GREEN FOOD THEY WILL EAT, LOVE, AND ASK FOR AGAIN AND AGAIN.
Recently my friend told me that her child would not eat anything green. He would, however, eat pasta with butter and cheese (like most kids his age). My answer? Pesto! Sure it's green, but it you can put it on PASTA! Or rice. Or bread for that matter.
(We discarded any leaves that were bruised or discolored. They are fun to play with.)
It's a very simple dish with few ingredients, requires no cooking, and takes advantage of the amazing basil that is in season right now.
The kids love making pesto because they get great tasks, like pulling off the fragrant basil leaves from the stems, grating the cheese, and slowing adding a stream of olive oil to the food processor as it magically whirls the mixture. They also get a kick out of sticking their little finger into the bowl for a taste of the pesto before it is added to the pasta.
A healthy option here is to add spinach leaves, or any other mild green, to the basil. I am not talking about sneaking the spinach into the mix. The fact that the kids see the spinach going into the pesto will not deter them from tasting it in the end. Just tell them to add the spinach too. No worries.
Try it for yourself and you will see what I mean.
BASIL AND SPINACH PESTO
1 1/2 cups packed basil leaves
1/2 cup packed spinach leaves
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup olive oil
1/4 cup pine nuts
2 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper to taste
Add all of the ingredients, except for the olive oil, to the bowl of a food processor or blender. Begin to pour the oil into the top of the container and turn the machine on to start the process. Slowly add the oil in a stream until it is fully absorbed. Scrape down the bowl and continue to pulse until the mixture is combined to a loose paste-like consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to your taste. Feel free to add additional oil or cheese to your liking.
To make with pasta, put the pesto in a large bowl. Add 1 pound of hot cooked pasta on top. Wait 30 seconds (to heat up the pesto) and toss thoroughly.
Believe me, if your child won't normally eat "green", she/he will now.
It's a very simple dish with few ingredients, requires no cooking, and takes advantage of the amazing basil that is in season right now.
The kids love making pesto because they get great tasks, like pulling off the fragrant basil leaves from the stems, grating the cheese, and slowing adding a stream of olive oil to the food processor as it magically whirls the mixture. They also get a kick out of sticking their little finger into the bowl for a taste of the pesto before it is added to the pasta.
A healthy option here is to add spinach leaves, or any other mild green, to the basil. I am not talking about sneaking the spinach into the mix. The fact that the kids see the spinach going into the pesto will not deter them from tasting it in the end. Just tell them to add the spinach too. No worries.
Try it for yourself and you will see what I mean.
BASIL AND SPINACH PESTO
1 1/2 cups packed basil leaves
1/2 cup packed spinach leaves
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup olive oil
1/4 cup pine nuts
2 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper to taste
Add all of the ingredients, except for the olive oil, to the bowl of a food processor or blender. Begin to pour the oil into the top of the container and turn the machine on to start the process. Slowly add the oil in a stream until it is fully absorbed. Scrape down the bowl and continue to pulse until the mixture is combined to a loose paste-like consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to your taste. Feel free to add additional oil or cheese to your liking.
To make with pasta, put the pesto in a large bowl. Add 1 pound of hot cooked pasta on top. Wait 30 seconds (to heat up the pesto) and toss thoroughly.
Believe me, if your child won't normally eat "green", she/he will now.
Posted by Doughremekids Blog at 8/13/2009 11:36 AM 
Categories: spinach, pesto, basil
Tags: parmesan cheese bread pasta spinach pesto rice pine nuts olive oil basil
Categories: spinach, pesto, basil
Tags: parmesan cheese bread pasta spinach pesto rice pine nuts olive oil basil
YUM!!! I know it sounds silly, but I've never known how to make pesto (LOVE it) and now I do. Also...L O V E the idea of doing it with spinach...you're a genious!!!
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It doesn't sound silly at all. I am soooo glad you are going to try this. Let me know how it works. Pesto is a great dip too. Give them some carrots, celery, red peppers, etc. and let them dip away. It can go in the lunch box.
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