Bento #10 - The Fox

Another inspiration I've gotten from the Internet. This time is from one of the bento mummies in a FB group that I am in. Here's the inspiring work:-

After giving it some thought and changing some ingredients, here's my version:-

I'd use bread ends to create the fox's face, ears, eyes and nose. Nori for its features. Wastage is great for this design unless you are making small foxes. To make a fox that can take up space in the bento box, you can only cut 1 star with a slice of bread. To make these for my boys, I've used up 4 slices of bread and 2 slices of bread ends. Due to its unique shape, there is quite a fair bit of wastage from each cut outs.

My advise, unless you have great use for those wasted edges, try to avoid this though it is quite cute. =)

What's cooking?

"Oh where, oh where had my HAMACHI gone?

Oh where, oh where can it be?

With its head so big and its body so long,

Oh where, oh where can it be."

Hubby had bought a HUGE Hamachi fish (3.6kg) from Giant just before CNY. We had the fish cut up in 3 sections in general.

1) Head - Hubby's favorite. Set aside to be grilled.
2) Tail - Gotten it filleted, kept for steamboat on CNY eve.
3) Body - Remaining part of the fish were cut into steaks.


The fish head was taken out to be grilled the very next day. Lightly seasoned with sea salt and pepper, send into the oven to be grilled. Hubby was a happy boy when he sees his fish head.

I had forgotten to take a picture of the fish during our steamboat session on CNY eve. But trust me ... Hamachi tasted as good even when used for steamboat.


After enjoying the head and tail, it is time to attack the remaining part of the fish. Just like the head, lightly seasoned with sea salt and pepper, pan fry them instead of grilling. YUMZ!!!

I also had a try on making my favorite childhood MUST HAVE snack during CNY - 煎年糕.

This is one of the snack that I often see when I was a girl. My grandma would have prepared this on the 1st day of CNY. But after her passing, no one in my family continued with the tradition. Also, I had spend a few year aboard in pursue of my studies. After I'd gotten married, hubby did wanted to have it last year. But I was too busy with the children and hence set it aside. This year, found no more excuses and set my heart to try it out. Woo ... how I miss this little snack!!!


Beef Bulgogi is the 1st Korean dish Owein had tasted and he like it. I had bought a bottle of bulgogi sauce awhile back in mind to make the dish for the boys. But as usual, the bottle sat in my pantry for a long time before I decided to use it. Prepared this dish using instinct but the dish turned out pretty good. These days, cooking is made so much easier with all these cooking sauces.

Sliced the beef thinly into strips, marinate with sauce. Give it a quick stir in a heated pan and VIOLA!!!

Simple to prepare and yet taste good enough. Most importantly, the boys like it. That's all I need to motivate me in the kitchen.

What's brewing?

Had been using my latest addition in the kitchen extensively. Really love the convenience of it. I could safely dump all ingredients in it, set the timer, and by the time I go check it, whatever it is brewing, is ready =)

Other than using it to cook Odin's meals, I had used it to make drinks and dessert for the family. So far we had:-

1) Barley Drink

2) Water Chestnut with Sugar Cane Drink

3) Lemongrass with Ginger Drink

4) Green Bean with Sago Dessert

I believe there will be more to come but planning to take a break for awhile.

Bento #9 - The Elephant

Had this image stored in my phone for a long time till I also forgotten where I saw it from. Anyway, finally got the chance to give it a try.

However, instead of using cheese and carrot as stated in the image, I used my favourite - bread ends.

Guess difference in ingredients does not make a great difference =)

My boys at 1

Was browsing through the boys' pictures and had decided to make a comparison of them at 1 year old.

After taking a closer look at them ... Odin is really a mix between Oswald and Owein.

Pretty Nails

OH YEAH!!!

Pretty pretty nails all set for CNY 2013!!!

Finally had the chance to beautify my long neglected nails. Did not have the chance to get it done last CNY because Odin was still too young and I could not be away from him for a long period of time.

Feel so happy to see my nails nicely 'painted' =)

奇伟养生壶

Ordered this a month back and finally it is here!!!

Had been 'watching' via FB how versatile this pot can be and I could only drool and envy. Now finally my turn to use it to prepare food ans stuff ;)

The 1st thing I tried cooking is Odin's porridge. After all that's the main reason why I bought the pot. After the trial, I love the pot to the max. No need to worry about spillage when boiling - which is ome of the selling feature of this product. No need to worry about food being burnt - can set timer for cooking time, and cooking stops when timer is up and keep food warm. All this equates to I can just put all ingredients in and need not worry about cooking process and tend to it when I had the time to. Cuts down the time that I need to be at the stove. Isn't it great?

This came just in time for CNY.

Bento #8 - 'Apple' Buddies

Hokay ... enough of 'square' design bentos already. This time I'd decided to go for 'balls' ... time to practice my bread ball making skills. Did some last minute online research and visualisation, I am pretty glad that it turned out alright. At least this time I need not swallow that many bread balls before I get the perfect one.

Decorated the balls with nori for facial expressions and picks as the 'stalk'. Using Wilton's piping gel to add color for the cheeks. I stil had no idea what to name my bento till Owein saw it. He commented that they look like apples. Therefore they are then decided to be called the 'Apple' Buddies.