Orange Pepper Jack O'Lantern Bento

Orange Pepper Jack O'Lantern Bento, a photo by sherimiya ♥ on Flickr.

I happened to find the most perfect pumpkin-shaped mini orange sweet pepper at the farmers market last weekend. It just begged to be carved, so how could I resist? I stuffed it with cottage cheese and sunflower seeds after seeding and carving it. This box is convenient for deconstructed fish tacos in that the cod can go in one section while the tomato-onion-avocado-cilantro salsa goes in another. Of course, you can put them together, but it's prettier this way. You can pack the tortillas separately if you wish. I put a fruit selection (strawberry, plum and grapes) in the last compartment, and topped with a purple Okinawan sweet potato bat. I think it looks fresh and colorful. And my boy really did eat the whole pepper, cheese and all ^_^

Green Bento

Green Bento, originally uploaded by sherimiya ♥.

Here's my Green Bento for St. Patty's day!

I made furikake cod, which I wrote about here. I added steamed broccoli and a cup of fruits: strawberry, clementine and cherry tomato.

I also made jade (bamboo) rice, which in the past has always come out very light in hue. This time I steamed some kale and used the steam water for cooking the rice, hoping to improve the color. I think it may have helped a little, but what helped a lot was adding in the minced (in processor) kale after cooking! Before you say "yuck", I have to say that the kale didn't add all that much taste to the rice, and it's such a vitamin-rich vegetable I had to try it. You can just pretend it's furikake! That's what I told the fam, and like magic, they chowed it down! It goes really well with the furikake cod (you can also use salmon). I put the rice in the cup, and decorated with an edamame clover and maroon carrot flowers.

Here's the jade rice before cooking:

Happy St. Patricks Day, bento friends. I'll be drinking green tea to celebrate! *clink* ^_^

Furikake Fish Bento

Furikake Fish Bento, originally uploaded by sherimiya ♥.

I know, I know. Usually you make furikake salmon or furikake mahi mahi, like I had in this bento. But, I thought I would try it with wild cod, since it was available in my market, and I figured since it is a mild-tasting fish the furikake would give it a nice shot of flavor.

Here's how to do it:

1. Spread the fish with mayo.
2. Sprinkle generously with furikake.
3. Fry in butter until done, then flip.

That's it! Fillets like salmon and mahimahi hold together well, but cod tends to fall apart so it ended up being more like chunks of furikake cod. But actually this works out well for kids, since it's easier for them to eat like this anyway. For this bento I lay the fish on some lettuce, added some garlic roasted asparagus, and decorated with tiny yellow carrot flowers. I also gave him maroon carrot sticks and Okinawan sweet potato flowers. In the fruit section he has a strawberry, grapes and a mini mandarin.

Simple but easy, and tasty :)

Tiger Bento

Tiger Bento, originally uploaded by sherimiya ♥.

For MisterMan, Rock Cod Bento #2 -- this time steamed in ginger scallion sauce with shoyu and sesame oil. I gave him a brown / black rice onigiri with a sweet potato tiger on top, roasted asparagus, Okinawan purple potato flower, roasted cherry tomatoes, yellow capsicum rings, and a bit of broccoli. Almost all red fruits today: strawberry, raspberries, red grapes (underneath), red plum, and 2 beautiful snow-white lychee!

Rock Cod Bento

Rock Cod Bento, originally uploaded by sherimiya ♥.

My first-grader gets: rock cod pan-fried in olive oil, butter, garlic and herbs for just a few minutes. The fish was fresh-caught by a friend (thanks George!). A tiny brown & black rice flower onigiri with sweet potato cherry blossom topper, steamed broccoli and peapods, garden-grown yellow pear tomato, and skewer of Okinawan purple potato and avocado flowers. On the fruits side, big strawberry, lychee, blueberries, orange tomatoes, flavor grenade plum, grape, and mango plum slices (all yellow, all the way through!)

I am really gonna miss all these amazing summer fruits when the season comes to an end!