An Easy Tomato Basil Pasta Recipe You Can Make in One Pot

by Claire SchillingsSeptember 9, 2023

This one-pot recipe is a guaranteed crowd pleaser

We couldn’t resist this simple Tomato Basil Pasta recipe from Apron Strings—it’s literally made in one pot! Even better, it’s got tons of healthy veggies, making sure your little ones get the nutrition they need. Sounds like a dinner winner. For even more easy dinner ideas, check out our collection of 30-minute meals.

Tomato Basil Pasta Recipe Ingredients:

12 ounces linguine pasta
1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes with liquid
1 large sweet onion, cut in julienne strips
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
2 large sprigs basil, chopped
4 1/2 cups vegetable broth (regular broth, not low sodium)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Parmesan cheese for garnish

Cooking Method:

1. Place pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and basil in a large stock pot. Pour in vegetable broth. Sprinkle on top of the pepper flakes and oregano. Drizzle top with olive oil.

2. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a low simmer, keep covered, and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes or so. Cook until almost all liquid has evaporated – leave about an inch of liquid in the bottom of the pot–but you can reduce as desired.

3. Season to taste with salt and pepper, stirring pasta several times to distribute the liquid in the bottom of the pot. Serve garnished with parmesan cheese.

Recipe courtesy Apron Strings

A Hearty Harvest Pumpkin Soup Perfect for Fall

by Erin LemAugust 25, 2023

This hearty pumpkin soup recipe takes advantage of a key fresh ingredient this time of year: pumpkin!

Nothing goes with all those cozy sweaters and falling leaves like a hearty pumpkin soup recipe. This is the best time of year to make a batch from scratch since you can use the abundance of fresh pumpkins in the supermarket or use up your Halloween decorations to create it. Add a nice hunk of bread and a salad on the side, or top with fresh asparagus and potatoes, and you have a warm and balanced meal to usher in the season.

Pumpkin Soup Recipe Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 pound pumpkin, peeled, seeded, cut into 1-inch cubes

3 cups chicken stock

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Optional: asparagus (lightly steamed) and/or diced potatoes (steamed or roasted)

Method:

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes, stirring.

2. Add pumpkin and cook 3 minutes, until lightly softened.

3. Add stock and paste and stir to mix. Bring to a boil over high heat, lower to a simmer, and cover. Cook 20 minutes, until the pumpkin is very tender.

4. Transfer to a food processor and puree until smooth. Add cheese, salt, and pepper; mix and serve warm.

5. If serving with asparagus, lightly steam and add two or three spears diced to add a punch of color.

Recipe adapted from pumpkinrecipes.org

Honey Garlic Chicken & Broccoli Stir-Fry

by Erin LemAugust 5, 2023

Part sweet and part savory, this stir-fry dish is a cinch to make and will please any kid’s picky palate

Inspired by her husband’s love of chicken wings, Kari of GI 365 created this Honey Garlic Chicken stir-fry recipe that features the same sweet and savory flavors of her hubby’s favorite dish. Your kids will love the flavor combination, and you’ll love that making this healthy meal only takes 30 minutes. It’s a win-win.

Serves 4

Ingredients for Honey Garlic Chicken:

Sauce:
⅓ cup soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
1 Tablespoon organic cornstarch
⅓ cup honey

Stir-Fry:
1 medium onion, diced ½”
1½ pounds broccoli, stems peeled
1 pound chicken thighs, cut into 1″ cubes
2 Tablespoons avocado oil, (or olive oil)
¼ cup water
3 cloves garlic, minced

Method:
1. Start by mixing the soy sauce and cornstarch together until the cornstarch dissolves. Add the honey to the soy sauce mixture, but you don’t need to combine them (this happens in the pan).

2. Thinly slice the peeled broccoli stems, cut the florets into 1″ pieces, and set the broccoli aside with the onion.

3. Preheat a large skillet over high heat.

4. When the pan is almost smoking, add 1 Tablespoon of avocado oil and the chicken cubes. Sauté for about 2 minutes to brown before turning the chicken cubes, and cooking until golden brown and done in the center. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.

5. Reduce the heat to medium-high and add the remaining 1 Tablespoon of avocado oil to the pan. Add the onion and broccoli, and cook stirring every 30 seconds for 3-5 minutes or until the onions begin to soften and the broccoli turns bright green but is still crisp.

6. Add the ¼ cup of water to the pan, cover with a lid, and simmer for 3 minutes until the water has mostly evaporated and the broccoli is just tender.

7. Add the sautéed chicken, minced garlic, and the sauce into the skillet.

8. Stir to incorporate the honey, and simmer for 1-2 minutes to thicken the sauce. Serve immediately.

For more fantastic recipes, visit GI 365 by clicking here.

Tri-Color Pasta Salad Recipe Perfect for Busy Weeknights

by scott wardellJuly 5, 2023

If you have yet to unleash this culinary treat on your kiddos, then you’re in luck, because kids go absolutely crazy for it!

As if pasta couldn’t get any better, this dish takes the multi-colored pasta and makes it a more complete and hearty meal with the addition of veggies. This tri-color pasta salad recipe is very adaptable, so don’t be afraid to mix it up with whatever you’ve got in your pantry or in your refrigerator. Serve with French bread and enjoy either hot or cold.

Tri-Color Pasta Salad Recipe Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil
1 small red or yellow onion, finely chopped
1/2 tsp dried herbs (basil, marjoram, oregano, thyme, plus a squeeze of lemon juice)
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1-2 c soft vegetables (sliced bell peppers, corn, chopped and salted eggplant, sliced mushrooms, peas, chopped spinach)
1/4 tsp salt
14.5-ounce box of tricolor pasta
1-2 c cut-up hard vegetables (carrots, celery, zucchini, broccoli, or cauliflower)
2 tbsp sour cream
1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped

Preparation Method:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 3 minutes.

2. Stir in the dried herbs and the garlic and cook for about a minute, and then stir in the soft vegetables and 1/2 tsp salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 4 minutes, stirring often. Turn off the heat and set aside.

3. Boil a pot of water, and cook pasta for 3 minutes. Add the hard vegetables and continue to cook until the pasta is al dente. Reserve 1/2 c of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and vegetables and return them to the pot.

4. Stir the sour cream and 1/2 tsp salt into the pasta, then add 1/2 c of the Parmesan, the basil, and 1/4 c of the pasta water.

5. Stir to combine, add the cooked soft vegetables or leafy greens, and add more pasta water if needed. Serve with more Parmesan on the side.

Recipe adapted from Melissa d’Arabian, photo courtesy of Incidental Cooking

An Easy Pasta Carbonara Recipe to Add to Your Dinner Rotation

by Erin LemJune 12, 2023

If you think that Pasta Carbonara is a dish you can only have in restaurants, you’ll be shocked to see how simple making it really is. Here to break down the steps for any home cook are Gayle Pirie and John Clark, Chefs and Co-owners of Foreign Cinema in San Francisco. Read on for the full recipe.

Ingredients for Pasta Carbonara:

1 pound (or just under) long noodles (spaghettini, fettucini, or linguine)
6 thick slices of smoky bacon
2 Tablespoons pure olive oil
4 eggs
Salt to taste
A chunk of Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method:

1. Bring lightly salted water to a boil in a large pot. Cook the noodles until tender but firm.

2. While the noodles cook, dice the bacon and cook it in the olive oil until just lightly crisped in a medium sauté pan. Pour off the excess fat, reserving 4 tablespoons in the pan.

3. In a bowl, beat the eggs and season with a little salt.

4. Drain the noodles, saving about 2 tablespoons of water for later. If the pan has cooled down, warm it up again right before adding the noodles.

5. Add the noodles to the warm bacon in the pan; thoroughly toss with the oil and bacon, and season with salt. Work fast and pour the beaten eggs onto the warm noodles and mix well to coat the noodles.

6. Add the reserved pasta water if the noodles look dry. The heat of the noodles and the pan will thicken and set the eggs. If there is not enough heat, turn the burner on very low, just to warm the noodles, then turn it off. Too much heat can scramble the eggs.

7. Once the noodles, egg, and bacon are well mixed, add freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and stir. Freshly ground black pepper is an essential addition. Serve in warm pasta bowls.

Partners Gayle Pirie and John Clark are two highly original talents who have been deeply involved in the competitive and innovative ferment of the San Francisco restaurant scene for over two decades. Today, Pirie and Clark are the chef talent, and owners behind the very popular and exciting dining destination- Foreign Cinema. In addition to Foreign Cinema they have published two cookbooks, Country Egg, City Egg in 2000 and Bride and Groom in 2006.

20 Minute Pasta With Cream and Ham

by scott wardellMarch 10, 2023

Some days it feels as if all our kids will eat is pasta. To save you from another night of plain, buttery pasta, we humbly suggest this pasta with cream and ham that also has major grown-up appeal. Marta at Travel For Taste says this recipe is so simple, all you need are two major ingredients–ham and cream! An added bonus: it only takes 20 minutes to prepare, and that even includes cooking the pasta. We’re pretty confident you’ll be making this recipe on more than one occasion, so be sure to print it out and save it in your recipe book.

Ingredients for Pasta with Cream and Ham:

– 5 cups pasta
– 1 3/4 cream
– 1/2 lb ham
– salt to taste
– 1/2 tsp pepper
– 1 flat teaspoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water (optional, if you want the cream thicker)
– parmesan cheese, grated (optional)

Method:

1. Put the water for pasta to boil, salt it a bit, and add pasta. Follow the instructions on your package.

2. Pour cream into a deep frying pan and bring to a boil. Add salt and pepper. Keep cooking for 5-7 minutes, while stirring all the time, in order to reduce it a little bit.

3. If you like the sauce even thicker you might mix cornstarch with some cold water and add it to the cream (while stirring constantly).

4. Add ham and mix everything well.

5. Mix with pasta and serve. Optional step: serve with copious amounts of parmesan cheese.

recipe and photo courtesy of Marta at Travel For Taste

As a world traveler, Marta has experienced culinary creations from all across the globe. Mementos of her travels often come in the form of food-related souvenirs. Using nothing more than a tiny studio kitchen, she creates recipes that span the globe as wide as her travels, with a special emphasis on foods from her childhood. Find all of her favorite recipes as well as check out her superstar photography skills on her website, Travel For Taste.

This Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe Sneaks in Spinach for Picky Kids

by scott wardellSeptember 17, 2022

Mix up your pasta routine while still appealing to your kids’ picky taste buds with this creamy, warm, and comforting Fettuccine Alfredo recipe. Sneak in veggies like mushrooms, spinach, and any other goods you have on hand.

Spinach Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe Ingredients

1 package of fettuccine noodles
1/4 c finely chopped onion
1 c fresh sliced mushrooms
1 c spinach leaves
2 tbsp butter
1 c heavy cream
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic
2 chicken breasts, cooked (optional)

Method
1. In a large frying pan, saute the onion in butter.

2. Once the onion is tender, add the garlic and mushrooms.

3. Saute until they are all tender.

4. Reduce heat to low/medium heat and slowly stir in heavy cream.

5. Add the salt and parmesan and stir until the parmesan has dissolved.

6. Add pre-cooked spinach if desired (or, cook fresh spinach with 1 tbsp of butter until wilted).

7. If you would like to thicken your alfredo sauce add a few tbsps of flour.

8. Stir until you have achieved your desired thickness.

9. Serve over your noodle of choice and with a white chicken breast on the side (or cut up the chicken and serve it on top).

13 Rainbow Recipes That Are (Mostly) Healthy

by Stacy LiuMarch 8, 2022

When you embrace the rainbow, you embrace healthy recipes and a healthy diet. Eating colorfully means yummy foods filled with flavor in all tastes and textures—bursting with vitamins, minerals, fiber and of course, color! From the main meal to sweet desserts, these kid-friendly healthy recipes will have you cooking up goodies that are just as much fun to look at they are to eat.

Rainbow Sushi

If you haven't spotted this unmistakable photo around Pinterest yet, it's time to try out The Indigo Kitchen's sushi recipe. Using natural savory dyes like spirulina and purple cabbage, this is a 100% plant-based sushi roll that's perfect for convincing your picky eaters that sushi is both fun to make and eat.

Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats

For a no-bake dessert that takes only 30 minutes to make, these rainbow rice krispie treats are a must. Colorful and delicious, what’s not to love? We know our little monkeys feel the same way, and this recipe from The Gracious Wife is sure to stir up some excitement. Experiment with natural sweet dyes, like carrot juice, beet juice and blackberry juice for added nutrition!

Salmon Skewers

This deliciously simple recipe from The View from Great Island is almost too easy to pass up. Add in extra zucchini and eggplant to customize your rainbow and let the kids help with the prep work! Ready to grill in no time, these kabobs are the perfect pop of color for your summer cookout.

Spring Rolls

We could eat five of these spring rolls plain... they're that good! This bright recipe from Oh, The Things We'll Make is a perfect one to try with your dexterous ones, as the sticky rice wrapper is a great new food texture. Big on seafood this summer? Steam and halve a few shrimp for a bit of pink in your rainbow.

Rainbow Sangria

We would never leave you without a refreshing glass of bubbly if we can help it, so check out this easy mix by Julie's Eats & Treats. Layer your fruits and pour your cocktail right over it all—let it soak for an hour to get that true sangria blend. Making a batch for the kiddie tea party? Try a mix of white grape or apple juice and ginger ale instead.

Rainbow Smoothie

Sip a rainbow of veggies blended into a colorful smoothie. Kids won't even realize that it's packed with vitamins!

Rainbow Roasted Veggies

Bake up a rainbow of healthy veggies with this easy recipe. Encourage your kids to pick out their own veggies and arrange them into a rainbow or other colorful design.

Rainbow Toast

Tasting the rainbow (without all the added sugar) is made easy with this recipe from Family Food on the Table. Turn breakfast into a talent show by serving it DIY-style, and see what your mini artists can do!

Rainbow Cake in a Jar

Bake up this perfectly portable cake for your next celebration. Kids will love filling up Mason jars with rainbow layers and can easily stir up this simple recipe with a little help from Mom or Dad.

Veggie Dragon Noodles

Try this combination of sweet, salty and a dash of spicy for your next family dinner. With zoodles (that's spiralized zucchini to you) for your kids to slurp up, we guarantee this will be a delicious hit. Stir in shrimp or chicken, or find the vegetarian recipe over at Get Inspired Everyday.

Rainbow Salsa

As if we could forget a fresh summer dip like this one from Gimme Some Oven. Even though blogger Ali Ebright has walked us through dozens of different salsa ideas, we would be remiss if her vibrant mix did not make an appearance with the rest of the rainbow. Hearty, healthy and absolutely tasty, we hope your kids enjoy a chip-full this summer.

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

We recently jumped on the cauliflower bandwagon, which we love for its alphabet of vitamins and versatility. If your family hasn't tried a cauliflower crust pizza, this cheerful recipe from Gimme Delicious is sure to win them over—or trick them over. Tiny tots aren't corn and tomato fans? Try a Hawaiian theme with pineapple and diced ham!

Summertime Smoothie Bowl

We can never resist a good kale smoothie when the sun is out and the humidity settles into our hair. We especially love this smoothie bowl (kale optional) from Breanna Spain because our wee ones get to build it however they want. Set out a few bowls of diced fruits, and watch them dig in!

—Amy Bizzarri with Stacy Liu

6 Incredibly Easy Rainbow Science Experiments

Eat the Rainbow with These Toddler-Friendly Healthy Recipes

10 Creative Games You Can Create with LEGO Bricks

by Susie ForesmanAugust 8, 2021

LEGO bricks might just be the best toy out there since they offer so many different playtime possibilities. With so many options, sometimes little ones need a spark of inspiration to think of something to build with them. That’s why we’ve rounded up a bunch of cool LEGO games to add to your arsenal. They’ll get your kids building, thinking and giggling in no time. Read on to get your build on.

Tallest Tower Challenge

This game from Little Bins for Little Hands comes with a free printable with the challenges built right in! We love that it's designed like a game board but uses LEGO bricks you already have as the game pieces. Download the printable by clicking here.

LEGO Duplo Ring Toss

Turn your favorite carnival game into a LEGO challenge dreamed up by Samantha of Stir the Wonder. It’s a great way to build hand-eye coordination and foster a bit of friendly competition. Get all the details by clicking here, and check out Samantha’s book The Unofficial Guide to Learning with LEGO for more ideas.

Make Your Own Board Game

Get your kids’ imagination going with this bright idea from What Do We Do All Day? They’re encouraged to design the board and come up with rules themselves. To get all the details, click here.

Disaster Island Challenge

We’re obsessed with this creative challenge by The Lego Librarian—kids build a deserted island for 20 minutes, then they get to pick a Disaster Card and build a solution to the problem they’re presented with. Click here to get the details (and printable cards), along with lots more fun LEGO challenges.

Roll, Build and Create

Sometimes kids get stuck and can’t figure out what to build, and that’s where this game from No Time for Flashcards comes in. A roll of the dice determines what piece to pick up next, and your kiddo’s imagination can take it from there. Get the details by clicking here.

LEGO Party Games

Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls has a great rundown of LEGO party games, but they’re just as fun in smaller settings, too. Kids are challenged to build structures with just one hand, build a tower with a blindfold on, and more. Click here to see all the games.

Tongue Tower

This hilarious game from Play. Party. Plan. will get your whole crew giggling. It involves building a LEGO tower on a tongue depressor—while holding it in your mouth. Get the details, plus more game ideas by clicking here.

Tell a Story

Take a cue from LEGO themselves and challenge your kids to tell a story through their creations. It’ll help them work on their short-term memory as they retell a story back to you. Click here to get the details, along with more easy memory games.

LEGO Card Game

Try out a printable card game from One Mama’s Daily Drama. The cards have different tasks for kids to complete, like building their name or a spaceship to go to Mars. To get the details, click here.

Chopstick Challenge

Get inspired by Kids Craft Room to play a Minute to Win It–style game using LEGO. Craft your own chopsticks, then use them to move the bricks around (it’s trickier than it looks!). Click here to discover more, quick but super fun, games.

Make This Tonight: Easy Noodle Pancakes

By Catherine McCord

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

February 19, 2021

Photo: Weelicious

If our kids could eat two foods on repeat it would be noodles and pancakes. Catherine McCord of Weelicious combined these two popular dishes into one, and we have a hunch this noodle pancake recipe will be a new fave in your home. We love that it utilizes those leftover noodles we bet you never know what to do with. With the addition of diced veggies and eggs, these noodle pancakes make a healthy and filling meal.

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked egg noodles
3 eggs, whisked
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/3 cup corn (I used frozen corn that I defrosted first)
1/3 cup red bell pepper, diced
1/3 cup broccoli, chopped (raw or cooked)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
olive oil

Method:

1. Place all the ingredients (except for the olive oil) in a bowl and stir to combine.

2. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.

3. Pour about 1/4 cup of the noodle mixture per pancake in the pan and cook for 3 minutes (you can pour as many pancakes at once as fit comfortably in your pan).

4. Flip the pancakes and cook an additional 3 minutes. Continue making the pancakes with the remaining mixture.

To freeze: Allow to cool, then place in ziploc bag, label and freeze. When ready, pop them into the oven at 300 for 10 minutes or until warmed through or defrost in fridge for 24 hours then heat in a dry pan.

This post originally appeared on Weelicious.

RELATED STORIES:

Easy Shakshuka Recipe

Fruit and Oat Crumble Bars Recipe

Taco Salad Pizza recipe

Catherine McCord

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Catherine McCord is the co-founder of One Potato and the founder of the popular Weelicious brand, a trusted content resource synonymous with family and food. She has written three cookbooks including her latest Smoothie Project. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.

This one-pot recipe is a guaranteed crowd pleaser

Tomato Basil Pasta Recipe Ingredients:

Cooking Method:

Related reads

This hearty pumpkin soup recipe takes advantage of a key fresh ingredient this time of year: pumpkin!

Pumpkin Soup Recipe Ingredients:

Method:

Related reads

Part sweet and part savory, this stir-fry dish is a cinch to make and will please any kid’s picky palate

Related reads

If you have yet to unleash this culinary treat on your kiddos, then you’re in luck, because kids go absolutely crazy for it!

Tri-Color Pasta Salad Recipe Ingredients:

Preparation Method:

Related reads

Ingredients for Pasta Carbonara:

Method:

Related reads

Ingredients for Pasta with Cream and Ham:

Method:

Related reads

Spinach Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe Ingredients

Related reads

Rainbow Sushi

Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats

Salmon Skewers

Spring Rolls

Rainbow Sangria

Rainbow Smoothie

Rainbow Roasted Veggies

Rainbow Toast

Rainbow Cake in a Jar

Veggie Dragon Noodles

Rainbow Salsa

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Summertime Smoothie Bowl

Related reads

Tallest Tower Challenge

LEGO Duplo Ring Toss

Make Your Own Board Game

Disaster Island Challenge

Roll, Build and Create

LEGO Party Games

Tongue Tower

Tell a Story

LEGO Card Game

Chopstick Challenge

Related reads

Catherine McCord

Related reads