Koala Rilakkuma Bento & CONTEST

I thought I wouldn't make any bento meals until this weekend, but I just couldn't resist it...! When I got home, it was still sunny, so I thought, why not make a bento dinner, eh ? This is what I like about spring and summer, the sun shines much longer and everything just seems to be more cheery. In June and July, it often doesn't get dark until 10 in the evening. This really lifts up my mood and makes me more motivated to still do something after work.

I came up with the idea of Rilakkuma in a koala suit on the way back home. I thought it would be a really cute idea. I was thinking about making the koala bear brown, because I didn't like the look of my gray Totoro - the sesame seeds look too obvious and rough. But then, I thought, why not grind the toasted sesame seeds with a pestle? How could I have not thought about it earlier?!!

I hope you all can see the koala's face. My husband couldn't tell (again!!), let's just say, he's got no imagination ;)!! I think we just simply think very differently, that's why ;). The koala's nose is made out of black olive and his eyes of nori, the same with Rilakkuma's eyes, nose and lips. I blushed his cheeks with pink edible lustre (usually used to decorate fondant cakes). He's holding a mini sweet pepper, and as usual, he looks very sad, probably because he prefers to have a mini hot pepper instead ;). The other bento box is filled with baked cheese chicken nuggets, two Kiiroitori chicks from quail eggs tinted with turmeric, two pieces of strawberries, a few pieces of grapes, two slices of mandarin and deli meat flower.

BENTO CONTEST

By the way, in case that you are interested, there is a bento contest currently going on in two Italian blogs, which are sponsored by CasaBento. The contest is OPEN TO EVERYONE and you have time to do this until THURSDAY, 2nd JUNE 2011. Basically, you have to make a bento meal, take a picture of your bento and write down the recipe. Please only one picture/recipe per person!

If you have a blog, you should post the picture and recipe there including the logo of this contest (which you can see below). Then you should inform one or both of the Italian bloggers Kitty's Kitchen or Simplicemente Pepe Rosa that you want to participate and give your bento post link to them.

If you don't own a blog: simply e-mail your bento photo plus recipe to elisaceccuzzi(at)fastwebnet(dot)it. You can also publish your photo in Facebook or Flickr, then send the link to the bloggers via e-mail.

CLICK THE LOGO to find more information about the contest!

THE PRIZE

Look at the these gorgeous goodies...!! I want them too ;)! There will be 2 winners and they will either get PRIZE A or PRIZE B. If I could choose, I want to have PRIZE A ;)! Love the Polka-dot motives. CasaBento and the two bloggers are going to be the judges. Let's join in the bento fun...!!