Curry Rice Bento

Well, this bento is actually from a couple of weeks ago, I just never had a chance to post it. I have still been making bentos a couple of times a week, but I have been so busy I haven't been photographing them. I promise to try & post more often. (^_^)

This particular bento was my lunch, it is curry fried rice in the lower tier, and in the upper tier broccoli with kewpie mayo, curry-filled nan bread purchased from a street vendor-it is sooo delicious, I buy it whenever I see the vendor set up (which is rare, and most of the time it's sold out by the time I get there :(

In the divider cup, lower half has karaage and fried green onions, and the upper half is fresh strawberries dusted with "strawberry cream" flavored powdered sugar. I love the ideas they come up with here in Japan, especially when it is related to food!

Octodog Bento

I was up at 5;30 am again.. and not it wasn't the baby waking me up, it's springtime in Japan so the sun rises at 5 am. And it's so bright I always think that I've overslept. So, ever bright-eyed and bushy-tailed(??!) I set about making this for the daughter.
I started by cutting the octodog, which are actually very easy to make, if you own a knife.. You really don't need any special tools for this job (think plastic octopus cutter) All you really have to do is cut a hotdog in half at an angle, then cut "tentacles" by making 3 or 4 slits at the bottom of the hotdog. When you cook it it turns into a nice octodog. I happened to overcook this guy slightly, but daughter didn't mind. I actually think they taste much better "blackened" Like over a campfire.. ah, the childhood memories..
oh. sorry. back.to. the. bento.
The other half of the hot dog and egg are positioned under the pretty, decorated ones. Like so many who stand in the shadows of their famous siblings.. no makeup & slightly burned. I put some ketchup into the orange case for dipping, and stuck some fruit and veggies in there for nutrition, daughter seemed to like it.
On a side note, my bento addiction is getting worse by the day.. I got the most adorable Jelly Belly shaped bento the other day, it is supposed to look like a banana jelly bean. It is adorable, and by far the most expensive bento I have purchased. I will be posting a picture soon.