarter of the vegetables, one at a time, into the batter. Shake off any excess. 
8. Deep-fry for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and tender.
9. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a plate lined with paper towel. Repeat with remaining vegetables. 
10. Dip prawns in the extra flour to lightly coat. 
11. Dip prawns in the batter, one at a time, then deep-fry for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
12. Ready to serve

Inside the box :
1. White steamed rice with salmon furikake on top
2. Prawn and vegetables tempura
3. Easy thousand island dressing (mayonnaise mixed with tomato ketchup)
4. Checker apple

Similar wooden bento box :

Easter Bunny Rolls Bento

I saw a picture of bunny rolls in Pinterest, and really wanted to make it for the kids' Easter bento this year. Even though the results were not as good as the sample picture, I'm pretty happy with the texture and the flavour. Furthermore, the boys thought the bunnies look cute enough :)



Easter Bunny Rolls Recipe
Adapted from : momalwaysfindsout

Ingredients:
2-1/2 to 3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg

Method:
1. Put the butter, the sour cream and water in a small saucepan and heat, but do not cook. 
2. Cool to tepid then add the remaining ingredients. 
3. Knead the dough. (If too thick, add more water).
4. Let it rise double and cut into 16 equal parts.
5. Baking tray lined with baking paper or a silicone baking mat and cut the ears with kitchen shears. 
6. When the dough is STILL SOFT, Make sure you smooth the edges around, so you do not end up with gremlin shaped horns.
7. The eyes can then be put in, I used black sesame seed.
8. Bake at 375° for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Notes : I added sausages as filling.

For my eldest son, I prepared :
1. Easter bunny sausage roll
2. "Bunny" hard boiled egg (with nori for the eyes and ears)
3. Milk jelly with nata de coco
4. Ham "flower"
5. Lettuce, carrot and broccoli
6. Watermelon cuts for recess

For my youngest son, I prepared :
1. Easter bunny sausage roll
2. "Bunny" hard boiled egg (with nori for the eyes and ears)
3. Milk jelly with nata de coco
4. Ham "flower"
5. Lettuce, carrot and broccoli
6. Vanilla yogurt for recess

This is my last post before school holiday. Happy Easter to you all...have a blessed and safe holiday!