Healthy meals that is pleasing to the eyes!
Bento is very much like a packed lunch or meal in a food container such as lunch boxes which is intricately arranged in your own tastes and you can add whatever dishes and food you want.
Though my Mom usually does the all the stuff when it comes to food I certainly appreciates it. There is a lot of number of reasons why Moms love the idea of preparing meals in a box because it is convenient for the kids and for anyone who wished to eat their meals with a touch of home.
You can find in this lens a lot of useful links, recipes, information and wonderful ideas on how to learn some exciting way on preparing your boxed meals that will never be the same again.
What is Bento?
Bento As Defined By Wikipedia
Basically, it is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables as a side dish. Containers range from disposable mass produced to hand crafted lacquerware. Although bento are easily available in many places throughout Japan, including convenience stores, train stations, and department stores, it is still common for Japanese homemakers to spend considerable time and energy producing an appealing boxed lunch.Bento can be elaborately arranged. Contests are often held where homemakers can compete for the most aesthetically pleasing arrangements. The food is often decorated to look like people, animals, or characters and item such as flowers and plants. This style of elaborate bento is called kyaraben.
read the rest of the wikipedia article...
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Easy Bento Box Recipes
You can make your own right now!
Sauteed Green Beans & Spanish SardinesIngredients
Green Beans
Pork Chunks
Bagoong (Fermented Shrimp Paste)
1 can Spanish-style Sardines
Cooked Plain Jasmine Rice
Iceberg Lettuce
Cucumber
Ready-made Soy Sauce dressing
Instruction
Simply preheat all the left-over sauteed green beans and add little pork chunks, bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) to add some taste.
To go with your dish, just open some canned or bottled Spanish-style Sardines from the fridge and you can add iceberg lettuce, cucumber then drizzle some ready-made soy sauce dressing. Finally, grabbed some steamed Jasmine rice to go with the whole thing.
Photo and Recipe Courtesy of Kitchen Cow
Bento no. 32: Fiber-Rich Vegan Leftovers Bento
The great thing about this recipe is that it is all vegan fiber-rich bento mostly composed of planned leftover meals.Bento Contents
♥ 3/4 cup (220ml) carrot rice, 140 cal
♥1 cup Vegan nikujaga (potatoes stewed with fried tofu), 200 cal
♥ Sautéed spicy lotus root, 140 cal
♥ Radishes, 5 cal
Photo & Recipe Courtesy of Just Bento
What is Onigiri, anyway?
Onigiri, also known as Omusubi, is a snack of Japanese rice formed into triangle or oval shapes and often wrapped in nori (edible seaweed). Traditionally, the onigiri is filled with pickled ume fruit (umeboshi), salted salmon, katsuobushi, or any other salty or sour ingredient. In practice, pickled filling is used for preservation of the rice. Since the onigiri is one of the most famed and popular snacks in Japan, most convenience stores in Japan stock onigiri in many popular fillings and tastes. There are even specialized shops offering only handmade rice balls for take out.read the rest of the wikipedia article...
The Basics in Making Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)
According to Bento Box once you mastered making plain Onigiri by hand without difficulty you can eventually try adding fillings to jazz up your Onigiri. Just make sure you carefully washed your hands before trying this recipe!
1. Cook a suitable amount of rice for the number of people you want to feed. Do not rinse the rice before cooking to maintain its stickiness and clumpy.
Remember: White shortgrain rice is the best kind for both onigiri and sushi - in supermarkets it's often sold in a pack marked 'sushi rice,' or if you can't find that, look for 'pudding rice.'
2. It's important to work with the rice while it's still warm and sticky, but let it cool a little first so you won't be scalded. Five minutes should do it. Turning the rice from the cooking container into another bowl and fluffing it with a fork or rice scoop will help it to cool slightly.
3. Fill a bowl with cold water and stir in a couple of teaspoonfuls of salt - keep this in your work area and dip your hands before beginning each onigiri. This will ensure that the rice sticks to itself, without sticking to you! Some people wet their hands and then rub them with salt. I think this transfers rather too much salt to the rice, but you may prefer the flavour.
4. Having dipped your hands, scoop out a small quantity of warm rice. Depending on the size of your hands, this may be a palmful or half that - remember that, like making a snowball, you'll be compressing the rice together, so the finished onigiri will be a little smaller than the scoop you start out with, and size it accordingly.
5. For disc-shaped onigiri, you need to squeeze and shape the rice with both hands at once, which is why some people find it a little tricky. Make the shape of a C with your left hand, and keep turning the wad of rice against this to give it a round edge. With the thumb and fingers of the right hand, press the rice into a flat shape - so your left hand makes it round, and your right hand makes it flat, turning it all the while, and both contribute to squeezing it together.
6. Set the completed onigiri aside on a plate and dip your hands ready for the next one. Chilling the onigiri in the fridge helps to set them. When they are cool, arrange them in the bento box. Quantity will depend on individual appetite, but I find three small onigiri or two medium-sized ones a good amount for lunch.
Remember: It sounds complicated, but once you have some practice you can stop thinking of it step-by-step like this and it becomes simpler and more intuitive. Squeezing too hard will smush the onigiri up; too light a touch will mean it doesn't stick together properly. You will be able to feel and see when you are applying enough pressure. For triangular onigiri, straighten the fingers of your left hand and angle the thumb so that you can give the rice slightly rounded corners as you turn it (you could also make a square - some people do by accident!).
Learn and Watch How to Make Onigiri
How to make Onigiri
PLEASE READ FIRST Thank you everyone for rates and feedback! Host: Mabel Cameraman: Zarah Comments and ratings are love! Ok this is Zarah and Mabel. We are planning to continue this cooking program with no name. If you have a suggestion for the name, please PM me. In this episode we're making Onigiri (Japanese rice balls)! What you need: 3 dl Japanese rice (1.2 cups) normal rice will NOT be good enough... it will just fall apart, tried it once, didn't work. Nori Canned Tuna Salt Mayonaise Water Utilities: Rice Cooker/Saucepan Deciliter cup Bowl Plastic spoon Plate Cloth (as a coaster) Cooking the rice When we cooked the rice we used 3 dl rice and 3.5 dl water. Don't forget to rinse the rice a few times before cooking it. -You CAN make it without the nori put the rice will stick to your hands -You CANNOT make proper onigiri with normal rice -You CAN have different filling
Runtime: 7:05
67073 views
10 Comments:
Japanese Mini Bento Lunch Box on Amazon
Japanese Mini Bento box Lunchbox #T06418
Amazon Price: $21.95 (as of 07/12/2009)
Product Description:
Japanese style two tiered lunchbox with cloth elastic band to keep your lunchbox securely closed. This laquered plastic Japanese lunchbox measures 5 1/2 inches long by 4 inches wide and when stacked measures 3 1/8 inches high. The bottom tray measures 1 1/2 inches deep, the plastic covered top tray measures 1 1/4 inches deep and has a 2 compartment mini tray to hold pickles. The laquered lid has a nice simple cherry blossom design. Hand wash in warm soapy water, the elastic band can be hand washed as well.
... Books on the Spotlight!
Bento Boxes: Japanese Meals on the Go
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/12/2009)
They say that Bento is to the Japanese and the brown bag lunch is to the Americans. This book offers simple, easy to make recipes and easy to follow which includes more than 40 main dish recipes and step-by-step illustrations.
Face Food:The Visual Creativity of Japanese Bento Boxes
Amazon Price: $11.01 (as of 07/12/2009)
Customer's Reviews:
The bulk of this book is devoted to photographs of the Bento Boxes, with the menu contained in each collection explained as well as the culinary `artist' being credited. Not only is this a fascinating little book to read and enjoy, it is also yet another art form that few of us in the West know. Perhaps we should take a hint at viewing sculpted food products as replacement for our fast food laziness - and at the same time find the pleasure in creating nutritional works for the children to proudly carry to school!
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Simple Menus for the Bento Box
Simple Menus for the Bento Box
Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009)
Zojirushi Mr. Bento Stainless-Steel lined Lunch Jar, Silver
Zojirushi Mr. Bento Stainless-Steel lined Lunch Jar, Silver
Amazon Price: $36.00 (as of 07/12/2009)
Zojirushi's Mr. Bento Stainless Lunch Jar in Silver is unique and functional. Stainless steel construction and vacuum insulation. Four microwaveable inner bowls and washable container. Includes a convenient carry strap for easy transport and a easy to carry bag.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Bento Stuff on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Zojirushi Mini Stainless Thermal Lunch Box, Green
Zojirushi Mini Stainless Thermal Lunch Box, Green
Amazon Price: $38.65 (as of 07/12/2009)
The Zojirushi Mini stainless thermal lunch box is has a vacuum insulated main bowl and two microwaveable side bowls. It collapses into half its size when empty. Includes chopsticks, chopsticks holder and easy to care insulated bag. Attractive blue and silver carrying case
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Fit & Fresh Lunch on the Go
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
Zojirushi Mini Stainless Thermal Lunch Box, Metallic Blue
Zojirushi Mini Stainless Thermal Lunch Box, Metallic Blue
Amazon Price: $39.00 (as of 07/12/2009)
The Zojirushi Mini stainless thermal lunch box is has a vacuum insulated main bowl and two microwaveable side bowls. It collapses into half its size when empty. Includes chopsticks, chopsticks holder and easy to care insulated bag. Attractive blue and silver carrying case
Avg. Customer Rating:
Chic, Easy to Carry Lunch Tote Bags
Danielle Lunch Tote, Eggplant
• "Brown bagging" will be a distant memory with these fun and funky lunch totes.
• Punch up your lunch with this colorful vinyl tote
• Roomy and stylish - you'll be the talk of the lunchtime crowd!
• Keeps food both warm and cool
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $14.15 (as of 07/12/2009)
Gourmet Getaway Tote - Leaf Green
• Tested for lead safety, no vinyl or PVC used
• Insulates hot or cold food beverage for up to four hours (time will vary depending on external temperature
• Soft-grip handle makes transporting easy and comfortable
• Stretches to hold and protect a variety of items
• Perfect for school, office, camping, travel, beach, etc.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 07/12/2009)
Built NY Gourmet Getaway Tote, Plaid No. 2
• Neoprene material insulates and protects bottles and food
• Machine washable and stain resistant
• Tote can fold up flat in your breifcase or backpack
• Ideal for taking to school, work, air travel, camping, hiking or anywhere on the go
• Innovative design
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009)
Thermos 18-Can Cooler - Dark Gray
• Stylish dark gray cooler is easy to tote with comfortable carrying strap
• Insulated cooler is designed to hold 18 (12-oz.) cans plus ice
• Superior cold insulation; leak-proof liner
• Features durable nylon polyester exterior
• 12Lx16Wx6D"
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $12.39 (as of 07/12/2009)
Fabulous Japanese Bento Boxes on Amazon
This is all for you!
![Japanese Lacquer Bento Box [Small] w/ Cover](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412GvpUTUkL._SL75_.jpg)
The Latest News Blog Posts from Google
- Deals hidden in Japan's alleys and on subways
- You can buy snacks on board, or do what the Japanese do: Buy a boxed bento lunch upstairs from stands beside the tracks or downstairs in one of the many ...
- An imperial evolution
- He led the way with his groundbreaking wedding in 1959 to Michiko Shoda, the first commoner to marry an heir to the Japanese throne. ...
- Susan Feniger's Street launches carryout bento boxes
- You choose the entrée: Korean short ribs, a crispy lamb taco, Japanese shizo shrimp, chilled soba noodles or tatsutage fried chicken. All bento boxes ...
- Japanese Style Bento Boxes
- Does anyone know if there's a Japanese Bento delivery place in Manhattan? I was able to get great ones delivered for lunches in Tokyo (I know, ...
Bento Links
All the Best in the Web
- How to Make Bento - wikiHow
- wikiHow article about How to Make Bento. ... While the Japanese term "bento" roughly translates to "box lunch" in English, this is not your average packed ...
- Cooking Cute: About Bento
- Bento, or o-bento, refers to a packaged, single-portion, portable meal that is usually eaten at lunch, but also comes in larger sizes meant for use at ...
- Cooking Cute: a bento site
- Just a heck of a whole lot has been going on since I posted my last bento back at the end of February. There is way too much to post here, but basically, ...
- Lunch Bucket Bento
- Daring Baker #3 - Julia's French Bread · My Phat Lunch · Bento Lunches for a Boy and a Boo · Some People Hope for Rain · Double Dog Dare You to Say ...
- Bento Features | FileMaker
- Bento also comes with more than 20 ready-to-use templates. ... If you're already using FileMaker Pro, be sure to check out Bento for your personal ...
- Flickr: bento
- Guide to bento packing and gap fillers · Biggie*, 1, 11 months ago ... This group is for the pictures of bento, lunch box, or dinner box, mostly used for ...
- Welcome to the Tokyo Food Page
- The Tokyo Food Page, a complete guide to Japanese food and restaurants in Tokyo, featuring recipes, articles on Japanese cooking, restaurant listings, ...
What bloggers says about Bento?
- The Food Pornographer » About the applecats bento box from Melbourne
- What is this applecats bento box? In case you have no idea what I'm talking about: The original post where I mentioned Juji gave me the bento box: Army of siew mai ?and lovely surprises for me. The first bento lunch using the bento box: ...
- Bento - iPhone Apps, iPhone 3G apps and iPod touch Applications ...
- iPhone Apps. iPhone Application Gallery is a list of iPhone apps, iPhone 3G apps and iPod touch apps that run in the Safari web browser, plus Native 3rd party apps, mods, hacks and software for the Apple iphone and the latest iPhone ...
- Salad Bento? « e's joie
- I think I did such a lousy job when it comes to packing, I don't have a proper bento box and neither did I have a proper cutlery. I didn't plan what to put so I just add in what it's available, I actually boil the egg, potato and crab ...
- Bento - iPhone Geek - Mobile Forum
- Get your life organized with the all-in-one organization and productivity app called Bento from FileMaker, Inc. which brings its popular personal.
Bento Box Recipes Links
All the Best in the Web
- mochi recipes@Everything2.com
- Bento Box · kanji · Pandeism · honeymoon salad · Volume Conversion Factors · ohagi · Sensei's recipes · Shoyu · Raccoon Stew · Gomasio · Box Elder · seppuku ...
- Recipes Sites
- Back of the Box Brand Name Recipes, http://www.backofthebox.com/ ...... Cottage Cheese Recipes, http://www.mayas.com/cooking/Cottage%20Cheese%20Recipes.html ...
- Online Recipes Sites
- Back of the Box Brand Name Recipes, http://www.backofthebox.com/ ..... Civil War Recipes, http://www.acsearch.com/index.php/Civil%20war%20recipes/ ...
- Soy Sauce Eggs -- Bento Eggs Recipe | Recipezaar
- Feb 17, 2007 ... Soy Sauce Eggs -- Bento Eggs Recipe | Recipezaar - These eggs are really different from your standard hard boiled eggs and my kids love to ...
- Bento.com recipes - Hiyashi-chuuka (cold Chinese-style noodles)
- bento.com recipes - Hiyashi-chuuka (cold Chinese-style noodles) ... Source: Noriko's Kitchen. recipe courtesy of Hiroyuki Sato (71461.2100@compuserve.com) ...
- Bento.com recipes - Curry-flavored potato croquettes
- bento.com recipes - Curry-flavored potato croquettes. ... This recipe uses beef or pork, but substituting canned salmon or tuna should work great. ...
- Bento.com recipes - Marinated chicken wings
- bento.com recipes - Marinated chicken wings. ... Source: Noriko's Kitchen. recipe courtesy of Hiroyuki Sato (71461.2100@compuserve.com) ...
- Bento.com recipes - Oyako-donburi (chicken and egg over rice)
- bento.com recipes - Oyako-donburi (chicken and egg over rice) ... This dish belongs to the ten-ya-mono category of Japanese recipes. ...
- Bento.com recipes - California Rolls
- bento.com recipes - California rolls. ... California rolls. Home >> Japanese cuisines >> Recipes >> California rolls ...
- Mellow Monk's Green Tea Blog: Bento recipes
- Bento recipes. CookingCute.com has recipes for unconventional but very delicious-looking bentos. The photo below shows tomato-basil shrimp with onions (top) ...
- Bento.com recipes - Japanese cooking basics
- bento.com recipes - Dashi, ponzu, Japanese cooking basics.
- Bento.com recipes - Shabu-shabu (quick-cooked beef)
- bento.com recipes - Shabu-shabu (quick-cooked beef)
- Bento.com recipes - Tonkatsu (pork cutlet)
- bento.com recipes - Tonkatsu (pork cutlet) ... This recipe also works very well with beef, chicken, oysters, and large shrimps or prawns. ...
- Bento.com recipes - Aromatic Baked Salmon
- bento.com recipes - Baked Salmon. ... Other Asian Recipes. Honeyed chicken breasts · Korean cellophane noodles · Pork spareribs. Aromatic Baked Salmon ...
- Bento.com recipes - Grilled Miso Chicken
- bento.com recipes - Grilled miso chicken. ... This recipe may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without the permission of the author. ...
- Bento Box at Chinese Recipes | Cooking Tips | Good Eats
- Nov 14, 2006 ... Chinese cooking recipes cookbooks "Real & Healthy Chinese Cooking" - 500+ low carb and low fat recipes with 170+ colorful pictures is based ...
- Bento Rice Recipe Details | Recipe database | washingtonpost.com
- This rice could count as both boiling and steaming: two of the goho, or five different cooking methods used in building a bento box combination. ...
- Index of all recipes | Just Bento
- A sortable index of all recipes and how-tos on Just Bento. ... Recipe index on Just Hungry, our sister site. Many can be used in bento boxes, especially in ...
- Quick spinach bento lunches & recipe | Lunch in a Box: Building a ...
- Contents: Lamburger (ground lamb and shredded carrot burger) on English muffin with lettuce and cheese, mangoes and blueberries with a splash of lime.
- Bento.com recipes - Scallops in Yuzu (Hotate Yuzu Kama-yaki)
- bento.com recipes - Scallops in Yuzu (Hotate Yuzu Kama-yaki) ... The essence of Japan is captured in this collection of recipes ranging from rustic one-pot ...
- Bento.com recipes - Korean Cellophane Noodles with Vegetables
- bento.com recipes - Korean Cellophane Noodles with Vegetables (Chapchae) ... This complete guide to cooking noodles features more than 60 recipes, ...
- Bento.com recipes - Chawan-mushi
- bento.com recipes - Chawan-mushi (egg custard) ... more recipes. California rolls · Inside-out California rolls · Chawan-mushi (egg custard) ...
- Bento.com recipes - Tori no mizutaki (chicken stew)
- bento.com recipes - Tori no mizutaki, chicken stew, Japanese chicken stew, Japanese chicken.
- Teriyaki Fish Bento | bento, restos & recipes at http://www ...
- Hours later, as I was preparing the marinade, I cut the pack open and found-a fillet of fish. How stupid is that, I ask you? No wonder I couldn't find the ...
- Bento Boxes Recipes and Supplies
- MTC's links to places online to buy bento boxes and supplies, and get tasty Japanese food recipes and preparation tips.
Thank you for dropping by!
Did you liked this lens? Is there's something you really needed to know? I would definitely love to hear from you.
clouda9 wrote...
Beautifully designed and oh so yummy lens! Added to mine: The Yummiest Squidoo Lunch Recipes Ever :)
Posted June 30, 2009
Risa28 wrote...
Thanks for all the info and gorgeous pix. I learned a lot. Nice lens, 5*s
Posted February 25, 2009
Hi, you have great and very informative lens. 5 stars of course.
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Posted May 21, 2008
mulberry wrote...
I wish my lunch boxes were filled like these. I think I saw a show about these recently. There was a service that delivered these meals to work places, thousands each day with no errors. Wonderfully appealing lens!
Posted May 11, 2008
WrinkleCreamSpecialist wrote...
Here is another girl off to the fridge.. I love your lens, great work. Five from me ;)
Posted May 10, 2008
You'll definitely love this lenses, too!
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