chicken tenders for toddler?
Posted by SnowQueen690 on Oct 05, 2009 · Member since Jun 2005 · 1569 posts
Okay,
I am attempting to make the same thing that my daycare serves, except vegetarian version so that my son doesn't feel as if he is missing out. Luckily, he is still too young to realize that he isn't eating what the others are...but he is starting to I think!
Daycare serves things like:
Chicken tenders
Turkey sandwiches
Fish sticks
hamburgers
Hamburgers and turkey sandwichs are easy, get Boca burgers and Tofurky lunch meat. But what about the chicken tenders and fish sticks? Is there some recipes for these two items so that my son THINKs he is eating the same thing as the other kids but it is vegetarian? He is 12 mo now so I think I better figure this out really soon.
I was recently at the library reading the new Vegetarian Times Magazine. Do you get their magazine? in the newest issue there was a few pages on children's parties, I cannot remember the name of most of the stuff but do remember tofu shapes so I went on their sight and all I have come up with so far is Baked Tofu Nuggets, seems really simple but not the right recipe.
Also while at the library was reading through a bunch of books and one you might enjoy is called The Vegetarian Family Cookbook, the writer also has her own website.. called VegKitchen.. Another site you might like for finding recipes just for little ones is vegfamily, if you don't mind the ads. The best thing to do is go to your library and search for books on this subject.
Some ideas also almond butter and banana sandwich cut up into shapes, breakfast patties on english muffins,little rice balls, veggie pizza cut up into shapes...
not much help, but it will come along soon.
here is the recipe for the baked tofu nuggets
6 kid-size servings
16-oz. pkg. firm or extra-firm tofu, well drained
1 large egg white
3 Tbs. wheat germ
2 Tbs. yellow cornmeal
1 tsp. seasoned salt
Marinara or barbecue sauce, warmed, or ketchup
1.Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly oil nonstick baking sheet.
2.Cut tofu into1/2-inch-thick slices. Blot well between kitchen towels or several layers of paper towels, then cut into 1/2-inch cubes. In shallow bowl, beat egg white with a fork. Add tofu cubes; stir gently to coat.
3.In small bowl, mix together wheat germ, cornmeal and seasoned salt until well combined. Add tofu in small batches and toss until evenly coated.
4.Transfer tofu to prepared baking sheet, spacing well apart. Bake until golden and firm, 15 to 20 minutes, turning with spatula every 5 minutes. Serve hot with sauce for dipping or topping.
Health Valley and I think Boca make vegan chicken nuggets. For the fish sticks, I'd suggest the cornmeal-chile crusted tofu from VCon. I cut them thinner than in the book. I will say that at my daughter's preschool, the parents bring the snack, so I never know ahead of time what it's going to be. I've never had any problems with her having different food. Sometimes she eats what their having, like bagels w/ peanut butter, but otherwise they give her stuff from her lunchbox.
I make seitan chicken nuggets, which are super tasty and look like the real thing, I like to make my own seitan from the recipe in Vegan w/ A Vengence, (its awesome!!! and wayyyy cheaper than store bought, but store bought could be used as well for busy mammas,) I like to 'fry' them with a mix of flour, breadcrumbs, a little salt, a rice milk and oil....I bake them too in that case I pretty much mix up mostly breadcrumbs with a little flour in them, and drizzle of oil on them then dip the seitan sized nuggets into the mixture and bake until desired crispyness. for frying dip seitan in fluor/breadcrumbs then dip in oil, milk, then dip back in mix then fry until desired in oil. yummy!
Vegan Lunch Box has a recipe for Tofu Fish Sticks: http://shmooedfood.blogspot.com/2006/01/tofu-fish-sticks.html
I have made vegan "chicken" fingers by shaping seitan into "fingers," then breading & either lightly frying in oil or spraying with canola oil & baking.
I make seitan chicken nuggets, which are super tasty and look like the real thing, I like to make my own seitan from the recipe in Vegan w/ A Vengence, (its awesome!!! and wayyyy cheaper than store bought, but store bought could be used as well for busy mammas,) I like to 'fry' them with a mix of flour, breadcrumbs, a little salt, a rice milk and oil....I bake them too in that case I pretty much mix up mostly breadcrumbs with a little flour in them, and drizzle of oil on them then dip the seitan sized nuggets into the mixture and bake until desired crispyness. for frying dip seitan in fluor/breadcrumbs then dip in oil, milk, then dip back in mix then fry until desired in oil. yummy!
That is pretty much exactly what I was talking about in my post! :) (I didn't see yours first.)
This recipe is good. http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=7643.0
I make seitan chicken nuggets, which are super tasty and look like the real thing, I like to make my own seitan from the recipe in Vegan w/ A Vengence, (its awesome!!! and wayyyy cheaper than store bought, but store bought could be used as well for busy mammas,) I like to 'fry' them with a mix of flour, breadcrumbs, a little salt, a rice milk and oil....I bake them too in that case I pretty much mix up mostly breadcrumbs with a little flour in them, and drizzle of oil on them then dip the seitan sized nuggets into the mixture and bake until desired crispyness. for frying dip seitan in fluor/breadcrumbs then dip in oil, milk, then dip back in mix then fry until desired in oil. yummy!
That is pretty much exactly what I was talking about in my post! :) (I didn't see yours first.)
I love eating seitan that way!!!! Its definetly better than the store bought kinds!
Recently tried these out They are definitely like chicken tenders, just without the beak parts.
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=27619.msg349621#msg349621