How to Build Fun Lunch Boxes That Your Kids Will Love! Italian…
Marin Mommies presents this week's guest recipe from Nicole Cibellis, Marin mom and author of the blog A Family that Eats Together, where she shares meal plans and recipes and family dining ideas that will please foodies and children alike. Nicole is also the creator of the new Little Froglet line of children's activewear. Check out Nicole's meal plan for this week.
This will be the last in my series of fun lunch box ideas for kids for a while. In this week's lunch box I made spinach tortellini. The best part of making tortellini is that there is a seemingly endless array of healthy stuffed tortellini you can buy and there are endless healthy sauces you can make. In this recipe, I use my traditional tomato sauce, but I recommend checking out my site for my broccoli rabe pesto, kale pesto, and other sauces which would be great for lunch.
In this week's lunchbox is the following:
- 1 cup tortellini with tomato sauce, grated parmesan cheese and parsley
- 1 banana
- carrot and celery sticks
- 2 gluten free chocolate cookies
For the tomato sauce, you can always use store-bought, but my sauce is quick and easy to make. Making it yourself ensures you know exactly what your kids are eating.
Tomato Sauce
Servings: 10
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup white vermouth or dry white wine
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- red pepper flakes, to taste (optional)
- 1 handful of fresh basil, torn
Directions
- Using a Dutch oven or other large pot over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and cook for 10 seconds being careful to not brown it.
- Stir in the wine and tomatoes. Bring to a low boil and then turn down to a simmer for 5 minutes. Season with sea salt and red pepper flakes, if using.
- When the sauce is done stir in torn basil.
