Green Macaroni Cheese...a great one for kids

As a parent it's our job to ensure that our kids get a good varied diet with plenty of fruit and veg and I've luckily been blessed with a child that will eat practically anything that's put in front of him but I also understand this isn't always the case and I know many mums that try and find ways of adding veg to the meals without them knowing and this recipe is a pretty good one, providing lots of leafy green veg in a kids favourite...it got devoured by my son haha :))

Green Macaroni Cheese

Macaroni

Cheese sauce

2 handfuls of spinach leaves

Peas

Broccoli

Cook the macaroni as per the packet instructions

Place the spinach leaves into a food processor and blitz (if you wanted you can add broccoli by cooking it and adding it to the food processor as well)

Make up your cheese sauce and add the spinach leaves (and broccoli if using) 

Pour the macaroni into a heat proof bowl and add the cheese sauce and mix together. Place in the oven at 180/170 fan for around 10-15 minutes until bubbling and golden 

Cook your peas and stir them into the green macaroni cheese and serve :))

Love Heart Pasta with Sausage, Pancetta and Peas

I hope everyone is enjoying their week :) The weather has gone pretty cold again so needed something warm and hearty for dinner so this dish is perfect, would also be great for some summer alfresco dining...it really is absolutely delicious :)

Love Hearts Pasta with Sausage, Pancetta and Peas
(amore cuori con salsiccia, pancetta e piselli)

1 tbsp Butter
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 Onion (chopped)
4 Sausages (cut into chunks)
65g Pancetta
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 Tinned tomatoes
1/4 cup heavy cream
A good handful of Frozen Peas (cooked through either in microwave or on the hob)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Half a teaspoon of sugar
200g-250g shaped Pasta (we used love hearts but feel free to use any pasta you want)

Heat the butter and oil together in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion and stir until lightly golden and soft. Raise the heat to medium/high, add the sausage and pancetta, and cook, stirring and breaking up the sausage with a wooden spoon, until the sausage has a golden brown color.
Add the wine and stir until almost all of it has evaporated. Add the tinned tomatoes and cream and season with salt and pepper and add the sugar. As soon as the sauce comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until it has a medium-thick consistency, about 10 minutes. Stir in the peas.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta and cook until the pasta is tender but still firm to the bite (al dente)
Drain the pasta and place in the pan with the sauce and mix until the pasta and sauce are well combined.
Serve and sprinkle with Parmigiano if desired.