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.

Mini uttapa and sabji sandwich, guava and grapes

Mini uttapa with vegetables : I used typical Idly batter to make mini uttapas. In the batter add finely grated ginger, finely chopped onions and lots of chopped corriander. On the nonstick pan add few drops of oil and spoonful of batter and then add carrot cubes and peas. let it cook by covering the lid. with Chutney : blend in the mixer (blender) - mint, corriander leaves ( I use chopped stems - its good fiber) , green chili, yogurt, walnuts, Daal (roasted garbano beans), flaxmeal (javas), salt, sugar.
Mini uttapa sabji sandwich : Typical potato sabji that is made with dosa. I added grated carrots, green peas, lemon juice, salt sugar to the boiled and chunky mashed potatoes. Sandwiched it with some ketchup in mini uttapas.
Gauva slices and grapes. I took off the seeds and peeled the gauva. Roo's taste buds haven't developed for guava yet.
Roo ate Uttapa burgers (thats what she called it) and grapes...All chutney untouched, all guava slices and other single uttapas came back.

Bread pakoda (not fried), broccoli with ranch

Bread pakoda (not fried) : I used honey whole wheat bread. Cut the slices into strips. Mix all the ingredients - 1 cup of besan (garbanzo beans flour), salt, red chili powder, ovaa (known as - ajwain, ajwan, ajowan, omam, caraway seeds). Add water and whisk it to a little thinner than pancake batter consistency. Dip the bread strips into the batter and cook it from both sides on the nonstick pan with little oil. [just like french toast]

with ketchup.

blanched broccoli with ranch.

I added few grapes in the lunch box after taking picture.