Beef and Veggie Burger Patties

As we were getting ready for our 3yo to go to school, more than anything I was so excited to prepare by Kitchen Cow inspired bento snack box for my preschooler. I had even spent almost 2 hours grocery shopping compared to the less than half an hour we spent going through her school supplies requirement, our shopping trip I have posted earlier. Since it is just a 3--hour class for her in the morning, I have thought of some snacks which would be filling enough to last her until 10am. I could not explain but all of our girls had taken after me that we do not like taking breakfast early in the morning, so the little girl's first meal would be the one in her snack box. Enough reason for me to make sure that she has healthy options everyday. 
On her first day, I have prepared for her vegetable pasta and on the second day oriental noodles. The little girls has a bad case of allergy for chicken, fish and eggs so those ingredients are eliminated from her menu. For tomorrow, I plan to make her a variation of meatball-rice meal and a mini burger, so it would depend upon her if she'd like bread or rice. On the side, I also put a few pieces of grapes, and some other healthy sidings. I'll post all of these by end of the week, that would be my preschooler bento box account, so check back in on Friday :).
The burger patty recipe is a basic recipe which you can make which can also be made as meatballs if you like. Make them into balls and you've got some meatballs, or flat them out for your burger patties! For the little girl, to make it a healthy fare, I have added vegetables and herbs and have coated the meat with bread crumbs before frying so the oil will not splatter and the balls/ patties do absorb too much oil and that it doesn't turn soggy while inside the snack box. Of course all we moms know that food needs to be appetizing to the eyes first before the little ones try them out :). 
This recipe could be kept for about 3 days so you can keep the rest for making burgers as an afternoon snack for the family --- no need to call for delivery, very easy to make and saves you much!
Ingredients:
1 pkt minced beef (about 400gms) 
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
brocolli, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, mincedSave as Draft
parsley, finely chopped
salt and white pepper to taste
fine bread crumbs (depends on how much you will fry)
cooking oil (for frying, depends on how much you will fry)
Method:
Drain minced beef of excess water. 
In a bowl mix all ingredients except bread crumbs and oil. 
Form into balls or patties as desired. Roll each ball or lay each patty on the bread crumbs for a very thin layer of coating.
Fry over low to medium heat. It is cooked when the outside is crisp and brown.
Remove from pan and transfer into a plate with paper towel to absorb excess oil.
For meatballs: Serve with rice and banana ketchup as dipping sauce 
For mini burger patties: serve in a bun with sliced tomato, cucumber and cheese
Enjoy!


Update (25 Aug 2011): our Small Ate who is not much of a veggie eater loves the cheese burgers prepared from these patties ---- she doesn't know she's really eating more veggies than meat in her patties! :)