Butternut Squash with Celery Leaves and Orecchiette

Celery leaves have the fresh, crisp flavor of celery with a much lighter texture than the stalks themselves. Stir the pale, inner leaves from a bunch of celery into this hearty squash dish.

Vegetable Lo Mein

This recipe comes to us courtesy of the Renegade Lunch Lady Chef Ann Cooper and her book Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed our Children. Pasta is always a hit with kids and lomein is no different. Teaching children to eat with chopsticks is great fun and opens the door to discussion of other cultures. For protein, tofu, chicken, or pork make good additions to this dish.

Pasta with Greens

This recipe comes to us courtesy of the Renegade Lunch Lady Chef Ann Cooper and her book Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed our Children. In our experience, kids just love pasta and since they do, we suggest using pasta as a vehicle to introduce and incorporate additional "healthy" ingredients.

Fusilli Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes and “Hidden” Zucchini

As you eat this unique recipe the juicy, roasted tomatoes break apart into the pasta to make the sauce right on your plate. People at the table might not even notice the extra serving of vegetables you “hid” by grating squash into the pasta, but the flavor will make it a winner.

Stovetop Whole Wheat Macaroni and Cheese

Using whole wheat pasta and flour gives the finished dish a hearty texture, aroma and flavor.

Cheesy Lasagna Rolls with Spinach and Ricotta

Kids love this dish and thankfully it’s easy to customize to their tastes. Start with the basic recipe then add cooked sausage, pepperoni or black olives, if you like. Little hands can spread the cheese or sauce, sprinkle the fillings or roll up the pasta.

Warm Orzo Salad with Broccoli and Tomatoes

Pasta with Brie, Basil and Tomatoes

Spelt Pasta with Walnuts and Roasted Cauliflower

Spinach Fettuccine with Artichokes and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

There's more to fresh spinach fettuccine than its beautiful green color. It cooks up especially tender, with a hint of the bright flavor of spinach. As an alternative, use dried fettuccine, if you like.