Sushi and Chicken Ragout Rissoles

Last night we had sushi time where I and my boys were making sushi together. Basically I prepared some ingredients for the sushi fillings, and the boys may choose which ingredients will go in their sushi. 

The ingredients that I prepared were roast chicken, carrot, cucumber, smoked salmon, avocado, ham, soy sauce, Kewpie mayonese, and Japanese pickled ginger.

The boys were having so much fun creating their sushi. And after dinner, there were some leftover for their lunch box next day.

The first sushi fillings option was chicken roast, carrot, cucumber, soy sauce and pickled ginger. The second one was smoked salmon, cucumber, carrot, avocado, with soy sauce and pickled ginger. And last but not least was roast chicken, ham, avocado, Kewpie mayo, pickled ginger and cucumber.

For my younger son, I prepared :
1.Three types of sushi
2. Chicken ragout rissoles 
3. Corn on the cob
4. Fruit salad (pineapple, rockmelon, and grapes)

It is a similar lunch from his little brother. And the boys came back with empty lunch boxes. Mission accomplished!

Pretty Sushi Bento

I haven't made sushi for my boys for quite some time even though these are one of their favourite foods. No wonder this morning they were full with excitement to find out that they were going to have sushi for their lunches.

I'm pretty sure they are going to bring empty lunch boxes home after school. It is worth the effort, I suppose!

If you want to know more about sushi and learn how to make sushi, you can learn from my favourite blogger : Nami (Just One Cookbook). 

For my youngest son, I prepared :
1. Sushi with carrot, cucumber, and crab fish fillings.
2. Corn on the cob
3. Broccoli and cheese
4. Tamagoyaki (rolled egg) with fish roe on top
5. Ham "flower"
6. Red seedless grapes for recess

My eldest son had similar lunch to his brother, but he had apple cuts for recess instead.

Cucumber Wrapped Sushi Bento

Inspired by Nami from Just Once Cookbook, I made these pretty cucumber wrapped sushi for the boys.  I really love Nami's blog. She is really passionate about Japanese foods and very inspiring. You may find Datemaki recipe and how to make it here. 

Details for the boys' lunches as below:

For my eldest son :
1. Cucumber wrapped sushi (white steamed rice, cucumber, carrot and cheese)
2. Corn on the cob
3. Broccoli with cheese & carrot flowers
4. Homemade chicken nuggets
5. Datemaki (sweet rolled omelette)
6. "Tulip" sausages
7. Carrot sticks
8. Watermelon cuts for recess

For my youngest son :
1. Cucumber wrapped sushi (white steamed rice, cucumber, carrot and cheese)
2. Corn on the cob with carrot & cheese flower on top
3. Broccoli
4. Homemade chicken nuggets
5. Datemaki (sweet rolled omelette)
6. "Octopus" sausage
7. Carrot sticks
8. Banana flavoured yogurt for recess

You may find the Daisy cutters by clicking here :

Ham, Corn and Vegetables Muffins

This Ham, Corn and Vegetables Muffins are so perfect for lunch boxes. I used to make them in a batch, and then put it in the ziplock bag and freeze it. The previous night, I take the bag out and put in the fridge to thaw. And in the next morning I reheat it in the microwave for a minutes and it's ready to pack in the lunch box. Just make sure that all foods are cool enough before putting the lid on to avoid food poisoning. And be sure to pack a frozen ice block into the lunch box.

Ham, corn and vegetables Muffins

Ingredients
2½ cups Self Raising Flour
150g shaved leg ham, finely chopped
¾ cups milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
½ cup vegetable oil
⅔ cup grated tasty cheese
125g corn kernel
1 pcs leek - chopped
1 pcs medium carrot - grated
Salt and pepper, to season

Instructions
Preheat oven to 180C
Grease a 12 hole muffin tin
Place flour, corn, leek, carrot and ham into a bowl, stir to combine
Add the remaining ingredients, stir mixture until just combined.
Divide the mixture evenly between muffin holes.
Bake it in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden.
Allow it to cool for 5 minutes then remove it from muffin tin and cool it again on wire rack.

For my little one, I prepared :
1. Ham, corn, and vegetables Muffins with cheese and carrot on top
2. Sushi
3. Milk jelly with nata de coco
4. sausages
5. Carrot sticks
6. Grapes and kiwi fruit

For my eldest son, I prepared :
1. Ham, corn and vegetables Muffin with cheese and carrot on top
2. Sushi
3. Milk jelly with nata de coco
4. sausages
5. Carrot sticks and broccoli
6. Grapes and banana

Cute bento tools I used for this post :

Sushi Variety

We went to a sushi train restaurant last week, and it was really fun! My kids loved to watch all the foods going round and round like on the train track. I really love to see so many varieties of sushi, especially the inside out sushi roll, which is also known as California Uramaki.  This sushi is unique as the rice that wraps the nori.. Here is the link on how to make it.

Now, for my eldest son, I prepared :

1. Three types of sushi with baby corn, asparagus, crab sticks, and carrot filling. 

2. Ham "flower"

3. Broccoli and asparagus

4. Milk jelly with nata de coco

5. "Checker" apple

And for my little one, I prepared :
1. Uramaki sushi rolls
2. Sausages
3. Broccoli and carrot sticks
4. Milk jelly with nata de coco
5. "Rabbit" apples

Sushi bento

We're still in the school holiday, but we (me and my kids) have been missing Bento so much...I don't know why, but everytime I make bento, I feel so happy. Besides channeling my creativity, I'm happy to see my kid's reaction when they're looking at their lunches. They proudly say that they're eating healthy food and cheer for that :)

As for a holiday activity, I was glad that they accompanied and helped me making sushi. It's good to let them know and involved in the food preparations.

For my 5 years old boy, I prepared :
1. Sushi with crab stick, carrot, and cucumber filling
2. Snow peas, pickled ginger, and Salmon furikake
3. Fish shaped milk jelly

For my 7 years old boy, I prepared :
1. Sushi with crab stick, carrot, cucumber, and tamagoyaki filling
2. Snow peas, pickled ginger, tamagoyaki (egg rolls) cuts, and furikake
3. Car shaped milk jelly

I used egg mold  for the jelly.(link as below).