I have been posting these on news feed for my friends, thought I could share it with everybody on CAL Schools have opened and I hear most mothers complain what to pack for lunch. Some lunches do come back as is or half eaten or some are thrown away without even Mom knowing whether it was eaten or not..... I have some ideas and you can try which one suits the mood of your child. I dont have pictures for all the items but you can relate some of them with the menu 1. Make granola at home and put it in the zip lock bags for some crunchy snack. 4 cups rolled steel oats 1-1/2 cups water 1/2 cup brown sugar 2tbsp light olive oil (Almonds Walnuts) if allowed in the school Dried cranberries Golden raisins Sunflower seeds Pumpkin seeds Sweetened shredded coconut Dark chocolate chips Mix the first four ingredients and roast it in the oven @ 350C for 30 minutes. Bring it out toss it with all the ingredients except chocolate chips and roast it again for 10 min till the coconut is light golden. Cool completely and add the chocolate chips and store it in a container. Use as required. Makes good parfait. 2. Corn Sausage Muffin Corn muffin batter from one packet 1 can sweet corn kernels drained Any sausage cooked and cut into bite size pieces Line a muffin tray with paper cups. Spray lightly with oil. Mix the first two items. pour till half full into the cups. Drop one piece of sausage into each muffin and bake as per muffin instructions. I will add more ideas for the next few days. The lunch box suggestion continues #2......The items below are make ahead menu 3. Italian Meatball sliders 1 tray sausage mix 1cup tomato ketchup 1/2 bottle of grape jam Make slider size patties with the sausage mix and brown then in the skillet on both sides. Mix the ketchup, and the jam till the sauce is well blended. Drop the sliders in the sauce. Cover it with foil and cook in the oven for 20-30 minutes or till the internal temp reaches 165F. Makes good sliders. Just add lettuce and tomato 4. Fritatta Roast vegetables of your choice. Layer it in the baking dish. Pour beaten eggs and last baby spinach and cook in the oven at350C till done. Follow the step by step pictures. My first layer is mixed colored peppers, then roasted sweet potato, roasted mushrooms, grated cheese, beaten egg and baby spinach 5. Waffle Sandwich Bring waffles to room temperature. Spread mixed berry jam or cranberry jam on one waffle. Slice some bananas and little bits of brie cheese or any favorite cheese. Cover it with another waffle. Using the waffle instead of bread might create some interest Change the flavors every week and you will see less food come back The lunch box suggestion continues #3........... these are make ahead items 6. Pancake and Apple compote (Freezes well) Heart healthy pancake recipe 2 cups whole wheat flour 3pkts instant cooking oats 1tsp salt 1tbsp baking powder 2 cups fat free milk ½ cup oil 4 large eggs (omega-3 eggs) ½ cup egg whites 1tsp vanilla extract 3tbsp honey Enough oil for brushing the pan Method Mix together the dry and the wet ingredients separately and then whisk both together in swift strokes till blended. Let rest for 30 minutes. Brush the fry pan with oil and spread 1/3 cup of the batter. Cover and cook. Turn once. Makes 16-17 pancakes 7. Sweet and savory curried apple compote (Peach, plums, nectarines, blueberries will be good too) 3 red delicious apples chopped small 1 ½ cup water ½ tsp salt 1 ½ tsp curry powder ½ tsp red chili flakes 4 tbsp honey 2 tbsp brown sugar 2 tsp lemon juice 1tbsp corn starch 2tbsp water Method Mix corn starch with 2 tbsp of water and keep aside. Cook in a medium heat the chopped apples in a saucepan with 1 ½ cup of water and salt Cook till the water reduces to ½ cup Cool slightly and coarsely blend it in the blender. Do not puree. Must have some texture. Add the curry powder, chili flakes, honey, and brown sugar Cook for 2 min and then add the cornstarch mixture and lemon juice. Cook till it becomes translucent. Remove and enjoy it with pancakes 8. Stuffed buns Pizza dough (store bought) or you can make your own. Any leftover...meat, vegetables, chicken etc Preheat the oven to 400C and bake for 20-25 minutes Follow the pictures for the steps and these buns stays good in the fridge for 5 days or in the freezer for three months I baked them in the muffin tray and used sautéed mushrooms, peppers and onion. leftover pulled pork, baked and shredded chicken or roast beef will be good too. 9. Pigs In a Blanket Puff pastry sheet (Store bought) Hot dogs or cocktail or mini sausages (Once the puff pastries are made put them back in the fridge for 20 minutes to cool down and then bake in a preheated oven Cut the sheet into squares fold the corners and bake at 350C for 17 -20 minutes 10. Shepherds Pie An old English favorite made easy (This can serve as main course and good for lunch box Ingredients 2 large white potatoes, peeled and cubed 1 large sweet potato 1 tablespoon butter 2 cloves of garlic 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese Salt and pepper to taste 2/3 cup frozen chopped carrots and peas 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 large onion, chopped 1/2 pound lean ground beef or pork 1/2 pound ground turkey 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/4 cup ketchup 2/3 cup beef broth 2/3 cup chicken broth 1 tsp sweet paprika 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs Method Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add white potatoes and cook for 7 minutes. Add sweet potato and cook until tender but still firm, about 7-10 more minutes. Drain and mash. A ricer is a good tool for this. Mix in butter, finely grated garlic cloves and 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.) Heat oil in a large frying pan. Add onion and cook until clear. Add ground meat and vegetables. Cook until well browned. Drain the fat through a colander. Return back to the pot then stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Add ketchup and beef and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper and taste for seasoning Spread the ground beef in an even layer on the bottom of a 2 quart casserole dish. Top with the mashed potato. Mix the remaining cheese with bread crumbs and sprinkle on top of the mashed potato. Then dust with paprika. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Note To give it a little Indian flavor add garam masala to the meat, some kasuri methi to the mashed potato and instead of the cheese some grated paneer More in my next........
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 18:56:02 +0000
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