Inari sushi today! Inari is a sweet fried tofu pouch stuffed with sushi rice. A little pickled ginger is on the side, plus edamame (baby soybeans), an organic pear, and some Botan Rice Candy for a treat. Verdict: Inari is a great sushi to start the kids on if they're not sure about seaweed. Little shmoo says he prefers the nori rolls but he likes these, too. 4 stars.
We recently moved, and one of the things that we miss the most is Japanese food. I love inari, and I'm not a big sushi fan. Yum.
ReplyDeleteI love reading this blog. if you have the time, might I suggest linking everything to recipes or where we can buy certain things? that would be awesome. I know you've linked a couple.. but to have them for all would be fantastic. for instance, in this lunchbox-- the inari. keep up this blog! I'm addicted! I wish I had a mom like you.
ReplyDeleteYou are my hero! I am so inspired by you.
ReplyDeleteAny brilliant ideas for a really picky 8 yo boy who hasn't eaten a bit of fruit in six years? I am serious. He will eat thin cut french fries. That is really the extent of his vegetable eating. He takes a multivitamin though.
Just to be clear, I have two daughters (19 yo and 6 yo) and they both love vegetables. So it isn't necessarily the environment....
I've only had Veg-Sushi once at a restaurant. Never made it, but I wish you could do my lunches!!!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of inari, but it sounds great. Do you purchase it or make it from scratch?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be the first of (I'm sure) many to request the inari recipe. Please. Please.
ReplyDeleteI *need* this recipe. And so does my monkey child. He really, really needs to take inari in his lunch next week. Really.
We love Inaris, we make them quite often here at home. We usually top ours with some sesame seeds. My daughter does not care much for the sweet rice stuffing so she just stuffs hers with mucho sesame seeds.
ReplyDeleteIntially I would be apprehensive to pack this for lunch because of the mess factor. What did Little Shmoo think?
Also I was wondering if he had enough time to shell the edamames? I know that you can also buy them pre-shelled and I thought that considering the time contraints of most school lunches, this may be easier for my children.
Those Washington organic pears look so yummy!
Thanks,
Carin
Hi, Carin! You're right about the time constraints -- he only gets 20 minutes for lunch! I asked him about getting shelled edamame, but he says he likes popping them out of their pods. He did have enough time, but I agree shelled would be faster. There wasn't much mess at all, just the leftover pods in the container that had held the inari. Of course, inari filled with all sesame seeds would be messier! :-D
ReplyDeleteRe. the inari recipe, you can purchase inari in cans at Asian markets. Stuff them with prepared sushi rice and either eat as is or top with sesame seeds. I know everyone is wanting the recipes -- I'm putting lots of time into typing them up and getting a cookbook ready to go!
Carin, I wouldn't worry too much about shelling the edamame -- I just squeeze them out of the pod. You'd be amazed at how quickly they get eaten.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I can't wait to buy that cookbook! (I'm a cookbook junkie.)
This blog was linked on a vegan cooking community on livejournal, and while I am not in first grade, I am so inspired by these lunch ideas. My break at work will never be the same!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love inari. I had no idea how they were made or that they come in cans. Are they called inari on the can? Do you sweeten your rice? I didn't think it was sweentened. This would be an awesome lunch!!
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you pack vegan lunches for your little one rocks out! I love how nutritious everything looks and what a great variety you give him. Way to turn a kid on to healthy, cruelty-free food!
ReplyDeleteOMG!!!NOW I KNOW WHO BOUGHT THE LAST CAN OF INARI!!!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I went to buy some yesterday and they said the sold the last one the day before or so.
I'm so craving them...
Glad Little Shmoo likes them though.
These are awesome! I so want to get some of these recipes. My daughter is a little picky and has grown accustomed to veggies and hummus in whole wheat pita bread along with fruit and vegetables. Usually for fruits & veggies I do like a little baggy with grapes or baby carrots or a banana or raisins stuff like that.
ReplyDeleteBUSTED! It was my aunt -- she bought the last can, honest! It wasn't me. Of course, she made the inari to bring to my house for dinner, so I did eat the very last inari in the Tri-Cities. Hee hee.
ReplyDeleteHi, anonymous with the picky eater! Boy, that's tough! Have you tried blending fruits and veggies into soups and smoothies? That's my favorite way to offer them to picky eaters. My son will eat all sorts of veggies if they're blended into a creamy soup or sweet drink. Good luck!
ReplyDeletebe my mother! make my lunch for me! everything is so cute and wow-worthy. yummm.
ReplyDeleteI have a suggestion for anyone who will be going to the asian grocery stores looking for inari. While there, please also buy some fresh tofu (if it is available) the taste is far superior to the packaged stuff.
ReplyDeleteAnd I also know that inari is available dried to which you re-hydrate before stuffing. If there is not an asian store near you, I am certain that you can order cans of inari via the internet.
Carin
awesome, I can't wait for that cookbook :) thanks for putting in hard work for it! we all appreciate it, I know
ReplyDeletei love your blog! i have been checking it every (school) day. i am a vegetarian college student and the lunches you are making your son are inspiring me to try and make the effort to make myself awesome vegan lunches, too. i was excited to hear that you are putting a cookbook together. i can't wait to buy it.
ReplyDeletemy mom loves the blog, too.
This is so fantastic! Your such a great MOM.. I have a four year old and a two year old and have been searching for a great place like this. I know how much time you are sinking into not just making your great meals but posting all the info and pics too. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCome check out our group at www.vegpeople.com if you ever want to find more moms like you! Well.. your pretty fabulous.. maybe we are moms trying to be more like YOU!
thank you
ReplyDeletechat sohbet muhabbet
My daughter does not care much for the sweet rice stuffing so she just stuffs hers with mucho sesame seeds.
ReplyDeleteIntially I would be apprehensive to pack this for lunch because of the mess factor. What did Little Shmoo think?
Also I was wondering if he had enough time to shell the edamames? I know that you batteries can also buy them pre-shelled and I thought that considering the time contraints of most school lunches, this may be easier for my children.
um, can i please have some of that?
ReplyDelete