Pasta dishes are always a win in our home, in fact 5/5 rank pasta as their favourite family dinner. What the kids don’t realize is most the sauces I make, are filled with nourishing veg, herbs and or spices that not only taste great but are great for them. I’ve been a mom for 13 years now, and I’ve always found the mindset of kids with the word “healthy” or “vegetables” so interesting, because they actually do like them, and will eat them no problem, but something makes them  them feel like it might not taste as good. lol. So I usually defer on explaining all the ingredients. Sneaky mom? Maybe? But as they say, we must pick our battles and do whatever works. ha.

A perfect example is this creamy butternut squash Alfredo, it’s so rich, creamy and flavourful, it will be hard to believe there is no dairy. Butternut squash is full of fibre, vitamins, antioxidants (hello bright orange), and offers a texture that makes it so beautiful when blended. You could also thin this recipe a little more by adding more veg broth and turn it into a hearty and comforting soup.

Ingredients –

• 3 ½ cup peeled and cubed butternut squash 
• ½ cup diced yellow onion 
• 4 cloves of garlic – minced
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil  
• 6 fresh sage leaves – minced 
• 1 ½ cup vegetable broth 
• ½ teaspoon sea salt 
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Directions –

1. 01. In a large pot, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil.
2. 02. Add the cubed butternut squash to the pot and boil for 10-15 minutes until a fork easily pierces through the squash. Strain the squash through a colander and set aside to cool.
3. 03. Heat the avocado oil in a small skillet over medium head. Add chopped onion, garlic, and sage. Sauté for 5 minutes until fragrant, stirring often. Remove from heat.
4. 04. In a blend, combine the butternut squash, sautéed onions, garlic, and sage, vegetable broth, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Blend until smooth. Transfer to a sauce pan and return to heat.
5. 05. Serve right away over your favourite pasta, top with fresh sage leaves, parmesan, and toasted pine-nuts. Enjoy!