Foolproof Appam (easy version of traditional Appam) - Lemon n spice Kids Lunchbox series

My refrigerator has Appam and Dosa batter today. It's always easy if we have such a backup option in the morning to do an easy and fast lunchbox. I added 1 extra teaspoon of sugar to the appam batter to make it extra sweet as Rithika doesn't like to take curry to school. Then plated the lunchbox with cocktail cucumbers, Onam special sarkkavaratti (Kerala chips made with raw plantain), grapes and multivitamin gummies.

Appam - Lemon n spice Kids Lunchbox series

Foolproof Appam recipe / Paalappam recipe/ Vellayappam recipe/ How to make a small batch of soft Appam batter? Kerala soft appam batter recipe

Ingredients:

2 Cups: Raw rice/ Pachari / Sona masoori rice / Basmati rice/ Kolam

1 Cup : Poha / Aval / Cooked rice
1 Cup : Grated coconut
3/4tsp Salt 
1tsp dry active yeast (i always use Fleischmann yeast as it never disappoints me)
2tbsp Sugar

Directions:

1. Wash and soak rice for minimum 4 hours. 

2.  Dissolve dry yeast and sugar in 1/4 cup lukewarm water for 30min or till its frothy.  At the same time, soak Poha in 1 cup water and keep aside to become soft (15minutes).

3. To the blender add the sugar-yeast mixture, coconut, drained soaked rice, salt, and Poha. Grind it to a fine paste. (I use my Vitamix)

3. Now transfer the batter to a large vessel with a tight lid and let it ferment for 2 1/2  to 3 hours in a warm place.(I keep it in the oven with the oven lights on.) 

4. Heat Appachatti / Kadai and smear little coconut oil on it.Pour one spoon full of batter  and rotate the pan in circular manner to get the shape of appam. Put a tight lid on it and allow to cook the center and golden crisp on the border.

Note : 

You can leave the batter overnight, but yeast works the best in its first 4-5 hours. So i dont leave it overnight. If you want to leave it overnight reduce the quantity of yeast from 1 tsp to 1/2 tsp.

Similar Recipes,

• Traditional appam / Vellayappam
• Vattayappam

Happy cooking,

Lena

Super soft Iddli and Tomato Chutney -Lemon n spice Kids lunchbox ideas

In her Planet box today : 2 Iddli's (each cut into quarters), Tomato chutney, Plum, Banana chips, carrots and pumpkin seeds

Super soft Iddli and Tomato Chutney -Lemon n spice Kids lunchbox ideas

Recipe for 

• Tomato Chutney
• Super soft Iddli's (I used 2:1 ratio of rice and urad daal along with 1/2 cup soaked poha)

Similar recipes :

• Instant Dhokla for lunch box ideas
• Chutney's for Dosa and Iddli's
• Modak (Kozhukkatta) for kids lunch box
• Super soft iddli's for kids Lunchbox

Thank you,

Lena

First day of third grade and Lunchbox series

 Summer vacation has come to an end!!! I cannot believe my baby girl is starting third grade already. I am so excited and happy for her to continue to learn and grow. 

Like last year I'm starting her lunchbox series throughout the school year. Rithika is so excited to take her same planetbox for the third year toschool. As I have mentioned last year, it's not a paid review of planetbox product, we just love love love them.

Kids lunchbox ideas / Planetbox lunch ideas / cooking with lena lunchbox ideas

In her Planet box today :

• Mango blueberry sticks
• Wheat flour n oats flour paratha
• Baby spinach
• Barbeque baked potato chips
• Pumpkin seeds

Wheat flour and Oats flour Paratha recipe:

Dry roast oats and make a fine powder using the mixer (i used my Vitamix). In a bowl add 1/2 cup of wheat flour, 1/4 cup of oats flour, salt and 1/4 tsp Ajwain seeds and enough water to make the smooth dough. Apply oil on top of the dough and allow it to rest for 15minutes. Roll the dough into flat and round like chappathi shape. Now spread ghee on the top and make long layers(i usually make it like drapes or roll tightly). Now press into a disc again and make paratha. cut into desired shape and heat on tawa both sides.

Kids lunchbox ideas / Planetbox lunch ideas / cooking with Lena lunchbox ideas

Happy Cooking,

Lena