Pasta, Cheese and Trees
I found this recipe while looking for another creative way to make pasta. It was an instant hit for my 2 1/2 year-old. I found it in the back of a Parent magazine and even though I’ve put my own spin on it, it turned out great. Nice and colorful
What you’ll need:
- 1 lb. penne. corkscrew pasta or medium shells
- 1 lb broccoli tops
- 1 Tsb extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tsb butter, cut up
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped( substituted with chopped garlic in jar)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese( I used a little extra parmesan)
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Cook pasta to al dente according to the package directions. Meanwhile pull apart broccoli into small trees ( I did this after I had boiled them because I used frozen broccoli. Put broccoli into a small pot and add enough water to just cover the tops. Bring water to a boil and add 4 pinches of salt. Cook for 5 minutes once the water comes to a boil. Drain.
- Pour olive oil and butter into a deep-frying pan over low heat. When the butter melts, add the garlic and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in broccoli and cook pasta. Add ricotta and parmesan, and stir to combine . Season with salt and pepper .
This makes about 4-6 Servings
