The Dance Towards Health, Inc. Blog

Think you can’t serve vegetables other than corn and mashed potatoes to kids or picky eaters? This is a veggie side dish or main dish that sneaks in veggies and worth a try on stubborn diners. When possible, let kids help out in the kitchen, challenge them to try new foods by taking them to the store and letting them pick a new veggie to try, or offer vegetables in new ways.

In this recipe for Pasta with Winter Squash , butternut squash breaks down as it cooks to create a smooth, hearty sauce for the pasta. Pasta, a pro at pleasing kids, dressed with a vegetable-based sauce, is sure to please veggie-seeking parents and picky kids all at once.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
• 1 teaspoon olive oil 
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 1/2 cups water, divided
• 1 pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and 
• shredded
• 1 teaspoon sugar 
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 12 ounces uncooked penne (tube-shaped pasta)
• 1 cup (4 ounces) finely shredded Parmesan cheese, divided 

Preparation

1. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until lightly browned. Add sage, remove from heat. Remove from pan, and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic to pan, and sauté 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium. Add 1 cup water and squash to pan. Cook for 12 minutes or until water is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Add remaining water, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring occasionally until each portion of water is absorbed before adding the next (about 15 minutes). Stir in sugar, salt, and pepper.
3. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water. Combine pasta and squash mixture in a large bowl. Add reserved 1/2 cup pasta water, butter mixture, and 3/4 cup cheese; toss well. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. 
4. Other pasta choices that you can use are wheat pastas or veggie pastas , there are also options for gluten free if that's your current diet but they are all enjoyable when used in this recipe i hope you enjoy it and please leave a comment below on our page if you have or are choosing to try this out thanks :)#DTH