I just HAD to post these. Gala's second birthday was yesterday and my mom found these awesome hello kitty cookie cutters. Of course my brain started figuring out how to use them for Gala's bentos... so... Last night I got started. The picture above is cucumber. Click to enlarge and see detail, my favorite is the bear.
Now these are jicama, a crunchy white root that sort of resembles water chestnuts in texture. Luckily in Mexico we have lots and year round. I pressed each cutter into a thin slice of jicama.
Then I colored them with food coloring with a paintbrush (that I only use for food) and toothpicks. I will also try with apple, pineapple and pretty much any other sturdy veggie. Remember when you cut apples to dunk your artwork in acidulated water (you can make it yourself with citric acid or plain ol' lemon juice). Come to think of it, you can use any cookie cutter, just start with really thin slices. My favorite is the strawberry, above the cherries. Hard to believe it's jicama! The little hello kitty divider is home made too. I've had such a hard time finding anything bento, I took some paper and stickers and laminated them. If you scroll down to my older posts you might also see some other dividers I made with fancy origami paper.
Now I'll answer some FAQs: yes, I have a full time job monday through friday as a Children's Librarian; I study on saturday to get certified from 8 - 2; and sunday I teach a class on sign language and then translate the service to the deaf. Yes, I have a life {and I love it}.
No, I didn't dot my "i's" with little hearts. And the reason why I do this is because the bento way is a great way to eat healthy, and for Gala to smile when she opens her lunchbox and remembers her mama loves her.
For the record, on the days when I'm just too tired I'll pack applesauce and crackers with no special touch; which is fine by me, and fine by her too. : ) I also must give credit to my partner in everything, who plays with his daughter every day so that I can have a little time for myself. (Now you know what I do with that time!). I love you!
This post is dedicated to all our good friends who celebrate a birthday in March! Maria Angeles, Luis, Alex Escobar, Mildred, Gala Noel, Lynn, Caleb, Juan, Patrick, Carlos L., Janet, Don Charlie, Maddison, Angelica, Celina, Luis Marcel, Salvy, Paola, and triplets Tania, Andrea and Carlos Jr. And to Ivonne and Juan Pablo who celebrate their annivesary... ...and to Miguel & Jenn, who celebrate 7 happy years of marriage, too!
My brother and his alter ego. I spent the weekend with him in L.A. and just this past saturday we went to the Anaheim Honda Center to the Billy Joel & Elton John concert!!!! What an awesome way to spend the weekend, huh? Thanks, bro. I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind...
Here is our birthday princess who now answers "TWO!" when you ask her how old she is. She is as lovely as ever and quite a sharp little mind! She articulates phrases with prepositions, understands and says concepts like empty / full, también / tampoco, algunos / ninguno, some, none, first, last, primero /último and can also name all colors in both english and spanish; count to ten in english and spanish, recognizes most animals, all bodyparts, and identifies numbers 1 and 2 if seen somewhere. She is very witty and cracks us up constantly. Just yesterday she said: "Mamá enfermita, papá enfermito... ¡Que pena me dan!" Seriously, what's going on in that pretty little head?
