Bento Boxes

[PrincessFiona60]

While I was wandering the Internet looking at Sushi I stumbled onto a Bento Blog...yeah, bought the cook book, couple of odd items and ordered a Bento Box from Japan. This one: Kasuri Purple Flower 2 Tier Bento Box & Elastic Band

Anyway, is there anyone else around who is interested in Bento (yes, I know Kathleen is) I am very interested in Traditional and non-traditional ingredients. I want to learn techniques and recipes.

I'm hoping to use Sushi and Bento as weight loss and healthy eating strategies.

Ideas, I want your ideas and hopefully some companionship on this culinary journey.

[Kathleen]

I'm totally in with this idea! I've been looking for someone to share ideas for giving this a try. I'm getting the laptop lunch system because I have seen websites where people have posted pictures - which may give me ideas. Here is the one I chose. Currently I have a School House Rock lunchbox, but never was able to find good containers to rig it for Bento-style meals.

I cannot wait for great ideas and seeing what you make, PF.

[PrincessFiona60]

I found a couple of little (1 inch) cookie cutters I want to use for cutting out red and yellow peppers. I also found a set of prep bowls that go from 1/4th cup to 2 cups. Mostly because of the shape of the bowls, nicely rounded for shaping Onigiri (rice balls). Handheld mandolin and a couple of knives from Kuhn Rikoh.

From what I have read, you want to prepare your Bento fresh everyday, so having the right prep equipment is a big help. I'm clearing out a gadget drawer tomorrow for these things. My Bento box will be awhile getting here...a couple of weeks.

What ideas for your box do you have, Kathleen? I plan on some traditional for a while.

I better buy batteries for my camera!

[Kathleen]

Originally Posted by PrincessFiona60

I found a couple of little (1 inch) cookie cutters I want to use for cutting out red and yellow peppers. I also found a set of prep bowls that go from 1/4th cup to 2 cups. Mostly because of the shape of the bowls, nicely rounded for shaping Onigiri (rice balls). Handheld mandolin and a couple of knives from Kuhn Rikoh.

From what I have read, you want to prepare your Bento fresh everyday, so having the right prep equipment is a big help. I'm clearing out a gadget drawer tomorrow for these things. My Bento box will be awhile getting here...a couple of weeks.

What ideas for your box do you have, Kathleen? I plan on some traditional for a while.

I better buy batteries for my camera!

Er......um....eh....my goal is going to be to fill all of the little boxes and have them still look edible when lunch arrives.

I know that one should have variety in types of food and colors. And that there should be 3 parts rice/pasta/bread, 1 part protein, and 2 parts fruits and veggies. I think I may resurrect the sesame seed noodles with some protein like poached salmon or chicken...or shrimp! Mmm. I love veggie sticks. Perhaps some no sugar yogurt or pudding. Clementines, if they are still in season. Grapes..

Frank often packs my lunch. Getting him to cut my sandwiches into fours is a challenge. But I'm sure he will be totally on-board with making me small flower-shaped sandwiches! I did buy a small rice mold and an egg mold just because they were so cute!

I seriously cannot wait! My system will be here in a week or so.

[spork]

There's just one tiny Japanese grocery store within driving distance (that's struggling in this economy) which prepares daily bento boxes for sale. I'll take a pic next time I buy one...

The most basic, most traditional is hinomaru bento - rice with a red, sour pickle of plum in the center - looks just like the Japanese flag.

Most modern bento boxes are made with compartments. If yours isn't, I would get some stuff to separate the food - common are decorative green plastic sheet dividers, miniature cupcake tinfoil, etc.

I promise to post a few good recipes, but honestly, you can take bento boxes wherever your imagination leads... variety and portion are good working rules.

[potsnpanties]

The bento box diet is a pretty neat variation of portion control. I have had a longstanding obsession love for bentos ^_^ Silicone cupcake wrappers are a really great tool for bentos as they're reusable, good portion space and the flexibility of the material means they fit into things quite nicely.

I was reading a passage on bentos recently in Hideo Dekura's "Japanese Cooking At Home", this is straight from the book -

"Lunch, as well as other meals, usually consists of rice alone with small portions of tasty, cooked morsels. When lunch is taken from home, it is conveniently carried in a small box known as o-bentō.
The desire for people to have such conveniently portable and attractively displayed lunches has led to a thriving industry in Japan. Of course, some mothers still prepare o-bentō for their families, but an endless variety of o-bentō can be purchased relatively cheaply from almost any store where food is handled.

Department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, railway stations, small kiosks and shopping malls all sell a huge selection of lunch boxes with flavors to suit all tastes and budgets. You can even order o-bentō from a choice of set menus in restaurants. The boxes are usually divided into small compartments, so the rice is kept separate from the other ingredients, which include a selection of cooked foods and pickles."


I know it's not giving you specifics but hopefully the information gives you at least an idea that well... almost anything could be put in a bento. I've seen more Japanese related cuisine bentos consisting of things (outside of just sushi maki) like onigiri (rice balls/triangles), inari-zushi (tofu pouch sushi), tamago-yaki (Japanese omelet), korokke (croquettes) plus various rice dishes.

Hopefully I didn't just push bunch of info you already know of your way so I hope this helps, Fiona!

[garlicjosh]

I'm a total Japanese nerd..I spend the time that I am not cooking, watching Anime, hanging out on a Japanese culture forum, listening to J-pop and whatever else..so yeah..I have a couple of bento boxes around here.

I really like to do simply stuff for mine, fried rice, fried tofu with veggies, soy sauce. a miso dipping sauce, rice balls, burrito variations. Mostly stuff that is easily reheated or can be eaten at room temp..such as soba noodles tossed in which ever asian sauce variation I am feeling that day.

[Katie H]

Originally Posted by PrincessFiona60

While I was wandering the Internet looking at Sushi I stumbled onto a Bento Blog...yeah, bought the cook book, couple of odd items and ordered a Bento Box from Japan. This one: Kasuri Purple Flower 2 Tier Bento Box & Elastic Band

Anyway, is there anyone else around who is interested in Bento (yes, I know Kathleen is) I am very interested in Traditional and non-traditional ingredients. I want to learn techniques and recipes.

I'm hoping to use Sushi and Bento as weight loss and healthy eating strategies.

Ideas, I want your ideas and hopefully some companionship on this culinary journey.

Hey, PrincessFiona60, check out posts made by member "grumblebee." She's posted quite a bit on them, but not for a while.

[NAchef]

I almost bought one a year ago, seems like it would be nice and maybe keep me eating a bit better.

I liked the Zojirushi bentos, Zojirushi

[PrincessFiona60]

So cool! Lots of Bento folks. Thanks for the replies and offers. All appreciated!

I'm going to be buying some umeboshi today, I was hesitant when I was gathering my Sushi supplies, but now that I know how to use it, it will make it's way into my stash.

I have found a site that as recipes for homemade Furikake, so will be filling up with those ingredients, too. And I have been practicing tamagoyaki. Next up is practicing onigiri, my rice cooker should be here tomorrow.

I do have a Zojirushi Mr. Bento, I've been playing with that. I have some condiment bottles and silicone cupcake wrappers coming along with the Bento book I ordered.

Shrek is shaking his head...I just remind him about the new mandolin (music) he bought! No wonder he was so generous yesterday!