Cooking for Toddlers - Not so infamous "Potato Rice"

Feeding a toddler as of now is the most difficult thing that I have done. Are you familiar with phrases such as "I don't want to eat", "All Done, Thats it" ? Do you run behind your toddler trying to feed him/her but in the process end up feeding the carpet and the walls ? Do you, after the whole fiasco sit and wonder if only they can eat without throwing a fit, how simple and relaxed your life would be ? Howdy partner.. we are totally in the same boat. My daughter is one such kid.. A total angel until meal time arrives. Then she unleashes the little devil inside. Ofcourse if there is one upside to this story then it is getting a good workout before every meal :)

Keeping that in mind, I thought I would share the recipes of the toddler food that I make for my kid.. the ones that she very rarely likes and enjoys. I am sure this doesn't mean that your toddler might like it and gobble it up.. but its just one more option for you in the tedious process of thinking what to make for him/her. First in this section "Cooking for Toddlers" comes the not so infamous Potato Rice.

Ingredients:

Basmati Rice (Cooked) - 3/4 cup
Onions (finely chopped) - 2 tbsp
Potato - Peeled and cubed - 1/2 cup
Almonds - handful
Pulav powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Fresh ground pepper - 1/4 tsp
Hing - a pinch
Salt - as per taste
Jeera - 1/4 tsp
Ghee - 1 tbsp




Method:

• Microwave the potato for 3 minutes on high. Set aside.
• Grind the almonds into fine powder and keep aside.
• Take a deep pan and heat butter / ghee.
• Splutter jeera. Add onions and saute.
• Add pulav powder, turmeric and hing to the sauteed onions. Fry for a minute.
• Now add the boiled potatoes and saute for couple of minutes on low flame.
• Add the cooked rice and salt. Saute for 2-3 minutes.
• Sprinkle the ground almond powder and pepper. Mix well on low flame for a minute.
• Garnish with coriander and serve with yogurt.

Note: I always add hing and turmeric in most of my daughter's food as a way for her to get used to the Indian taste. Also, hing and turmeric are considered to have lots of medicinal values.

Trivia Facts:

• Refering to its strong odour, asafetida is also called the devils dung or the stinking gum.
• Asafetida is considered native to Iran. The trader caste of Hinduism and followers of Jainism, who are not supposed to eat onions use this as a substitute for onions
• The "asafetidda bag", containing the paste of asafetida was hung around the neck of children and considered a remedy for cold and flu in the 1900's.
• Turmeric, hails from the family of ginger and is considered to have ayurvedic properties.
• It is being investigated to have benefits in the treatment of alzeimer's, cancer and depression.
• It is considered an very effective antibacterial agent and a readily available antiseptic for cuts and bruises.

Information obtained from wikipedia.org