Meatless Monday: Pasta Edition

If you're a carb lover, then you'll love today's post.  We've got some pasta recipes with panache.  No plain jane spaghetti here, but instead some great, easy to make dishes that will liven up your weekly dinner menu.

Let's kick things off with a Creamy Squash Rigatoni by Big Girls Small Kitchen.  This recipe is for two so double or triple up if you need more!

Here's another recipe containing a member of the squash variety, but this time it's zucchini! Spinach Ravioli with Zucchini Ribbons sounds fancy, but by using premade fresh or frozen ravioli, you can cut your cook time down significantly to make this very simple dish.  The recipe, found on Eatingwell.com calls for frozen ravioli.

Our last recipe really adds a twist to spaghetti night.  It's fresh and light due to the lemon, and has a nice little kick thanks to some red pepper flakes.  Spaghetti with Kale and Lemon from Bev Cooks, contains kale, an ingredient that's been trending all over the place in the last few years thanks to its health benefits being acknowledged by nutritionists.

So these hearty dishes are great for Meatless Monday or any night of the week!

Meatless Monday: Hidden Veggies

As a parent we do our best to feed our children healthy, wholesome meals.  No one understands the struggle of having a picky eater more than a parent.  Today we have some great recipes that sneak in a serving or two (or seven) vegetables into these kid approved foods.  Try one out and see what your little one says (bonus points if you let them know they ate veggies after the plate is clean!)

Our first recipe today is a family favorite-mac & cheese.  What no one, other than the cook, knows is there are not one, but TWO hidden vegetables in this recipe.  Carrots and squash that have been grated are added to the mix and are undetectable both to the eye and your little one's taste buds.  For an faster/easier way to get small portions or for a confetti like look-just toss the veggies into your food processor.

Our second recipe again uses pasta as a base, but will satisfy everyone at the table.  And with 7, yes you read that right, 7 different vegetables, you can't go wrong.  The secret is the sauce.  Amongst the tomatoes lie spinach, bell peppers, and many other nutritious items. Try this Spaghetti with Hidden Vegetable Tomato Sauce from Chef Michael Smith and be comforted knowing your family is getting all the daily vegetables they need.

Now if everyone eats their whole meal, why not reward them with a yummy dessert.  Little do they know, the hidden goodness isn't going to stop.  Try this Chocolate Avocado Mousse for a final hidden veggie trick.

For more ideas on how to sneak in veggies visit B-Inspired Mama. Let us know how the hidden vegetable recipes go, as well as if you have any good tips to share on how you get your kids to eat their veggies.