Delicious Pasta--Even for My Pickiest Eater
 

We just had a yummy lunch, and the miracle is, my super-picky eater (whose lips, I swear, have never let a vegetable pass) ate seconds! Thought I'd share in case you've got anyone who won't eat greens. (Admittedly, it's a very limited amount of greens, but it's way more than he's ever eaten before!) Basically whole wheat pasta with butter and lots of garlic and basil and spinach. I served it with asiago cheese on top. Every kid gobbled it up.

http://pinchofyum.com/garlic-butter-...tti-with-herbs

garlic butter spaghetti with herbs
prep time: 15 mins cook time: 15 mins total time: 30 mins
serves: 8

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. whole wheat spaghetti
6 tablespoons butter + more for serving
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 large bunch basil, chopped
1 large bunch baby spinach, chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese for topping


INSTRUCTIONS
Cook the spaghetti according to package directions.
Meanwhile, heat the butter together in a large nonstick skillet over medium low heat. Add the minced garlic and saute for 3-5 minutes, until soft and fragrant. Be careful not to burn or over-brown the garlic because it will taste bitter. Low and slow is the winner here.
Chop the spinach and basil (I had about 5 cups total - it reduces quite a bit as it wilts) into small bite-sized pieces and add to the skillet, stirring for just a minute or two to get the greens softened slightly. Season with salt.
Add the spaghetti to the skillet (or vice versa depending on pan size) and season with salt and pepper. Toss well to combine and let it all rest for a few minutes to stick together a bit. Serve with an additional pat of butter and/or fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

That looks and sounds really good! And your non-veggie eater ate it up? Even with green stuff showing? :) Will definitely have to keep it on my list of must-trys.
Thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by Josiegirl:
That looks and sounds really good! And your non-veggie eater ate it up? Even with green stuff showing? :)

Yes! As I'm cooking, I'm thinking "he's not going to even eat a bite...maybe I shouldn't use so much garlic...is that too much spinach?" and then my true self kicks in and says "I'm not cooking down to the lowest denominator here, I'm cooking good food. If he won't eat it, I will!" He ate the green parts! You could have scraped me off the floor. :-)

Originally Posted by nothingwithoutjoy:
Yes! As I'm cooking, I'm thinking "he's not going to even eat a bite...maybe I shouldn't use so much garlic...is that too much spinach?" and then my true self kicks in and says "I'm not cooking down to the lowest denominator here, I'm cooking good food. If he won't eat it, I will!" He ate the green parts! You could have scraped me off the floor. :-)

LOL I need to try this then. Some of my dcks just shovel food in without a 2nd glance, a couple will give new stuff a chance, but I have one who thinks '2 bites' means licking a slice of cucumber twice or she's constantly asking me what's this, what's that, over every tiny little morsel that looks different than a cracker. :rolleyes: But I know she loves pasta!

Either I'm cooking for the toughest crowd on record or I just $uck at cooking but I made this yesterday. I LOVED it! But it got picked over and complained about terribly by every single one of my dcks. Grrr.

Originally Posted by Josiegirl:
Either I'm cooking for the toughest crowd on record or I just $uck at cooking but I made this yesterday. I LOVED it! But it got picked over and complained about terribly by every single one of my dcks. Grrr.

Oh, what a bummer! Sorry. I do have a not-so-picky crowd; just one super-picky one.

Good lord why did I read this at nine pm? Now I'm starving!!!!

Originally Posted by Josiegirl:
I have one who thinks '2 bites' means licking a slice of cucumber twice

Hah! I just saw this. That's exactly my kid right now. And he wants to lick everything on the plate twice and consider that a meal! Seriously? You can't hate everything.

Originally Posted by laundrymom:
Good lord why did I read this at nine pm? Now I'm starving!!!!

It's even just as good heated up and eaten the next day too. :) Add a little pat of butter, yummm!! Oh well, their loss, my gain right?? :)

Thank you for sharing. I am going to add this to my lunch recipes. Always fun finding new ways to sneak in those veggies.

I dont know if my current group would eat that but Im going to try it. I am in a real rut as far as lunches go.
Deb

Did you serve a meat /alternative with this?

Thank you for posting this delicious recipe. My daughter is also a picky eater. I would love to try this out and hoping she will like it.