Mothering Corner

Occasionally, I pack lunch bento for hubby on Saturdays since he has to go back to the office for a few hours. On other working days, both of us prefer to eat out, or just “ta pao” our lunch, and I don’t have much time for “serious” cooking in the morning. If I would to pack adult bento everyday, I can totally forget about decorating my kids’ bentos, unless I am willing to sacrifise my beauty sleep. LOL!

Some of hubby’s lunch bentos, which I managed to snap photos before he rushed out to work! LOL!

That’s why I really admire some Japanese bento-ers who pack charaben bentos and papa bentos everyday. Some of them pack for 2 or more children, and another adult bento for their husbands. It’s amazing to see how determined and dedicated they are in packing home cooked meals for their love ones. I joked to hubby once that if we can pack our lunch everyday, we might save up a lot in eating out, and he might be able to get me some nice presents or bring me holiday on European cruises in the near future. LOL! But both of us enjoy going out for lunch, so I will only pack for him when he asks for one.

Thus, thumb’s up to all the bento-ers who pack kids bento and papa bento everyday! You guys are amazing.

I only pack fruits for myself and hubby to work, and the fruit bento is quite plain. It has fresh fruits and those leftover from my kids’ bento, and I never decorate it. Seriously, I have never packed a nice bento for myself. So, when I saw Javapot’s contest, I thought it would be a good chance for me to pack something for myself, for the first time! Hopefully, it’s not the last.

This was my lunch, actually…

 There are pork fried in dark soy-sauce, some green veggie, 2 berry tomatoes, a salmon fillet, some red hom mali rice, a piece of seafood tofu and 3 slices of sweet potatoes.

Am I a big eater? LOL!

My Bento, for Myself, and about Myself!

As you can see, I wrote “I Love (the pink heart) 2 Shop” on three shopping bags (cut from seafood tofu). You can also read it as ” 1-2-Shop” because I’m a shopaholic. Anyone who knows me personally can confirm that! I can shop all day, and my highest record was 8 hours, with 2 tea breaks. The main reason why I stopped is because I was out of money and all my shopping kaki were broke and tired too. LOL!

If you see closer, you may notice the wavy details on the blouse, and that represents my crochet and knitting works. I love knitting and crocheting, but my knitting blog has long been abandoned since I moved to Bangkok. I don’t knit as much as I did before, but I’m still working on my knit dress.

Another thing about me is I love to eat, and I’m quite a big eater for a woman. My SIL said I eat like a man as my portion is always double hers. Funnily, most women in Thailand eat rather few. I always have to order double portion of noodles for my tomyam or pig bone soup here, and I can’t believe that other patrons around me can have enough with just the normal portion.

Besides that, you might think that I don’t eat a lot of rice, which is true. I don’t really have to take rice as my source of carbohydrate. There was a time when I didn’t take a single rice grain at all for more than 6 months because I didn’t feel like swallowing it. But now, I will take some to be a “role model” to my kids. Asian la, have to eat rice…

Oh ya, I don’t put flowers on my hair on normal days, but if I’m on vacation at some nice beaches, I won’t mind wearing some flowery hair accessories. I love going to the beach, but it’s very sunny now and I have just regained my “fairness”. LOL! So, I won’t be going for sunbathing soon.

Ok, I guess that’s about all for my bento. I’m going to send this to Javapot now. Wish me luck.

Regarding Bento#9, the doggie was messed up by the time my boy opened his bento. So, I have to think of a way to make sure that things are in place if I would to do something cute next time.

We spent almost the whole Saturday staying at home. Hubby played golf and we planned to meet him up at the office after his game. Thus, I prepared something for him and the kids.

Clockwise: A piece of grilled salmon teriyaki, some cherry tomatoes, choy sum, roasted pork ribs and rice decorated with carrots.

For my boy as tea: Banana, cherry tomatoes, spring rolls and some mini peanut butter chocolate sandwiches.

For my gal (who had eaten banana earlier): Some strawberries, spring rolls and sandwiches too.

Actually, I felt that it’s easier to pack bento with dishes and rice, without thinking much about decorating it. I just have to pack those dishes I cook everyday when they are cold or just pack them in a thermal container. I used to do so for my children when they went to the office on our first month in Bangkok. That thermal container is very convenient in keeping the rice and dishes warm until lunch hour. However, since my children will only take some simple snack after school, I’ve put the thermal container away. But who knows? Maybe someday I will pack lunch with it.