2022.4.1
Back to School Bento
You’ve got the new uniforms ironed and the stationery and school bags are all prepped and ready for the kids, but could you do with a little extra bento box inspiration for school lunches?
Colorful, healthy and delicious, try out these kid-approved recipes that are easily packable for bento boxes on-the-go, and can keep fresh until the lunch bell rings. Our sausage, bacon and ham are packed with protein and made with only the highest quality ingredients without adding unnecessary ingredients or artificial flavors. That way, you know you’re serving your loved ones and your kids the best ingredients.
Mini Chicken Pot Pies
For the comforting flavors of a homemade chicken pot pie that can be enjoyed even on a lunch break, we use our All Natural Chicken Links in these adorable mini pot pies. Made in advance using mostly ingredients you can keep in your freezer and store them in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to pack your bento in the morning.
Top tip: If you don’t have a pastry brush for the egg wash glaze, a blotter made from a paper towel is a wonderful substitute.
Avocado Bacon Egg Rolls
Deep-fry these egg rolls in advance and refrigerate until you’re ready to pack your bento in the morning. Avocado is a health-food hero, packed with omega-3 fatty acids and a whole alphabet of vitamins. It makes for a perfect pairing with Jones Dairy Farm Dry Aged Bacon’s dry-aged cherrywood bacon, crafted from center-cut, premium pork bellies.
Top tip: slice these to slightly less than the depth of your bento box ahead of time to nestle them in a bed of lettuce leaves in the morning as you arrange the bento.
Chicken Kimbap
Kids are more likely to get excited about their lunch if it’s colorful, and these Korean-inspired kimbap rolls are perfect pops of color for a bento box. We used Jones Dairy Farms Chicken Links to make our twist on the usual kimbap roll, which traditionally features crab sticks or fish cakes wrapped in rice and nori seaweed. We love these rolls because they are easy to make ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Top tip: If your kids don’t like spinach, swap it out for cucumber slices or pickled vegetables like the Korean yellow pickled radish (danmuji).
Sausage Onigirazu @barbieskitchen
Bento and onigiri are a match made in heaven. These sausage onigirazu by recipe developer @barbieskitchen are fun takes on classic onigiri (Japanese rice balls). Featuring Jones Dairy Farm Breakfast Pork Patties layered with slices of cheese and lettuce and wrapped in nori seaweed, these are perfect to slot straight into a bento box for a simple, but delicious lunch.
Top tip: Add a layer of egg omelette inside this onigirazu too for extra protein and vitamin D.