I've been going around with some dangerous ideas in my head lately. No, no...I'm not gonna enroll myself for music classes...not that dangerous. I'm thinking of a healthy and green b'day party for Pattu. While it is generally very fashionable to use a smattering of these words in conversations, they are not necessarily party highlights...if u know what I mean... that too if your audience is kids.
I. Healthy....
Imagine a b'day party without fries, fryums, wafers, samosas/ puffs/ cutlets/burgers/ pizzas... more so, imagine b'days with cucumber, carrot, fruit salads, idli/dhokla, cup corn, sundal.... I sounded this off with a few kids here are some reactions,
'aunty, last year they served fruit salad at S's party... we are not planning to attend this year..'
'aunty you can serve corn and chips and samosas...let people take what they like' - the kid who didn't want to hurt me.
.... you get the picture. I don't have to tell you all...kids are ruthless. Imagine the kind of nick names they'll call me *SHUDDER*
But, but...I am not one to give up. Iron will ...heard of it?
So, here's goes my list:
1. bhel puri, small triangles of chutney sandwich - whole wheat/ multigrain bread, whole wheat pasta with corn, mini fruit muffins (that I plan to bake) + b'day cake ; non aerated fruit juice ; chocolates ; cookies
Any other non messy, easy, healthy and interesting option? Ideas please...
II Green
No plastic cups/ confetti, etc. Bio degradable cups and plates; etc. etc..
Hubby strictly said no gifts and no return gifts... it has to be celebration for the pure joy of it and not be burdened with gifts and such trappings. Very radical. But it is like serving cucumber and boiled carrots for the party. I told him that his daughter would be alone and friendless after such a party. None of that moved his Iron will...the family seems to have this in plenty.
But then I got a bulb... I thought I'll organise art and craft...
- Wooden beads - they can make bracelets/ key chains
- Pot painting - a pack of seeds with each pot
- Block printing on white hankies
- Danglers with used CDs
- Newspaper bags to carry these
So long as they have things to carry back home, I think kids would be happy...what do you think?
Any other ideas folks? Let me know before this weekend...
I. Healthy....
Imagine a b'day party without fries, fryums, wafers, samosas/ puffs/ cutlets/burgers/ pizzas... more so, imagine b'days with cucumber, carrot, fruit salads, idli/dhokla, cup corn, sundal.... I sounded this off with a few kids here are some reactions,
'aunty, last year they served fruit salad at S's party... we are not planning to attend this year..'
'aunty you can serve corn and chips and samosas...let people take what they like' - the kid who didn't want to hurt me.
.... you get the picture. I don't have to tell you all...kids are ruthless. Imagine the kind of nick names they'll call me *SHUDDER*
But, but...I am not one to give up. Iron will ...heard of it?
So, here's goes my list:
1. bhel puri, small triangles of chutney sandwich - whole wheat/ multigrain bread, whole wheat pasta with corn, mini fruit muffins (that I plan to bake) + b'day cake ; non aerated fruit juice ; chocolates ; cookies
Any other non messy, easy, healthy and interesting option? Ideas please...
II Green
No plastic cups/ confetti, etc. Bio degradable cups and plates; etc. etc..
Hubby strictly said no gifts and no return gifts... it has to be celebration for the pure joy of it and not be burdened with gifts and such trappings. Very radical. But it is like serving cucumber and boiled carrots for the party. I told him that his daughter would be alone and friendless after such a party. None of that moved his Iron will...the family seems to have this in plenty.
But then I got a bulb... I thought I'll organise art and craft...
- Wooden beads - they can make bracelets/ key chains
- Pot painting - a pack of seeds with each pot
- Block printing on white hankies
- Danglers with used CDs
- Newspaper bags to carry these
So long as they have things to carry back home, I think kids would be happy...what do you think?
Any other ideas folks? Let me know before this weekend...
10 comments:
why do you tag healthy and green as dangerous idea? it is an awesome idea.. so what is pattu's iron will?.. :)
Ani - like I said, if your audience is kids, then the idea is a dangerous one...
Pattu's Iron will manifests as general Civil disobedience and non cooperation...
:)
hey totally loved this idea...
lol@ the kids' reactions..
you can try sweet corn chat..butter and masala varieties and maybe some paneer tikkas too..
when's the b'day? hugs and love to pattu
Done all this. From my experience:
Food is the last thing for you to worry about. I always make everything at home. Then the last min the husband comes in and says that we NEED to order pizza and guess what? We come back with boxes of untouched pizza.
For the younger child's 1st birthday, I cooked for 70 ppl at home. Whole wheat pasta in mint pesto, spaghetti with sun dried tomato, rolls, buns etc. In the past I have served whole wheat tortilla, stuffed with home made guacamole, beans and corriander rice. Another thing I served is ciabatta bread s/w with light sour cream and veggies. The most recent party I served 7 fruits, 7 veggies, popcorn and pasta in home made white sauce(it is a cloud party, so fruits and veggies in different colors for rainbow and popcorn and pasta for clouds).
If asked explicitly kids say no bday party is complete without pizza and cake. But in reality, they are in for the fun. Also from my experience, most would eat it if they were asked to assemble it themselves.
Also before serving, I ALWAYS say, they can eat what they want, but what they serve themselves, they MUST finish. Of the 11 parties I hosted, only one was a disaster, food wise.
Return gifts, we make at home. It has always been a fun thing to do. Nothing major, a batch of cookies, 5 - 10 jelly beans in recycled baby food jars..... older one's 6th birthday was a cooking party. So I bought 40 cents IKEA coffee cups and filled it with dry ingredients to make microwave mug cake. The child wrote on a paper the ingredients and instructions. We gave that away. The children are to take it home, add 3 tbsp oil, 3 tbsp milk and microwave for 3 min. Done.
My major problem has been the gifts. People NEVER listen. Well meaning, but N.E.V.E.R. listen. My angst is worth a post.
Why dont u try baked samosas (since u r making muffins) and pan fried veggie cutlets, i had made tawa fried cutlets for Punch's bday once to avoid deep frying. You can make the shape the cutlets and keep in the fridge beforehand.
Good idea for return gift..i remember one episode here. at punch's bday, a boy aged abt 6 gave her the gift and then came to me and asked aunty where is my return gift..kids have these expectations guess.
If you are doing try the tri color mini idli. I found it in Maduram's Eggless cooking and tried it for child2's third birthday party. Was a huge hit with non- desi kids as well. Okay, looks like I have said more than my bit. Its just tgat bday parties get me UBER excited. Ciao.
Fruit punch with tulsi, sugar cane juice, jal jeera (am assuming the parents will accompany the kids..?)for drinks? Chappati rolls with corn, cheese, carrot, capsicum, paneer etc for filling- It can be cut into 2 or 3 pieces as a full roll is heavy for kids. I recently tried rusks microwaved with cheese, corn, and sprouts, with chat masala- just enough so the cheese melts and holds on to the rusk.. all the items you have mentioned are great.. expect that kids at Varun's b'day party last year rejected whole-wheat pasta and asked 'white-pasta-dhaan-venum':) I'd fortunately made a little of both! Its possible that I cooked it badly;) What about fried idlies- cut and saute with veggies with mild spice? edho ennale mudinja ideas.. let me know what goes into the party finally.. the gift ideas are super:)
@utbtkids: Show me your feet pls.. You seem to be weaving some magic in your kitchen!!
Thanks everyone... very cool ideas! I'm saving these for those 'what to make for my guests' days...
utbt - I agree with Vidya... you can run a restaurant all by yourself!
Well, I'm expecting around 70 odd ppl. And most kids I've seen here are very poor eaters. So, I'm not planning anything heavy. just some simple things that can be served in small portions...
let's see how it goes...will update you all..
I always take care to my own sun by cucumber lotion.
cucumber lotion for after sun
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