Minnie Mouse Pasta with Sauteed Power Veggies

This fun, healthy, easy to make, kid-friendly Minnie Mouse bow tie veggie pasta will become a new family favorite.

Recently, I Instagram’d a fun, refreshing, mocktail that I whipped up for my daughters.  I like to call it the GingerBlue Float.  Needless to say, it was a big hit with my girls…and {surprisingly} with some big Foodies out there, like IRON CHEF Donatella Arpaia…what?!  Well, I don’t know if it was a “big hit,” but she LIKED it, and I was super honored.

So, I wandered over to Donatella Arpaia’s Instagram feed to see what exciting things she had been cookin’ up, and I came across this really nice summer pasta dish.

Feeling very inspired and UBER empowered (remember, an IRON CHEF had just “LIKED” one of my mocktails!), I knew I could take on the world…or at least dinner.

A Printable Version of this recipe is available at the end of this post.  

Ingredients:

• Squash
• Cherry tomatoes
• Broccoli Slaw (pre-sliced veggie bag)
• White Cannellini beans
• Mini bow tie pasta
• Buffalo mozzarella
• Pitted olives
• Fresh herbs (I used thyme and basil)
• Minced garlic

I heated up some olive oil, minced garlic, and fresh thyme in a pan.  Next, I sauteed the broccoli slaw.  Then I added in the squash, tomatoes, and some white cannellini beans.

At the same time, I cooked some mini bow tie past–or MINNIE MOUSE pasta, as my girls call it.  I timed it so the pasta would be ready around the same time as the vegetables.

When everything was ready, I plated the pasta then added the vegetable saute on top.  I garnished with fresh basil, buffalo mozzarella, and olives.

Voila!  Super fun, Minnie Mouse Bow-tique Pasta with healthy power food vegetables!

TIME SAVING TIP:  Grab a bag of broccoli slaw to use as a base. I love to use the pre-chopped/sliced veggie bags. (My absolute fave is the cruciferous blend from Trader Joes!)  The veggie bags usually include a mix of several related vegetables, so not only are they pre-cut, but you get multiple veggies in one bag! #ONE&DONE!

TIME SAVING TIP #2:  Prepare the pasta ahead of time and keep cool in the fridge.  This would be great for a hot summer evening.

HEALTHY TIP:  Broccoli is a member of the cruciferous family.  Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, cabbage, brussels sprouts, are amazing power foods that both prevent and fight cancer.

KID-FRIENDLY TIP:  I like to try and have fun with food, and recently my finicky 5 year old decided she no longer liked pasta…but she loves anything Disney.  So I picked up some cute mini-sized bow tie pasta and told her we were having special Minnie Mouse pasta for dinner…straight out of Minnie’s Bow-tique!  Sure enough, she reclaimed her enjoyment of pasta.

Do you have a favorite fun-food trick to make a traditionally grown-up dish into a fun-tastical dinner?  I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Leave me a comment below.

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HI! I’m a Shana, self-proclaimed Media Mixologist, wife, and mom to two little girls. I love to mix up cocktails of crafts, recipes, wellness, family and business with just the right amount of sparkle to help you shine everyday. So, grab a glass, and let’s celebrate the cocktail of life!