Making artichokes kid friendly!

Heather, this week’s “Featured Fridays” blogger, can be found  over at Life with the Stevens

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Making artichokes kid friendly!

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Like a lot of moms, I struggle with getting my kids to try new things! My youngest, at 2, will eat most anything in sight as long as it’s covered in some sort of sauce, but my oldest is as picky as they come!  He likes cheese. And cheese. Oh, and did I mention cheese?
So one day after some frustrating meal planning, I broke out one of my favorite cook books, Our Best Bites, and thought I’d give the Tomato-Artichoke Pasta a try. I figured, if he didn’t like it, it was more for me (is that bad?)

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Wouldn’t you know, it was a hit! I think because I didn’t tell him what was in it…anything  that isn’t cheese or pasta gets turned away, but the artichokes looked like shaved parmesan cheese or maybe even a noodle so I just left the part out where it was a vegetable until after, and he gave me a shocked look but said “oh, cool, I like artichokes mom!”

Score one for mom!!

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So here is the recipe, very easy, and very yummy!!

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Tomato-Artichoke Pasta

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1 Package fresh, filled pasta (tortellini, ravioli, etc)
1-2 Tablespoons olive oil
5-6 cloves garlic, pressed (I used about half of this and it was still good!)
1/2 cup chopped green onion
6-7 oz marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes (I think fresh works great too!)
3 oz tomato paste
3 oz apple juice
1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 Tea kosher salt
1/4 Tea black pepper

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1. Boil Pasta in salted water, or whatever the packaging instructions suggest.

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2. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add garlic, green onions, and artichoke hearts. Saute until the garlic is fragrant. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, apple juice, vinegar, salt, and pepper.  Heat through and toss with cooked pasta.

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Two steps!!

Like I said, very easy, and given the thumps up by Mr. Picky himself (who was too busy eating to give me a convincing thumbs up

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Enjoy!

…..Today’s “Featured Fridays” post, “Making artichokes kid friendly!”, was written by Heather, blog author of  Life with the Stevens

Heather is a Stay at home Mom to two gorgeous little men. Hop over to her blog to read her “ ramblings about life as a breastfeeding, babywearing, co-sleeping, sometimes cloth diapering, kinda crunchy livin’, attachment parenting practicing, deal seeking, freebie lovin’, stay at home mom of a busy toddler and precocious preschooler!”

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