A Healthy Lunch / Dinner Idea

So, I was watching Food Network one day and saw Giada de Laurentis making a pasta dish for her daughter, Jade. Here's my version:

• 1 Box Whole Wheat Pasta or other Healthy Pasta
• I try to use whole grain pastas as often as possible
• If you have a wheat allergy, you can always try quinoa noodles
• 1-8oz Package Cream Cheese (Your level of fat is fine - I use the Neuchatel Cheese)
• 2 Tablespoons Butter (Giada used Mascarpone)
• Steamed Carrots
• In my opinion, the more the merrier
• Chop into bite size pieces for that cute little baby mouth
• 1 Bag Frozen Peas
• Pureed Greens
• I've used a mixture of Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, and Rainbow Chard or Kale
• You could also use Spinach, Zucchini, etc.
• Reserved Pasta Water or Chicken Broth
• Olive Oil Spray
• Salt and Pepper
• Optional
• Chicken breast cooked and chopped into bite size pieces
• 2 cloves garlic
• I put one clove in the steamer with the greens and chop the other to mix with the carrots and peas
• 1 small onion chopped fine
• Parmesan Cheese

Start by boiling your pasta and steaming your veggies. I steam the green veggies first and get them into the Vita Mix to puree. I then steam the carrots and, once done, put into a fry pan, sprayed with olive oil, with the onion, chopped garlic, and peas. Once this mixture has cooked for a little while together, add the 8 ounces of cream cheese and 2 tablespoons of butter. If you are adding chicken, you can add that at any time. I then add a large amount of pureed greens to the mixture, which gives the pasta a great color. Once mixed, you can add pasta water or chicken broth till you get the consistency you are looking for. I then add the cooked pasta, give it a stir, and then throw in a good handfull of parmesan cheese; about 1/4 cup. You can add salt and pepper at any time to taste.
Pasta can be served immediately and/or frozen. We found that Elia eats about 1/3 cup at a time, so we scoop 1/3 cup sizes onto a baking pan lined with parchment, place in the freezer till froze then put into a ziploc bag. Elia loves it, and I love that it's healthy for her. I enjoyed it so much myself that we're eating it too. : )