So today I completed the eleven body systems part of the Shine The Light On Kids health program. It’s tricky writing for kids as I don’t speak or teach down to kids, yet it has to be understandable, interesting and fun.

I have Bach quietly playing in the background as I completed the last system’s writing. Wilma and I have already been for our first walk of the day, so to celebrate I wandered into the kitchen quite involuntarily and opened the refrigerator. The pumpkin puree from the pumpkin I roasted the other day was just sitting there beckoning me to figure out something savory to make to use it up.

So…

2 tablespoons of olive oil in my trusty cast iron pan (30 plus years old) heated over medium heat

1 onion and 1 teaspoon minced jalapeno added to the pan. About 5 minutes of sauteing…..

6 cloves chopped garlic added to that

(everything is much more deliberate and artistic when Bach is building to a crescendo)

Next add 1 1/2 cups veggie or chicken broth, turn the heat a little lower and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. Chop 3 big leaves of kale to add to the pot with the pasta. You’ll use about 1/2 pound of pasta.

About 10 minutes later I added 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, 1 cup of pumpkin puree, 1 cup chopped broccoli and I admit, half of a yellow summer squash. It’s not summer, so that should not have been in my frig. Let this simmer for about 10 minutes while the pasta is cooking.

Drain the pasta and kale and place some in a bowl. Top with a generous amount of the pumpkin/veggie mixture and top with Parmesan, if you like.

I just had some and it’s quite tasty. I could have added another 1/2 cup of pumpkin and, of course, fresh sage and parsley would have been wonderful, but alas (Bach again) it’s winter and it’s cold here, so no fresh herbs. Also, if it was just me I was cooking for, I would have added the broccoli and squash right before I was getting ready to drain the pasta. The veggies could have been just this side of raw, although they were tasty the way they were.

Enjoy! Let me know what you think.