MC2Charlotte

One way to get kids to be less pick and enjoy Family Dinners more, is to get them cooking in the Kitchen.  Pick a day of the week that is less stressful and get the little people to help.  Choose simple healthy recipes and get going.  FYI – Cooking helps with math, science, and reading.

Depending on the developmental stage of your child, cooking can mean:

• washing veggies
• sorting veggies
• mixing items with clean hands (do not worry about utensils), the more they feel, touch, smell food, the more likely they are to eat it at some point
• getting ingredients by reading the label or by color
• measuring ingredients
• cutting items
• cooking the meat or pasta
• assembling chopped or cooked items

With the assistance of one of my families, here is a simple recipe from Giada and a perfect example of a budding chef.  

Ingredients:
Vegetable cooking spray
2 cups dried bread crumbs, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
8 ounces ground turkey or chicken, preferably dark meat
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning
8 ounces small pasta, such as pennette, shells, or elbows
2 cups grated Parmesan
1 1/2 cups grated white Cheddar
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 cups chopped broccoli, blanched,* see Cook’s Note
1 pound asparagus, cut into 3/4-inch pieces, blanched

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 2 (12-cup) muffin or cupcake pans with vegetable cooking spray. Using 1 cup of the bread crumbs, coat the inside of each muffin cup with bread crumbs, shaking off any excess.

In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey or chicken, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, Cook, stirring frequently, until cooked through, about 5 to 8 minutes. Set aside and cover to keep warm.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and add to a large bowl. Stir in the cooked turkey and the cheeses. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spoon the prepared pasta mixture into the cupcake molds, filling evenly to about 2/3 full. Arrange a few pieces of tomato, broccoli and asparagus into each cup. Top with a thin layer of the remaining bread crumbs and drizzle with olive oil.

Bake until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes and carefully unmold with a spoon onto a serving platter.

*Cook’s Note: To blanch vegetables, bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the vegetables and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until very crisp. Using a small strainer, remove the vegetables and immediately plunge into a bowl of iced water. Drain and use.

Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

In Good Health, Ana-Maria Temple, MD