Unicorn/Rainbow Pasta
This is a win with my 6 year old step son. He eats very differently with us and at his mom's house. Not that there is anything wrong with her way, just that she cooks much more simply- from boxes and pre-made food versus from scratch. She cooks to fill a time crunch and need, I cook because I have the time. So, when I DON'T have the time, everyone's a little disappointed. "Spaghetti againnnnnn??? I had that at my mom's house!!!" This is a great way to get a little excitement going for good old spaghetti. You will get ZERO complaints from the kids on this one. have fun!
You Need:
-Medium sized pot filled half way with water.
-Table salt to taste.
-1 box spaghetti noodles. (Any pasta will work. Try curly pasta to make it fun. ) -Gel food coloring. You'll need one for every color noodle you make and another for the sauce. Here's the brand I like to use:
-One storage container for each color you choose to use. You can use a Tupperware or Ziploc container or just plain old sandwich bags.
-One jar cream pasta sauce such as Alfredo or cheese. For example: Directions:
-Boil the water and salt lightly.
-Add the entire box of pasta and cook to "al dente". (Al dente is Italian and literally translated means- "to the tooth" indicating that it's still firm. ) We want to cook the noodles where they are not overcooked, and not completely done. We don't want them crunchy at all, but they will be soaking in water a bit and will loosen more- so they must be al dente or you'll wind up with goop. -When the noodles are cooked, divide them between the number of colors you intend to make. Strain the noodles and divide them into your bowls or bags.
-Fill the bags or bowls with fresh tap water just enough to cover the noodles. -Add a bit of food coloring to each bowl and stir it to mix. I use quite a bit- but the amount is really up to you. The more you use, the more intense the color. (This is especially important for black and neon colors) -Mix the coloring selection for the sauce right into the jar. You don't need to do anything here but add and mix! -If you're prepping for the next day, seal up the bowls or the bags and stick them in the fridge. You'll want to let them sit for at least an hour or so. The longer the better for color. -When it's time for food, just rinse the noodles out and put them into a serving bowl and heat. -Warm the sauce and drop it on top. Enjoy! Kids absolutely love this and we told our guy that they are "magic noodles"... that was the end of them. Devoured in minutes. These noodles are also excellent for sensory play too!
