Eww, I Got Cooties In My Bento Box!

Instructions

• Put the cilantro, spinach, oil, lime juice, water and garlic in a blender or food processor.
• Blend until it is smooth and the garlic clove is chopped. Don't over blend because the tiny bits of chopped leaves add pretty speckles to your rice.
• Stir into the warm precooked rice.
• Follow the directions below to make your cootie balls or store in the refrigerator to use later.

Instructions For Cootie Eyes

• Use the palm of your hands to roll and mold the cream cheese into pea-size balls for the eyes. It helps if your hands are cold.
• Put the cream cheese eye balls into a container and place in the freezer to harden.
• Use a circle shaped paper punch to cut the eyeballs out of nori or use the small end of a #10 cake decorating tip (or a drinking straw) to cut the eyeballs out of black olives.
• Remove the cream cheese eyes from the freezer.
• Place a nori or olive eyeball on the center of each cream cheese eye. Refrigerate.

Instructions For Cootie Balls

• Use an onigiri mold or your hands to shape the onigiri cootie balls while the rice is still warm. Optional: You can reheat the rice mixture if it cools or if it has been stored in the refrigerator. Uh oh! Don't know what the heck you're doing? Learn how.
• Put in the refrigerator and chill for about an hour or until firm.
• Roll the cootie balls in whatever garnish you choose, press a little if needed to make it stick.
• Place two eyes on each cootie rice ball.

Free Cootie Catcher Bento Box Printable

Make your own cootie themed food picks!

• Click here to download the printable cootie catcher bento printable page.
• Cootie catcher folding instructions.