The Little Chills: December 2015

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Advent Bento Surprise

Christmas is few more sleeps away and I should be starting my Christmas Bento Surprise last week for Big Sissy but been too busy lately with so many things. But as the cliche goes, "better late than never", so here goes my first Advent Bento Surprise. I am sharing this to all the mommies so they too can think of something creative for their kid's bento this holiday.

Since it's not yet our schedule for family grocery, I am just picking some left overs in our fridge so this might not be an ideal bento box but I'm happy with how the little surprise made the difference. I mixed rice with garlic butter and use the sushi rice mold to form the logs. I also put ham tidbits inside the sushi logs because that's how Danya loves to eat rice (and she calls it Sushi Surprise :-). I put some carrot sticks on the side ( this is from Chef Michael's Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet) and paired it with Beef Sweet Ham. And the most exciting part of all...the little box for the Advent Bento SURPRISE! Yes, it's something you want to put to surprise your little ones - may it be her favorite chocolate, jelly, shopkins, or a note saying " you will be receiving your favorite toy on 16th Dec." or any creative stuffs you can think of to make your little ones extra happy this Christmas.

Color Crazee Banana Ketchup

Red ketchup, yes that is simply radiant! Green...a little bit goofy but would be interesting. Blue, ohh that would be bubbly. Yellow, that must be banana yummylicious! Yes, these are the four fun and exciting colors of the new UFC Color Crazee Banana Catsup: Radiant Red, Goofy Green, Yummy Yellow and Bubbly Blue.

Being used to a tomato ketchup for years, I find it crazy to see there are still other colors of ketchup aside from red. And me and my little chills are going crazy as well trying the different colors on our bread, rice, and meatballs and even experimenting with mixing each to form new colors. I'm not sure if this product was just launched this year but it's the first crazee colors ketchup in the Philippines from UFC. It comes in a twist-cap and easy to squeeze bottle recommended for kids, especially those picky little eaters and mommies like me who love to prepare bento meals for their kids. Although all ingredients are FDA approved and safe for consumption, I still dont like the idea of using a lot of food colors and artificial flavors in my kid's plate so even though I am color crazy with this ketchup, I will try to limit the consumption of this product or perhaps just use it as garnishing or design to my bento meals.

Wacky Wednesday Bento

It's a cold, rainy Wednesday! Everybody needs a warm hug and a wacky face to brighten up the soggy day.

Sharing with you what I prepared for my Big Sissy's lunchbox. Wacky riceballs with surprise ham and cheese inside, girly cheeses ( one for her BFF Malak) made from Babybel cheese, some fruity loops and a banana!

Cute O-nigiri Faces Bento

My little chills were not so fond of eating rice before. But when I started doing the onigiri or rice balls, they have turned into avid rice eaters! I am also happy to learn that I can flavor, color or shape rice balls into different characters. So I now make sure I include in my Big Sissy's weekly lunch box some rice balls so she can eat it on the go.

O-nigiri also known as o-musubi, nigirimeshi, or simply rice ball, is a Japanese food made from white rice formed into triangular or cylinder shapes and often wrapped in nori(seaweed). (Source: Wikepedia)

My Sleeping Ladybug Bento

It's beginning to feel like winter is coming soon. The early Sunday morning air was a little bit cold, the chilly water in the bath made me shiver and my Big Sissy Danya was still sleeping like a ladybug! Though after some few excuses and quick whining, she managed to drag herself out of bed and came up alive and kicking! (Oh, thank goodness!)

Just like me, I am full of beans, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as I prepare my little chills bento box today. So many things in my head that even in my sleep I kept on dreaming little critters, talking hello kitty sandwhiches and different faces of onigiri rice! Whew, I think my love for bento box has now turned into an obsession! I wanted to do more, to step up one baby step at a time and advance my bento craft everyday. Yes I know it takes a lot of effort and planning to prepare a nice bento box just for a few minutes of munching but I will keep on doing this because I am greatly rewarded everytime I see the bright smiles in my little chills surprised faces. (Oh this is heavenly - more than enough to compensate my labour of love.)

When A Crafter Cooks

I admit I'm not a natural cook, it took me seven months ( after my graceful exit from my career) to learn how to at least bake a simple banana cake or see how tools and equipment in my kitchen actually work. Though the ordeal of learning the basics of motherhood was hard, I manage to create a wonderful bond with my daughters through experimenting in our kitchen. This has become our place of learning and discovering new things - even answering daily assignments while I do the cooking! My little chills are my greatest supporters - even Big Sissy suggests if ever I return to work someday I should work in a bakery or restaurant because I'm a great baker! (ohh she is really my daughter!) Although my husband would use to tease me when I try to cook before. He would say, "ohh you will get tired, let's order food instead!" Yes, I know I am a no cook or a baker or any food expert but I said to myself I'm a crafter so there's still hope for me- I can make food tasty and yummy by creatively making it look good!

So this is my inspiration why Little Chills Bento was born. I wanted to prepare foods for my daughters and make them feel so loved and taken care of everyday. I want my Big Sissy to be surprised when she opens her lunchbox in school and be happy that her mommy prepared something nice and beautiful for her. I also want to be assured that my daughters are eating healthy while I'm not there to look after them. (Oh mommy stuffs, drama!) I'm quite happy that so far, the results are great. Big Sissy has now open her world to other food aside from pasta and cheese. She has improved her eating habits and is now trying foods that she thought she would never like before. Although I will be working much on the veggies and fruits as we (excluding daddy!) are not so fond of these stuffs!

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Remembering Beautiful Lives...

Tito Raffy, Tita Chona & Mika...

"they were born to amuse, to inspire, to delight..."

They may be gone too soon, but they will always be remembered well and dearly, not just by family and friends but to all those complete strangers whom they had shared the unconditional love of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

How could we forget these three beautiful lives? The perfect poise and faithful aura of Tita Chona, the fatherly strength and humility of Tito Raffy, and the youthful gracefulness and passion of Mika . They were and will always be a perfect family symbol of FAITH and PASSION. They lived beautiful lives, showed exemplary deeds, and even up to their last hour on earth, they continue to inspire us to do something bigger, greater than our own selves.

And who would have missed the greatness shown by Tito Raffy and Tita Chona's eldest daughter Bambi and only son RL ... we could not help but admire these two for their strength and faithfulness. Indeed, their parents have embraced their souls with so much love and faith that they are not quickly shaken with any test or trials. We will always pray for you Bambi and RL, that God will continue to prepare you both for another greater journey in sharing God's goodness.

Again, Tito Raffy, Tita Chona and beautiful angel Mika... THANK YOU for sharing your brief, yet beautiful lives with us. We are forever grateful that you had been part of each one of us especially here in your CFC Qatar family.

Thank you... we will always remember and love the three of you dearly.