Healthy Mac & Cheese for Kids

This recipe is great, really tasty for the kids but full of nutrients for their growing bodies and minds. It's easy to prepare and makes enough for about 5 days. That's 5 prepared lunches in 20 minutes! The version that I made today includes tomato, but I've also made it with halved peas or edamame. Be creative!

Ingredients:
Organic quinoa pasta (brown rice pasta or whole wheat pasta works well too, just be sure to choose a dairy-free kind if you haven't introduced eggs yet. Better yet, choose dairy-free anyways, who needs dairy in their pasta? Not me!)
1 organic tomato, blanched and seeded
Organic mozzarella cheese, shredded
drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

Boil pasta until very soft but not mushy. Drizzle with EVOO so the noodles don't stick together. Blanch, peel and seed tomato, shred cheese.

Dice tomato, steam until tender, cut pasta into bite sized pieces.

Combine ingredients and refrigerate in airtight container. Nuke for 10-15 seconds before serving to warm slightly and melt the cheese. SEE? IT'S SO EASY!

Basil & Oregano Panini

Basil & Oregano Pesto

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh organic basil leaves (fairly packed)

1/4 cup fresh organic oregano leaves (fairly packed)

2 cloves garlic

1/4 cup almonds

1/8 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Process almonds first then add in the rest of the ingredients. Blend in a food processor until smooth (you will have to scrape down the sides a few times). Refrigerate in an airtight container. If you have more than 2-3 people at your table, double the recipe because it doesn't make a lot. This pesto is also great with pasta. Try it with quinoa pasta or brown rice pasta with fresh sautéed veggies.

Ingredients:

Homemade bread (artisan, olive, pita or honey herb)

Basil & oregano pesto

Organic Mozzarella cheese, sliced

Organic heirloom tomatoes, sliced

Fresh ground pepper

extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Preheat your panini press to med-high. Spread pesto on one side of your bread (or both if you like) and top with tomatoes and mozzarella. Finish with fresh ground pepper and baste outside with olive oil. Press until golden brown, enjoy!