How can I find time to make these super-arty lunches

jo1972

bestpud wrote: »

Jo1972 - your son goes back early doesn't he? Mine aren't back until the 5th September and I don't start back until the 3rd October, so I'll have another month to perfect it before I have to eat them!

Bestpud, mine also goes back first week of Sept but as I don't get paid until the end of the month I can't afford to buy the box(es) till then so will only have a week to practice!!

So has anyone tried dipping the fruit in orange juice, does this stop the browning?

Gingernutmeg

jo1972 wrote: »

So has anyone tried dipping the fruit in orange juice, does this stop the browning?

I haven't tried it as such, but I'd imagine it'd work perfectly well - it's acidic like lemon juice, maybe a bit less so but I really can't see that it wouldn't work. I often make fruit salad and just pour orange juice (or orange and mango, yum) over it, it works well in that.

jo1972

Gingernutmeg wrote: »

I often make fruit salad and just pour orange juice (or orange and mago, yum) over it

Thanks Gingernutmeg, I'll give it a go at the weekend and see if it works before I send ds off to school!

BTW I read your post as orange and 'mayo' and my breakfast nearly came up :rotfl:

Gingernutmeg

Ahh, sorry lol - my keyboard is on it's way out and I'm loosing letters like no-one's business I've changed it now, it sounds much less revolting

Fresh pineapple with pineapple and coconut juice over it is delicious too - I've made this as a pudding for grown-ups with a good slug of Malibu in it, and some coconut yogurt on top.

jo1972

Gingernutmeg wrote: »

Fresh pineapple with pineapple and coconut juice over it is delicious too - I've made this as a pudding for grown-ups with a good slug of Malibu in it, and some coconut yogurt on top.

That sounds delicious! Must remember to not get the malibu ones mixed up with the kiddies one :eek:

Plum_Pie

I've been lurking on this thread and then found myself on ebay... :O

Found this US bento supplies shop which is having a sale from the 6th to the 13th August. Although the seller states

"The Bento Obento Shop ships internationally for orders over $25. Please email me your shipping destination and a list of the items you're interested in to get a shipping quote."

($25 is about £13)

http://stores.ebay.com/Bento-Obento-Shop

jo1972

I love the mickey mouse one they are selling! Oh no you've made me go on to ebay :eek: I'm meant to be working!!

miniloopie

I've just spent my whole lunchtime and lots of the afternoon reading this thread and some of the sites linked from it :eek:
I'm now armed with a list of Bento possibilities and a few tupperware boxes at home to try them out in... if I like it then the girls (now 16 months) will definitely be subjected to it... I figure I can leave them a Bento box each at home for lunch... how exciting!

Thanks everyone who contributed... loads of stuff to try out now! I particularly like the cut out sandwiches and layers of rice etc.

Does anyone know which rice is used? Am I being ultra cautious or do I remember that you arent supposed to re-heat rice once its been cooked??

Gingernutmeg

I'd imagine that the rice they use is sushi rice, which is 'stickier' than the long grain stuff and so will hold together.

In my food hygiene training I've always been taught that rice is one of the most 'high risk' foods and so shouldn't be reheated. It can contain something called bacillus cereus which can make you ill, and so we're told never to reheat rice, and if we intend to serve it cold (not recommended) then it should be chilled asap and only kept out of refrigeration for three hours before being disposed of. Every EHO I've ever known has told me the story of people thinking they've had a dodgy curry/chinese when in fact it's the improperly reheated rice ...

However, it seems to me that there are an awful lot of Japanese/Chinese/Korean people who must be eating cold/reheated rice every day and it doesn't seem to be doing them any harm. So, I'd imagine that if you used fresh rice, added the rice vinegar/vinegary pickles/seasonings that are popular in Asia, and you were fairly scrupulous about your food hygiene and (most importantly) had a cool lunchbox, then you *should* be ok. The author of the Lunch in a Box website makes and freezes onigiri (rice balls) and from what I can gather microwaves them again before putting them in a box, and she's still alive lol! (She does have some good tips on food hygiene too ) I'm working myself up to trying this as it goes against all of the food hygiene rules I've always been taught, but like I said there are an awful of people eating this daily and they don't seem to be dropping like flies. The Japanese people I've known have always been some of the most scrupulously hygienic people I've ever met, and you can buy antibacterial bits and bobs for bento boxes if you're worries. I wouldn't try it with any of the 'high risk' groups though - the very young, the elderly, pregnant women and those with compromised immunity, just in case.

JAMIEDODGER

i am loving this thread! im bored of the stuff i put in the kids lunchboxes everyday so i can only imagine they are too! i think my daughter will love this:D