Peanut butter sandwiches for lunch everyday? Really? Is this your life with preschool-aged children or just mine?
I have a 5-year-old that wants peanut butter sandwiches everyday for lunch and sometimes for dinner too. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy a peanut butter sandwich and I love how easy it is to fix, but after awhile I am ready for a change.
Last week, after eating peanut butter sandwiches 4 days in a row, I felt if I ate it for one more meal, I would turn into a peanut. We needed a new lunch option. It needed to be easy and something the kids would eat.
Enter leftover spaghetti noodles and some vegetables I had on hand.
I melted some non-dairy margarine (olive oil would be divine) in skillet and added a spoonful of minced garlic, fresh broccoli, red peppers, the noodles and spinach.
My five-year-old was skeptical. My three-year-old just stared at it.
What did they think of it? Did they eat it?
The five-year-old responded, “Good.” Five minutes later when the 3-year-old finally decided to try it, she just said “Mmmm.”
(And as I write this now, the kids looked at the picture and exclaimed, “That was good. We should make it for the rest of the family.”) 🙂
Garlic Broccoli Noodles
2 Tbsp non-dairy margarine*
1 Tbsp minced garlic (a little less, if you aren’t a garlic lover)
1 cup broccoli, cut in bite-sized pieces.
1/2 red pepper, diced
4 cups cooked spaghetti noodles (cooked in salted water)
2 handfuls of spinach
Salt and pepper to taste
Melt the margarine or oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, then broccoli, then red pepper. Let saute for 3-5 minutes, while stirring every minute. Turn heat to medium. Add the cooked noodles. Cook 5 minutes or until noodles are heated, stirring occasionally. Add spinach and cook until wilted.
Serve while hot.
*For a different flavor, use some sesame oil with margarine or oil.
Wonderful choice of veggies that go well with noodles!
Thank you.
Pasta with broccoli and spinach was my go to when I was younger. ALLL the days. So good.
Yes, it is delicious isn’t it.