May Monday and beyond with koi nobori, and yoroi kabuto

I realized, I did not address the issue of Kodomo no hi, or Children’s Day in my earlier entry.

Traditionally, May 5th of each year celebrates the health and happiness of boys – which was subsequently changed to all children (and became a national holiday).  Carp streamers, or koi nobori are flown throughout Japan, and in households with boys (sons), a traditional warrior helmet, or kabuto are displayed, similar to the hinamatsuri dolls that are displayed for Girl’s Day in March. 

My daughter enjoyed folding kabuto with origami at Japanese school with her classmates, and they all got together under a koi nobori streamer up in display in the gymnasium, waving their own hand-made koi nobori.

Monday bento included:

Baked salmon cakes, which happened to be a hit when I made them a few weeks ago.  A can of salmon, two minced celery stalks, 1/2 minced onion, 1 tsp grated ginger, 2 minced scallions, one beaten egg, a palmful of black sesame seeds, 1 tbs mustard mixed well by hand, and subsequently pan-fried in a cast-iron (minimal canola oil) over medium low heat until the surface formed a crispy crust on each side.  They are healthy (I include skin and bones, and mash everything together when mixing by hand), quick, and tasty even at room temperature, or straight out of the refrigerator.

Pickled turnip slices – soy sauce, lemon juice, drop of mirin, grated ginger and rice vinegar for 2 – 4 days.

Grape tomatoes and cucumber slices

Blueberries

Tawara shaped onigiri, no filling, sprinkled with black sesame seeds for crunch and color, with nori wrap

Happy Monday, and a Happy Lunar New Year!

The weekend was a blur – the snowfall resulted in school being cancelled, and we spent a lovely weekend with a few hours of outdoor snow time.  The little one ran around outside, both hands throwing fistfuls of the fluffy, powdery snow into the air, as she looked upwards, her mouth open to catch snowflakes as she shouted, “Snow!! Snow!! Snow!!”

The older one flopped down every couple of feet to make snow angels.

The outdoor activity was capped off with homemade hot cocoa (Trader Joe’s Organic Cocoa) with mini marshmallows. 

We also managed a few runs at a local park on the inner tube – Papa spun them around as they slid down the hill with the other neighborhood children, their giggling and laughing heard all the way down.

A Happy Lunar New Year to all!

Today’s lunch included:

Grilled shiozake, or salted salmon, flaked

Steamed multi-grain rice with gomashio or sesame salt

Roasted golden beet stars

Baby Carrots

Blackberries

 

 

Thursday lunch following yesterday’s home run

My daughter loved her lunch yesterday, and she finished every bit.  She could not wait to show me her empty bento box when I picked her up at daycare, and she beamed when we opened her box in the car.

“It was sooooo good!” she exclaimed.

My hesitation was the lack of carbohydrates – so today, I included steamed multi-grain rice (brown, rice, millet, quinoa, barley) topped with flaked, grilled, salmon.

Also included were the soy-sauce/mirin seasoned chicken drumette/wingette, as well as blanched sugar snap peas and grape tomatoes.

A clementine was also included for dessert.

I hope today’s lunch will be a hit as well!