Donatella Arpaia
Last week I was on the the Today show with Michael Lomonaco and Mark Bittman. We had such a great time together. We were competing to make a meal for a family of four for $25 or less. I immediately thought of my sister Anna Maria, the mother of my adorable nieces and nephews. She's like so many of you - always on the run and juggling the family schedule. I wanted to create a no-fuss, kid friendly meal that can be made in no time. Here's what was on the menu:
· Baked spinach Fusilli with Smoked Mozzarella and Hearty Ragu
· Beef Meatballs
· Tangerines with Lemon, Mint and Pop Rocks
The baked spinach fusilli is a very sneaky trick for moms and dads. This is a great way to get veggies into your kids without them having a clue! The ragu comes from the sauce the meatballs are cooked in - tying both dishes together. My meatballs aren't fried, but browned in a pan and then simmered in sauce (which means less fat and less cleanup!). It's a great dish to make a big batch of and reheat later in the week. For dessert, the tangerines keep it healthy and the pop rocks make it fun. Something we use in one of my restaurant is pastry rocks, the more gourmet version of pop rocks candies. These do not have any artificial colors or flavors and can be purchased online at ChefRubber.com. Of course, conventional pop rocks have the same effect!
Matt Lauer hosted the segment and he's always fun to work with! As it often goes on live television, segments can be cut short at a moment's notice. I wasn't able to talk about my fun dessert because of a time issue, but right before the commercial break they show me at the judges table, sprinkling the pastry rocks! It was a competition—but all for fun—and we had a great time prepping before the live taping.
Who won, you ask? The segment is still available online so check it out here!
