Whole Wheat Pasta Salad

Whole Wheat Pasta Salad : Fusilli or any spiral pasta with fresh basil, feta cheese, some lettuce, baby spinach leaves, cucumber slices and finely cut yellow bell pepper topped with raspberry vinaigrette.
Pasta salad is a very yummy picnic food.

Raspberry vinaigrette : 1 teapoon olive oil + 1/2 teapoon raspberry wine vinegar + 1/4 teaspoon sugar + drop of honey mustard + salt and pepper.

Jawaar(Sorghum) Bhakri (Flatbread), Jaggery+Ghee, Chatni+oil

Jawaar bhaakri (Flatbread) with Jaggery+Ghee and Chatani+oil - This is my childhood favorite lunch and Roo's favorite too. After taking the picture I added more chatni to the oil.
Roo eats carrots when sliced thin. Carrots, Blanched broccolli, mandarin orange pieces on the side.
Jawaar (Sorghum) is high in carbohydrates and has sweet taste. Bhakri (flatbread) is made very differently than naan, roti's. Flour is mixed with water/milk, made flat with hands (no rolling pin). On the pan while roasting brush the top side with water. Let it roast until it holds the shape and then roast both sides on the fire (stove) flame. It will be puffy dome shaped flatbread.

toasty Sandwich, Sheera, sugar snap peas and fruits

Sandwich made using sandwich maker : Sandwich maker makes warm toasty sandwich. The edges of the bread gets sealed nicely making easy to eat for kids.
Filling : Can vary according to kids choice. I filled it with mixed dry vegetables bhaji(sabji)

Sheera with cashews and keshar (Saffron) : sooji halwa. yummy sweet.

Sugar snap peas (peapods). Apple and apple-pear slices.

Bhel

Bhel with vegetables and sprouted beans : This is the best picnic food. Roo loves it in her lunch box.
Puffed rice is mixed together to eat with -
boiled potato, soaked and sprouted moong and moth (mataki) beans, grated carrots, finely cut cucumber (no seeds) and tomatoes, chopped onions and corriander. I added some peanuts, almonds and walnuts after taking picture and a spoon to eat.
farsan - (sweet and spicy blend of garbanzo bean flour noodles).
topped with sweet and saur (tangy) tamarind chutney (sauce) : soak tamarind overnight, blend it in mixer (blender), strain it and discard seeds and fibers. In a saucepan cook tamarind pulp with sugar (jaggery) and some salt. cook it for 10-15 minutes. I make 4-5 jars of this sauce at a time and keep in the fridge.

Aloo Paratha with vegetables, plum and apple slices

Aloo paratha with added vegetables : I use durum atta for stuffed paratha dough. For 1 cup flour use 1/3 -1/2 cup water and pinch of salt.

Stuffing : heat some oil add grated ginger, turmeric, ajwain seeds(ova), grated turnip, grated kohlrabi (navalkol), green string beans, green peas, boiled and mashed potatoes, lemon juice, salt, sugar.

Apple and Plum slices.

[If you can't make stuffing completely covered with dough ball with hands. Roll the dough a little (by coating it with flour), put the stuffing ball in the middle and fold the dough on top of the stuffing ball. Pinch out the extra dough, make ball and roll it lightly with rolling pin and again coating generously with flour at all times]

Bread Upma, grapes, vegetables

Bread Upma : White bread cut into small pieces (cubes). Mix some lemon juice, salt and sugar with bread cubes.

Heat some oil for tempring (tadka) add cumin seeds, turmeric, grated ginger, finely chopped onion, pinch of salt. let it cook. add peanuts and bread cubes. Mix it all together and turn off the heat.

Brocolli (your kids favorite veggies) with dip.

Grapes.

Methi Thepla, Apple slices, blueberries

Methi (fenugreek leaves) Thepla : It's a great picnic food...and so is for lunch box.
2 cups of whole wheat flour, 2 cups finely chopped fenugreek leaves, 1/2 cup Jawar(millet) flour, 1/2 cup besan [or soak any lentils(I used chana dal here) and grind in the mixer], 1 cup yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, 1 tbs sesame seeds, Ajwain (ovaa) seeds, turmeric, salt, some water/milk to make the dough. I make it like paratha. Cut it into bites.
Unusual dip but Roo's favorite : chutney (almonds+walnuts+flaxmeal+garlic+salt+red chili powder) mixed in ketchup.
Apple slices and blueberries. Thats my 15 month old's sneaky hand.

Croissant sandwich with veggies, apple plum and strawberry slices

Croissant sandwich : can be made lots of different ways. This is Roo's favorite one with maximum veggies.

Thick layer of Basil pesto with spinach, walnuts, olive oil, flax meal, lemon juice and salt then the thick layer of finely grated carrots and grated cheese.
Apple, plum and strawberry slices on the side.

Vegetarian lasagna

Vegetarian Lasagna : It can take enormous amount of vegetables hidden. I made this casserole in 9X9 inch. pan.

I used more than a pound of spinach, 2 cups grated carrots, 3 cups broccoli florets, 2 cups finely chopped bell pepper and celery.

heat some oil in a big pot add - dry herbs (oregano, basil), finely chopped garlic (4 cloves), 1/2 onion, vegetables, 8 oz crumbled tofu, salt, lemon juice, 1 tbs sugar, mix 1 cup milk with 1 tbs whole wheat flour and add it to veggies. Mix it all together until veggies cooked (about 10 min).

cook the pasta sheets as per instructions. 1 cup of pasta sauce, 2 cups of Mexican blend cheese and 1 cup of Parmesan cheese will make this veggie cheesy lasagna... yum.
In pan - 2 layers of veggies, pasta sauce, cheese and pasta sheets... topped with cheese. baked for 30 min 350F.

Well, this was dinner so in the morning - I cut the lasagna piece, warmed for 2min in a bowl in the microwave and gave it in the hot lunch box by cutting it into bites with sharp knife- ready to eat with fork. It will be warm for lunch.

Roo loves it...so nothing on the side.

Idly Upma, Cake, Raspberries

Idly Upma with Vegetables and sambar powder :

Dinner leftover Idly cut into small pieces, vegetables I used brocolli, mushroom, carrots, radishes, cauliflower, yellow orange red bell peppers. Heat a spoonful oil in a pan add mustard seeds, jeera, ginger-garlic paste, curry leaves (kadipatta), chopped onion, vegetables , Idly pieces mixed with salt sugar and lemon juice. cover and let it cook for 5 min stirring in between.

Cake : 3 cups of 100% Whole wheat flour (not atta - trader joes has a good one), 1 stick butter 8oz, 1 cup sugar (1/4 or 1/2 cup more can be added), 4 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1 tsp pure lemon/orange extract, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp baking pawder.

Mix in order eggs, butter, sugar, vanilla, lemon and flour with baking powder, at the end milk. I mix it in kitchenaid mixer and bake it in bundt cake pan (cake looks like big donut) at 350F for 50 min.

and Raspberries.

Pita bread boats (sandwiches), strawberries and blueberries

Pita bread sandwiches : Whole wheat pita bread filled in with finely cut lettuce, cucumber, grated carrots, feta cheese, salad dressing and topped with Parmesan cheese. One Pita boat with cream cheese and pepper jelly (sometimes I give ghee-sugar/ chutney-oil)

with berries.

crepe roll with cream cheese and sugar, veggies with dip, orange bites

Cream cheese and Sugar (white homemade butter/ Loni/Makkhan and Sugar) is yummy mouth watering combination. Kids love it. Can go well with poli, roti, paratha, any dosa, bread, bagel, crepe etc.

Crepe : Mix milk and flour (any flour like jawar, ragi, whole wheat, all purpose/ maida). Make crepe(like Dosa). Spread cream cheese and sprinkle sugar and roll it.

soaked and cooked chana.

some orange bite size slices and brocolli, celery, carrots with dip.

Banana bread with grated carrots, Strawberry jam, grapes and straberries

Banana bread : All the ripe fruits bread :

3 ripe bananas, 1 ripe pear, 1 orange - all cut into small pieces, 1 cup finely grated carrots, 2 cups of whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup flaxmeal, 1/2 cup sugar (u can add 1/4 cup more sugar as per taste), 1/4 cup milk, 1 egg, 1/2 cup walnuts and pecans, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon baking soda.

Mix egg, sugar, salt, soda then add fruits, carrots, flaxmeal and flour. I use kitchenaid stand mixer to mix. This becomes a cakey mixture and not dough. bake it 350F for 50min in small pans...to avoid moist center. If you use large pan bake for longer time.

with Strawberry jam.

grapes and starwberry on the side.

Roo ate 2 and 1/2 slice of bread and kept 2 bites for me. She ate all the fruits.

Sevai (shevaya/ vermicelli) upma, apple slices, baked fish crackers, tilgul vadi

Shevaya/ sevai / Vermicelli Upma : This is a south indian dish. Kids love it. It is made from homemade sooji Shevaya or rice vermicelli. I used rice vermicelli here.
Dry Roast vermicelli for 2 min until it changes its color.
Heat a tablespoon oil, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds. add 1 chili (optional). Add curry leaves, finely chopped onions, soaked urad dal. I added grated carrots and squash (lal bhopala). Add 1 cup of dry roasted vermicelli. add nuts. add salt, sugar and lemon juice as per taste. Now add 2 cups of hot water and let it cook. Stir occasionally and cook until it becomes soft.

with apple slices and whole grain baked fish crackers.
Tilgul vadi. Roo is been snacking on it the whole long weekend.
Left box was all gone...She ate it first and ate less than half of upma.

Vegetarian hakka noodles (indo-chinese), baked tortilla chips, walnuts

Vegetarian Hakka Noodles : Indian-chinese cuisine has lots of fusion flavor dishes.

Here I used whole wheat noodles (available in indian store as - maggi atta noodles)asian hakka noodles or any egg noodles work well. cook the noodles as per package instructions.

Heat some(1 tablespoon) oil in a pan. add finely chopped garlic and onion. 1 cup thinly sliced carrots, 4 cups thinly cut cabbage, 1/2 cup thinly sliced celery and 3/4 cup corn. 1 tbs soy sauce + salt + sugar. on high flame, keep stiring for 5-7 min. add noodles and stir.

with nacho cheese flavored baked tortilla chips and walnuts.

except few walnuts everything else gone...Roo ate good today :)

Bagel with cream cheese, broccoli with ranch, garbanzo beans, cherries, blueberries

Anything smiling at Roo makes her smile...She made the blueberry smile by herself. the blueberries on the top are the hairs. Its fun to pack lunchbox with kids.
Bagel - toasted Honey whole wheat bagel with cream cheese. Hummus, chutneys, jams, jelly, cheese / tofu spreads work well with bagel.
Blanched broccoli with ranch and cooked garbanzo beans.
Fresh cherries and blueberries on the side.
Quarter of Bagel and all garbanzo beans were back...I snacked on it...with my evening coffee.