Whole Wheat Macaroni and Cheese topped with scrambled egg ~ Kids lunch box Ideas

I hear moms whining about kids lunch box. I totally agree with them, it is not easy to please the kids especially when it comes to lunchbox. They bring it back or dump them saying it was not good. My simple and short answer for Mommy's are to make the lunchbox look more appealing. Don't give them the same kind off stuff everyday, cook something simple but different, tasty and healthy as well. I bought a pair of partitioned lunchbox for my kids so that I can send them some fruits/veggie and a small dessert along with a main meal. So instead of stuffing a big main meal, I always include my kids favorite fruits or crunchy veggies and a small dessert. Don't you think its a good idea to sent them a combo, instead of a fully loaded lunch??
 
                   

How difficult is to make Macaroni and Cheese??? Especially when you know your teddy is so very fond of Mac n Cheese. Make them healthy by buying Whole Wheat or Whole Grain pasta shells. Would love to make it a full meal? Top them with scarambled eggs, includ some juicy strawberries and a petite Madeleine Cake. I bet kids will never say 'no' to this delicious yet healthy lunch. So Enjoy making healthy and delicious lunchbox for your little ones. Nothing satisfies you better than the little ones empty lunchbox, do you agree??



Ingredients:-

1. Whole Grain or Whole Wheat Macaroni/Pasta Shells - 2 Cups
2. Organic Low Fat Milk - 1 Cup
3. Cheddar Cheese Slice - 2
4. Shredded Mozarella Cheese - ¼ cup(optional)
5. Salt - 1 tbsp + more as required
6. Dry Basil Leaves - 1 tsp
7. Water - 5 Cups
8. Organic Eggs - 2
9. Pepper -¼ tsp
10. Salt - ¼ tsp

Preparation Method:-

• Make the Egg scramble ready. For this, break open eggs into a bowl, add salt and pepper and beat well to combine
• Heat up a small pan, spary some cooking oil, pour the beaten eggs and stir until eggs are scrambled. Set aside.
• Now pour water to a pot/wide vessel and bring to boil. Add the pasta shells and salt, stir till the bottom of the pan and let cook till al-dente.
• Drain off the water using a colander and set aside.
• In a wide pan, add milk and bring to boiling point. Reduce the heat to medium and add the cheddar cheese and stir till it melt.
• Add the macroni and stir well to mix. Cover and let it cook in medium heat till it become creamy. Add Salt only if required.
• Rub the dry basil leaves under your palm and add to the pasta. Cover and cook again for another two minutes.The milk should be mostly absorbed by now but should not be too dry but creamy.
• Take off the stove. Move to a serving dish/lunch box and serve topped with scrambled eggs and some shredded cheese(if required)

                    

So Signing Off until I'm back with more healthy and yummy recipes. Have a great time everyone !!!

Wheat Flour Oats Dosa Appam - Kids Delight

The First look of them make you feel 'oh a pancake' though none of the ingredients used for making this are of pancakes. Most of the evening I make some kids snack though I never get to click a picture of them(never bothered to take pics when four hungry eyes stare at me) and this dosa appam/pancake evolved out one such  evening. I gave this delicacy the title Appam as I didn't knew what to call them.This is simple, quick and ezee Appams made with Wheat Flour/Chappathi Flour, Jaggery, Oats, nuts etc. You can always mix and match the ingredients according to your choice like adding some grated coconut or opt out adding nuts if your kids don't like them or if they are too little to chew the nuts. Choice is all yours but I can guarantee you on taste, a real delicious breakfast/snack for kids healthy too without compromising on taste. :-) Enjoy!!!!!

Ingredients:-

1. Whole wheat Flour(I used Chappathi Flour) - 1 cup
2. Oats - ½ cup
3.  Jaggery ~ 1 cup broken pieces(5 to 6 Jaggery Cubes if using Jaggery cubes. Adjust according to the sweetness required)
4. Water - 1 cup
5. Milk - 1 cup(Can use 1 cup water instead)
6. Egg -  1(optional)
7. Sesame Seeds - 1tsp 
8. Chopped Coconut pieces - 2tbsp(optional)
9. Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp(optional)
10. Dry Ginger Powder - 1/2 tsp(optional)
11. Raisins, Cashews a handful(optional)
12. Ghee/Butter as required(optional)

Preparation Method:-

• Put Jaggery pieces in a vessel, add ¼ cups of water and let it boil till all the jaggery pieces are melted. Strain this Jaggery syrup to another vessel to remove any impurities and let it cool completely.
• In another bowl add oats and water and mix well, set aside for ten minutes. Add Wheat flour, egg, milk and mix well with a wire whisk to remove any lumps.
  
• Pour the Jaggery syrup, sesame seeds, coconut pieces, raisins, cashews, cardamom powder, dry ginger powder and mix gently with the wire whisk till everything is incorporated. 
• Heat up a non-stick pan/griddle, pour a ladle of the batter and spread to make a bit thick round Appams(Drizzle few drops of ghee if desired, it gives nice aroma and is good for kids health)
• Repeat the process with the rest of the batter, Serve warm. Enjoy!!!!!