Indus Ladies Kids Lunch box ideas E-book

I am happy to tell you people that my recipe Paneer/Cottage cheese fried rice has been included in this E-book.

There is a lovely collection of kids friendly recipes in that e-book that you don't want to miss.So go on and quickly download the e-book from this link

Recipe book - http://www.indusladies.com/food/kids-lunch-box-recipes/

Paneer/Cottage Cheese Fried Rice

I'm becoming a big fan of one pot meals these days.Why?My LM has long hours at school and she HAS to eat her lunch there, hubby dear who loves his elaborate curry-kootu south indian platter lunch has to carry his lunch and by making one pot meals in the morning i can escape all the cutting and chopping.Call it laziness but if i don't sleep with the menu decided for next day I'd be lost!

I made this paneer fried with a wee bit of doubt if my DH will like it because he isn't a big fan of paneer/cottage cheese.But he liked it so I decided it can make its presence once in a while.But alas LM never finished her lunch box :( sad but I just have to bear with her and her choosy habits.

This rice was really nice i loved the mild flavours which i wanted to be so because i thought someone little would enjoy it ( I was wrong) but i liked the mild spices which went perfectly well with the soft paneer.

To make this you need

Paneer 1 cup cubed 

Basmati rice - 2 cups soaked for half hour

Onion 1 large

Tomato 1 large

Ginger 1/2 inch piece, Garlic 4-5 pods both chopped finely or crushed

Garam masala powder 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Yogurt/curd 2 tablespoons

Warm Water 2 cups

Ghee/Butter/Oil or a mix of both in any ratio you want 1 tablespoon

Whole spices  - cinnamon 1 inch piece

• Soak the basmati rice for half hour and drain and keep aside.Heat some water to cook this rice keep this ready.
• Heat oil in a deep vessel, add the butter/ghee and add the cinnamon stick.Add paneer to this and brown the pieces.Remove the paneer and set aside.
• Add onions fry well then add the crushed ginger garlic and saute well.
• Add tomato and fry well until mashed.Now add the Yogurt/curd and saute well for 2-3 minutes.
• Add garam masala powder and fry well.
• Add the drained basmati rice and fry well until it goes translucent.
• Add the warm water now and check for salt.Add the fried paneer now.
• Once this water starts boiling mildly reduce the flame to medium and cover this and cook for 12-15 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed by the rice.
• Fluff the rice up with a fork in between do not stir once the rice is added.

• Mild paneer fried rice is ready to be served with any raita of your choice, pickle and papads or by itself too.Have a good meal :) 

Sending this to Indus Ladies Kids Lunch box recipes

Egg fried Rice - Indo Chinese way

Everyone knows how versatile eggs are!I needn't say anymore. This is my instant quick fix lunch on days I don't pack lunch for the DH. Its so quick, simple and yummy too.Also whenever we need a to sneak in vegetables to the little ones this has to be the best option.This one has been in my drafts for a while now and I will be making this for lunch so I dug it out to post it.

Sujitha;s Ginger Chicken fried rice

I've been waiting do do this guest post for a while.First of all because Suji is my bestest friend in the world. We've been together since we started school, stayed in the same building and then been connected through the technologies!Thank God for technology.

There's not a single birthday or special occasion when we both haven't wished each other.Those special days aren't complete if you don't get those special wishes...for me Suji is one such super special person.She's a super bubbly person and a mother of two lovely kids set up in Canada now.I can keep going on and on about her.

I remember her mom used to be a great cook and I know Suji is a great cook too.I'm glad she found time to send me over this simple yet flavourful rice recipe.

How Suji makes her fried rice..

Ingredients:
Basmati rice 2 cups,
Soya sauce 1 tsp
Salt to taste
800 gms chicken thighs,
1 bell pepper,1 carrot,
Grind ginger(finger size) ,2 pcs garlic,1 green chilly

• Cook rice separately
• Clean and cut chicken in long thin pieces,marinate ginger garlic chilly paste with chicken.Keep aside
• Stir fry carrot with salt.Add bell peppers and stir until both vegetables are crisp.
• Fry the chicken in a table spoon oil until golden brown.
• Add the stir fried vegetables into chicken,mix well,add celery salt and teaspoon of soya sauce if required.
• Add in the rice and keep warm for 10 min.
• Ginger chicken fried rice is ready to go now.

Sujitha;s Ginger Chicken fried rice

I've been waiting do do this guest post for a while.First of all because Suji is my bestest friend in the world. We've been together since we started school, stayed in the same building and then been connected through the technologies!Thank God for technology.

Egg fried rice

I have some days when i feel like eating something simple out of a bowl and this simple egg fried rice is just perfect to sit on the couch in front of the tv and eat spoon after spoon of yummy good food.

This rice is a quick fix fare and also we know its healthy.I don't use any long grain rice but just the normal everyday boiled rice and it turns out just fine  wonderfully good.

These days I hardly get time to sit and compose a post in peace because i have to keep watching out if the baby will come running to pull the laptop.

Lets get to the recipe quickly then.

  

Preparation time : 30 minutes (cooking time + mixing time)

You need

Cooked rice 1 cup

Eggs 2

Garlic pods 3 chopped finely or grated

Vegetables chopped - 1 cup- carrots, cabbage, capsicum, beans (in any ratio you like)

Salt to taste

Pepper 1 tsp

Stock cube 1 (optional)

Oil 2-3 tablespoons

• Keep the rice ready.While mixing the vegetables and egg if the rice has been cooled down then the rice wouldn't stick or break.
• In a wide pan, wok, add oil, add the garlic and then the chopped vegetables else the garlic will burn.
• Add salt enough for the vegetables and allow to cook.
• Once they are cooked, add the stock cube let it break down.
• Add the cooked rice and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Push the rice to one side or move it onto another dish, adding a little oil break eggs into the pan and scramble it add salt and pepper to the eggs.
• Once the eggs are completely scrambled mix the rice and vegetables mix.Stir until well mixed.

• Enjoy hot egg fried rice with a cup of cold juice and a good movie on tv :)

Egg fried rice

I have some days when i feel like eating something simple out of a bowl and this simple egg fried rice is just perfect to sit on the couch in front of the tv and eat spoon after spoon of yummy good food.

Paneer/Cottage Cheese Fried Rice

I'm becoming a big fan of one pot meals these days.Why?My LM has long hours at school and she HAS to eat her lunch there, hubby dear who loves his elaborate curry-kootu south indian platter lunch has to carry his lunch and by making one pot meals in the morning i can escape all the cutting and chopping.Call it laziness but if i don't sleep with the menu decided for next day I'd be lost!

I made this paneer fried with a wee bit of doubt if my DH will like it because he isn't a big fan of paneer/cottage cheese.But he liked it so I decided it can make its presence once in a while.But alas LM never finished her lunch box :( sad but I just have to bear with her and her choosy habits.

This rice was really nice i loved the mild flavours which i wanted to be so because i thought someone little would enjoy it ( I was wrong) but i liked the mild spices which went perfectly well with the soft paneer.

To make this you need

Paneer 1 cup cubed 

Basmati rice - 2 cups soaked for half hour

Onion 1 large

Tomato 1 large

Ginger 1/2 inch piece, Garlic 4-5 pods both chopped finely or crushed

Garam masala powder 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Yogurt/curd 2 tablespoons

Warm Water 2 cups

Ghee/Butter/Oil or a mix of both in any ratio you want 1 tablespoon

Whole spices  - cinnamon 1 inch piece

• Soak the basmati rice for half hour and drain and keep aside.Heat some water to cook this rice keep this ready.
• Heat oil in a deep vessel, add the butter/ghee and add the cinnamon stick.Add paneer to this and brown the pieces.Remove the paneer and set aside.
• Add onions fry well then add the crushed ginger garlic and saute well.
• Add tomato and fry well until mashed.Now add the Yogurt/curd and saute well for 2-3 minutes.
• Add garam masala powder and fry well.
• Add the drained basmati rice and fry well until it goes translucent.
• Add the warm water now and check for salt.Add the fried paneer now.
• Once this water starts boiling mildly reduce the flame to medium and cover this and cook for 12-15 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed by the rice.
• Fluff the rice up with a fork in between do not stir once the rice is added.

• Mild paneer fried rice is ready to be served with any raita of your choice, pickle and papads or by itself too.Have a good meal :) 

Chicken fried Rice - Chinese style

I'm taking a vacation of sorts for the next 2 months and will try to make a post once in a while whenever i can.I'll be bored without visiting blogs and commenting on those yummy recipes.
I made this rice for our wedding anniversary and it was a hit even my daughter who picks out vegetables from everything successfully had some of this rice.

This is a very easy dish and even though i have added meat to this, vegetarians can casually leave it out and make a vegetarian version of the same.

 I have used a small sized aromatic rice we are familiar in Chennai as Jeera rice but it would taste good with any long grained rice too.

You need

Cooked rice 2 cups

Vegetables finely - carrots, beans, cabbage, capsicum and spring onions(whites) about a cup

Spring onion greens 2 tablespoons

Oil 2 3 tablespoons
Soya sauce 1 and half tsp
Chilli sauce 1 tsp
Pepper powder 1/2 tsp
Vinegar a tsp
 Garlic 2 pods
Salt to taste
Boneless chicken a cup

• To prepare the chicken - marinate the chicken in salt and chilli powder and let it rest.
• Cook the marinated chicken in a pan and shred into desired sized pieces.
• Heat oil in a wide mouthed pan, add oil, add the garlic pods crushed, add the vegetables(except spring onion greens) and saute well in the oil until cooked. 
• Once the vegetables are almost done add the sauces and vinegar and let it simmer well.Add pepper powder to this.Check for salt now.
•  Mix the cooked rice along with the vegetables and add the cooked chicken to this.

• Mix everything well and serve hot with any tomato sauce or any spicy curry of your choice.

Chicken fried Rice - Chinese style

I'm taking a vacation of sorts for the next 2 months and will try to make a post once in a while whenever i can.I'll be bored without visiting blogs and commenting on those yummy recipes.
I made this rice for our wedding anniversary and it was a hit even my daughter who picks out vegetables from everything successfully had some of this rice.