Wish Upon A Star - Rilakkuma Bear Bento

If my memory serves me right, playing with food was one of the big “no no” when I was young!  Maybe because of culture?  Or maybe different generations?  I don’t know.  Probably because my parents don’t want us to ended up wasting food.  How about you?  Were you allowed to play with food when you were young?  Well, I’m just glad that I can play with my food everyday in the kitchen now!  Oh, and of course, my kids are encouraged to do so as well!  After all, I think that’s a great learning and bonding time for us as a family.  Plus, the kiddos are definitely enjoying the food more if they prepare it themselves.  If you haven’t watch the video above, go ahead and check it out.  My kids and I had a good laugh after they urged me to add on the sound effects!   



We enjoyed this Rilakkuma Bear dinner so much!  And the great news is that you can easily pack it into a bento box for lunch as well.  The Rilakkuma Bear was made with rice and a little soy sauce (for the brown color).  You can use brown rice instead and omit the soy sauce if you prefer.  You’ve got to watch the video to find out how to make the eggy blanky though.  It’s easier to make than you think.  Isn’t it super adorable with the flower and heart shape patterns?  I served the rice on a bed of lettuce, some grape tomatoes, and a Sweet and Savory Chicken Drumstick on the side.  Chick here for the Chicken Drumstick recipe.  These chicken drumsticks are one of my family’s favorites and I make them quite often.   
 

Tucking this little bear in reminded me of tucking my kiddos in every night!  They are equally adorable!  Don’t forget to make a wish upon the star and have a sweet dream!  May all your wishes come true!  Have a Funny and fascinated Friday!

Ingredients and Tools used:
Light Soy Sauce (Click here for product information)
Nori (seaweed) (Click here for product information)
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for product information)
Zojirushi Rice Cooker (Click here for product information)
Japanese Short Grain Rice (Click here for product information)
Small Cookie Cutter Set (Click here for product information)
Bento Cutter and Tongs Set (Click here for product information)





Wish Upon A Star - Rilakkuma Bear Bento

1 small piece of nori (seaweed)
1 slice of cheese
1 bowl steamed rice
1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ketchup, plus more for garnish
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 Sweet and Savory Chicken Drumstick (*See recipe link below)
lettuce and cherry tomatoes, for garnish

With a pair of kitchen scissors, cut nori into 2 (1cm diameter) circles and 1 (4mm) circle for eyes and nose.

Stamp out the cheese with small star shape cookie cutter for garnish. In addition, you can use any other shapes you like.

Place a teaspoon of steamed rice onto a plastic wrap and roll into a ball for the nose. Mix the remaining rice with the soy sauce until color is evenly distributed.

With the help of the plastic wrap, roll out an oval shaped rice ball with the soy-rice for the body. Then, roll a round shaped ball for the head, and 2 small round balls for the ears.

Arrange the rice balls onto a plate lined with lettuce leaves. Arrange the eyes and nose features as well. You can add a small dot of ketchup around the cheek area for the super cute pink cheeks effect.

To make the egg blanket, reserve 1 egg white in a small bowl. Whisk the egg yolk with the remaining egg. Then, wish the ketchup with the reserved egg white.

In a small non-stick pan, heat vegetable oil over low heat. Cook the egg until almost set, flip it once and cook on the other side.

Remove cooked egg from the pan onto a cutting board and stamp out blanket patterns with small cookie cutters. Remove the stamped-out eggs and place the egg blanket back to the same frying pan over low heat.

Fill the cut-outed areas with the egg white and Ketchup mixture. Remove from heat when egg white is set. Slightly trim the top of the egg to fit onto the bear. Place 2 small long oval shaped rice over the egg as the arms.

Serve with a piece of Sweet and Savory Chicken Drumstick and garnish with tomatoes on the side. Enjoy!

*Sweet and Savory Asian Chicken Drumsticks (香甜雞腿) Recipe:
https://goo.gl/Qbvglh