Pasta with Anything

Pasta with Anything. Here with grape tomatoes, baby spinach, artichoke hearts and Parmesan cheese.

This "recipe" is also known as, "How to make all of your kids happy with one meal." Trust me on this, it works. Simply clear out the fridge of any little bits and pieces of still edible "stuff" and throw it together with a favorite pasta and there's dinner. Everyone has an individualized plate full of pasta and fresh ingredients.

Now, I do this plate by plate so it does take a little more time (especially with the amount of people I feed nightly), but it's very worth it when they get excited to see me prepping and then finish their plates and even ask for more. Occasionally I'll be lucky enough to have two children want the same thing and then I can do two plates at once. Either way it takes mere minutes per plate once everything is prepped.

Start with a favorite pasta; a pound for 4 is the norm so we cook up two pounds. I keep it warm in a colander over a water bath. When I need it to come apart I dunk the whole colander in the water for a moment and then use a pasta fork to pull out what I need. We're partial to pappardelle here.

Find whatever fixings you're happy with and go for it. Here are two photos of things we've used before. Use your imagination and let it run wild!

Pasta with Anything Options

More Options

Pasta with Anything
Simple How-To
Serves 4

1 pound pasta cooked as desired and kept warm
Olive oil
Several bowls of veggies, meats, cheeses, fresh herbs and nuts

1. Keep pasta warm in a colander over a water bath.
2. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add olive oil and desired ingredients minus cheese and stir briefly until cooked to desired doneness.
4. Add pasta and toss well. Top with cheese if desired and serve.
5. Repeat for other plates of pasta.