Happy Healthy Blogger Thursday!!

I am super excited to introduce you to a new food blogger, and a Badger to boot, this week I am featuring Mandy from Healthful Ever After.  

Mandy and I met through FoodBuzz. She is a healthy mom blogger and I have tons of respect for her. Every day I count my blessings that Manatee is adventurous with his fruit and veggie intake. Last night we even delved into the unknown world of sauteed turnips and radishes (and they were amazing!). We pray that when we have kids, our kids will love veggies as much as we do.

But what if they don’t? Well, I plan to use Mandy’s blog as my resource. She makes lot of great and easy recipes that appeal to her two kids. She has worked really hard to get her son to devour veggies. Can you believe the kid requested roasted broccoli? How cool is that?! She’s truly an inspiration and you should check out her blog after you read her summer-y and light lemon pasta recipe below.

Without further adieu, heeeerrrreeee’s Mandy!

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I discovered Kimberly’s website from Foodbuzz.com. I love to cook but always with a healthy twist. When I see a recipe that looks delicious, I immediately check out the blog. When I found out that Kimberly was a Badger Girl (and I am a Badger Girl, having gone to University of Wisconsin- Madison), I signed up to follow her blog. To my fellow Badger Girl, I am honored to be featured as your Healthy Blogger this Thursday!

Kimberly left the recipe up to me to decide. Since my meal inspirations are mostly from my hilarious children, I asked my two-year-old daughter what she wanted to cook. She brilliantly suggested shrimp! Here is an easy, healthy, and light pasta recipe for the whole family to enjoy cooking and eating. Both my children entertained themselves while squeezing the lemons!

My children slurped their pasta down and my husband was happy his dinner out canceled! Customize this dish according to your taste buds. Keep it vegetarian or add the shrimp for healthy and delicious protein. Get messy! Have fun! And eat healthy!

Light Lemony Pasta Recipe:
14oz whole grain spaghetti- cook according to package directions
3 cups baby spinach
2 lemons- fresh squeezed
3 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup marinara sauce
1 tsp crushed red pepper or less if you do not like spicy foods
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese- freshly shredded

ingredients for lemony and spinach pasta

Lemon Shrimp Recipe:
1 lbs raw shrimp- peeled, deveined, and tails off
2 lemons- fresh squeezed
salt and pepper to taste
crushed red pepper flakes to taste
1 tbsp olive oil

1.)  Cook pasta according to package direction, rinse with cool water once cooked, and set aside.

2.)  While pasta is cooking, marinate shrimp in lemon juice, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper 10 or as long as 30 minutes.

3.)  In a large pan, heat 1 tbsp olive oil on medium high heat for 1 minute and add marinated shrimp.

4.)  Cook 3 minutes on one side and then 2 minutes on the other side or until shrimp are opaque.

5.)  Once shrimp are cooked, reduce heat to medium and transfer cooked noodles to the same pan as the shrimp.

6.)  In the same large pan, pour in the marinara sauce, squeeze in the juice of 2 lemons, add spinach, 3 tbsp olive oil, Parmesan cheese, sprinkle crushed red pepper, and toss with tongs. ENJOY!

shrimp and lemon pasta

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For you mommies out there, how do you involve your children with the cooking?

For non-mommies, how do you like to cook with friends or significant others?