The Pepper Pesto Witch

Holidays are a fun time to introduce new foods to kids. Try making this really delicious Pasta recipe with fresh vegetables from the fall garden or get them at the grocery store. Either way, it is fun to surprise the kids with a festive meal.

Ingredients:
1 Pepper (choose a good shape for the nose)
1/2 box Spaghetti Pasta
2 Mushrooms
4 String Beans
4 oz. of Parmesan Cheese
1 Morningstar or other Soy Burger Patty (can substitute with ground turkey or beef)
2 Olives (eyes)

Dressing:
2 cups of fresh Basil Leaves
1/2 cup of fresh Parsley
1 large Clove of Garlic
1/4 cup of Dijon Mustard
1/2 cup of Olive Oil
1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tablespoons of Water

Boil the water to make the pasta. Cook pasta according to box directions then set aside to cool. Clean all vegetables and let dry on a paper towel. Cook Soy Burger in microwave or on stove top and set aside (if using ground turkey or beef, just be sure to shape the patties into Witch’s hats and to make the patties thick enough so that they will not fall apart when they are cooked. It is probably best to bake them in the oven until they are ready).

Place all dressing ingredients into a blender and blend until they are totally mixed and smooth. This will be the dressing that makes the spaghetti hair green. When dressing is blended and pasta is cooked, mix both in a bowl to make green spaghetti. Add the Parmesan cheese and toss. This is really yummy.

Place the hollowed out pepper on a plate (this will form the face). Gently stuff the top of the pepper with pasta so that it looks like a Witch’s mane. Slit the eye area enough to tuck a sliver of mushroom into the space and add sliced olives for the eyes. Cut a string bean in half for the eyebrows. Place one or two of the string beans below the bottom of the nose to create lips. Carefully cut a slice of mushroom to form teeth (for the bottom row, you can have just a few small pieces of mushroom to form loose teeth).

For the hat, cut the soy burgers with a sharp knife or kitchen sheers into the shape of a hat. Garnish the hat with a string bean band.

Have fun experimenting and using different vegetables to decorate and form the witch.