Now you see it….now you don’t

I see you…..you mothers with dazed looks early in the morning as your kids are leaving for school….you mommies who are left scratching their heads thinking about the stuff that was already eaten by your kids this week…..you who turn your face away when the discussion outside the school veers towards kids lunch boxes - on how many of them do not finish theirs or worse still bring them back home untouched. I see you…because I have been there myself.

Although I cannot technically call my two boys “picky eaters”….their huge difference in likes and dislikes are enough to drive me up the wall….one loves strawberries and hates kiwis….another loves kiwi and cannot stand apples. One can live on a diet of rice in any form (favorite being plain) and another cannot stand it more than once a week. Yes, the eternal topic of how could both my children be SO different from one another????? Then, I had to start finding some common ground for the sake of all our sanity.

Being a vegetarian brings about its own set of challenges, combined with my own very finicky nature about what temperature certain food items need to be served in….I could not bear to send mac n’cheese in their lunchboxes…just the idea of lukewarm pasta in a semi-solidified sauce was enough to cause me some palpitations. Yes, maybe my kids have gone on me….I will admit it!!!

Anyways, back to the issue of lunchboxes…what would work? That’s the challenge that I decided to take up and here are some of the solutions that worked for me.

Basic Stuffing (makes 1 cup)

1 boiled and peeled and grated potato

1/2 cup grated carrot

1/4 cup minced green beans

1/4 cup chopped onion

 2 tbsp chopped cilantro

2 tbsp chopped spring onion

Salt and some red chili

2 tsp oil

 

Add oil to a pan and add the carrots, beans and onions. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Add salt and chili powder.

 

 

 

Add grated potato, cilantro and spring onions and cook the mixture for another 3-4 minutes.  Your basic stuffing is ready.

 

 

Toasty Sandwich

 

2 slices of whole wheat bread

1 slice of cheese

1/3 cup of basic stuffing

1/2 tsp of butter

 

 

Take the bread slices, arrange the cheese slice on one side and spread the stuffing on top. Cut up the sandwich into squares (or any other shape).

 

 



In a heated pan, add the butter and cook the sandwich on both sides till golden brown. Add to the lunchbox after covering with foil and parchment paper.

 

 

 

Indian Paratha Sushi

 

1/3 cup basic stuffing

1 clove garlic crushed

Pinch of garam masala

1/2 tsp oil

1 paratha

 

Take the basic stuffing and add the garlic and garam masala and cook for 2-3 minutes more.

 

 



Roll it into small, oblong balls and cook on a hot pan with a little oil.

 

 

Roll these stuffing balls into a paratha and then cover with parchment paper and foil and cut up from center. Voila....your indianized sushi is ready!! Serve plain or with ketchup.

 

 

 

 

Vegetable Quinoa (1 cup)

1/3 cup quinoa

2/3 cup vegetable stock (made at home with bayleaf, onion, celery, garlic, ginger, carrots, pepper, salt and a touch of sugar)

1/2 cup chopped vegetables like babycorn, carrots, beans, onions, celery, peas etc.

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp olive oil; 1/2 tsp Lemon juice

Garnish with cilantro, raisins, pomegranate and almond flakes (optional)

 

 

 

Heat olive oil in a pressure cooker and roast the quinoa for 3-4 minutes. Add the vegetables and salt and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Stir in the stock and pepper. After the mixture comes to a boil, cover the pressure cooker and give 1 whistle. Open and use a fork to fluff gently. Add the lemon juice and garnish of your choice.

 



Skewer Style!!

1 plain cheese sandwich

Olives

Grapes

Melons

Skewers (warn your kids about how to handle these)

 

You can add mushrooms, tofu, paneer, babycorn, broccoli, pineapple, apple etc....

 

 

Cut the sandwich into interesting shape....gather the other ingredients and assemble....

 

 

 

 

We all know that a meal served up beautifully (whether on a plate or a lunchbox) is always a hit….with kids and adults alike. So try the “now you see it…and now you don’t” experiment and let me know how it goes J.