23 Aug / Ten-Minute Bento by Megumi Fujii, translated by Maya Rosewood
Ready for the frenzy of going back to school? So long, summer … hello, morning rush! I shudder …
Since school lunch is not an option at our kids’ school, every weekday (early) morning we make two meals at the same time: breakfast and lunch. We’re constantly searching for quick, healthy, filling options as the kids quickly grow tired of the same-old, same-old. Ten-Minute Bento is full of toothsome, healthy ideas we’ll be trying too soon (how did summer whoosh by so quickly??!!).
“Just cook up some rice, and add a topping and your Ten-Minute Bento is done!” promises trained nutritionist and celebrated Japanese chef Megumi Fujii (who’s published some 40-plus cookbooks already!). She certainly makes the process look easy: a bed of rice with one or two toppings in one container and you’re done!
The good chef offers endless combinations for toppings (with minimal ingredients for non-talented kitchen crew like me, ahem!), that range from favorites like Korean bibimbap, chicken teriyaki, and even a hamburger, to healthy veggie sides and rice combinations, and pasta and bread bentos and more. The enticing photos (complete with various, fun packaging options from a Cool Whip container to Tupperware to takeout boxes) on every page just beg for a pair of chopsticks.
If this is the way I can get fed, maybe it’s time for me to think about going back to school and finally finish my abandoned almost-PhDs! Anything for a good meal, huh?
Readers: Adult
Published: 2012