Wedding day bento

We went to a wedding yesterday and because we need to be there the whole day and I know it would be very hard to get something to eat when you'd like to, I've made a small bento for me and my daughter.

Last week I've read about Quinoa, I've never heard of it, but it seemed to be some kind of seeds, I've read it should taste like popcorn... So, I've bought a bag of quinoa and cooked it in the evening. (Then my husband thought it was rubbish and threw it away and I needed to cook it again... ) Anyways, I've finished it succesfully and it really tastes like funny, but I stil don't know if it tastes like popcorn, hard to say...

I've used the quinoa in a salad with cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper and corn, finished with a herbsaus... Aside, I've made a fruitsalad from melon, pineapple, grapes and green and gold kiwi.

Unfortunately I can't tell how it tastes, because my cousin told us he forgot his lunch when he went to work and I gave him my bento. And, don't have pictures taken... Next time more about this funny food...

Picky toddler

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Originally uploaded by mamaofmelissa

I've noticed my daughter is becoming a quite picky eater. Not sure how come, my hubby and I almost eat everything.... Everything she dislikes, she just spit it out again.... not really nice if you're having lunch or dinner together... And really, now I understand why mom always needed to clean and vacuum after lunch and dinner...

I'm trying to let Melissa try a lot of different things for eating and really, the concept of Bento, fun = eat, really works...

Now she even goes to the fridge and grabs her Hello Kitty Bento bag on her own, cause she knows her fun food is inside...

Happy office lunch

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Originally uploaded by mamaofmelissa

Regulary I will take my daughter with me to office, and of course, then it will have to be fun... So I've made these 2 bento lunches, one for her, one for me...

For her, Hello Kitty onigiri with tuna and terriyaki beef and a fruitsalad with her favorite Hello Kitty mango (she actually is able to say Kitty now), melon, grapes and strawberries.

For me, onigiri with Tuna, Grilled miso onigiri and a salad with sweet bites and corn.... Of course, Melissa likes to have my miso onigiri more.

Friends coming over

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Originally uploaded by mamaofmelissa

On easter sunday, my friends came over for making wedding gifts for the wedding of my brother in law. So, I thought it would be nice to make them a treat...

So, I made this large fruitsalad for them. This was the first time my friends saw me making these things and they were quitte surprised I have so much time to spend making these things. Of course I won't tell them it only took minutes to wash and cut all these fruits....

Fruitsalad contains mango, melon, bleu berries, grapes, strawberries and kiwi.

New Bento gear

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Originally uploaded by mamaofmelissa

I have been very busy at work. We were so succesfull this first quarter, I've decided I deserve a little treat... So, I went to Jlist again and here's the result...

New egg molds, onigiri molds, hello kitty muffinmold, new hello kitty bento box, sauce containers and nori face cutters (these are so funny).

Rio Mare per pasta

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Originally uploaded by mamaofmelissa

In the store, I found some cans of rio mare tuna especially for pasta. I've just cooked some pasta and put in the can (it was much too much for myself, I think it's supposed to be a salad for 2-3 persons) hustle a little and then it's just finished for eating. Love the taste...

I've cut my bear egg in half, so it looks like I have 2 bears.... It's so nice the molds have 2 same sides....

So, Pasta salad with tuna (from can), bear egg and fruitsalad with melons, grapes and strawberries. To make the flowers, I've used a cookie mold... workes quite well...

Fried rice left overs

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Originally uploaded by mamaofmelissa

I'm really glad we have a microwave oven at our office, so, I can use just left over fried rice for my bento.

Of course I need to put in some extra cute cat nori. for the fruitsalad I used Hello Kitty Melon, this workes better then the mango. Unfortunately, my daughter saw then and took some to eat, so I still had one left...

Fried rice with cat nori, sweet bite bell peppers and cherry tomatoes.
Fruitsalad with mango, melon and flower strawberries, Hello Kitty egg....

Paper punch

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Originally uploaded by mamaofmelissa

I've bought some paperpunches and used them for the nori. On this Onigiri with corn, I've put some cat nori. I've also bought a dog punch, but it's a bit larger. Workes fine and much cheaper then the nori punches...

For lunch we had, Onigiri with tuna, onigiri with cornsprinkles (made myself) and a salad with sweet bites..

In case you wonder what I put in the Hello Kitty container.. Of course it's saladsauce. I like to use different, so I don't remember which one I used here...

Hello Kitty overload

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Originally uploaded by mamaofmelissa

My cousin called this my Hello Kitty overload.

I was just curious what would look nice if I'd use the Hello Kitty veggie cutters... So, I've used them on the melon and cucumber. Because I was having pancakes, I thought it would be nice to see if the Hello Kitty mall works.... Well, oke, it looks a bit overloaded... :P

Pancakes and cherry tomatoes, salad with cucumber, bell peppers and corn and a fruitsalad with melon, grapes and mango.

Bread

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Originally uploaded by mamaofmelissa

I like to use a lot of different ingredients and I like to make my own sandwiches with different bread types... This turkisch bread I've bought in a turkisch store is really tastfull.

I've put on some spicy sauce, smoked chicken and salad. As a side dish I've choosen for a small fruit salad, with Mango, grapes and kiwi. (didn't had much in the fridge).