Simple Spinach & Red Pepper Pasta

Know What You Eat:Simple Tasty and Filling...Spinach and Red bell pepper pasta, is easy and fast to cook, with ingredients we all love, you can incorporate sun dried tomatoes to this recipe, and / or addition of Feta cheese would totally make this super yummy and extremely kid friendly.Use of whole grain pasta for even a healthier dinner idea.

Ingredients: 

•     2 C cooked whole grain Penne pasta
•     1/2 medium Onion; chopped
•     3 cloves Garlic; minced, more or less to taste
•     2 Tbsp Olive oil
•     1 tsp dry Basil; (or 2 Tbsp fresh, chopped)
•     1 medium Red bell pepper; or yellow or green pepper, cut into strips
•     10 ounces Fresh spinach; coarsely chopped
•     1 tsp Salt; or to taste
•     Freshly ground Pepper to taste
•     Rennet free Parmesan cheese; to taste (optional)

Preparation: 

1. Cook the pasta and drain as per your packet information.
2. Heat the oil over medium high heat, and cook the onion, garlic and basil until the onion is tender.
3. Add the pepper strips and cook for 3 minutes longer.
4. Stir in the spinach. Heat for another minute, until warmed through.
5. Toss with the pasta, and add salt and pepper.
6. Top with | without Parmesan cheese (leave out for vegan version).
    

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Red Pepper & Sesame Whole Grain Linguini Pasta

Know What You Eat: Linguine is a flat form of pasta – it looks similar to spaghetti, but is a little wider. The name linguine means “little tongues” in Italian. It takes just a little creativity to make different varieties of pastas for busy moms like us..I bet everyone can come up with their own simple yet delicious and healthy versions of pastas and noodles when it comes for after school snacks or even lunch/brunch  ideas for weekends. For every 1/2 a cup of whole grain pasta automatically adds 6 grams fiber to your meal, well all not that much but  those of you who are interested in maintaining a healthy digestive system, along with excellent bowel movements should go for whole grain variety as its also low in sugar and packed with good sources of complex carbohydrates along with some key vitamins and minerals. Pairing this with Vit C rich red bell pepper and niacin packed sesame seeds. Hungry now??? Here's how I made..

 

Ingredients:

    1  (4oz packet) Wholegrain Linguine pasta
    1+1 Tbsp Sesame/Olive oil
    2 Tbsp rice vinegar
    1 tsp Red pepper flakes
    1/4 tsp salt
    1/4 tsp Black pepper,crushed
    1 Tbsp Soy sauce
    1 tsp Sugar
    4 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
    1 Redpepper,sliced
    1 Red Onion,sliced

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Blend 1 part sesame/olive oil, vinegar, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, soy sauce and sugar. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Pour over pasta.
3. Toast sesame seeds by placing in a hot skillet and tossing until lightly toasted. Set aside seeds.
4. In same pan used for sesame seeds, heat another 1 part of olive/sesame oil until smoking and saute red pepper and onions until cooked. Pour over pasta.
5. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Toss well. Serve.

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