Dear moms around the world (in India especially!),
Bet the idea of hot pakodas or bhajjis accompanied with a cup of tea or coffee is tempting for you… but when it comes to your child, you’d rather serve up interesting, healthy yet equally delicious alternatives.
So to rid you of the hassle of looking around too much… We have 5 recipes for you to rustle up while your child enjoys his or her time doing indoor activities this monsoon.
Yes, you read that right. We did write ‘healthy’ and ‘French Fries’ in the same line. That’s because this actually exists – Baked Sweet Potato Slices. This healthy snack takes about 20 minutes to make.
You will need: Some oil to coat the sweet potatoes, parchment paper, paprika (or red chili powder) and some herbs.
How to make it: Cut a sweet potato into thin slices. Lay the slices out on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Drizzle some oil, paprika and herbs on to the slices and bake for 20 minutes. Turn them a few times to bake till the slices are golden brown!
There’s nothing more sinful and comforting than a hot cuppa cocoa to warm your child up from the inside.
You will need: Milk, paprika or chili powder, few pieces of dark chocolate, cocoa powder, some brown sugar (regular sugar works too, or even honey), salt and cinnamon.
How to make it: Start with boiling the milk. Then, add cocoa powder. Stir well. Add in a few pieces of dark chocolate. Wait till the chocolate has melted and stir again. Add in the salt, paprika/chili powder and brown sugar. Wait till the milk turns slightly brown. Once done, pour it into a cup and top it off with a pinch of cinnamon or a few marshmallows!
The monsoon brings in the abundant supply of corn and the need for a 'corn’y new twist to popcorn to make for your kids. This can be a fun activity you indulge your kids in.
You will need: Two full corn cobs (not the loose kernels), some butter, pepper and salt.
How to make it: Apply the butter, pepper and salt on the corn cob and pop it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. The fun part is watching the corn pop on the cob itself.
You can do this over a weekend as a family bonding activity if you ever wonder about what indoor activities for kids in the monsoon there are to do.
A favourite with many simply because of how easy and mess free they are, mug cakes take 5 minutes to make and are delicious too!
You will need: 3/4th cup of flour, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, 1 stick of butter, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon each of vanilla essence and baking powder, 1 tablespoon of milk and 3 tablespoons of powdered sugar.
How to make it: Sieve in all the dry ingredients into a mug and then mix well. Add in the eggs, milk and butter and mix well till the batter is slightly runny. Pop the mug into the microwave for about 2 minutes and top it up either with some chocolate sauce or a dollop of ice cream! To enjoy this, eat immediately!
Another favourite is the pizza sandwich – an easier option than pizzas when you need them on a rainy day! The best part is that it takes a few minutes to make and about 10-15 minutes to bake.
You will need: Sliced veggies like red and yellow bell peppers, capsicum, onions, pizza sauce (if readily available or else use tomato ketchup), sandwich bread and some mozzarella cheese.
How to make it: Take two slices of bread and cut its edges. Cut the slices diagonally – this forms the base. Follow that up with spreading some pizza sauce or tomato ketchup. Add the veggies, grate mozzarella cheese generously and pop it in the oven. Keep an eye on the cheese, if it turns golden brown, your pizza sandwich is ready!
That’s all for now folks! It’s time to use the monsoons as time to bond with your children and get them to help you in the kitchen, making these yummy treats.
