Cooking With Kids

	Pasta Medley

	A colorful medley of pasta, fruit and vegetables. Ingredients: 4-5 ounces dried pasta shapes, such as twists or bows 1/2 cup plain yogurt 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons pesto sauce 2 celery stalks, chopped 1 cup black seedless grapes, sliced in half 1/2 cup baby carrots, chopped lengthwise 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped Salt and pepper to taste French Dressing 1 tablespoon wine vinegar 3 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper Directions: To make the French dressing, whisk all the ingredients together until thoroughly combined and smooth. Cook pasta until tender. Drain thoroughly, rinse and drain again. Transfer to a bowl and mix in the French dressing while hot. Set aside until cool. Combine the yogurt, lemon juice and pesto sauce in a small bowl. Season to taste. Once the pasta is cool, mix in the celery, grapes, carrots and pepper. Add the yogurt mixture and stir until all of the pasta mixture is covered. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Yields: 4 Servings Nutritional Facts Per Serving: Calories: 320 Fat: 16 g Sat fat: 3 g Cholesterol: 5 mg Sodium: 390 mg Protein: 8 g Total Carbohydrates: 38 g Calcium: 12% DV Pasta is a great food that provides carbohydrates, a necessary energy source for your body. Kids love it. You can mix practically anything with it to make great tasting, quick and nutritious meals. Combining pasta with dairy products like cheese, yogurt or milk is another winning combination, providing important vitamins like A and D and calcium for strong bones. Add vegetables to the dish for vitamins, minerals, fiber and anti-oxidants and you’ve created a deliciously healthy meal. And did you ever think of having fruit with your pasta?! This delicious dish has grapes so 4 of the 5 food groups on the Pyramid are included. That’s a well-balanced meal.