Hyderabadi Upma Breakfast Recipe
There's something I need you to know about my son, Levi. He is completely obsessed with Indian food. If you have ever had a truly authentic Indian dish, you know why!It's absolutely freaking delicious.The problem I've always faced is that I hate Indian breakfast. I'm the sweet toothed girl that likes french toast every day of the week. Indian breakfasts tend to be on the savory end. My kids usually end up in the same boat as me.Not Levi.
One morning, his nanama (grandma) made him upma. Think Indian grits and you have a good idea of what I'm talking about. This kid instantly became obsessed. We couldn't EVER talk about upma at home because he would freak out asking us to make it. The problem was that I had no clue how to make it or spell it to be honest...Over Labor day weekend, we ended up visiting my in-laws and something special happened the last day of our trip.Levi went up to his nanama (grandma) and his chinna-nanama (great aunt) and BEGGED them to teach mommy how to make it. After a lengthy contract... they agreed :)They wrote it all down for me and I was able to surprise him with a steaming bowl of Hyderabadi upma before school this morning.I saw the skepticism in his eyes the entire time I made it! He didn't believe I could make it as good as his nanamas and I agreed. I was terrified for him to take the first bite.. However, it was a raging success!!!!!!He devoured his bowl and asked for more!The only thing I would modify in the future is a bit less chilies. We're used to the spice, but we all agreed to do a bit milder next time.If you're looking for a yummy and quick breakfast this is it!
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Momma's Quick Tip: How To Make Your Mornings Easier With Kids
I'm not sure about you guys, but mornings in our home can get a little Dr. Seuess... I mean kids sliding down banisters, dogs eating kid's forgotten breakfasts, half-naked kids, and exhausted parents. It gets crazy. You'd think summers would have made it a bit easier and my kids would be sleeping in.... but no. They are still waking up at the crack of dawn.This is exactly why I've tried to find a solution this summer. I have no desire for the craziness to continue into our new school year when we have even less time in the mornings. Nope.I need it better now.I did it. I found out a little trick that has been helping our mornings go much smoother! I taught my kids an independent routine in the mornings. It sounds simple enough, right?Here's what it looks like.
As soon as my kids roll out of the bed in the morning, they go to their chore charts. Here is where we got ours --> Chore Chart. Then my oldest helps everyone read the first step.
Make Beds.
The first thing they need to do is make their beds. It's one less thing to do later and it teaches them a great habit. Sometimes the little one needs help and they know everyone's beds need to be made. Instead of letting him fend for himself, they help each other.
Eat Breakfast.
I learned an amazing recipe from the Free Cheap Or Fun blogger herself. She taught her kids to make scrambled eggs in the microwave and it's a hit in our house! My oldest gets all the coffee mugs ready and makes his brothers eggs in the morning.He sprays the mug, cracks two eggs, whisks until his heart is content, and then pops it in the microwave for 1 minute and 20 seconds. Done.They love eggs so this fills their little tummies until I get up and make them pancakes or oatmeal.
Brush Teeth.
After breakfast, they all saunter upstairs to brush their teeth. Yes, I have to put that on their charts otherwise all their teeth would fall out of their little heads. They always try and skip brushing their teeth. This way they have to get it done to be done with chores for the day.
Clean Room.
It doesn't matter how often they clean their room, it's always a mess. I love having them start off their day with a clean room. I feel like it starts our day off smoothly and with the least amount of stress.By cleaning it often, it makes cleaning it up throughout the day much easier! Instead of an entire day's worth of mess, it's just a few hours.
Extra Chores.
This is the time for each kiddo to do their special chore. Some of these chores change each week to keep it exciting. Yes, my kids are still at the point that they're excited about chores and I plan to live it up as long as humanly possible.If you're trying to figure out what chores to give your kids, you can head over here for age-appropriate chore lists ---> Chore List.Once all the chores are done for the morning, my boys can watch a show. It's a great motivator because what child doesn't want to watch morning cartoons. Instead of watching it all morning, I make my kids earn it.By the time the whole house is awake and getting started for the day, we have a calm and peaceful home. I need all the peace and calm I can find with three boys. I've found by starting this routine, we've all started our day happier and there's been less fighting.The kids work together to finish up so they can watch their morning show. Obviously, some days are better than others. I simply remind them they all need to finish their chores to be done. It pushes them to encourage each other and offer to help when the little one needs a bit of a push.
Sweet Potato Parathas
This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Rubbermaid® however all opinions expressed are my own.
I'm not sure about you, but I could live off off veggies. I whip up a dish of roasted veggies just about every night and wow they're delicious! I assumed my family would be the same way, but nope.
They cringe when they see veggies on the dinner table. Over the years, I've had to learn how to get a little creative. I know they need them in their diets, but it gets tricky!
If you know our family at all, you know we love Indian food. As I was trying to decide how I could get a little creative with our veggies, I thought about the perfect fall dish.
Sweet potato parathas.
I whipped up a batch of these boys today and they were gone before my husband could even try one. Can you guess who the culprits were?My boys! They loved them! They're full of sweet potatoes, but in their eyes it was simply Indian bread.They even asked me to whip up more with dinner tonight! I think that's one thing I can happily oblige too!
They're beyond easy to make and you only need a handful of ingredients!I made up a batch in under thirty minutes and I can already tell you these are going to be a new staple our house this Fall!Admit it... Your mouth is watering just looking at the pictures!These are the perfect side to dinner or even a quick afternoon snack. Sneak in some sweet potatoes for the family and enjoy these bad boys!
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Chef Tips And A GIVEAWAY!
Whether you are a professional chef or the resident chef for your family, you need to check out the Rubbermaid Fresh Works Produce Savers! They come in all different sizes and work hard to keep your veggies fresh longer! I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for ways to save money for my family.We're a family of 5 and our food bill quickly adds up! The worst part is looking in my fridge at the end of the week only to find our fresh produce has gone bad. I always think I'll get to it in time, but then life happens!
These Rubbermaid Fresh Produce Savers have saved me twice this week already! Their containers are designed with us in mind! They're easy to use and when you're done simply toss them in the dishwasher!Did you really think I'd talk about them and not help you get one of your own? Enter my giveaway today and get a chance to win your own!All you need to do to enter is share this recipe with your friends and comment with one chef tip of your own!
*Based on strawberries in FreshWorks™ containers vs. store packaging. Results may vary depending upon produce and use.*
Father's Day Is Our Chance To Tell Him How We Feel
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CelebrateAllSummer #CollectiveBias
Father's Day is right around the corner and my boys are getting excited! They've been planning out the perfect day to let their daddy know how much they love him.I've loved seeing the relationship my boys have with their daddy. In the beginning, they were complete momma's boys. I could tell my husband was nervous that they'd always be that way.Then I saw it happen before my eyes. I'd find them searching through the house looking for dada and the look on my husband's face was always priceless. His heart was completely full in those moments.Over the years, I've seen him do everything he can to be the best dad for his boys. He works harder than so many people I know, he always makes time to throw the ball around the yard with them, and he's showing them what it means to be an amazing man.
Father's Day is our chance to let him know how much we love him.As life get's busy we don't always take the time to tell each other how we feel. We assume they just know what we think and how much we appreciate them.American Greetings is there to help us find the words we want to say. Father's Day is the perfect time to let it all out. These dads work hard all year to be an example to their kids and much like every other parent, they don't always think they're doing great. This is our time to let them know how much we appreciate everything they do.My kids had a blast choosing out their cards. My four-year-old found a card with a "superhero daddy" and my other boys found cards that fit their personalities perfectly.
This year for Father's Day, my kids are going to spoil their daddy with cards that tell him exactly how they feel and a delicious brunch. We even decided to mix together two of my husband's favorite things... Indian food and pizza.We've decided to whip up a delicious batch of Curry Spiced Waffle Pizza. If he could survive on Indian food and pizza, I know he would. I let his taste buds be the inspiration for our tasty Father's Day brunch menu.
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Whether you want to find the perfect words to tell dad you love him or you just want to celebrate your best friend, American Greetings is there for you. Sometimes it's hard to find the words to describe how we feel about the close people in our lives, but these cards are perfect.We went to Walmart looking for Father's Day cards and ended up leaving with cards for Hug Your Kids Day and Finally Summer! I had to cut my kids off in the end because they wanted to leave with them all!
I love American Greetings because they don't just have cards! We were able to get everything we needed for Father's Day in one simple trip! We picked up our favorite cards, a gift bag, and even tissue paper! They have it all!
Pick up your American Greeting cards today, but don't forget to use this coupon!Are you an Ibotta fan like me? You should be! They have a ton of great savings! You could head over to Walmart today and purchase any American Greetings® Card at Walmart and Earn $1 on Ibotta ! They've even sweetened the deal by offering another deal! You can purchase any American Greetings® Card at Walmart and Earn $1 on Ibotta !
Baked Masala Egg Cups
Breakfast On The Go
As a momma with three little boys, I've quickly learned some of the best ways to find a smooth morning routine. Okay, I'm not sure about "smooth," but less chaotic. Little boys are full of energy and if I'm not careful, I end up with all of their wardrobe on the floor because they had a battle with a hot lava monster.So what do we do?We start some of our mornings off with a park trip! We're very blessed to live in walking distance to one and there are even a few more close by. It's been the perfect start to our day lately.The boys run around the park, jumping off every play structure they can climb!On park days, we're always looking for a quick and simple breakfast. Sometimes it's a bag of cereal or even a quick trip Chick-Fil-A.This week, we decided to mix things up a bit. I spent my weekend doing some meal prep so we could have quick and easy meals. One of our favorites so far has been our Masala Egg Cups.Can you say... YUM.
Masala Egg Cups
These breakfast egg cups are delicious and quick to make. We made up 2 dozen on Sunday and froze half of them. All we have to do is stick them in the fridge the night before and pop them in the microwave.We love whipping up our Masala Egg Cups and serving them with a warm chapati if we're at home or we take them on the go!
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Pin For Later
Mango Lassi Chia Pudding Recipe
Food Is About More Than Just A Meal
I love seeing how many of my children's memories are associated with food. Food isn't just something to eat for them. It brings them back to the moment they first tried it, the people they were with, the feelings they had at the time, and it's all tied in to each bite.Mango Lassi is definitely one of those sweets for them. Every time we make it at home, they tell me how their Ammamma makes it for them every time they see her. Every sip brings them back to their visits to her house and the special moments they have had together.Food means so much more than I ever could have imagined in Indian families. It's more than food, it's all about the community around the meal. It's about the relationships forged over preparing and enjoying the dishes.I love that we're carrying this on with our boys. I think their bellies are happy too!
Magno Lassi Chia Seed Pudding
As the weather is starting to warm up in North Carolina, the boys and I decided it would be the perfect time to whip up a batch of Mango Lassis. While the boys enjoyed the traditional recipe, I decided to put a little spin on mine.My husband and I have been trying to eat better the last two weeks and incorporating more healthy options into our diet. Chia seeds have been a huge one for us. It has so many health benefits! Their rich with Omega-3, fiber, antioxidant and are great for your metabolism!We've been adding them into our smoothies, granola, cookies, and today we're even making chia pudding!When I told my husband what I was making, he got a little nervous. I could see it in his face.What are you trying to get me to eat now?All it took was one bite and he was hooked. It's so delicious and the added flavors of the mango lassi with it are amazing.
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Start Your Day With A Mango Lassi Smoothie!
Hectic Mornings And Mango Lassi!
Growing up, I never had the title of a Morning Person. I would sleep in as long as humanly possible, giving myself the exact amount of time I needed to get ready. Every minute of sleep counted and I did everything in my power to get as many as I could!Then it all changed the day I had my first son.As a mother, mornings are a whole different ball game. You don't just have to get yourself ready every morning, you have to get all the little people in your house ready! Not to mention help your husband find everything he can't seem to find on his own...In addition to getting them dressed, reminding them to keep their clothes on, you have to make breakfast!Most mornings in our house mean cereal. It's quick and easy. Not to mention my oldest can pour his own bowl! The day he learned to do that was a huge day in our family!The problem with quick breakfasts like cereal is that it's not always the most nutritious way to start of your kid's day. They need to have a rich breakfast that will help them get the energy they need at school or to get their day going at home.I started talking to my mother in law as well as my husband's Pinnis. I asked them what they give to their kids for good and nutritious breakfasts and their idea was just what we needed!They whip up simple mango lassis!Think mango smoothie, triple the taste, and that's what you get when you make a mango lassi. It's one of my favorite little pick me ups during the day and it's so good for you!
Simplify Your Mornings With BelVita Biscuits
We started whipping these up every morning and serve it with BelVita biscuits. It's great because they give our kids everything they need to start off their mornings! My favorite part... it's as quick as cereal and way better for you!I've had Mango Lassi smoothies in the past, but I always assumed they would be way too hard to make at home. If only I would have known how easy they were! My kids are obsessed with them! They used to associate them with their Umamma's house and now they think I'm the greatest mom for learning how to make them!Two mom points for me!
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What is your favorite BelVita Biscuit flavor?
AD Back To School Tips With Tyson!
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BoostBackToSchool #CollectiveBias
Parents everywhere are waving their kids goodbye as they begin another year of school. Some watch as their kids walk away asking themselves where the time went and others race away from school, turning up the music excited for some alone time! It doesn't matter where you fit in, school is still back in session.
As you enter into another busy year, I'm sure you're looking for a few back to school tips that can save you time and money. Don't let another day pass you by without trying these tips! I'm sure your family will thank you.
Back To School Tips
Tip #1 Schedule Time To Sit Down For Breakfast As A Family
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but often gets rushed and maybe even forgotten as parents rush to get their kids ready for school. This year make a goal to sit down for breakfast as a family. This allows your kids to start off their day with a healthy breakfast and quality time with the people they care about most.Our family loves to begin our day with Jimmy Dean® Croissant Sausage Egg Cheese. They're already prepared which is perfect for the back to school season. They're ready to go in under thirty minutes and not to mention it's all real ingredients. None of that fake egg stuff! They're done and your kids are ready for school with a full belly and excitement for another day at school.
Tip #2 Spice Up Your Kid's Lunch
Our family is always looking for creative ways to blend cultures; whether it's Bollywood themed birthday parties or delicious fusion dishes. This year we've decided to make some simple back to school lunches with an Indian kick. One of our favorites so far has been turkey and potato stuffed parathas with cilantro chutney. It's quick, easy, and you can make it in under thirty minutes. You can send it to school with your children or prep it for a homeschool lunch.In this recipe, we used Hillshire Farm® Naturals Slow Roasted Turkey Lunch Meat. It's one of our favorites because I'm always on the hunt for natural ingredients for my kids that they actually like! They can't get enough of this stuff!
Stuffed Turkey and Potato Paratha Recipe
Chutney Recipe
Ingredients:1 bunch cilantro1 green chili2 tbs lemon juice1 tbs sugar2 tbs water1 tbs oil
Directions:Combine all ingredients in the blender until smooth.
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Head over to your local Meijer today to pick up your Hillshire Natural Slow Roasted Turkey and Jimmy Dean® Croissant Sausage Egg Cheese. Meijer makes your grocery trip simple and gets your kids excited to drop by!Don't forget to clip your $2 off Back To School coupon as well as meet your neighborhood friend, Sandy!
Share this coupon with your friends!
Chai Spiced Donut Recipe
The first few days post vacation are a little hectic to say the least. You're running around trying to unpack your suitcases, find everything you packed, and get back into your routine while your kids run rampant through the house.If you're super lucky, you're even dealing with jet lag. So instead of dealing with the chaos fully rested, all you can think about is climbing up into your bed and pulling the covers over your head.Then you have to think about breakfast. You walk to the fridge only to remember you've just been on vacation for a week so you have nothing in the fridge other than the left over you forget to toss before you left that have grown a disgusting fur coat. While looking into your bare fridge your kids run over pulling on your legs telling you they're STARVING...Admit it.. How often have you found yourself in the same predicament I found myself in this morning?Well, I have the solution for you! Pick up a pack of Pillsbury or pretty much any other pre-made biscuit dough and you can make Chai Spiced Donuts for breakfast!
I discovered this little trick a few months ago. It's been a staple in our house ever since! They are so easy to make and only require a few ingredients that you usually have on hand in your pantry.My kids can smell them from upstairs! They run down when the smell reaches their room and start trying to negotiate how many they can have.
Now, I know you probably expected this, but we had to kick up the traditional donut recipe. Instead of covering the donuts in cinnamon sugar, we decided to let our Indian culture inspire us and decided to make our own chai sugar!If I'm feeling extremely inspired I even whip up a glass of Indian Chai Tea.
Chai Sugar Recipe
2 cups of Sugar1 tsp Cinnamon1 tsp Ginger1/4 tsp Cloves1/4 tsp NutmegCombine all ingredients and set aside.
Chai Spiced Donut Recipe:
Heat a saucepan with vegetable oil over medium high heat. I used a small saucepan and filled it half way with oil. If your oil is too close to the bottom, the biscuits will burn or cook too quickly.Pull your Pillsbury biscuits apart and flatten them. Then place them to the side. Pull off a small piece of dough and place it into your oil when you think it's ready. You will know it's ready if it instantly starts bubbling around the dough.Place in 2-4 biscuits at a time. Turn the dough when it's golden brown on the bottom (about 30 seconds to 1 minute). Cook the other side until it's golden brown and then place it on your wire sheet. When it's cool enough to touch, you can dip it in your chai sugar.
Pin For Later
Emergency Curry
One of my favorite things about my husband's family is how close they are. They would do anything for each other. I was able to see this first hand after we had my first son, Liam. My in laws knew we would need help after the baby, so they sent my father in law to stay with us for a few months. It was great because I was able to sit and relax with Liam while my father in law cooked for us. Maybe this is why Liam loves Indian food! We ate Indian food for every meal and it was delicious. The morning after he got to our house, he went to go and make us lunch. Our fridge and pantry were pretty bare because my husband and I hadn't been grocery shopping. I'm pretty sure we were delirious in the first few weeks of newborn exhaustion, so remembering to go grocery shopping wasn't likely. He smiled and said, that's ok. I'll make curry. He made us a delicious omelet and served it with chapatis. As he gave it to us, he told us it was his emergency curry. I think the name was perfect. It's so simple, but so good. You can have it for breakfast, a quick lunch, or next to a dish like keema curry. 
Ingredients:4 eggs1/4 tsp salt1 tbs curry powder1 tbs ginger garlic paste1/4 of a small diced onion*Optional 1/2 green chili chopped2-4 chapatisOlive oil or ghee for pan**optional add ins** spinich, peppers, mushrooms, ham, turkey, bacon, sausage.Directions:Heat your pan to medium/ low heat. Add oil or ghee to your pan. Then add your onions and green chilies. Allow them to brown for about 5 minutes. In a separate bowl, combine your eggs, ginger garlic paste, curry powder, salt, and your cooked onions. Mix well. Add more butter or ghee to your pan and pour in half of your egg mixture.Place a lid on your pan and allow it to cook for about 3-5 minutes until most of the egg mixture is cooked and it is easy to fold in half. Cook for 1 more minute or until the egg in the middle is cooked. Serve with a chapati and enjoy!
What is your go to "emergency meal?"
Indian Eggs In The Hole
Yum! We have a new favorite breakfast in our house! Indian eggs in the hole. It's a super easy breakfast and a way better option than a bowl of sugary cereal.I was watching Pioneer Woman while the boys were napping and she was making eggs in the hole. They looked delicious. Joel said that he used to have them with a friend's family growing up. Then an idea occurred to me. Indian eggs in the hole!I told Joel about my idea and asked him to go out to the chicken house to get me a few eggs. He reluctantly agreed because it is absolutely FREEZING outside. He came back in about five minutes later."Babe! I can't do it. As soon as I opened the door, they started charging me! One got out and I can't get him back in!"Liam heard this, sighed, and said, "Fine. I'll do it!"
Little stinker. It's freezing so instead of challenging the charging chickens, I went to Safeway. The little escape artist is roaming the yard.
Indian Eggs in the Hole
Ingredients:
1 piece of bread1 egg1 tsp ginger garlic paste1 tsp curry powder1 pinch of saltbutter
Directions:
Heat a pan on medium heat. Take your bread and cut a hole in the middle using a cup or biscuit cutter.
In a bowl, combine the egg, curry powder, ginger garlic paste, and salt.When the pan is hot, add your butter. Don't skimp on the butter. It helps you bread to get crispy and the egg to not stick. Put both pieces of bread onto the pan. Let it cook for about 15 seconds and then flip them. Add your egg mixture into the hole. 
Let it cook for about 2 minutes and flip. This part can get a little tricky. You can get lucky and do it perfectly or make a mess like me. If you make a mess, scrape the sides and scramble them. I told Liam they were his special eggs.
Flip your bread and cook through. Serve hot and enjoy!
