Totoro Bento and Hot-Dog-Opuses

 I can haz interwebz?

So - I did the moving to the Wellington. Yay! And the finding a new job. Yay! And the re-connecting with friends. Yay!

And then the internet decided that it no-longer loved me and wanted to be somewhere else. Not yay!

And then my new flatmate, Mark fixed it!! And now I am re-connected with the world, and it is most exciting! :)

Bento is totally cute, and after a long time spent watching YouTube videos - I decided to try my hand at making my own fancy bento lunch!!

It was surprisingly easy, and enormously filling... But, in practice, not something I do every day...

I chose Totoro because I looove him! (Although the Catbus is technically my favourite...)

I made him with brown rice and ground up black sesame and nigella seeds... Stuffed him with a little pulled pork and put his little cheese and nori features on...

It was all easy enough - and doesn't really require any specialist equipment! But, if you're gonna be bento - making full time you might wanna invest in some!

I also made a moulded egg and the most adorable little hot dog octopus!!

I'll just link you to Ochikeron's video for how to make Totoro Onigiri... Because I'm lazy. But below are the instructions for the cute hotdogopuses...

So this is super simple and super cute...

All you need is a frankfurter (known in my house and frankenfurtles - because that makes Life more fun!)
And some sesame seeds for eyes/ mouth

First, cut your frankenfurtle into half, or thirds (depending on how big you want your hotdogopus to be) widthways.

Next, take the two end-y pieces and quarter them lengthways from the cut end to about halfway to the rounded end. Cut each quarter in half lengthways again. You now have your eight tentacles!!

Steam, boil or fry your hotdogopuses in the manner of your choosing, until cooked and the tentacles have curled away from each other.

Poke small holes into his head and insert sesame seeds for eyes and mouth, if you so desire...

Pack into a bento box and nom away, if your heart can bear it... They really are adorable!! :)