Hi Maki, I have been intrigued by people's bentos with their cherry tomatoe flowers. I have tried searching and have not found a site that shows how to make them. Would you know how to make them? If so, please can you share with us...

So, I'm planning on making bento boxes for my mom and I this year. I'm starting to plan and get ready now, but I ran into a problem, my mom asked if it's going to be rice every day. I told her no, but I'm not really sure what else I could use in the place of rice. I was thinking about quinoa, and noodles on occasion, but are there any other things I could use to replace rice every once in a while? Thanks in advance :3

I live in Japan and have trouble reading and understanding everything on food labels. Do you know if partially hydrogenated oils are used in Japanese foods, such as packaged cookies? Do you know what the word for it or "trans fat" is in Japanese or how to write it? Thank you!

Apparently, my family isn't the ONLY one in the house that likes white rice.

Ok, so I just went to Chinatown NY and I jot my First ever bento box!!! But I also got an onigiri mold ( Though I really didn't need it:P) and an egg mold since I can't read Japanese... yet ... I don't know what kind of egg you're supposed to use, like a soft boiled one or a hard boiled one help!! Thanks a bunch maki-sama!!

i love the taste of miso- is there a way to make miso-tasting, miso-containing furikake?

Hello! I'm really new at making bentos, and the thought of leaving my bento out of a refrigerator makes me a bit nervous, and I wanted to ask your thoughts. You see, I have to leave my house very early in the morning (around 5:50 am) to get to work on time during the summer, and I typically don't eat lunch until 12:00. I'm worried that leaving my bento out of the refrigerator for 6+ hours would be unsafe, but the thought of eating ice-cold rice from the fridge isn't exactly appetizing to me either! :\

I bought a bag/package of peeled and boiled lotus root. Seeing others use it made me very curious. Well now I am stuck -- opened the bag the other day and tried pan frying a couple of pieces with what I was making for breakfast. I got my son and my husband to try it. The men were like "ok but I would not be interested in having it again" and I am wondering what else I can do. Also - how long will it last in the fridge now that the sealed packaging is open?? Thanks for the help.