Pesto make-over

I was talking to one of my friends, who also happens to be a mom of a toddler herself, and she asked, "do your kids eat what you and Kadin eat for dinner each night?" I wanted the answer to be yes, and sometimes it is, but most of the time it's not. But I did tell her about a staple that I turn to when I know they won't eat what we are having but it still makes me happy. My Pesto makeover dish. So easy and nutritious and they eat it! How bout that. 

I buy whole wheat noodles of some type or Brown rice noodles, both you can get at Trader Joes for cheap. I also buy the already prepared Pesto in the jar from TJ's. (now you could easily make your own pesto but whatever, this is supposed to be easy so I won't go there). But what I do before I just spoon out some pesto from the jar to the noodles.....I throw in some frozen peas that I've thawed, with some baby spinach, about a handful, into the food processor and puree those both. Then I add that mixture to just a spoonful or two of the pesto and then add my new Pesto, the made over version, to the noodles. I actually like the taste of this version better. The peas add a nice sweetness, the spinach is really invisible in taste but adds more nutrition then just the basil from the pesto. And the only thing I don't love about the jarred pesto from TJ's is that it's very salty so using less, and more of the puree, it lessens the salt intake.

The daily test for tonight, is whether or not they'll eat my Pasta with Asparagus and Herbs that I'm making for the "family" but it just may be for Kadin and I. I'll let you know how it goes....