Appenzeller Mac and Cheese

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 16 ounces shell pasta
• 3 cups chopped cauliflower florets (chopped into 1-1 ½ inch pieces) 
• 2 cups whole milk 
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp salt 
• ½ tsp black pepper 
• ½ cup unsalted butter 
• ½ cup all purpose flour 
• 2 ½ cups grated Appenzeller cheese

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 
2. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish. Set aside. 
3. In a large pot, add water and heat until boiling. Add macaroni and cauliflower and cook for 6 minutes, or until macaroni is tender. Drain and set aside. 
4. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together milk, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Set aside. 
5. In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and whisk to combine.  Slowly add milk and whisk until smooth.  
6. Continue to whisk frequently until mixture thickens and begin to boil. 
7. Remove saucepan from heat and add Appenzeller cheese. Stir until cheese is melted. 
8. In a large mixing bowl, stir together cheese mixture with pasta and cauliflower mixture. Transfer to greased baking dish. 
9. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until edges begin to bubble. 

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Product Round-Up

We’re bringing you some of our favorite pasta products and recipes on this lovely Wednesday morning with a product round-up! Check out some of our past product reviews and other recommendations of our favorites for some inspiration for your next family pasta night.

Pastas

These days, there’s so many options out there when it comes to pasta, and we love that there’s truly something for everyone. Here are some of our favorites, ranging from gluten-free to veggie-based pastas!

1. Banza Chickpea Pasta: Chickpeas give this pasta a ton of protein and fiber!
2. Tolerant Food Organic Red Lentil Pasta: Made from red lentils, this 100% plant-based option provides extra protein and fiber!
3. Veggiecraft Farms veggie-based pasta: We love the cauliflower in this pasta and all the vitamins and nutrients it provides!
4. Explore Cuisine pasta: Choose from their red and green lentil pastas, chickpea pasta, and even black bean or edamame pastas!
5. Cappello’s Pasta: Made from almond flour! This pasta is paleo, grain-free, and made with just a few simple ingredients.
6. Lotus Foods: Check out their wide variety of organic rice and rice noodles!
7. Barilla pasta: A classic wheat-based pasta that comes in a variety of shapes for all of your favorite, different pasta dishes!

Sauces

Alright, so you’ve got your pasta, now you need your sauce! We’ve got a couple great options we want to share with you.

1. The Vine Marinara Sauce: An all-natural sauce with just a few ingredients!
2. Otamot pasta sauce: Made with ten organic vegetables and no added sugar.
3. Rao’s pasta sauces: A variety of pasta sauces that taste homemade! There’s a flavor for everyone in the family!
4. Pomi tomato products: Serving up every tomato product you could need, from sauces to tomato paste to chopped tomatoes, Pomi is your one-stop shop for everything you need for your next pasta night.
5. Uncle Steve’s sauces: This organic line of tomato sauce provides a versatile, classic taste and is made from all-natural ingredients, including tomatoes imported from Italy!
6. Due Cellucci sauces: These all-natural sauces are handmade in small-batches to give you a classic homemade taste! Every purchase gives back to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Extras

Here are a couple of fun products and pasta-related things that we just love!

1. Vintage Italia Pasta Chips: With several yummy Italian flavors, these are perfect to eat with your favorite dip or spread, or even just straight from the bag!
2. Crush Cube: These pre-portioned cubes of seasonings and sauces will add a pop of flavor to your favorite pasta dish.
3. Il Parodi chocolate hazelnut spread: This authentic spread is made from handpicked Ligurian hazelnuts; it’s gluten-free and made without any preservatives!
4. Buon’Italia: A gourmet Italian grocery store offering authentic, high-quality Italian foods and products, located in Chelsea Market in Manhattan.
5. Handstand Kids Italian Cookbook: This book (packaged in a pizza box!) teaches young chefs about Italian food and introduces them to delicious, healthful recipes. Utensils and ingredients are translated into Italian so you can follow along as you cook!
6. Strega Nona: This beloved, classic story is now available in a board book!

Recipes:

Looking for some new pasta recipes to add some variety to your family’s meals? These are some of our favorites!

1. Cooking Light’s Mostly Veggie Pasta with Sausage: Colorful vegetables, tomato paste, and your favorite sausage make for a delicious dish!
2. Cooking Light’s Tortellini, Chicken, and Arugula Salad: This hearty pasta salad comes together in no time at all by making the dressing and pasta ahead of time!
3. Cooking Light’s Mac and Cheeseburger pasta: This twist on a classic uses ground beef and fire roasted tomatoes for a boost of protein AND flavor!

Do you have any favorite pasta products or recipes? Let us know over on Instagram!

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

If you struggle to get your picky eaters the essential nutrients they need, you’re not alone. It can be tricky when your kids only like a certain number of foods. We’re here to help! You and your little ones will love Otamot‘s nutritious and delicious pasta sauce. Packed with a handful of vitamins and ten organic vegetables, this sauce provides the nutrition your kids need, while satisfying their taste buds and tummies! This versatile addition to your pantry will become a staple in your household!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

Yummy Sauce! It’s my favorite with meatballs.

From the Eyes of a Parent:

I have loved Otamot’s pasta sauce ever since I first discovered it! My kids aren’t big fans of vegetables in general, and this sauce makes it so easy to get them the nutrients they’re missing out on. There’s no added sugar or preservatives, which is super important to me. It’s also packed with vitamins and healthy oils, and just tastes really good! Overall this is a great product that I always have in pantry!

The Icing on the Cake:

Otamot sauce is made from 10 organic vegetables, including sweet potato, butternut squash, spinach, and red beet. There’s no added sugar or preservatives, and it’s non-GMO!

Time to Eat?!

Otamot sauce is a great addition to any meal – lunch or dinner! Add it to pasta, chicken, soups, or casseroles for an extra punch of flavor and nutrients!

Mix it Up!

Great for kids who shy away from the spices in salsa to add as the tomato flavor in tacos, burritos, or nachos.

www.otamotfoods.com

www.facebook.com/OtamotFoods

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Calling all pasta lovers: there’s a new pasta on the scene and it’s changing the dinner game big time! It’s time to talk about Veggiecraft Farms and their mouth-watering vegetable-based pastas. Using just three simple ingredients – cauliflower, peas, and lentils – Veggiecraft Farms has created nutritional pastas that are high in fiber and protein, packed full of vitamins, and low in sodium and carbohydrates. Needless to say, these natural, vegetable-based pastas will make for a filling, well-balanced dinner that the entire family is sure to enjoy!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

I love the spaghetti the most! The noodles are fun to eat!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

I absolutely LOVE Veggiecraft Farms because the pastas are packed full of so many nutrients and it tastes just like regular pasta. I never thought I’d see the day when my kids begged for cauliflower, lentils, and peas for dinner, but they can’t get enough of the Veggiecraft Farms spaghetti! They’re great for families with food allergies because they’re gluten-free and dairy-free. On top of that, the Veggiecraft Farms website has some great pasta recipes that don’t take long at all to prepare, and the high protein from the vegetables means full stomachs and happy faces in our household!

Flavorful Features:

Veggiecraft Farms makes both spaghetti and penne pasta shapes. You can purchase them separately in packs of four or get the variety pack, which includes two boxes of penne and two boxes of spaghetti. Check out their website for some delicious pasta recipes, including Cauliflower Pesto and Sundried Tomato Pasta.

The Icing on the Cake:

In addition to being non-GMO, these high protein pastas are vegan and kosher. The cauliflower is a great source of Vitamin C, vitamin K, and omega-3s, while the lentils give you sustained energy. Additionally, the peas are rich in antioxidants and full of vitamins which aid in eye health.

Time to Eat?!

Veggiecraft Farms pasta is full of protein and doesn’t take long to prepare, which makes it the perfect meal for family dinners. Any extras can always be refrigerated and eaten for lunch the next day!

www.veggiecraftfarms.com/pages/our-story

www.facebook.com/veggiecraftfarms

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Give your next pasta dinner some extra flare with Tolerant Foods Organic Red Lentil Pasta! This gluten free pasta alternative is not only nutrient dense, but it tastes amazing too. At The Creative Kitchen, Tolerant Foods Organic Red Lentil Penne is our go-to pasta for children with various food allergies. It’s high in protein, packed with fiber, and it’s made with just one simple ingredient: red lentils!

The Creative Kitchen is thrilled to feature Tolerant Foods Organic Red Lentil Penne in our Whole Foods Market cooking classes this week! Learn more at www.thecreativekitchen.com/calendar.

From the Mouth of a Kid:

I like this pasta! It’s red and yummy!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

I was thrilled when I discovered Tolerant Foods pasta. My son was recently tested allergic to gluten, but loves pasta, so I was nervous about trying to find a gluten-free pasta that still has the same great taste as regular wheat pasta. Thankfully, Tolerant Foods Red Lentil Penne is my son’s new favorite pasta of choice, he loves the red color and thinks it tastes amazing. I also love that it’s high in plant protein and low in sugar, not to mention it has a lot of fiber. Plus it’s made with only one ingredient: red lentils! What more could you ask for?

Flavorful Features:

Tolerant Foods Pasta comes in three varieties: Green Lentil, Red Lentil, and Chickpea.

The Icing on the Cake:

Tolerant Foods Organic Red Lentil Pasta has…

• 25 grams of plant-based protein per serving
• 44% of daily fiber per serving

…and is….

• Organic
• Vegan
• Gluten Free
• Free of the eight common allergens

Time to Eat?!

Tolerant Foods Organic Red Lentil Pasta is great for lunches or dinners. Add your favorite sauce, veggie, or protein and the possibilities are endless!

Mix it Up!

Summer is around the corner, so why not make a cold pasta salad? This can be a perfect on-the-go option for a family trip to the beach, the park, or even a school lunch.

www.tolerantfoods.com

www.facebook.com/TolerantFoods

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Here at The Creative Kitchen, we love finding nutritious and/or better-for-you alternatives to everyone’s favorite classic foods! So, when we heard about Banza Chickpea Pasta, we just knew we had to try it, and the results were unanimous: chickpeas make insanely delicious pasta! The most incredible thing about Banza Chickpea Pasta is that it looks, feels, and tastes like regular pasta, but it has double the protein, four times the fiber, and half the carbs of regular pasta!! With Banza, you can enjoy the taste of pasta, but with TONS of more nutrients! You won’t believe how tasty chickpeas can really be!

The Creative Kitchen is happy to have Banza as a sponsor for our Back to School Celebration at Lakeside at Prospect Park on August 18! Join us and try their Chickpea Pasta for yourself! Learn more about the event here.

From the Mouth of a Kid:

I love this pasta!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

My kids always love and crave pasta; it’s their favorite food to eat! However, pasta typically doesn’t have that many nutrients, so that’s why I am so glad I discovered Banza Chickpea Pasta! What a genius idea it was to make pasta out of chickpeas! Now, I can give my kids pasta whenever they want, while knowing that I’m giving them something that’s packed with protein and fiber! I use Banza to make mac and cheese, baked pasta dishes, and so much more! My family absolutely loves this pasta, and I love the fact that it’s gluten free, non-GMO, and made out of chickpeas!

Flavorful Features:

All of Banza’s pasta options are made out of chickpeas, and they come in different pasta shapes, such as elbows, shells, rigatoni, penne, rotini, wheels, cavatappi, linguine, spaghetti, angel hair, and ziti!

They also make ooey, gooey PACKAGED mac and cheese options!

The Icing on the Cake:

Because this pasta is made out of chickpeas, there are so many delicious benefits that come along with it, such as:

Time to Eat?!

Banza can be a great addition to lunchtime or dinner time!

Mix it Up!

Check out Banza’s website for awesome recipes, like their Rotini Pesto Pasta Salad!

www.eatbanza.com

https://www.facebook.com/EatBanza

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Is pasta a mealtime favorite in your house? Our friends at Cooking Light have a delicious pasta recipe that is full of bold flavor and is easy to whip together on a busy weeknight. This recipe for Mostly Veggie Pasta with Sausage uses hot Italian sausage as the main flavor agent in the sauce, and includes colorful vegetables like yellow squash, broccoli florets, and mushrooms. Tomato paste adds a robust flavor; look for the kind sold in tubes so you can use as little or as much as you need. Little chefs can help chop ingredients and stir them all together!

 Serves 4 (serving size: 1/2 cup pasta and 3/4 cup sauce)

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain.

2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add sausage; cook 4 minutes, stirring to crumble. Add onion and garlic; cook 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and squash; cook 4 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and oregano; cook 1 minute.

3. Add broccoli, salt, pepper, and tomatoes to pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, breaking up tomatoes with a spoon. Spoon sauce over pasta; top with basil.

Tips & Trick:

• For the vegetarians at your table, omit the sausage and add another vegetable of your choosing!
• Beyond pasta, spoon this veggie-packed sauce over breaded and baked eggplant slices or roasted spaghetti squash halves.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Here at The Creative Kitchen, we are always looking for delicious tasting products that use minimal ingredients without compromising quality or flavor. Lucky for us, The Vine is all about clean eating and the belief that quality ingredients will result in quality foods! The Vine’s Original Marinara Sauce is all-natural, and made from just a few fresh, simple ingredients; with no added sugar. Making healthful decisions at dinner never tasted so delicious!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

I love this tomato sauce! I like it on my pasta.

From the Eyes of a Parent:

As with many other products, there are so many options for pasta sauce that it can get overwhelming when trying to choose. The Vine’s simple, real ingredients make it easy to choose their marinara sauce. My family loves pasta, so we go through a lot of sauce, but I feel good about serving this sauce to my family because it’s all-natural and has no added sugar.

Flavorful Features:

The Vine makes other flavors of their marinara sauce that are equally as delicious:

• Butternut Squash Marinara
• Calabrian style Marinara
• Vegan Marinara

The Icing on the Cake:

The Vine makes marinara sauce that tastes as it should: fresh, and full of bold flavor. Even better? It’s made with exclusively USDA organic certified ingredients.

Time to Eat?!

With marinara sauce that’s this delicious, pasta time is any time of the day!

Mix it Up!

Try baking eggs in marinara sauce and give your breakfast a saucy twist! Pour a little bit of The Vine’s Marinara sauce into a ramekin, crack an egg on top, and bake in the oven; only two ingredients required!

https://www.foodsofthevine.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Foods-of-The-Vine-439754239747515/

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Grilled Italian Vegetables with Pasta

Grilling vegetables brings out their rich flavors and gives them a nice smokiness. These grilled Italian vegetables are delicious over pasta or on an appetizer platter with cheese and bread. Leftovers can be tossed in a salad.

Soft Chicken Tacos

These simply prepared chicken tacos are an example of healthful Mexican cooking and are a way to teach your kids about grilling techniques, Mexican spices, and basic salsas. Serve with Pico de Gallo or Tomatillo Salsa and crisp vegetables.

Grilled Pizza with Asparagus and Caramelized Onion

It gets too hot in the summer to turn on the oven. But what if you’re craving some homemade pizza? Try throwing it on the grill! Slight char marks give the pizza a smoky flavor and the vegetable toppings give it a healthful twist.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Getting a homemade dinner on the table every night is hard enough – when you add picky eaters to the equation, it can be even trickier. Luckily, Our friends at Cooking Light have put together a list of Superfast Kid-Friendly Recipes that will let you have a healthful dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes that all your kids will love. With these recipes, dinner won’t be a battle against the clock and finicky taste buds!

Broccoli Mac and Cheese

What kids doesn’t love mac and cheese? Step outside the boxed, prepackaged stuff and cook up this quick and tasty version with a healthful twist!

Beef and Broccoli Bowl

Skip the Chinese takeout and make this vegetable-packed Beef and Broccoli Bowl instead! You’re family is sure to love this dish that comes together in a snap.

Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

Spaghetti and Meatballs are a childhood favorite, but can take all day to make. Refrigerated pasta and links of sweet Italian sausage provide a quick start to this Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs recipe.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.