The lunch box challenge a.k.a. please gautham's palette

I now have a challenge to the food blogging community at large.

Help me come up with a set of easy to prepare menu items to tempt my son's taste buds.

These are my constraints:
1. Vegetarian
2. Commonly available ingredients only - I live in Chennai, TN
3. Should be good to eat after sitting for 4-5 hours in an unrefrigerated lunch box
4. Should not take more than 45 minutes to prepare.
5. Should be easy to eat for a 5 year old - no messy burritos type foods.
6. Should be nutritious (I know, that goes without saying)
7. No frying
8. Shd preferably have passed a kid's test for acceptability ;)

Please post your recipes or links to the aforementiond recipes by the end of July i.e 27th July

Thanks a lot!


Todays lunch was almost successful - the lil darling's only complaint when he got off his school van was, he didnt have enough time to eat.

Pasta Salad
1 cup of pasta
1 cup of dried chickpeas, soaked over night and pressure cooked until soft
1/2 head cauliflower cut into florets
1/4 head red cabbage cut into matchsticks
1/2 cup corns and peas
1/4 cup readymade pesto - Naturellment makes a awesome pesto if somewhat expensive
1 onion chopped
6 garlic pods crushed and minced
1 tbspoon flour
2 cups milk.
2 oz cheese grated
2 tbspoon olive oil
1/4 tspoon dried basil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Optionally Cherry Tomatoes, Olives, Fresh Herbs, Spring Onion to garnish

1. Cook the pasta as per package directions I prefer the imported varieties, they remain al dente when packed in the lunch box.
2. Bring 3 cups of water to a boil, add some salt and a tsp of turmeric powder. Add the cauliflower and let cook for 3 minutes. Now add the cabbage and continue to boil for 1 more minute. Drain and wash the vegetables in cold water.
3. Heat oil, saute garlic and onion, corn and peas
4. Add the basil and flour and saute until the flour browns.
5. Pour the milk and stir until the sauce thickens.
6. Grate the cheese into the sauce .
6. Mix the pasta, cooked vegetables, white sauce, pesto in a large salad bowl, adjust seasonings to taste.
7. Garnish to preference.

Rava and Besan Kesari
100g chiroti rava (more flour like than regular rava)
30g bombay besan (finer than regular besan)
45g clarified butter (ghee)
100g sugar
150g milk
150g water
Nuts and raisins to garnish

Bring the milk and water to a simmer on one stove.
Meanwhile, Fry the rava and besan in ghee until a fragrant, nutty roasted smell emnates on the other stove.
Pour the milk+water mix into the rava besan and let cook until the liquid is absorbed.
Add the sugar and cook until well incorporated and the mixture leaves the sides of the pan.

Garnish with nuts and raisins roasted in ghee.

No lunch box to prepare tomorrow! Yay!

Comments

Shah cooks said…
Hi, thanks for leaving a request at my blog. I too have a school going kid so can understand ur dilemna. If u try the site the "The Daily Tiifin" where some of us write, u would get ideas for ur son's lunch box. it would be good if u introduce yourself there and leave comments there to get acquainted with similar moms.:)
Anonymous said…
Shilpa of Aayi's recipe has good collection of comments for lunch box ideas. Check it out. http://www.aayisrecipes.com/lunchbox-recipes/

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