He has the habit of suckling it when he feels sleepy. The moment he takes his feeding bottle, he conks off to sleep as an angel that he is. Only saving grace has been the fact that its an empty feeding bottle. I know if its a bottle with milk or juice, it would have been even worse. Still the doctors advised me that its high time I made him break this habit. It broke my heart to see him pining for his dear bottle, but I had keep it away. I explained to him patiently that its bad for him and he shouldn't ask for it. He nodded his head as if he understood. The first time was so hard, he was crying insistently. Finally I had to give in. But next morning I again spoke to him about it. He looked so pitifully at me, with a look that asked why he was forced to sacrifice his most beloved bottle. Its been four days now, there has been great progress on his detachment to his bottle. Hopefully end of this weekend, he should be able to break free from a habit he learnt as an infant. Life is really cruel to make a baby learn to be detached with material things!
Though a mother can never love one child more than the others, a wee bit is always more towards one child, whom she feels need more protection. My darling Peddu is so innocent, I know the other two can fend for themselves. Peddu is always behind one of us, with questions asking about everything he sees. He is so inquisitive to know his surroundings. While Konda and Chinnu have wheels on their feet and can never be idle for even a micro second, Peddu is more content to be sitting with us and watching and laughing at the antics his siblings will be up to. Not that he doesn't join them in their play, when he does the house is turned up side down with three little monkeys jumping around!
Coming to the recipe for the day, I feel happy sharing a snack that my kids loved when I made it for them. I don't mind giving them deep fried snacks. Its great to see how they enjoy these snacks.
I know most of you might lift up your nose at yet another deep fried snack, but what is life if its not juxtaposed with deep fried love!
And yes this is a sure way to clean up your pantry, with titbits of vegetables that you can add into this! I literally threw in whatever came to hand, more with the thought that I should make my kids eat their vegetables.
Ingredients Needed:
Mixed vegetables, chopped - 1 cup
Paneer - 1/2 cup
Besan/ Fried gram flour - about a cup (enough to get a thick batter
Rice flour - 3 - 4 tbsp
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves - 3 -4 stalks
Curry leaves - 4
Oil for deep frying.
Green chillies - 1 chopped (adjust to taste
Chili powder as per taste (opt)
Chop all vegetables, in a bowl mix in the vegetables and crumble the paneer. Add the chopped chili and chilli powder if you are using, along with salt. Mix well. If this is for adults, you can very well use more chilies.
Mix in the besan and rice flour, sprinkle water and gather everything together. You will get a thick but wet dough, just enough to pat them down as doughnuts or vada shapes.
Get the oil heated up in a kadai.
Meanwhile, wet your palm and take a ball and pat it down to get a 1 inch thick of vadas. Gently slide it into hot oil, simmer the flame for a while for the inner side to get cooked well.
Drain it to a kitchen towel.
Goes great with sauce!
Note: The vegetables that went in were Cauliflower, Beans, Carrot, Potatoes, Peas. You can just about anything.
My kids sure enjoyed this, try and let me know if yours does!
Simran says
Even if it's deep fried, its super healthy with all those veggies. I wouldn't mind such a deep friend version 🙂
Uma says
looks wonderful Srivalli! Yummy vadas.
Varsha Vipins says
I feel sad for Peddu...But ofcourse thats inevitable thing..:(
Nice crispy Vada's..
Superchef says
good read..Peddu really sounds very cute! those look like regular lentil vadas..this is perfect when you ahve to suddenly make something but did not have the time to soak the lentil and all!!
Asha says
I never said no to a fried food until now Sri. Unless the doc says "Don't dare touch those",I will keep on frying! ;D
Those vadas looks mouthwatering, with Paneer and veggies it must taste delicious. I will try next week or this weekend! 🙂
Pooja says
Looking delicious....
Vidhya says
yum Valli. I actually was looking for some evening snack item so that i could make it tomorrow or during the weekends. thanks for sharing...
Divya Vikram says
Nice to read about your lovely children Valli. And the vada looks delicious.
Happy cook says
I love this vada looks so yumm.
Now you are making us more fall in love with pedu 🙂
Poornima Nair says
The vadas look delicious. Love to read about your kids...I have seen a lot of mothers struggling to get their kids off the bottle.
A_and_N says
My mom used to make this! I love the deep fried love 😀
Divya Kudua says
Achoooo...so sad to hear about that.You have written it so well..I am sure when he grows up and reads this post,he would feel happy to know how his mother did that to him with a heavy heart!!Lovely vadas..but deep fried..hmm!!
Suganya says
Yes, Peddu is a darling. But so are Chinnu and Konda, in their own ways 🙂
Miri says
Lovely home cooked vadas are anyday better than Fries cooked in hydrogenated oil - thats my story and I'm sticking to it! 🙂
Hope Peddu has got over his bottle attachment....my paed warned me so I luckily stopped the bottle when K was one year old - she was too small to protest for too long since hunger took over and she took to the glass in a couple of days! 🙂
Suparna says
Those vadas looks very tempting 🙂 I'd love it with tea...yummm
TC
Subhashini says
Wow..Another way to make kids eat vegetables.. will try over this weekend and let you know how my little one responded.
Alka says
Every mom would understand wht u are talking about when it comes to weaning kids off their habits,its so heart breaking for us to be stern to them,though its just necessary for their own good.But don't u worry,as he had already progressed well in this direction,in coming few days,u (and even he)wont even think about it.It will be just a passsseeee for him in some time
And coming to this fried snack...i would any day prefer to make this for my kid instead of feeding him those cream coated pastries and empty calories providing cakes.Atleast these have some veggies to boast of health quotient
SMN says
hey Vallli hows u doing? its been so long i didnt stop by..
Vegetable vada looks yumm
Priya says
Crispy vadas looks great..am gonna try soon...
Sujatha says
paneer and veggie in vada! Sounds delicious! So healthy.. very nice..
DEESHA says
Its soo difficult to say no to fried food .. I love these vadas
Aparna says
All food is good as long as we can control ourselves, though I'm not sure I could limit myself to a few of yours.:)
And I love savoury, crunchy and deep-fried (now my secret is out!).
Kids are special, each in his/ her own way.
Kamini says
I never turn my nose up at a deep fried snack! This one looks really good - in every way!
homecooked says
This looks so yummy! Perfect for fussy kids 🙂
varnam says
great snack and looks delicious, will try this soon..
Lavanya says
i like your blog very much..i am not able to leave your blog ..not able to sit also becoz i want to go and try your recipes even thogh i am feeling tired..i cant say in words..