Cat Shaped Tamagoyaki

Directions

1. 1
   Mix the eggs, sugar, soy sauce and dashi stock together, and make a tamagoyaki (rolled omelette).
2. 2
   Put it on a sushi mat lined with plastic wrap while still hot.
3. 3
   Put a pair of chopsticks (that are square shaped at the thick end if possible) on top of the tamagoyaki with the ends pointing in opposite ends.
4. 4
   The total thickness of the 2 chopsticks should be as even as possible.
5. 5
   Adjust the chopsticks so that they sink into the tamagoyaki.
6. 6
   Wrap the tamagoyaki with the sushi mat, secure with rubber bands and leave until cool.
7. 7
   If the tamagoyaki has become cat-shaped, they're good to go.
8. 8
   Cut into slices that are as thick as you want.
9. 9
   Make the eyes and nose with black sesame seeds and the mouth with a piece of shio-konbu.
10. 10
    Done!
11. 11
    Each one has a different expression!
12. 12
    They're even cuter with cheeks.
13. 13
    If you put three of these in a bento, it becomes really fun and colorful.
14. 14
    I tried turning the rather misshapen bits upright to make tadpoles.
15. 15
    The red color on these is umeboshi.
16. 16
    I used brown sugar in these, and they turned into tan colored kittens!