Spinach and Broccoli Pasta

I have a lovely toddler who is not into eating a lot of vegetables. As of late I have decided to try and find ways to get her to eat her veggies without her even realizing it. This recipe portions and freezes well for make ahead meals and it is pretty delish even for adults.

Ingredients1 TBL butter1 TBL flour1 cup milk (for a lighter sauce, use skim)1/2 cup grated cheeseSalt & Pepper to tasteCooked pasta of choice, about1 cup uncooked (I recommend wheat or fortified pasta)1 cup vegetables of choice, chopped finely
Melt butter and stir in flour. Once it is smooth slowly add in the milk, using a whisk to get rid of any chunks. Bring to a light boil so that it thickens. Reduce heat, add in cheese, salt and pepper, and voila! Sauce is ready.Add in vegetables of choice to your sauce and keep on low heat so they get soft. **If you are doing a lot of hard vegetables like carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, etc I would recommend steaming them quickly in the microwave beforehand to save time.**Add in cooked pasta and you're ready to go. With the extra pasta (if there is any) divide it into plastic bags portioned for your toddler and freeze. It reheats in about 1 min, stir after 30 seconds.


The nice thing about this recipe is that it is simple, completely flexible, and healthy! I know that the makers of baby/toddler foods have the best intentions, but this is preservative free and way cheaper than buying pre-made food.