JOIN USLooking for snack options for kids is always a tough task, mostly because children are so picky about what they eat. But that doesn’t mean you have to completely compromise on the health factor. There are ways you can whip up delicious snacks while retaining some nutritious benefits. Here are some ideas:
Apple fritters
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, ½ cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 cup milk, ¼ cup butter (melted), 1.5 tsp grated orange rind, ¼ cup fresh orange juice, 2 cups apple (diced), 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp cinnamon powder, ½ tsp salt or to taste, vegetable oil, powdered sugar.
Method: Mix together the flour, salt, sugar and baking powder; make a well in centre of the mixture. Mix together the egg, milk, and butter, stirring well; stir in orange rind, orange juice, apples and vanilla essence or extract. Add to the flour mixture, stirring just until all dry ingredients are mixed well. Heat oil in a frying pan. Drop batter by rounded tablespoonfuls into hot oil; fry fritters for 1½ minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels, letting it cool a bit. Sprinkle powdered sugar and it’s ready. You can shallow fry these as well.
Baked chicken nuggets
Ingredients: 400 gm boneless chicken (preferably breast portion), ⅓1⁄3 cup flour, ½ tsp black pepper powder, ½ tsp rosemary (dried), ¼ tsp salt, 1 large egg, bread crumbs for coating, oil for spraying on the nuggets.
Method: Preheat the oven to 210°C. Line a baking tray with oil. Wash, clean & pat dry chicken. Cut into cubes or strips. Take three shallow dishes. In the first dish, place the flour, salt, pepper and rosemary and mix well. In the second dish, add the egg and beat well. Place breadcrumbs in the third dish. Coat chicken chunks first with the flour and shake off any excess. Then dip the chunks into the beaten egg and finally coat with the breadcrumbs. Place evenly on the baking tray and spray the tops of the breaded chicken chunks with oil. Bake for 20 minutes, turning the chicken nuggets once halfway through. Insert a toothpick into the chicken cube to check whether it has been cooked or not (toothpick will go easily when cooked). Take it out, leave it to cool a bit and it’s ready.
Apple cookies
Ingredients: ¾ cup butter (softened), 1 cup sugar, 2 tsp freshly grated lemon peel, 2 tsp honey or maple syrup, 2 large eggs, ½ cup unsweetened applesauce, ⅓
1⁄3 cup apple juice, 1-¾ cups all-purpose flour
2⁄3 cup oats, 1 tsp baking soda, 1-½ tsp ground cinnamon, 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg, 1 cup diced fresh apples, ½ cup raisins
Method: Preheat oven to 165°C. Line a cookie tray. Whisk together the butter, sugar, lemon peel and honey/maple syrup. Add in eggs, one at a time, beat just till mixed. In another bowl, combine the applesauce and apple juice concentrate; set aside. Combine flour, oats, soda, cinnamon and nutmeg. Gradually add to butter mixture alternately with applesauce mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat until well mixed. Stir in apples and raisins. Drop by tablespoonfuls, 1½ inches apart, onto prepared cookie tray. Bake for 12-15 minutes.
(The author is chef, The Baking Company - Brigade Hospitality)