The sun had barely risen above the rooftops when Bibi woke up to the sound of birds chirping just outside her window. It was a Saturday morning, and that meant no school, no homework, and best of all—breakfast with Uncle Phong!
Bibi scrambled out of bed and ran to the kitchen in her fuzzy panda slippers. Uncle Phong was already there, wearing his favorite apron with a big cartoon shrimp on it. He was humming a happy tune and flipping through a recipe book.
“Good morning, Bibi!” he called out with a grin. “Are you ready to make something extra special this morning?”
Bibi’s eyes sparkled. “Yes! What are we making today?”
Uncle Phong held up a shiny green packet. “Seaweed!”
Bibi blinked. “Seaweed? For breakfast?”
“Of course! Seaweed isn’t just for sushi, you know. It’s full of good stuff—vitamins, minerals, and even a little magic, if you ask me.”
Bibi giggled. “Okay! Let’s do it.”
The Seaweed Plan
They spread out ingredients on the counter: rice, eggs, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, scallions, carrots, tofu, and, of course, the star—crispy roasted seaweed sheets.
Uncle Phong clapped his hands together. “We’re going to make three seaweed dishes: Seaweed Rice Balls, Seaweed Egg Rolls, and a Seaweed Miso Soup. Ready to roll?”
“Yes, Chef Phong!” Bibi saluted with a spoon in hand.
Seaweed Rice Balls (Onigiri Style)
They started with the rice balls. Bibi scooped warm rice into a big bowl and mixed it with tiny chopped carrots and crumbled tofu. Uncle Phong drizzled in some sesame oil and a splash of soy sauce.
“Now,” he said, “take a small handful and shape it into a ball.”
Bibi tried, but the rice kept sticking to her hands.
“Uncle Phong, it’s like sticky snow!”
“Try wetting your hands a little. It helps!”
Sure enough, with damp hands, the rice balls formed beautifully. Then they wrapped them in strips of seaweed. Bibi made a smiley face with sesame seeds on one of hers.
“These are adorable!” she beamed.
“They’re called onigiri in Japan,” said Uncle Phong. “People take them for lunch or eat them as snacks.”
“Can I eat one now?”
“Almost! Let’s finish the next dish.”
Seaweed Egg Rolls
Next, they whisked eggs with a bit of soy sauce and poured the mixture into a warm pan.
“Watch this,” said Uncle Phong as he rolled the egg into a thin layer, added a strip of seaweed, and rolled it up carefully like a scroll. Then he poured more egg and rolled it again.
Bibi’s eyes widened. “It’s like an egg blanket!”
“Exactly! This is called a tamagoyaki. You can slice it into little pieces like sushi.”
They cut the roll into slices and saw the pretty swirl of yellow and green inside. Bibi made a fan shape on the plate with the pieces.
“Chef’s presentation: ten out of ten!” declared Uncle Phong.
Seaweed Miso Soup
Finally, they worked on the miso soup. Uncle Phong brought out a jar of miso paste and stirred it into warm water.
“Don’t boil it too hard,” he warned. “The miso likes to stay calm.”
They added cubes of tofu, slivers of seaweed, and a sprinkle of scallions. The seaweed floated like gentle green ribbons in the golden broth.
Bibi took a deep breath. “It smells like the sea!”
“Now,” said Uncle Phong, “we set the table.”
Breakfast by the Window
They carried the dishes to the little table by the window, where sunlight was pouring in like honey. Bibi arranged the food like a painting: the rice balls in the middle, the egg rolls on one side, and the steaming bowls of soup at each place.
They sat down, clinked their chopsticks together like glasses, and said, “Cheers!”
Everything tasted amazing. The rice balls were soft and savory. The egg rolls were warm and a little sweet. The miso soup was salty and comforting.
“This is the best breakfast ever,” said Bibi between bites.
Uncle Phong smiled. “You helped make it. Food tastes better when we make it with someone we love.”
Bibi gave him a big seaweed-flavored hug.
A Surprise Visit
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“Who could that be?” asked Bibi.
Uncle Phong opened the door to find their neighbor, Mrs. Lin, holding a basket of homemade dumplings.
“I smelled something delicious,” she said with a wink. “Thought I’d bring some dumplings in case you were cooking up something magical again.”
Bibi invited her in, and soon they added dumplings to the breakfast feast.
Mrs. Lin tasted the rice balls and gasped. “Bibi, these are amazing!”
Bibi beamed with pride. “We made everything with seaweed!”
Mrs. Lin nodded. “You know, seaweed is a superfood. When I was little, my grandma used to say it keeps you strong and smart.”
“Well,” said Uncle Phong, “in that case, we’re going to be superheroes by lunchtime!”
The Breakfast That Became a Tradition
That morning became more than just a meal—it became a memory. From that day on, Bibi and Uncle Phong started a new Saturday tradition: cooking breakfast together with a fun new twist each time. Sometimes they used mushrooms or sweet potatoes. Other times they made little seaweed boats or seaweed pancakes.
But no matter what, seaweed was always on the menu, and laughter was always in the air.
And every time they sat down at the table, Bibi would say the same thing with a grin:
“This is the best breakfast ever!”
Let me know if you want illustrations or want this turned into a printable PDF for kids!
