Spell Your Cheese

I have been away from the blogosphere for a while. Life took over. I am still making bento for the kids each morning. I can't wait for summer break. Although the bento-fixing doesn't stop there, it's going to be easier as Sashimi's summer camp will be in his previous daycare. Meals included. Yey!

My brother recently got me alphabet cutters to accesorize the kids' bento. Perfect for shaping the cheese. If lost, please return to...

Picture was taken for instagram.  Follow me @mrshotpot

Lunch Bots

Everyday after work, I would come home to a sink full of dishes to wash from breakfast. Add to that the kids' bento boxes, and mine. I use a lot of silicone muffin cups as dividers for the kids' bento. I wrote about it here.



I'd be washing a lot of items just from our lunches.  When I came across Lunch Bots, I know those days would soon be over.  I ordered these babies online and soon after they were in the mail =]

These boxes are sectioned. Muffins cups no longer needed. Best of all the stainless steel material makes them dishwasher safe.

See what I mean?

Bacon, grilled veggies & cantalope slices.


Curry beef bun (halved), Goldfish crackers with craisins, grape tomatoes.
The third section can house the spoon/fork separately.

Spring Forward

I have a new exercise with the kids. Every meal we will talk about "what we are grateful for today." Although there are topics aplenty during meals that this has often gone to the backburner, we would still have bedtime to do this. I find that if we count our blessings, big and small, the small things make a big difference.

This Sunday we start Daylight Saving Time. Although we are losing 1 hour of sleep (TV time for some), I am grateful for the bright mornings I will now wake up to. No more early morning darkness.

But first, Spring Forward means Spring Break.  I am on week-long bento break.  Weeee!

Cheese sandwich, grape tomatoes, fish balls, strawberry roll, carrots, blueberry muffin within the hotdog ring 

Bread Cut Out

Bento fixing was a breeze today. Strange. First I made a nice breakfast for the family.

Another one of this goes to Sushi's bento, alongside English muffin with strawberry jam (and  more strawberry slices tucked in between), mixed berries, carrots and grape tomatoes.

 

In lieu of an egg sandwich, due to allergy in class, Sashimi gets the bread cut-outs with cheese slice, and bonus meringue.

 

The bento boxes came home entirely wiped out.  That's the greatest reward for the bento-maker.

 

 

 

Today's Bento

East meets west sort of.  Korean seafood pancake, Pineapple cake, fried surimi fish balls, with carrots, wheat crackers and toasted raisin bread.

Bento 2x3

The boys has 3 eating breaks in the new school - 2 snacks & a lunch.  That means they are now most likely to finish the bento I send - third break to finish what they couldn't on first 2.  However, I still always have to stuff 3 breaks worth of food on 2 boxes [each], some times an extra fruit cup. There are days of disappointments, but more often it works out.  Sashimi's bento is usually a reduced version of Sushi's or more fancy.

Strawberry jam swirlie, croissants, edamame and apples

 

Waffles, cheese, siomai, carrots and Sky Flakes crackers

 

Red bean sesame bun, whole grain crackers, carrots, cheese string, Rockets & BBQ bun

 

Croissant, strawberries, fortune cookie, Pineapple cake and Jap rice crackers (Sashimi's)

 

To Buy or To Make

I was given the choice to order school lunches/snacks for the kids for a couple of days each week.  Yes it will spare me from crazy mornings.  But no thanks.  Besides the price tag, I refused it because I wanted the kids to bring to school something prepared by my own hands. Nevermind the topsy turvy.

 

This is Sushi's lunch bento.

This is for Sashimi.

Spam sandwich with Laughing Cow cheese spread, and grape tomatoes.

 

 

 

 

Corned Beef Sandwich Pockets

I made sandwich pockets today for the kids using Corned Beef as filling. We don't have canned goods too often, but if we do, it's PALM's Corned Beef.

Sushi gets the big pocket. Sashimi gets the small one.
How to make pocket sandwich here.

Bento in Progress

My mornings start with me taking out all the ingredients from the fridge or pantry.  Then I start cutting like a Fruit Ninja. I put everything into baking cups, and decides who gets what.

From this

To this

Bento Update

What have I been up to lately? I am making bento for my 2 boys now - lunch/snack for each one.  It's extra challenging as I have to consider each one's likings and capacity. As Sushi is on his 3rd year with this bento hoopla, I find he has improved so much. No need for fancy cut-outs, he just eats everything. Everyday he comes home with an empty lunch box and a happy Mom! Meanwhile it's still baby steps for Sashimi. Note to self, lower the expectations. So I don't get all disappointed. I see the small improvements everyday nonetheless.

Back Into Swing

It's back to school for Sushi. And back to work for me, after a week vacation (in Quebec). So we're back into full swing. I will be up at 6AM everyday for my breakfast and bento preps, including some me time.

This is Sushi's back-to-school bento.

In case you're wondering what about my bento.

Mine is usually leftovers. Other days I buy from the cafeteria. We have a descent selection of meals and reasonably priced at - are you ready - $5. Check out our menu here.

Meanwhile...

The Kindergartens are on staggered entry, so Sashimi's first day is a day later than Sushi's. We bid adieu to our daycare of 5 years so today was a baby step to big school for my not-so-baby-anymore.

As you can see there is some resistance there. What happened after taking this photo was something too painful to recall. Thought to myself, this is what couples without children don't have to endure. *sob*

Since everything will be a first for him, I made his bento sweet and simple.

Bunny sandwich with gummy treat, hotdog brooms over a bed of edamame and granola bar.

This is his lunch bag. I worry how he will handle all this on his own. And whether this will make its way home everyday... empty.

Back to School

If there's anyone having back-to-school jitters. I think that is me. This schoolyear will be more challenging as I start making bento for 2 kids. Sashimi has been in daycare for 2 years where everything is provided for, including lunch & snack (and naptime). Although he eats well there, I still don't know what to expect now that he will be in big school. I guess we shall see.

Meanwhile I am stocking up on items that will fill their bento boxes. I find that as long as I have everything available, it makes my mornings a breeze.

More shopping to do!



Last Day of Camp

We're inching closer to the start of another schoolyear.  Sushi will be in Grade 3, while Sashimi will be in Junior Kindergarten, joining his big brother in the same school. I am about to have anxiety attack!  I will be making bento for two.

Today is Sushi's last day at the Interactive Learning Camp. It also happens to be a field trip to Ontario Science Centre.  This is his bento.

Sandwich with bologna and cheese, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Goldfish crackers, mozzarella cheese, grape tomatoes and black grapes

Everyday life: This Week

Happy birthday to my sister! I wrapper her present in a beautiful scarf.

When life throws me lemons, I use a pretty dish that leaves no room for those suckers.

Non-stop park hopping for Mr. Hotpot. That's our very own Central Park.

Sashimi puts his stickers everywhere. Now he's got tattoos.

We saw this really lovely house. The pool was screaming "buy me!"

I call it Sunshine - Gap shirt, H&M necklace, Joe Fresh drawstring skirt

Another work-in-progress

Bento - jam sandwich, peaches, grape tomatoes, carrot muffin, blueberries and veggie crisp

Summer Camp Bento

Sushi goes to an Interactive Learning Adventure Camp for 7 weeks this summer. Each week they have at least 2 field trips. For the last three weeks, they have been to Medieval Times, the Toronto Zoo and Royal Ontario Museum each one for a full day. On these days I pack his bento differently. I make (or buy) something easy to munch. I let him bring really cold water. In addition, I place a frozen juice box to serve as an ice pack.

I discovered that Sushi loved the Beef Curry buns from the oriental food marts. That makes some mornings easier. I alternate that with the BBQ Pork bun. Veggies of either carrots or grape tomatoes. And fruits that are great for the warm weather, like fresh lychees. I tossed 2 choco-mallows as an extra treat, but it came back home. He said they're junk. Whatever!

I am using Sistema's Klip-It Lunch Cubes on most of his field trips.

The night before I would freeze his water bottle half-filled. Then I'll fill it up with water in the morning.

Easy peasy summer bento. Easy for him. Easy for me.

Everyday Life: This Week

I'm shaping again. Cheese. Egg. Sandwich. Anything.

Sashimi gets a haircut at home

This H&M necklace came with clustered pendants. I had them spread apart and added some more.

It's our anniversary! Have I said so?

The most books we got out from the library at one time.

Uber hot and sticky!

Nike store

Between these flags is the demarcation between US & Canada. Cross-border shopping.