Get your kids to eat anything: Strawberries and cream pasta

This post contains affiliate links. We are delighted to be able to bring you a fantastic recipe from Emily Leary (A Mummy Too) which she has published in her wonderful book; How to get your kids to eat anything.

Get Your Kids to Eat Anything: The 5-phase programme to change the way your family thinks about food by Emily Leary, is published by Mitchell Beazley in March 2019, £16.99

If you are struggling with fussy eaters, then this is the book for you; it has simple practical advice on how to gradually introduce your kids to a wider range of foods, and tastes.

Most importantly though; IT HAS A PLAN. As a parent of a fussy eater, we have always been so well intentioned in trying to tackle the difficulties of a beige food warrior. However, as a BUSY parent, it is almost impossible to come up with a cohesive plan and stick with it. Emily’s book takes away the headache, and provides ideas and strategies, so your frazzled brain doesn’t have to. Coupled with gorgeous recipes like this, we don’t think that the book title can be far off the mark.

Why not see for yourself and have a go at this gorgeous recipe with the kids today, and then nip online and buy the book from Amazon

Strawberries and cream pasta

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This is a lovely idea - walking a fabulous line between the savoury and the sweet; the whole family is bound to love them. Emily's daughter, who she informs us is always very suspicious of anything that suddenly appears in her creamy pasta, loved it so much she wanted more!

Ingredients

For the Strawberries

• 300 g (10.5oz) strawberries, hulled and quartered
• 1 balsamic glaze

For the pasta

• 180 g (6oz) butternut squash
• 300 g (10.5oz) macaroni
• 30 g (1oz) plain flour
• 30 g (1oz) slightly salted butter
• 450 ml (16 fl oz) whole milk
• 30 g (1oz) parmesan cheese, or vegan alternative, finely grated
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Heat up the oven to 200C (400F), which is 180C in a fan oven, and Gas Mark 6.
2. Pop your strawberries on to a baking tray. Remembering to season with salt and pepper. Lightly drizzle with the balsamic glaze. Stir the glaze in, and leave them in the oven for 15mins until the glaze is bubbling. Put them aside to cool.
3. Add your butternut squash to a pan with plenty of cold water in it. Boil it, and then lower the heat to simmer for 10-15mins until it is tender. Drain it, and place to one side for cooling.
4. While the squash is boiling, don't forget to cook your pasta. Use the instructions on pack. Once it is cooked, drain.
5. Add your flour, butter and milk to another pan (saucepan). Put on a medium heat and whisk regularly for 5-10mins until the sauce has thickened. Add salt and pepper to your taste.
6. Add the parmesan, white sauce that you just made, and squash to your food processor, and blend until smooth.
7. Mix in the sauce with the drained pasta. Split between your 4 servings, and then add your strawberries and eat!

Notes

Emily suggests that it is a great idea to add fruit to other mealtimes, so that your kids are used to having fruit with what might not be "traditional" accompaniments. For example, pop some sliced grapes in a cheese sandwich, or a little thinly sliced pear on the next cheeseburger you serve your kids!?

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 grams
Amount Per Serving:Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Did you make this recipe?

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We think that you will agree that this recipe from the book looks amazing; and so different, but a taste sensation, to see strawberries mixed with pasta. Why not try it today with the kids?

There are some other great recipes for you to have a go at on the site:

• Mango salad is another one where there is a littlebit of fruit in an unexpected place, but the kids love it. They can make this one easily too,
• If you are looking for a bit more sneaky fruit, you can’t get much more sneaky than Kiwi Muffins!
• Peach cobbler is another lovely recipe for fruit from the site,
• What about a classic apple crumble?
• If you are looking for something a little sweeter, then you can’t go wrong with avocado rocky road, berry cream puffs, or Black Forest meringue!

That should keep you all going for a very long time. If you like what you see on our site, particularly our free printables, and other recipes, sign up to get our weekly newsletter.

We have loved having you here, as always, and it has been a pleasure sharing this recipe. Do check out the book from Emily too: Get your kids to eat anything.

Happy cooking, and eating!

Helen

Helen

Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine!Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time.KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10.It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania.Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!

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