Under the Sea Bento Lunch

My daughter is very competitive. I appreciate this character trait except that she is quick to pick me as her competitor. True to character, she recently challenged me to a bento competition.

When I finally agreed, she promptly announced ground rules (yes, there were ground rules) including time limits and separate kitchen stations with no peaking at your competitor's bento. There were no restrictions on theme or ingredients. The winner would be determined based on creative use of ingredients.

It all went down pretty much like an episode of Top Chef, which I guess isn't surprising considering it's kinda required viewing at our house.

So, when this thing started, it was an bento frenzy! My son enjoyed his front row seat to the antics and stealing bites when we weren't looking. When the kitchen timer buzzed, I presented my entry: Under the Sea Bento:

Blue rice served as the backdrop for my ocean-themed bento lunch. This was created by adding just a drop of blue food coloring to white rice. The featured characters here are octopus hotdogs, otherwise known as octodogs. These cute little fellows are easy to make. You simply cut a hotdog in half, then slice the dog six ways halfway up and drop in boiling water. When you do this, the ends curl up, and you have instant tentacles! (It occurs to me that there's probably not any other situation in life in which "instant tentacles" would be a good thing.)

A cheese shrimp accompanies the octodogs and the ocean floor is accented with two yellow stars which came in one of those special themed bags of goldfish crackers.

Your standard issue goldfish also make an appearance swimming amongst a sprout of algae (or maybe coral?) hand cut from a slice of American cheese.

The final element is a fish-shaped bento container filled with fresh pineapple. A tiny bit of broccoli (Why can I never remember whether broccoli has two c's or two l's?!) provides an eye for the little fish.

So, who won? Check out my Broadway Bears Bento post on my daughter's entry to find out!

Happy Bento'ing!
Star

Broadway Bears Bento Lunch

My daughter recently caught me off guard by challenging me to a bento competition. After relentlessly, er, repeatedly, challenging me to a duel, I agreed. She's not only naturally competitive, but also quite creative and seems to have a natural knack for bento making.

Check out the post on my Under the Sea Bento for more details on the ground rules of our throw-down. Yeah, there were rules. I told you she was competitive.

When the kitchen timer buzzed and time was up, my daughter delivered this grand creation which she titled Broadway Bear Bento. Impressive, don't you think?!

The centerpiece of this bento lunch is actually center stage. One made of cheese pizza. Standing atop stage lights made of cheese are those divas we all know and love as Teddy Grahams. Stawberry fruit leather stars serve as the backdrop. An abundant mix of chocolate chips and multi-colored m&m's served as the audience while the marshmallows were the orchestra pit.

This over-the-top Broadway production even featured an aquarium with goldfish swimming hither and yon in a pond of blue rice. Carrot and cheese stick people offered a standing ovation from the balcony.

Here she is with her creation, which was pronounced the winner of our first ever bento competition. I'm so proud!

Happy Bento'ing!
Star

Pasta Bento Lunch

Today's bento lunch features the fresh pineapple we bought last night. Upon seeing the big "dinosaur fruit" (as my daughter called it) on the kitchen counter, both kids were instantly intrigued and the prospect of carving into the pineapple pretty much derailed all of dinner.

After futile attempts to get them to eat their meal first, I finally relented and cracked into it, and we all gobbled the entire pineapple in one sitting! Good thing it was buy one, get one free, so I had pineapple #2 for bento lunches today.

This bento includes some bowtie pasta with carrot columns and pinto beans as well as stacked ritz crackers and cheese stick columns. I added whimsy with a cheese flower atop the pasta (just use a cookie cutter to punch any shape from a slice of cheese) and adorable little frog bento picks.

If it's pineapple season where you are, hope this inspires some ideas for tomorrow's bento lunch!

Happy Bento'ing!
Star

Dramatic Crackle Dyed Easter Eggs

Not a bento lunch post here, but wanted to share some Easter fun that falls under the category of creating eye-catching food.

I was mesmerized by this striking crackled style aster eggs when I first saw it, so I had to give it a try. I have to confess, it wasn't the easiest thing I've tried lately though. It took several attempts over a few days to get it right. (Well mostly right!)


I followed the instructions by Kimberly Low's blog. She calls them marbled eggs. That's probably a better term. What do you think?

I like the red ones best. The green ones were also dramatic. Wish I could figure out how to preserve more of the white, but it's tricky. You never know how it's gonna turn out 'til you peel them, so it's always a surprise!