Thursday, January 20, 2011

Quick Kid Lunch #2

I just pulled together a lunch using stuff out of my fridge/pantry, and left over ingredients from dinners earlier in the week. The results were a hit with a bleary, snuffly toddler who usually doesn't eat much when he's feeling under the weather. Very basic, but tasty:

Pasta Shells with Tomatoes and Beans
2 c. medium shell pasta (whole wheat if you can find it)
3/4 c. diced canned tomatoes
1 c. white beans (or whatever beans you have on hand)

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Once it is cooked al dente (still a bit firm to the bite), drain,  put back in the pot and add the tomatoes and beans. Cook on medium heat, stirring often, until the tomato liquid thickens and soaks into the pasta a bit, and everything is hot. Season to taste (I add salt and fresh ground pepper to my own dish and leave the seasonings out completely for D). Serves 1 toddler and one grownup.

The benefit of shell-shaped pasta, besides getting your child excited about eating 'seashells' is that they tend to gather beans and tomatoes into their little pockets. Even if your child thinks they're picking out just the pasta and avoiding the rest, they will be inadvertently eating a little of everything.

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