Bento #227 - Baby Leopard

Wednesday, 29th September 2010

Bento #226 - Word World

Monday, 27th September 2010
Wonder if you know there is a children's educational television show named 'Word World'? WordWorld revolves around WordFriends and WordThings, characters and items made of the letters that spell them, in the correct order. Just like bento today, a pig is made out of the letters P-I-G, so that they actually look like a pig — with this rule extending to the animals who are the sentient characters in the show. The WordThings can be assembled and disassembled during the show by the characters, who use the items in their adventures and to solve their problems.

Word World show is a colourful and word-rich place. Do find out more about this show for your young kids. :)

Bento #220 - Baa Baa Black Sheep

Hari Raya Puasa holiday is over, but the road still abit quiet today, probably some people still on holiday. Even most of the primary school is closed today, but Isaac's kindy operates as usual, therefore I prepared him bento today.

Today bento idea is actually from Bentolicious. Lia Chen fixed her kids Green Doggies last week, the most interesting part was the doggies' ears were actually the leave picks. It's soooo cute. That's why my black sheep also has green ears (^.^)

Underneath the black sheep is vegetable "pau" I bought from hometown during Hari Raya. Isaac loves this pau because it has small piece of egg in it. I love the pau too as it has the flavor in my children age which I can't find it in KL.....

Update: Added this to What’s For Lunch Wednesday, Week 16 fun.

Bento #219 - Contrast Foxes

Bento #214 - Tuna Pocket Sammies

Do you know what is the biggest reward I got from bento blogging? It's ENCOURAGEMENT which I need it so much. From who the encouragement? From a gang of bento mamas. No matter how bad-looking is your bento, without stingy, they give you sweet words and you have no reason to stop bento-ing. THANKS BENTO MAMAS!! Thanks for your lovely comments, they do make move on.

Today bento, the protagonist is again the chuncky sausage, I wanted to turn it into a panda. Panda used to be one of my favourite character to fix as it is pretty easy. I so confidence with myself, therefore I fixed the panda without refering to anything (normally I will refer to food picks). Here is the result I got. I think I forgot how panda should look like, the panda end up looks like mice.... kekekekeke.... (~.~)

Bento #212 - How Much is That Doggies in the Box?

Yesterday's dance showcase left me completely exhausted, although I not suppose to as I am neither the organizer nor the instructor (o_O). As a "driver" could be quite tiring. The entire last week, I brought Isaac to his dancing studio many times after work, for costume trying then weekend busy sending him up and down for rehearsal. But glad and happy that the showcase ended successfully with lots of joy and fun.

Wanted to take one day "Bento Off" today. But since my MIL has all the mini red bean pau steamed, I just packed one for Isaac. I didn't decorate the pau, just fixed two little doggies from chunky sausage. Many bento mamas love this chunky sausage, so do I. Animal fixed using this fatty sausage turn out cute. Another good thing about this sausage is, it's not pre-packed, you can buy as little as you want as the promoter will weight and pack it on the spot upon request.

Bento #208 - An Awkward Pingu

It's my first time wrapping up quail egg with nori, thought it would be perfect to make it like Pingu. But this Pingu really disappoint me, the ugliest Pingu I have ever seen (v_v).

Thank god it's Friday, my schedule for this weekend is packed, hopefully I don't get exhausted on Monday (^.^) HAVE A NICE & RELAXING WEEKEND EVERYONE!

Bento #207 - Polar Bear and Friend

Seems like quite some time didn't fix Isaac a more refined bento, most of the time a quick one. Today I fixed a polar bear and its friend, brown bear. It's quite simply though, but at least it's more kawaii (^.*). I used the crown pick to hold the bears so that they don't move around when the bag swings.

Update: Added this to What’s For Lunch Wednesday, Week 10 fun.

Bento #203 - FIFA Mascot 2010

FIFA World Cup ended on Monday. No matter you are a football fan or not, you sure knew that Spain has won 19th FIFA World Cup of football after defeated Netherlands by one goal as predicted Paul the Psychic Octopus from Germany. Spain was awarded as the world champion, 1st time in their history. I fixed a FIFA mascot today. Let’s wait another four years for a new mascot to be born.

Bento #200 - Stenciled Bear

Try to prepare something simple today, hence I made use of my bear stencil which has been sittine in the box doing nothing since bought (v.v). I put the stencil on top of a egg steam cake, sprinkled some Milo (cocoa powder) then remove the stencil. A simple but happy bento (^.^)....

Bento #199 - Urgly Hippopotamus

Wonder if you can recognize this is an hippo? What causes the hippo looks urgly? The nose? The teeth? Or shape? Hmm..... (~_~) I tried to put some flower picks to make the bento looks nicer. Does it help?

Bento #196 - White Mouse and Sausage Mouse

I bought a triangular sandwich cutter recently, can't wait to give a try to see is the cutter as handy as my square sandwich cutter. Well, after a try, the answer is "YES", it's a good sandwich tool. In fact, I think it is better than the square cutter as everything (seal and cut) is only one press. The square cutter you have to seal the bread first, then use the outter square to cut it.

Probably you have no idea which type of sandwich cutter I am mentioning. No worry, very soon I will prepare egg sandwich for my boy, I will snap photos on how to use the two cutters so that you have clearer picture. Stay tune yeah!!

Back to bento today, triangular sandwich, what can I fix other then fox? Oh yes, why not a mouse? But only bread is too plain, so I fix a sausage mouse too.... No fruit today as I haven't restock my fridge. (~.~)

Bento #195 - Bunny Rabbit and Friends

My boy requested this moulded egg for quite sometime, but I didn't fulfill his request as I reserve it for time when I run out of idea. Today I finally prepare this egg for him, that means I have idea shortage... kekeke

I eventually use the stencil bought last year to draw the rabbit eyes and mouth. The result seems not bad, at least I have another alternative, not always nori for face features. I put the stencil on the cut out bread, sprinkle some cocoa powder (Milo) then remove the stencil. Hmm... if I happen to see other stencil, will definately grab one.

Bento #192 - Banana Bear

This is my 3rd attempt to bake cake, but this time is banana cake. Remember the first two attempts wasn't that successful and I have figured out where went wrong. This time I sifted the flour, I heated the oven earlier, I used butter instead of margarine and beat it longer.

The banana cupcake taste so nice while it is still hot, it's loose and soft inside. Banana is one of Isaac's favourite fruit, therefore he loves this cupcake more compare with previous two cupcakes. I decorated the cupcake into little brown bear. As you can see, the ears were cut from banana cake too... (^.^)

Ingredients:(around 16 cupcakes)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
230g Self Raising Flour
230g Butter, softened at room temperature
160g Castor Sugar
300g Banana (mash it)
3 Eggs, at room temperature
1/2 Teaspoon Banana Essence (I forgot to buy therefore I use vanilla essence)
1/3 cup of hazelnut (mash it and bake in oven until golden)

Methods:
1. Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until pale and creamy.
2. Add eggs, beat until well combined.
3. Sift self raising flour over butter mixture and mix well.
4. Add in vanilla essence, mashed banana and hazelnut then mix well.
5. Preheat the oven to 175 degree.
6. Line 16 paper cups in muffin tray.
7. Put the mixture into muffin tray then put 3-4 hazelnut on top.
8. Bake the cake for 15 - 20 minutes until light golden.

Bento #191 - Five Little Duckling

Five little ducklings went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said "Quack, quack, quack, quack."
But only four little ducklingss came back.

Bento #188 - Pussy Cat

Today is another quite bento, I fixed a wily pussy cat for my boy. The head of the cat was cut from purely egg york sheet whereas the body was from egg white mixed with some yolk, therefore it has light yellow effect. I packed some jackfruit for Isaac. Pretty simple bento huh...

Bento #184 - Shaun the Sheep

Do your know there is this cartoon in the market? It's OK if you don't know, especially if you have no kid. Unlike those days (when I was a little girl), cartoons were so limited, few popular one were Popoye the Sailor Man, Woody Woodpacker, Ultraman, Mickey Mouse and etc, really not many. But these days, the cartoons in the market is too many to enumerate.

Last weekend I went back home during lunch, Astro was showing this cartoon. The sheep drew my attention. It's so cute, just like the nursery rhyme - Baa Baa Black Sheep. I thought the sheep must have named 'Baa Baa', therefore asked Isaac to double confirm. In fact it is not, Isaac told me the sheep is called Shaun Sheep. "Sean? How to spell?" I asked. "S.H.A.U.N" He answered. I was doubted honestly (^.^).

I googled for 'Shaun Sheep' after back to office. Hey, it's corret! Cool, this is another bento idea, not too hard to fix.... hehehehe

~~ Are we look alike each other? ~~

Bento #166 - Froggie Cottage

Today I just feel like fixing something simple. The three froggies only take me 5 minutes.

All the sudden I think of this nursery rhymes:

一只蛤蟆一张嘴
两只眼睛四条腿
乒乒乓乓跳下水呀
。。。。。。

You heard before this song? Does it sounds familiar? (~.~)

Bento #162 - The Circus

It's always good to start with something simple after a long break, as warm up lesson (^.^) Before turning the eggs into mayo egg, I sliced the egg and chose few with only egg white. The egg white was then cut as into bear shape. The balance all chopped into small pieces and mixed with mayonnaise and packed into the triangular bread pocket.

First time packed baby carrot for Isaac. I cooked five but only packed him two. Guess what, he asked me don't pack him this carrot, he doesn't like it. I tried to pursuit him and finally he said, "OK lor, next time pack me one will do." **Faint**

Bento #151 - Panda Bak Kwa

Isaac's godmother paid us a visit during the weekend and brought us another pack of "Bak Kwa". So today I fix another "Bak Kwa" bento. Unlike minced meat, this slice meat is harder, luckily it didn't spoil my plastic cutter. I intended to cut two holes as the panda eyes, but it's to hard to have the cutter go through the "Bak Kwa", so I just forget about it and replace it with cheese. (^o^)