Rainbow Pasta

This dish is like the seasons, ever changing! Pair your favorite pasta with whatever you find in season at the market. This recipe comes to us from Kids Cook Monday Ambassador Teeny Tiny Foodie.

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

• 1 pound whole wheat pasta such as penne, shells or farfalle
• 3/4 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, cut into quarters
• 2 carrots, peeled and grated
• 1-2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
• 3/4 cup corn, drained if canned, thawed if frozen, or cut from 2 ears fresh
• 3/4 cup purple cauliflower, finely chopped*
• 6 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut or torn into 1/2-inch chunks
• 2 ounces parmesan or locatelli cheese, grated or shredded
• Small handful fresh herbs, finely chopped (basil, chives and/or parsley)
• 4 teaspoons olive oil
• Salt, pepper, garlic powder, to taste
• *substitute white cauliflower if not available

Cooking Tip of the Week: If it’s too hot outside to think about eating a warm meal, you don’t have to! Chill the pasta for at least 15 minutes while you prepare the rest of the meal and serve as a cold pasta salad.

Food for Thought: A great way to get kids excited about trying new foods is to involve them in the process. Let your children pick out the colors in this rainbow pasta and they are more likely to want to eat it with you! Summer is a great time of year to get started since the stores and markets are at their most vibrant. Feeling adventurous? Plant your own garden this year!

Family Dinner Conversation Starter: If you were a color, which color would you be and why?

Directions

Adult: Fill a large, lidded pot with water, add 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 2 pinches of salt to the water, cover and bring it to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box. Once it is cooked, drain it and pour the pasta into a large bowl.

Kid: Add 2 teaspoons of olive oil, a few pinches of salt and garlic pepper and a pinch of black pepper to the pasta.

Kid: Mix together. Add in the vegetables and the remaining olive oil, if needed, and mix it all together. Add the cheeses and herbs and mix again.

Together: Taste, adjust spices and herbs as desired and enjoy!