Kid Friendly Veggie Spaghetti Sauce Food

HIDDEN VEGGIE PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a large stockpot over medium heat, add in the olive oil. Stir in the onion and cook for 3 minutes or until translucent. Add in the garlic, stir, and cook for an additional minute.
• Add in the zucchini, carrots, leek and peppers and cook for 5-7 minutes, occasionally stirring.
• Add in the crushed tomatoes, tomato puree, Italian herbs, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper and butter if you are using. Adjust heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Once you reach a boil, bring down the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15-30 minutes.
• Using a handheld immersion blender puree the soup. Or working in batches, transfer the sauce into a blender and puree on high until you achieve your desired consistency. If your sauce is too thick, add in water or stock in 1/2 cup increments. I used 2 cups of chicken stock in my sauce. Taste: depending on how many veggies you use (the more veggies the more intense veggie flavor), you may need to add in additonal olive oil, salt or sugar depending on the taste of your sauce.

COOKING WITH KIDS: SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS WITH HIDDEN VEG SAUCE

Steps:

• Children: Squeeze all the sausage meat out of the sausage skins into a large bowl and add the mince. Tip all the rest of the meatball ingredients, except the olive oil, into the bowl and season with black pepper then squish everything together through your hands until completely mixed. Keep an eye on younger children to make sure they don't taste any of the raw mix.
• Children: Roll the meatball mix into walnut-sized balls and place them on a plate - this is a job children as young as 2 can help with and a great job to help teach older children basic division.
• Grown ups: While the children are rolling the meatballs make the sauce. Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the courgette and garlic and cook for 5 mins until soft and mushy. Stir in the tomato puree, sugar and vinegar leave for 1 min then tip in the tomatoes and simmer for 5 mins. If your children like courgettes then you can leave the sauce chunky. But if, like mine, they hate courgettes then blitz the sauce with a hand blender - either way continue to simmer sauce gently while you cook the meatballs. If your child is confident with heat, from 7+ they can cook the sauce with supervision.
• Grown ups: Heat the oil in a large frying pan and, working in batches, brown the meatballs on all sides then pop them into the sauce - continue to simmer the sauce for 15 mins, stirring very gently until the meatballs are cooked through. Serve with cooked spaghetti, extra grated Parmesan and a few torn basil leaves your child has picked and torn.

HOW TO GET KIDS TO EAT THEIR VEGGIES SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan,saute vegetables (except corn) and garlic for 5-7 minutes in olive oil.
• Add spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce,corn, sugar, basil, oregano and 1 cup water.
• If using meat,brown and add now.
• Bring to a boil, then turn down heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Stir occasionally, adding water if it gets too thick.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• When nearly done, cook pasta as directed on package, drain, and serve with sauce.
• You may add any other vegs.
• you like.
• Serve with garlic bread and a nice salad.
• Enjoy!