SCHOOOOOLLLL!!! Is starting tomorrow for us!!! Don’t know if I hate it, or like it…HA!!! Who am I kidding? I love it!!! Doing my happy dances all day…
I know I will miss our mornings soon, but as far as of right this moment, it is a happy day indeed for “moi”…
Like I said before I started planning and testing recipes with my kids. So far it’s been good, and they loved each of them. This one was a winner today, so I thought to post it.
My daughter, Anna loves when I make funny faces for her lunch boxes, and I’m planning to post soon something more for boys.
My oldest one loves these, but he would never ever take it to school. Instead, I mix rice and peas, with few sprinkles of toasted sesame seeds and drizzle of sesame oil and he is a happy camper.
That’s when they step into the teenage stage…nothing cute could be offered!!!
Again, I have to say that you DO NOT have to make the same exact lunch box. I started with this to inspire and motivate others to start, because school lunches are…ahhh~ how to put it, hm! Well, they are pretty disgusting
Click here for more lunch box ideas
There, I said it again out loud! But it’s the truth, and I get so mad at myself when I don’t make a lunch box for them. Usually, I bring later to school and around
I guess I can say that I am lucky one that can work on her own pace, so I do always have time to enjoy lunchtime with kids at school.
Q: What Box is safe for me and my child?
A: Look for the boxes that have clear written label that they are BPA FREE just in case if they are plastic- BPA stands for bisphenol. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s.
Seeking out BPA-free products may not always be easy to do. Some manufacturers do label their products as BPA-free, but some do not. If a product isn’t labeled, keep in mind that most aluminum cans or bottles have linings that contain BPA, while steel bottles or can do not. Polycarbonate plastic is generally hard, clear, lightweight plastic. It often has the No. 7 recycling symbol on the bottom. (source Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.from Mayo-clinic)
◾ When you are making food at night for the next day lunch boxes make sure about the box like mentioned above. Always preheat food after taking it out of the fridge, let it cool down a bit then close the lid.
◾ IF you are using seasoned PANKO bread crumbs, be careful how much seasoning/salt you are using on chicken. If your breadcrumbs are plain to make sure to season it. TASTE and see!!!
◾ For this, I used long grain rice, but it is best if you use short grain premium rice. The best results.
Lunch Box: Oven-Baked Panko Chicken
Ingredients
- 1/2 Tbsp. Oil
- 1 1/2 Cup Seasoned Panko Bread Crumbs
- 1/3 tsp. Chili Flakes *optional
- 1 Tbsp. heaping Grated Parmesan
- 1 Chicken Breast
- 1-2 Eggs
- Salt or another seasoning just a sprinkle
Other ingredients used:
- A dip of your choice ketchup, mayo, mustard, etc.
- 1 Cup Cooked Rice for each lunch box -for the facial features: seaweed bologna, eng. cucumber skin, toasted sesame seeds
- 1 cup of cooked Peas
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes cherry
- Cucumber
- Watermelon/Blueberry or any other fruit
Instructions
- few minutes, until golden on medium temperature. Set aside.
- Cut chicken into long thin strips; season it just a little with salt or any other seasoning that you like(I used about few pinches of Kick’s Chicken® Seasoning on all)
- Mix eggs and dip each chicken strip into mixed eggs. You can also dip on all sides into all-purpose flour (if you desire) before dipping it into mixed eggs, but I skipped that part -you are more than welcome to do it.
- After dipping into mixed eggs, roll the chicken strip into the toasted breadcrumbs. It should be coded on all sides.
- Place chicken into well greased baking pan/nonstick baking pan/or lined with parchment paper.
- Place a baking pan into a fridge for 15 minutes or 10 minutes into a freezer. (it could be also in the freezer overnight, just make sure to place it in airtight ‘freezer’ safe container)
- Preheat the oven on 350°F-375°F-depending on your oven (180°C-190°C/4-5 Gas)
- Bake for 20 minutes or until food/chicken thermometer reads 160-170°F (according to by food safety.gov)
- Take it out and cover with a paper kitchen towel until ready to be packed. Also, it could be placed in a container with a fitted lid, and in the fridge after it has been cooled down.
Recipe Notes
- For the rice apple face, I had molds but you can use any mold if you have it, or you could make a rice ball too. For the facial features, I used dry seaweed for the eyes, bologna for the cheeks, and nose. Tomato for the lips.
- Toasted sesame seeds for the freckles. For more tips on how to make rice for fun decorative bentos CLICK HERE
- My Amazon Store with Fun Items HERE
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