Monday 14 September 2015

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory


Once again, together with my fellows Bento Bloggers and Friends, we organized a blog hop to celebrate the Roald Dahl day. 
Recently, my sons watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie on the television, and they loved it!
So I tried to create Mr. Willy Wonka from Roald Dahl's famous book Charlie and The Chocolate Factory for them. 


To make Mr. Willy Wonka, I used hard boiled egg, olive, crab sticks, nori, noodle, and earwood fungi. For the hat, I molded white steamed rice and covered it with nori and red crab stick.
For the base, I put white steamed rice, with stir-fried bamboo shoots, pickled cucumber, and red chilli.

For the side dish, there are pork wontons, ham "flower", pickled cucumber, strawberries with white crab sticks, and homemade fruit jelly (inspired by Nami from Just One Cookbook).

I hope you enjoy this post! Please continue the blog hop to the wonderful work of art from Bento Monster by clicking the button below :





Friday 11 September 2015

Baymax Onigiri Bento


We had leftover dinner (Honey Sesame Chicken) that the boys enjoyed so much, they wanted to bring those for school lunches. I made their favourite character from Big Hero 6 movie, Baymax onigiri to go with the chicken. It was so easy. I mould the onigiri with plastic wrap and add nori for the face details.

Here I share you the delicious honey and sesame chicken recipe :

Honey Sesame Chicken

Ingredients:

500 gr boneless chicken thigh, cut into 1-inch cubes
Oil, for deep-frying
2 garlic, minced
Toasted sesame seeds, to garnish

Frying Batter:

1 egg white
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup water, ice cold
1 tablespoon oil
Pinch of salt

Honey Sesame Sauce:

1/3 cup pure honey
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/2 tablespoon tomato ketchup
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon salt

Method:

1. Whisk all the "frying batter" ingredients together until smooth. Set aside.
2. Drop in the chicken cubes, mix well until they are well coated. Set aside.
3. Mix all the ingredients of the "garlic sesame sauce" together and set aside.
4. Heat up a saute pan and add about 2-inch of oil on medium to high heat. 5. When the hot is fully heated, gently drop in the battered chicken cubes, one by one, making sure it is spread out to prevent sticking together. 
5. Continue to fry until the color changes to golden brown. 
6. Dish out and drain on paper towels.
7. Transfer 2 tablespoons of the frying oil in a wok or skillet, stir-fry the garlic until aromatic. 
8. Add in the Honey Sesame Sauce, and bring to a light simmer or until the sauce thickens. 
9. Drop in the chicken, stir-fry a few times to combine the sauce and chicken, add the sesame seeds, dish out and serve immediately with steamed white rice, or Chinese fried rice.


Inside the boxes :


For my eldest son, I prepared :
1. Baymax onigiri
2. Honey sesame chicken
3. Boiled carrot sticks and beans
4. Apple cuts for recess



My youngest son had the similar lunches with his brother, but he had kiwi fruit instead for recess.

Thursday 10 September 2015

Quiche and Mini Croissant Bento


Today I would love to share my favourite quiche recipe. It is perfect for school lunch filler or snack after school. Here is the recipe :

Mushroom, Leek, and Bacon Mini quiche

Ingredients:

400 grams Sliced button mushrooms
75 grams butter
1 medium leek, sliced
2 cloves of garlic
2 rashers of bacon, diced
4-5 eggs
½ cup cream or milk
Salt & pepper to taste
3 sheets frozen puff pastry
½ cup grated tasty cheese

Method:

1. Thaw pastry and pre-heat oven to 210 degrees. 
2. Lightly grease with spray oil a 12 cup muffin tin (standard size). 
3. Use a jar or cutter to cut out 4 circles from each thawed pastry sheet, large enough to line muffin cups. 
4. Once all muffin cups are lined with pastry, make a small cross in the bottom of each pastry cup with a bread knife, for even cooking.
5. Fry mushrooms, sliced leek, and garlic in butter until golden brown, set aside. 
6. Cook bacon and combine with mushrooms. 
7. Evenly divide mixture between all 12 cups. 
8. Combine eggs, cream and salt and pepper in a jug and whisk together. 
9. Pour egg mixture evenly between all 12 cups and top with grated cheese.
10. Cook in pre-heated oven for 25 minutes or until pastry browned and cheese melted.




For my eldest son, I prepared :
1. Mushroom, leek, and bacon quiche
2. Ham and cheese mini croissant
3. Dried sultanas
4. Pineapple cuts for recess



For my youngest son, I prepared :
1. Mushroom, leek, and bacon quiche
2. Ham and cheese mini croissant
3. Diced beetroot
4. Apple cuts for recess