Cookbook for Kids and Strawberry Salsa

Other day I stumbled upon a Vegetarian Children's Cookbook at our local library. At first look I fell in love with this book. Once I got it home, both my grand kids also just wont let it go.

Colorful drawings of utensils, cutting methods , large print, simply written recipes and most beautiful food images, suddenly inspired love for cooking in both the kids.

BTW talking about love for cooking, check out these 10 Hobbies to Boost Mood and Emotional Health

Coming back to subject of this book, we renewed it twice, paid some fine 3rd time and then decided to get our own copy of Forest Feast for Kids: Colorful Vegetarian Recipes that are Simple to Make.

Just like the title suggests, recipes are so simple and very simply written,

None of the recipes are more than 4-5 steps. They are written in big prints that even 5 year old child will be able to make these recipes with some oversight of the adult.

Book uses few ready made ingredients like Pie Dough and Store bought pesto to make it simple for kids to follow.

We have already made couple of recipes from this book and continue to explore more.

Below is the Strawberry Salsa inspired from Forest Feast for Kids: Colorful Vegetarian Recipes that are Simple to Make.


Ingredients:
2 Tomatoes
1 small Onion
4-5 large Strawberries
Cilantro
Green Chilli (Optional)

Lime/Lemon Juice

Salt per taste

Method:
Chop or roughly blend first 5 ingredients
Add Lime Juice and Salt Per taste
Mix it , Chill it and enjoy with chips or as topping for other toastada, enchilada etc.

Enjoy the recipe and also don't forget to check out Forest Feast for Kids: Colorful Vegetarian Recipes that are Simple to Make.

I am sure you will fall in love with this book just like my grand kids did.

Vegetable Khichdi In Slow cooker

Khichdi or Khichuri is my go-to comfort food. In many region of India it is made with slight variation of spices. However basic concept is same. Rice and Split Lentils (Dal) are cooked together with some kind of tempering.

Khichuri is also one of the very basic recipe used in Indian medical science also know as Ayurveda for cleansing, balancing and healing.

Also Read: 5 Tips to boost energy naturally

I love this Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook for natural eating and for healthy gut where you can find many such healthy recipes.

You can make simple khichdi by just adding tempering of cumin seeds and salt/turmeric to rice/dal mixture.

Today's recipe is an elaborate version sometimes also known as badshahi khichdi (royal khichdi).  You can make khichdi on stove top or in pressure cooker or rice cooker. For this recipe I have used slow cooker.

Some of the spices used in recipe below are traditional Indian spices and are all easily available in any Indian Grocery store. You can also purchase this Indian Spices Starter Kit which includes all the below listed spices and many more without worrying about significant investment.

Preparation time : 10 minute
Cook time:2 to 1/2 hour ( 4 hour to soak dal )
Serves: 6 People

Ingredients to make Khichdi:

1. 1 cup rice
2. 1/2 cup pigeon peas dal
3. 1 cup cube cut eggplant
4. 1/2 cup cube cut potato
5. 1/4 cup fresh green pigeon peas ( optional )
6. 1/3 cube cut onion
7. 2 clove nicely cut garlic
8. 1/2tsp green chili ginger paste
9. 1/2tsp red chili powder
10. 1/4tsp turmeric powder
11. 12 black pepper corn
13. hand full peanuts
14. salt to taste
15. 2-1/2 cup hot water

Tempering:

1. 1tbsp oil
2. 2 tbsp ghee (replace this with oil if you prefer vegan)
3. 1 tsp mustard seeds
4. 1 tsp cumin seeds
5. 5 clove, 5 small cinnamon, 2 whole red chili

Method to make Khichdi in Slow Cooker:

1.Soak dal in a boiling water for 4 hours.
2. Soak rice in water for 2 hours.
3. Once dal and rice are soaked, combined all ingredients in a slow cooker.
4. Now prepare tempering:
   - Combine oil/ghee, mustard seeds. cumin seeds and whole red chili  in a sauce pan.
   - Put it on medium  heat on stove top.
   - After mustard seeds cracks, add clove and cinnamon. Turn off stove top.
5. Add tempering in the slow cooker.
6. Add 2-1/2 cup hot water in slow cooker and mix it well.
7. Cover slow cooker and set on high.
8. After 2-1/2 hour vegetable khichdi will be done.

Enjoy hot khichdi with vegetable curry, kadhi (tempered buttermilk), or yogurt.

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Similar Recipes:
1.  Slow-Cooker Vegetable Pulav Recipe
2. Slow-Cooker or Crockpot Sprout Pulav Recipe




Submitting this recipe to My Veg Box-Garlic Event and Back To School - LunchBox Event.

Eggless Oat Raisin Cookies

Schools have started after spring break and we are looking for healthy snack for kids to eat. Both my grand kids love these Egg less Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. I use brown sugar to make them healthier.

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes
Bake Time:10 to 12 Minutes
Quantities: 16 cookies (depending on size )

Ingredients:

1. 3/4 cup rolled oats
2. 2tbs all purpose flour
3. 2tsp wheat flour
4. 1tsp rice flour ( optional)
5. 1/3 cup brown and 1tbs white sugar ( you can use white sugar if brown sugar is not available)
6. 1/2tsp baking powder
7. 1/4 cup butter (keep it at room temperature)
8. 1/4 cup raisin
9.  pinch of salt
10. Few drops of vanilla essence
11. 2tbs chopped walnut and cashew
12.1tbs milk ( as needed )

Method Step By Step:

1. In a bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt,raisin and nuts. Mix it very well and keep it aside.
2. Now combine butter and sugar and beat it until it becomes fluffy.
3.Add vanilla,  flour and 1tsp milk and mix it well to make soft dough.

4.Divide dough in 16 equal parts.
5.Cover cookie sheet with butter paper.
6.Put cookie dough on the cookie sheet 1'' apart.
7.Bake 10 to 12 minute in oven pre-heat at 350" until light golden color.
8. Put cookie on wire rack to cool down.
9. After cookies have cooled down, store them in air tight container.
10. Enjoy with tea, coffee or milk.

Note: For variation you can use dry cranberry instead of raisin

Simillar Eggless Recipes:
1. Eggless Apple Pie Recipe 
2. No Bake Eggless Roller Coaster Cookie 
3. Eggless TuttiFruity Bread
4. Eggless Healthy Cinnamon Raisin Bread


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Fun in Kitchen with Kids: 5 Fun Recipes for Kids

It is summer and kids are off from school. So my daughter has been doing some fun food projects in kitchen with both the kids. She hasn't gotten chance to upload the pictures yet that I can share , but I will share the ideas she has gathered and already tried some of them.

For most of these recipes, she tried to reduce sugar content as much as she could either by picking the sweetest/ripest fruit available and/or by using alternate sweeteners like honey.

Try out Healthy Kids Inc. Meal Planner For Free

Best part is that none of these recipes require any cooking, other than little bit of melting of chocolate or butter etc in microwave. These recipes indeed make for great project for summer or any rainy day also !

1. Two Ingredient Watermelon Popsicle: This was the first project my daughter did with the kids and they had so much fun. It is very forgiving recipe. You can test as you go and adjust the sweetener as needed.  All you do it chop the watermelon, add sweetener and make puree in blender.  Enlist kid's help to pour this puree in Popsicle mold and wait for it to freeze well.

2. Vegan Pineapple Whip or Slurpee or Popsicle: This is another very forgiving recipe. Just mix  frozen banana, frozen pineapple and coconut milk in blender and give it a good churn. Eat it right away, or freeze it little bit. Or you can also make Popsicle out of it. If pineapple is fresh or without sweet syrup, you may need to add little bit sweetener but depending on quantity of banana, you may not need much sweetener.  You can try this recipe from LunchBoxBunch.

Vegan Pineapple Whip

3. Homemade KitKat:  This was another project kids enjoyed a lot. All you need is chocolate bark or chocolate chips and wafer biscuits. Just melt the chocolate in microwave and let kids spread it on top of wafer biscuit with spoon. Got to be little careful to make sure they don't burn themselves with hot chocolate. There were hardly any homemade KitKat left for my daughter to take any pictures !!

4. No Bake Cereal Bar:  This project is next on our list to try out. Again very simple project. All you do is mix oats, peanuts and Rice Krispies. Melt Peanut butter and sweeter in microwave and mix it bit oats/peanuts/cereal mix. Spread it well and let it freeze for 30 minutes before enjoying. We plan to try CincyShoppers recipe.

No Bake Cereal Bar

5.  Pina Colada Bars:  These are no-bake bars from recipecritic. All you do is enlist help of kids to crush vanilla wafers. Mix them with butter and press the mixture at the bottom of the tray. Mix rest of the ingredients and fold them in the base. Freeze the bars for couple of hours and they are ready to eat. They are such a treat especially during a hot day.

Pina Colada Bars

Hope you enjoy with no-cook food projects with kids. My daughter has this multi-cultural cookbook in her wish list. A great way to have fun with kids in kitchen while teaching them all the children/cultures around the world. See if you like it too.



Similar Fun Recipes for Kids:
1.  No-Cook Ice-Cream
2. No-Cook Pin-Wheel Cookies
3. Egg-less Apple Pie (Mini-Apple Pie)

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Slow Cooker Whole Wheat Pizza

My daughter has been making whole wheat pizza for some time now in oven. However few weeks back when I blogged about making pizza in slow cooker in my round up about slow cooker vegetarian game day recipes, she at once tried whole wheat pizza in slow cooker.

She used her usual whole wheat pizza dough recipe but this time in slow cooker. Results were amazing. In-fact she liked the slow cooker version better as it was little moist and soft compare to oven counter part. Slow Cooker method is so easy now she makes pizza for kids school lunch too !

My daughter had picked up this whole wheat dough recipe from Cookie and Kate with some adjustments. I am posting it here with her adjustments.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients to make whole wheat pizza dough:

1.    1 cup water (warm) - need little over 1 cup water but can be adjusted as needed

1.    1 tablespoon sugar

1.    1 tablespoon olive oil

1.    1 envelope (2¼ teaspoons) instant yeast

1.    2¾ cups whole wheat flour (or regular wheat flour) + 1 spoon rice flour (optional - it helps digestion)

1.    ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (or any other grated cheese)

1.    1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Method to make Pizza Dough:

1.    Whisk warm water, sugar, oil and yeast in bowl really well then and let it sit for 5 minutes. It should puff up some by then.

2.    Mix flour, cheese and salt well. Add water/oil/yeast/sugar mixture to make soft dough. Knead it well on a floured work surface. Dump the dough onto a floured work surface and quickly knead dough a few times until it comes together. Halve the dough.

3.    Pizza dough is now ready to be used either in oven or in slow cooker. Below is the slow cooker method.

Method to make Pizza in Slow Cooker:

1. Apply oil liberally in slow cooker bottom.

2. Take half the dough or as per your choice of thickness and size of the slow cooker and press it evenly in the slow cooker bottom.

3. Apply pizza sauce. Top with choice of vegetables and shredded cheese.

4. Cover slow cooker with a paper towel and then close the lead. This will make sure mist does not drop on the pizza and but it will give really nice softness to pizza.

5. Turn on slow cooker on high and let it cook for about 45 minutes.

6. Check if pizza is done by inserting toothpick. If toothpick comes out clean then pizza is done.

7. Turn off the heat. Take out the slow cooker bowl and put it on side to cool down.

8. Let the pizza cool down for 15-20 minutes before taking it out and serving.

Similar Slow Cooker Recipes:
Homemade Slow Cooker Gift Recipes
Indian Mix-Vegetable Curry using Slow-Cooker
Slow Cooker Aloo-Gobi (Potato Cauliflower Curry)
Slow Cooker Dal Fry Recipe

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Sending this entry to Kid's Delight Event @ Kids Delight

Vegetarian Kids Lunchbox Ideas

Some time back I was invited to participate in Kids Lunch Box Recipes Event by IndusLadies - the largest online community for Indian women in the world. The selected recipes were to be published in their eBook containing 100 kids lunch box recipes. Given that me and my daughter are always concerned regarding interesting and healthy lunch ideas for my grandkids,  I was excited to participate in the event.

Today I am glad to announce that two of my recipes Colorful Protein Panecake and Spinach Paneer Wrap got selected for this eBook. You can download this eBook free from here.

Me and my daughter cannot wait to try out these wonderful vegetarian lunch box recipes for my grandkids. I am sure you will find it this eBook very helpful too.

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Colorful Protein Pancake (Puda) Recipe

Did you like Spinach Paneer Wraps recipe I published last week? Well this week I am writing about these simple savory pancakes or pudala (puda) my daughter usually makes as simple way to  sneak-in vegetables in kid's meal. They are very simple to make and variety of vegetables can be added to change color, taste and for added benefits. She adds extra chili-ginger paste to same batter while making pancake for herself. Both my grand kids love these pancakes and usually enjoy with yogurt.

For today's post I am making two different variety of pancakes - green colored (adding spinach) and orange color (adding carrot). To my grand kids it is green pancake and orange pancake !  My daughter loves this book called Sneaky Chef for such similar ideas to sneak-in vegetables in kid's favorite meals. All the recipes in the book are not suited for vegetarian/vegans but it is great resource with full of such sneaky ideas even for non-meat eaters.

Preparation Time: 10 Minute
Cook Time: 20 Minute (Soak time for daal is about 3 hours)

Ingredients:
1. 1/2 cup split moog dal ( soak in a water for 3 hours )
2. 2 tbs chopped spinach
3. 1/3 cup chopped carrot
3. 1/2 tsp green chili ginger paste
4. 2 tsp rice flour
5. 2 tsp soji  flour (optional for gluten free recipe)
6.  oil as needed
7. salt to test
8. 3 to 4 tbs water

Method Step By Step:
1. Once daal is soaked properly, split it in two equal parts.
2. Add spinach in one part and carrot in another part.
3. Grind each part in grinder. Add little water as needed to make smooth batter.
4. Now add 1tsp rice flour and 1tsp soji flour in each (green and orange batter).
5. Add chili ginger paste and salt. Mix it very well.
6. As you can see in picture below, at this point you should have really bright colored batter ready.

7. Turn on stove top on medium heat and put griddle on top of it.
8.  Spread some oil on griddle and spread some batter on griddle. Flip it on other side when bottom looks slightly brown and cooked.
9. You can keep thickness or size as per your preference. My daughter usually makes mini pancakes for her kids that are usually little thick. While for herself she makes bigger and thinner.

Serve pancake with yogurt or chutney.

My daughter sometimes adds beet in the batter and it gives pancake really nice pink/purple color. You can use any vegetable of your choice.

Similar Kids Lunch Box Recipes:
1.  Quick Vegetable Penne Pasta
2. Slow Cooker Vegetable Pulav Recipe
3. Spinach Paneer Wraps

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I am sending this recipe to Indusladies 'Kids Lunch Box Recipes' Event and Come join up for breakfast Event - October.

Spinach Paneer ( Cottage Cheese ) Wrap Recipe: How to make Spinach Paneer Wrap

This is a simple and healthy lunch box recipe. Just like my slow cooker spinach daal , vegetable pulav and kansar, Spinach Paneer wrap are also staple for my grand-kids lunch-box. It is very easy to make and it freezes well. So you can make few wraps in bulk and use them when short on time. Spinach Paneer Wrap are great for quick week night dinners as well.

Preparation Time : 5-7 minutes
Cook Time : 15 minutes
Makes: 6 wraps

Ingredient

1. 2 1/2 cup spinach
2. 1/2 cup onion
3. 1/3 cup paneer
4. 1/2 tsp red chili powder
5. 1/4 tsp garam masala ( all spice )
6. salt to taste
7. 2 tsp oil
8. 6 tortilla ( roti ) store bought or home made
9. 6 tsp shredded cheese

Method to make filling:

1. In a frying pan combine oil and onion with pinch of salt.
2. Put it on gas stove on medium high heat. Stir it for few minutes until onion turns pink. Now add spinach and little bit of salt.
3.After few minutes add red chili powder and garam masala powder ( all spice powder)
4. Cook until water is absorbed. Now take this spinach/onion mixture off of the gas and let it cool down little bit. Add crumbled paneer and mix it well.

Method to assemble Spinach Paneer Wrap:

1. Take 1 tortilla in a plate and sprinkle some shredded cheese on it.

2. Add 2 to 3 tsp spinach mixture on top of the cheese.
3. Fold the tortilla as shown in the picture below.

4. Roast the wrap on skillet on both sides on medium high heat. Apply oil as needed on skillet.

5. Wrap is ready to be served.

I am sending this recipe to Indusladies 'Kids Lunch Box Recipes' Event.

Tip:
Spinach Paneer Wrap will remain fresh in freezer for 2 weeks.

Similar Kids Lunch Box Recipes:
1.  Quick Vegetable Penne Pasta
2. Slow Cooker Vegetable Pulav Recipe

Kansar Recipe Using Slow Cooker: How to Make Kansar in Crockpot

If you liked my last post regarding Traditional Gujarati recipe Kadhi using slowcooker or crockpot, you will also like this another Gujarati Traditional recipe kansar or kamsar using slowcooker. Kansar is made on auspicious occasions and also year round just to satisfy sweet tooth. My grandkids take Kansar in lunch box almost once a week or every other week along with Vegetable Pulav or spinach moong daal also made in crockpot.

Preparation Time : 5 minute
Cook Time : 50 minute
Serve : As a side dish 4 people

Ingredients:


1.1 cup coarsely ground wheat flour
2. 1/2 cup powder jiggery( brown sugar )
3. 1-1/3 cup water
4. 3tsp oil
5. 3 to 4 tsp ghee (How to make ghee in crockpot)
6. powder sugar for serving

Method Step By Step: How to make Kansar

1.Add oil in flour and mix it well
2. Put flour and jiggery in a slow cooker bowl
3. Add hot water and 1tsp ghee
4. Mix it very well
5. Cover slow cooker and set it on high 
6. After about 50 minute kansar should be cooked

7.  Mix it well
8. Take it in a serving dish and sprinkle powder sugar and ghee on it before serving.

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I am sending this recipe to Indusladies 'Kids Lunch Box Recipes' Event.

                                           

Similar Recipes:
Slow Cooker/Crockpot Sweet Pongal/Sakkarai Pongal
Slow Cooker Cracked Wheat Halwa (Fada Lapsi)
Slow Cooker Mango Jam Recipe

Slow Cooker Aloo-Palak Recipe

Slow Cooker Dal Fry Recipe
Slow Cooker Aloo Baingan Recipe
Slow Cooker Sprout Pulav

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Simple Cold Pasta Salad Recipe: How to make pasta salad

With hot summer months here, this is a simple cold pasta salad recipe. Even though ingredient list looks long, you do not have to have all ingredients on hand. You can skip some vegetables/fruits or include more as per your taste. With addition of crunchy apples, cucumber and grapes this pasta salad gets great texture and interesting mix of flavors.

Preparation Time : 15 Minute
Cooking Time: Time taken to cook pasta
Serve :4 People

Ingredients:
1. 1 cup cooked Rotini pasta
2.1/2 cup cut cucumber
3.1/2 cup reddish
4.1/3 cup cut red onion (red onion taste sweeter compared to other onions)
5.1/3 cup grapes (any color grapes cut in half)
6.1/3 cup chopped apple
7.1/3 cup ripe black olive (sliced)
8.1 red tomato chopped
9. 20 grape tomato
10. 1 tbsp nicely cut coriander leaves
11.1tbsp nicely cut fresh mint leaves
For dressing
1.Olive oil as needed
2.1tsp black pepper powder
3.1tbsp lemon juice
4.1tsp sugar ( optional )
5.salt to taste

Method
1. In a  bowl wisk all dressing  ingredients and place them on side.

2. In big bowl combine all salad ingredients and mix them very well with dressing.
3. Pasta Salad is ready to serve.

If you do not plan to consume salad immediately, please cover salad ingredients with cling wrap and put them in refrigerator. When ready to eat, mix it with salad dressing.

This pasta salad makes great dish for potluck, big gatherings or outdoor picnics and barbecues.

Similar Recipes:
1. Vegetable Penne Pasta Recipe
2. Rotini Pasta in Broccoli Sauce

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Sending this dish to Dish It Out - Kids Friendly Dishes

Pavbhaji In Slow Cooker

Pav-Bhaji is one of the most popular street food from India. It is fun to watch street side vendors preparing bhaji on big flat griddles.

Apart from being yummy, Pavbhaji is perfect way to hide healthy food in kid's meal. My grand kids easily eat homemade eggless bun bread with bhaji (mashed mix-vegetable with spices) and they never complain about vegetables in bhaji. Lately they have been putting bhaji in between two buns and call it bhaji burger !

Talking about sneaking-in vegetables in kids diet, my daughter highly recommends this book called "Sneaky Chef"  by Missy Chase Lapine with tons of recipes and idea about how to sneak-in vegetables in kid's favorite meals. You can purchase is from here on Amazon. All the recipes in the book are not suited for vegetarian/vegans but it is great resource with full of sneaky ideas for picky eaters.

Talking about getting kids and entire family to eat healthy, you can also try this meal planning service called Healthy Kids Inc. Meal Planner . It is meal planning service for entire family and not just for kids. You can choose service for 3 , 6 or 12 months and first 7 days are free. Great "How To Videos" , easy to plan meal and grocery list makes it great resource.

Back to the recipe for pav-bhaji which is made effortlessly using slow-cooker.

Cook time 3- 4 hours
Serving for 7 to 8  people

Ingredients

1. 1 1/2 pound cauliflower
2. 1 pound potato
3. 1 cup carrot
4. 1 cup frozen green peas
5. 2 tbsp nicely cut green bell paper
6. 2 tsp red chili powder
7. 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
8. coriander powder
9. salt to taste
10. 2.1/2 tsp Pav Bhaji Masala ( easily available in Indian grocery store  )
11.1 tsp ginger paste
12. 2 to 3  tbsp. tomato puree
13. 1 tbsp oil
14. 2 cup water
15.cilantro for garnish

For Gravy

1. 2 onion
2. 3 tomato
3. 3 to 5 clove garlic
4. 5 tbsp oil
5.  pinch salt

Some of the spices mentioned above are traditional Indian spices and are easily available in any Indian Grocery store. You can also purchase this Indian Spices Starter Kit  from Amazon which includes all the listed spices and many more without worrying about significant investment.

Method:
1.Wash cauliflower, potato, carrot and cut in small cubes.
2. Put vegetables in slow cooker bowl. Add 2 cup water, cover slow cooker and it set on high.
3. Chop Onion and garlic very nicely in a chopper. Chop tomato separately.
4. In a microwave safe bowl combine 5 tbsp oil, chopped onion and garlic and pinch of salt.Mix it well and cook for 10 minute in a microwave. (You do not have to do this step in microwave. But I prefer the browning process that happens in microwave which is similar to stove top. Alternately you could also use Slow Cooker with Stove-Top Browning)
6. Now add tomato paste and mix it well. Again cook for 10 minutes and add it to the slow-cooker.
7.In a small bowl combine ginger paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and soak them in 2 tbsp water. Keep it aside.
8.After about 3 hours and 30 minute, vegetables should be done. Mesh vegetables well. Add soaked spices, pavbhaji masala, nicely cut bell pepper, frozen green peas, tomato pure  and  1 tbsp oil. Mix it well cover it for 15 minute.
9.After 15 minute transfer in a serving bowl and garnish with cilantro.

 Bhaji is ready to be eaten with butter roasted pav ( bun ) bread, onion and lime.

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This is the book I mentioned earlier in the post. My daughter uses many ideas from this book to sneak-in more vegetables in kid's diet.

Vegetable Penne Pasta Recipe

I am not big fan of pasta. However since I tried creating rotini pasta with broccoli sauce and I liked it, I made this another simple pasta dish using Penne Pasta and vegetables. This recipe contains lots of vegetables. It works great for lunch box or simple and quick dinner. Most of the vegetables are available in freeze or you can just add any vegetables available. So it can made at minute's notice.

Ingredient

1. 1 cup broccoli florets, 1/2 cup mushroom, 1/3 cup carrot,1/4 cup corn, 2tbsp cut green bell pepper,2 tbsp cut red bell pepper,2 tbsp cut black olive (this was the combination I used. You can take any combination of vegetables)
2. 1/4 cup nicely cut onion
3  2 nicely cut garlic clove
4. 3 tbsp olive oil
5. salt to taste
6. 1 tsp dry parsley
7. 1 cup tomato pure
8. 1 big tomato nicely cut
9. 2 tbs fresh parsley
10. Vegan Parmesan cheese for serving (You can find Vegan Permasan Cheese Here or skip it in recipe to make it vegan)
11. 1 and 1/2 cup Penne pasta cooked as per package instruction

Method

1.In a big sauce pan heat olive oil. Add onion and pinch of salt. Put it on medium heat and stir until row smell of onion is gone. Add garlic and stir for a minute or so. Add tomato pieces and stir for few more minutes.
2. Now add vegetables one after the another. Add the carrots first since they take longest to cook, then mushroom and then broccoli and so on. (Do not add olives yet.)
3. Once vegetables are cooked but not mushy, add pasta, tomato puree, salt,  black olive and dry parsley powder. Mix it well.
4. Transfer in serving bowl and sprinkle with fresh parsley and cheese.

   Tip

  If you like spicy add crushed red pepper.

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Sending this entry to Pasta Please Event hosted by The Spicy Pear and Tinned Tomatoes.



and to no-waste food challenge @  Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary and Cooking Around the World.

Rotini Pasta In Broccoli Sauce

I have been making pasta for my grand-kids using store bought Alfredo Sauce and Broccoli. They love the combination. However we were looking for some change. This resulted in Vegan Broccoli Sauce using Cashew. Both my grand-kids loved this pasta. Their lunch boxes came back empty ! This is a good sauce to sneak in some broccoli if your kids don't like to cut pieces of broccoli.

Ingredients:

1. 2 cup rotini pasta
2  2 cup broccoli florets
3. 1.1/2 cup water
4. salt to taste
5. 12 cashews powder
6. 1tbsp Vegan Parmesan Cheese  (Find Vegan Parmesan Cheese Here or skip it in recipe to make it vegan)
7. 1/2tsp black pepper
8. 1/4tsp dry oregano
9. 1/4tsp dry parsley
10. 2tsp oil


Method Step By Step

1.Cook pasta as per package direction. Drain it and keep it aside. (Apply some oil to make sure they don't stick)
2. Boil broccoli in a 1 and 1/2 cup water. Add pinch of salt. (You may steam the broccoli. It is more healthier option)
3. After broccoli is cooked, puree it, add cashews powder and cheese.
4. Add black pepper, oregano, parsley in broccoli sauce.
5. Mix sauce well with cooked pasta and it is ready eat. (Adjust salt if needed)

Do you have any go-to pasta recipe that your kids love? Please leave a comment below and let me know. I would love to try out your recipe. I am always looking for new recipes that kids can take for lunchbox. Here are some other recipes for kids lunch box.




Sending to cooking with herbs event.

Healthy Eggless Tutti-Fruity (candied fruit) Bread Recipe

Tutti-Fruity is made using raw papaya. Raw papaya is cut into small pieces and boiled in colorful sugar syrup. These pieces are then dried and now called Tutti-Fruity. It is mostly used in bread, cake, ice-cream, custard etc. Tutti-Fruity bread is available in bakeries across India and now it is available in Indian stores in USA as well. It is loved by kids a lot. Breads available in market are made using all-purpose flour (maida)  and usually contains eggs. Here is a egg-less Tutti-Fruity or candied fruit bread recipe using whole wheat flour. Those two tiny hands in the picture are my grand-kids barely able to wait for me to take picture.

Ingredient

1.2 cup all purpose flour, 1 cup wheat flour, 2tsp rice flour (optional)
2.4tbsp butter +2tbsp oil +1/2tsp butter
3. 1 cup Tutti-Fruity (available in Indian store or candied fruit)
4.3tsp dry fast rising yeast
5.4tbsp sugar
6.1tsp salt
7.1/2 cup milk +1/3 cup water +1tsp milk

8. 2tsp flour for dusting

Method Step By Step

1.Combine milk and water. Warm it so that it is lukewarm. Add yeast and sugar and leave for 10 minutes.
2.After 10 minute yeast will be foaming. In a mixing bowl combine this mixture with items from  1 to 3 and make dough. Knead is well for 5-7 minutes.
3. Put dough in a greased bowl, cover it and put in a warm place at least one hour.
4.After 1 hour dough volume will be double. Knead it well and put in a 9" greased bread making pan for second rise. (Put it in warm place for another hour).
5.After 1 hour it will be double in size.
6.  Pre-heat oven for 350" ( gas oven 355" ). Bake the bread for 40 to 45 minutes.
7. Take out of oven and apply with butter on it.

Simillar Eggless Recipes:
1. Eggless Apple Pie Recipe 
2. No Bake Eggless Roller Coaster Cookie 
3. Eggless Pinwheel Cookies


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Vegetarian Soybean Burger Recipe

This is a easy recipe for vegetarian burger using Soybean. It is protein rich recipe and  good source of potassium, vitamins A,B and C.
These burgers freezes really well. At the end of a busy day, if you are looking to throw together a quick, satisfying and healthy meal this is the good recipe to have. Enjoy these healthy burgers with eggless bun made using wheat flour.

 .

Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup  Soybean
2.1/2 cup shredded Carrot
3. 1/2 cup  shredded potato with skin
4. 1/2cup shredded  zucchini
5. 1 fine chopped jalapeno paper
6. 1tbs cilantro
6.salt to test
7. 1tsp taco seasoning
8. 1tsp crushed red paper
9. 1/4tsp oregano
10. 1/4 tsp dry parsley
11. 1 piece bread ( 1/3 cup bread crumbs)
12. oil for shallow fry

Method Step By Step

1. Soak soybean over night. Cook in pressure cooker for about 20-30 minutes.
2.Mesh soybean in a food processor or by spoon or mixer
3. Add remaining ingredients and mix it all gather.
4.Make flat patties. It should make approximately 8 burgers.
5. Put 2sp oil on griddle and do shallow fry until slightly brown.
6. Enjoy as it is  with tomato ketchup or make a sandwich.

Tip

For this burger you can also add mushroom, corn, sweet potato, onion as well.

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Sending this recipe to Healthy Snack event @Eat Your Veg and Banger Mash.

Whole Wheat Flour Banana Paratha (Flat Bread) Recipe

This recipe  is a very healthy  and great for kids' breakfast or lunchbox. It goes great with milk or yogurt. It is also great recipe to use your overripe bananas . You can freeze banana if not ready to use for months and then utilize them for Banana Paratha. These parathas freezes very well. We always keep them in freezer. My grand kids love to eat them any time of the day.

Eggless Baked Recipes

             Ingredients
1.3/4 cup wheat flour
2.2tsp rice flour (optional - helps digestion)
3.1/4 tsp salt
4 Less than 1/4 tsp cumin powder
5.Less than 1/4 tsp black paper powder
6.Less than 1/4 turmeric powder (optional )
7.2.tbp flour for dusting
8.1 tsp ghee ( butter ) three tsp oil
9.4 tbs oil for roast
10. 1 very ripe banana
               Method
1. Combine first 6 ingredients in a mixing bowl with oil and ( ghee ) or butter. Mix it well.
2.Mash banana very well. Using mashed banana make the dough. Rest it for five minute.
3.Divide dough in 7 to 8 parts. Roll paratha  approximately 5' wide put on tava (griddle ) and transfer both side. Spread 1 tsp oil on paratha and roast till slightly brown in color .

    Tip  

     It will be fresh in a freezer for two weeks

If you liked this kids friendly dish, please check out other Kids Meal Ideas.



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