Oh Dear…. what have I got myself into? Another blogging challenge. Well, if anything, it stretches my creativeness and and pushes my culinary skills. This time it’s all about bentos. Basically, a bento is a a packed lunch for taking away.
This challenge came about with twitter conversations with Jenni, Tracey, The Daily Spud, Elizabeth and Yuri. We then brought it Sheri, our resident bento expert. We aptly hash-tagged our bento related tweets #bentocuteness. However, as the deadline drew near, new hash tags were being born like #halfassbento and #procrastibento. For the roundup, please visit Yuri’s blog.
I had it all planned. I wanted to make Deanna’s lunch for Kindergrten (pre-school). And as usual, I ran of time. I did make it and photograph it and Deanna did end up taking it to Kinder for her lunch. However, I ran out of time to post it as the deadline was the weekend it was Deanna’s 5th birthday. But that’s another post.
I’ve never made a bento before so I had to do a little research. There are so many beautiful bento boxes out there.
Here’s my version. It’s called “Stars and Moons”
For the sandwiches, I used an empanada press, which I actually have never used to make empanadas but saw it one day, when I was cleaning the back of the cupboard. Of course, the sandwich can be filled with whatever filling you like. Deanna likes ham and cheese, so that’s what I put in it. For a healthy lunch, I included sliced apples and mandarins. I also like to add a vegetable so I added carrots which I cut out into stars using a cookie cutter. I also added some cheese triangles.
It may not be the cutest bento box, but it was yummy and healthy. The best part was that Deanna was excited to bring it to kinder and eat it for lunch because it was something different.
Bon Appetite,
Cherrie
cute!! i want fresh fruit cut up for me like that…. i’m really really too lazy today!
Gorgeous! That is well cute, Cherrie. I love the star-shaped carrots and I think my kitchen now needs an empanada press
So cute! Love the empanada sandwiches, very creative
I am updating the #bentocuteness post with your link. Hope your kid asks for more bento, I am thinking of trying bento making again!
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Thanks for sharing this great idea Cherrie! I love the thinking outside the box, clever use of the empanada maker. A great, fun lunch for your lucky girl!
Wow Cherrie, that is really cute and your kindergardener must be very happy with it. Cute little talent there, if I may add.
Awww.. how cute is that? I would have been happy to if I were Deanna!! Yayy!
Great minds think alike! I was inspired by stars too.
I am not a veg fan but the star-carrots make me want to just pop them straight into my mouth and start crunching! This is a fun and wonderfully healthy bento. 
I love the stars idea. I use star and flower cutters probably in every single cute bento I make because it’s such a quick and easy go-to, and it always makes the happiness pop out. Love it!
Too cute! I love the empanada-pressed sammies! Deanna must’ve felt like a special star, eating that lunch!! And happy birthday to her!
Cherrie, this is out of this world cute!!!! You did such a terrific job and what a cute post to read! Thanks for sharing! As always, it was fun to do the bento challenge with you and the rest of the cuties!
Extremely well executed piece
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