Korean Bento

A Re-Purposed Lunch

Did you ever wonder what happens with dinner leftovers in most household nowadays?  Tell you what, most re-purposed them in many different ways. For the kitchen ingenious, they create a total different dish out of it.  For working moms, they may pack them for work the following day.  And still for the some, may even freeze them to serve on lazy days. Now which one are you?

We are the people who either re-purposed them for work lunches (yes! We eat the leftovers), or freeze them for any lazy days.  Now that the kids are older and are less picky, they share the chores with us to consume whatever is left.  And they don't mind at all.

The secret to that is the bento-style lunches.  Nothing cute looking anymore, but I make sure they look appetizing and good.  If I need additional compartments, I make use of silicone cups sold mostly at any local Daiso, or online by Bento USA.

Today's lunch is a leftover dinner from our Korean Restaurant dining.  We always order a little too much to what we can actually consume.  Aside from the hefty servings, my daughter was a bit full from her snack before we went to church last late Sunday afternoon.  I like to pack foods in to-go boxes.  I feel it's a great excuse to skip cooking for half a day or so.

Korean dishes is one of our favorites.  From appetizer to dessert, it's all delectable.  So for this bento, I packed Vegetable Kimchi, Chap-chae glass noodle, Beef Bulgogi with Spicy Chicken on a half cup of steamed rice.  To finish the meal, oranges to neutralize all after tastes.  All in on our Easylunchboxes.

 
For my boy, on his Fit & Fresh Bento Lunch Kit, he had a 3/4 cup of steamed rice, half cup of Beef Bulgogi, and oranges with plum for dessert.

 
Lastly, my girl brought in warm steamed rice on her favorite thermal kids' funtainer from Thermos. She also had a half cup of non-spicy Korean Chicken teriyaki to go with her rice, and plums to snack on for recess.  All klip it plastic containers by Sistema.


Hope you enjoyed today's post.
Happy 1st of September!

If you love Healthy Eating Starts at Home, you may subscribe via email to get all my posts straight to your inbox. No spam mails, just healthy food ideas for your lunchboxes. 

All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,

the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!



If you need weekly meals straight to your inbox, try MOMables.

It's our one-stop shop when we're on a lunch rut.

Vongole

Last year my sister had a break from work and finally visited us in summer.  She stayed with us till after my daughter's 8th birthday in December.  It was a wonderful time to catch up and bond again.  The kids loved her around. The last time we saw each other was back in 2010.  Though we facetime and Skype regularly, nothing beats up close and personal.  Her stay with us gave me a huge break in the kitchen as well.  She's one great cook, who pleasantly served dishes to us meal after meal.  One of the meal that caught our attention was Vongole.  It was our first to have this dish.  My kids devoured it each time it's served.

But when I tried it in my kitchen, I couldn't do it just the way she did.  She cooks by taste. She doesn't keep a recipe in hand.  So if you ask her, she'll give you the ingredients, but the rest is up to you. Oh boy!

 

Just like most, I struggle in the kitchen too from time to time. And when I say struggle, that means trouble.  Before I could really whip up a meal, I have to check several recipes and make sure it tastes good in my mind.  When I can't visualize its outcome, it's a no-no.  So just imagine that.  Chaos huh?!

I experiment a lot. I try recipe after recipe.  Often, I modify it till I get the right yum for my family.  I have been experimenting on Vongole that I couldn't get it right.  It's just Vongole for some,  but somehow the recipes I tried just didn't quite hit the right "umph" for my buds. Nothing close to her Vongole.  Finally last night, I hit it off.  I included the recipes  for you to try and let me know how you like it. Critique me!  Perhaps you can help me twist it a bit for a better appeal.

The Recipe

Ingredients:

1 package of spaghetti noodles, cooked according to package instructions.

2lbs clam, shelled

1 cup clam juice

extra virgin olive oil

1 stick butter, unsalted

1 Tbsp garlic, minced

1 medium onions, thinly sliced

3 tomatoes, diced

salt & pepper to taste

red pepper flakes, optional

Gouda cheese, grated

dry white wine
herbs (basil, cilantro, thyme, lime)

Procedure:

1. Cook spaghetti noodles according to package instructions.  Set aside.
2. Boil 2 lbs of clam in a pot of water. Save 1 cup of clam juice for later.
3. In a separate skillet, heat olive oil and butter.  Saute onion till tender.  Add in garlic,diced tomatoes.  Let it cook for 5 minutes till tomatoes are soft. 
4. Add in clams, a cup of its juice, white wine, salt and pepper. Let boil.
5. Add in herbs of your choice.  We used cilantro for this particular dish.  Simmer for another 3-5 minutes.
6. Pour on noodles. 
7. Serve with grated Gouda Cheese on top with red pepper flakes for a little kick.

Serves: 6-8

Leftovers may be packed on any Easylunchboxes for school or work the following day.  Pack them with your favorite side dish, such as fruits, Hawaiian dinner rolls, or trail mixes on yogurts.


If you love Healthy Eating Starts at Home, you may subscribe via email to get all my posts straight to your inbox. No spam mails, just healthy food ideas for your lunchboxes.

All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,

the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!

If you need weekly meals straight to your inbox, try MOMables.

It's our one-stop shop when we're on a lunch rut.

Easy DIY Potato Chips

Healthy Food Idea for your Lunchboxes

I have always wanted to prepare foods from scratch.  But I'm not a kitchen pro, so it only happens when it does.  And for the most part, I'm a chicken when it comes to trying new stuffs.  I read food magazines, recipe books, and watch the Food Channel.  When I found an idea, I would bookmark, print, and imprint it in my memory.  But it all stops there.  I need a little push to try it. Simple inspiration like kids' request.

To make story short, last year I met someone who taught me how to make potato chips from scratch. With a tip to make it crisp and light.  And of course, with lots of kids' request, which made me push myself to make it a family's snack retreat on movie nights and play dates.

So what's the secret?

Make sure you cut it as paper thin as possible.  But don't worry if you can't.  They still taste good, but not as cripsy when their thinner.  My secret is to make use of a grater or peeler.  It takes a lot of practice, but worth the effort and time.

Look for a grater that has an elongated slot like shown above.  They will make your life easier.  It will help you cut potatoes in half the time.

Brine it.  The salt water solution draws the starch away from the potatoes, making it lighter and crisper to fry or bake.  Honestly, I haven't really tried baking it since we love potato chips fried and drained.  Plus, since it's already brined, it's not bland at all. They're as yummy as the pouched snacks.

Deep fry or Bake it. We do option 1, which is deep frying with vegetable oil.  I will try to bake them next time.  But first let me find out the right oven temp and correct length of time to bake it just right.

 

Drain and Serve. Drain excess oil well with paper towels, then serve.

 

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial.  I have found this pretty easy to make and it's nice to know my family devour it on snack time, without the worries of any added MSG or preservatives to it.

Here are the lunches I packed with potato chips. Kids and adults love them just as much.

If you love Healthy Eating Starts at Home, you may subscribe via email to get all my posts straight to your inbox. No spam mails, just healthy food ideas for your lunchboxes.

All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,

the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!

If you need weekly meals straight to your inbox, try MOMables.

It's our one-stop shop when we're on a lunch rut.

Hop Aboard, Mateys! A Pirate Bento Hop

Ahoy Matey!!

September 19 is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Let us all gather the pirates and their crews in peace and board our bento feast.

Our hop participants are divided into 2 groups:

• The Atlantic Pirates, AKA: The Black Bread's Revenge, and
• The Pacific Pirates, AKA: The Flying Lunchman (for which I belong), so let's get started encompassing the pirate world by flying with us.

Prepare to be boarded in 3.....2......1...

Of all t' hops I've joined, this be t' fanciest o' them all. And me kiddos be both so willin' t' brainstorm with me. They have t' most creative minds, and I must keep up with 'em. T' good news is, they'r pretty easy t' please. Anythin' done by mom be t' greatest. T' coolest?

We hop every year, and if you missed it last year, here's a link that can brin' you aft t' fun. 

Check aft a little later t' see another lunch that didn't make it for today's post.

Now, let's head over to Shannon of Bento Lunch and dig into her pirate booty feast....ARRR!!

If you love Healthy Eating Starts at Home, you may subscribe via email to get all my posts straight to your inbox. No spam mails, just healthy food ideas for your lunchboxes.

All bento accessories are available through Bento USA,

the cheapest and most complete online bento products in the USA.

Other bento gears are also available thru My Amazon Affiliate Link.
Thank you for your support!

If you need weekly meals straight to your inbox, try MOMables.

It's our one-stop shop when we're on a lunch rut.

K-Bento: Turkey-Crackers-Jello

It's Momables giveaway this week! If you haven't had the chance to enter,

please click here.  Don't miss out. It only runs till Sunday.

My daughter loves grapes that she requested another round for her snack today. She loves them skewered on pretty food picks.  And I guess this has drawn so much of her attention to eat better in school.  Yesterday's packed school meal was a success.  And I figured she needs smaller bites of food for ease of eating.

Oven Roasted Turkey cut into pieces with the help of FUNBites CUBE IT,
Cheese Crackers and mini jellies.

I wouldn't call this lunch but this was packed purposely for school lunch.  Since she talks a lot, she needed small quantities in bite-size just to fill her up. Then she eats proper lunch at home with me.  I figured this would be less-stressful for her to eat as she talks. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

School Lunches: DIY Pizza

It's Momables giveaway this week! If you haven't had the chance to enter,

please click here.  Don't miss out. It only runs till Sunday.

Today's lunch for my 4th grader, Mr G, is his favorite DIY pizza courtesy of MOMables' popular menu.  If you were familiar of the Lunchables Pizza Meal, this is similar except on a healthier version.  Instead of packing sweets for treats, try fruits or veggie slices. I made use of slightly toasted flat whole grain breads for the crust, garlic & basil spaghetti sauce, shredded cheddar cheese, and pepperoni for meat. I was able to find some cherries in the market, so I grabbed a bag for his lunch today and snack after school.  Lunch packed in our favorite reliable container, The Easy Lunchboxes.  Grab one now before they ran out.

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as my son enjoyed his lunch.  Happy Wednesday everyone!

School Lunches: Vege-Chickburger & Eggrolls

TGIF! We made it thru the week. 

Missy A is still adjusting in school. She's having a terrible time eating faster to make it on time. Most of the time I'd see leftovers by dismissal time, that she'd finish in the car on our way home. Not that I asked her to, but because she was very hungry.  I'm trying to re-invent meals for her that would work. She's not a sandwich eater. I was thinking if I could ask my mommy friends to make our lunches similar, it might help her eat better and faster.

You might think that I give her so much food. Maybe and maybe not. But that's exactly how much she consumes at home.  What do you think? This is the time I need major help.

Missy A had eggrolls and apple slices for lunch on her Easy Lunchboxes.  She also had pretzels and peanut butter dip with juice pouch, and a yogurt drink (not in picture) for snack on a pencil box.  I figured it's the right box size to go in their snack bin, and easy for her to spot and for me to label. Gogurt fits in too so no problem getting another box for longer snack like it. 

Mr. G had Vege-Chickburger on honey wheat sandwich thins, mayo, pickle and fish-shaped cheeses.  Ketchup on the side with apple slices and carrot sticks on the side. He also had 2 bottles of yogurt drinks.  Extra bottle not in picture. All packed on Easy Lunchboxes.

I hope everyone had a good transition in school.

See you next week!

☺☻☺

Sandwich Onigiris

Under The Sea

My daughter and I tried our luck with KYARABENS (Character Bento). We took out her playdough cutters and chose the right shape for her favorite theme - The Sea! We made it with bread, turkey and cheese. Then we added some clementines for the corals or seashells, and some Nori for the seaweeds. We need some more practice to put them altogether in a bento box.  Then it would be ready for school.

And here are all the scraps which made it to my breakfast. Spread some Nutella & peanut butter for a chocolatey treat.  I am a chocoholic mom. Not everyday, but when the cravings strike, I should get a dose of it.  Nothing soothes me best, but the chocolates. 

But guess what, Mamabelly has just come up with a French Toast Casserole recipe that takes care of this scrap better and tastier. It has cinnamon that makes me itch to try it next time. I'm sure the kids will love it as well. Now, wouldn't you wanna try that out?

Bento Idea: Chicken Vegetable Spring Rolls

One of our cravings is Spring Rolls. This one's made of shredded cabbage, ground chicken, green onions, and grated carrots.  All wrapped up with whole wheat flour wrapper. Saute all fillings and seasoned with salt and pepper or oyster sauce to taste. Serve it either with ketchup or sweet and sour sauce.