Bento time

So, there is more to a bento than just a lunch box- instead they are a way to show the person whom you love most that you care...

Forget the secret love notes or the subtle stalking of the high school girls in Australia; in Japan if you want to show a man you care- make him a bento. High school girls who are competent enough may try and win the love of their life by giving him a lunchbox of food prepared lovingly by hand. Yes, it seems that the way to a man's heart really is through his stomach in Japan. Or possibly it is some kind of teenage test to show that you could be a housewife worthy of serving him 'til kingdom come.

Mothers too (if they have enough time on their hands and could be bothered) may also prepare their love in box form. None of this 'fun size pack of chips and a random tubed shaped yoghurt' (Or that one piece of bruised fruit that appears over and over again mysteriously, no matter how many times it gets returned in the afternoons)- Bentos in Japan are serious stuff...

No, that is not one I prepared earlier, but I have gotten to making my husband a box of love everyday. After all, I do want to be a good housewife.

My problem is that he does not eat vegetables, cold meat, or any type other Bento ingredient so it looks like all these fancy pants bentos are out for me (whatever will I do with the extra time now :p). Instead, Senior Lukington gets some lovingly prepared onigiri....

Step One: 

Cook rice in the amazing rice cooker 

(FYI- if you do not have one and eat rice more than once a week: Get one! This one has two timers so the rice is ready for whenever I want and it keeps it warm. No more of that embarrassing rice water spillage in the microwave for me, no sir)

Step two: 

Fill half the onigiri triangle container with rice (that's right, I cheat) and then put in a delicious filling. Senior Lukington has Japanese curry in this one. 

(FYI- ignore the "bold and the beautiful" style photos with the layer of vaseline on the lens.... The rice was very steamy)

 

 Step three:

Fill the rest with rice to the top, place on the lid and squeeze the love into it...

 Step four:

Pop it out of the container and cover in delicious sesame seeds- these ones are curry flavoured...

Step five:

Place in bento box and send it off with love. 

Nom nom nom.

I pack the nori (seaweed) separately so Luke can wrap it himself when he is ready to eat it so the seaweed stays crunchy...

Well, it might not be anything like this....

But the good news is that Luke has already bought the cow, so I don't really need to impress him with food shaped animals for lunch.

Besides, it sure beats a stale vegemite sandwich....