Kid-friendly mini pasta is ready in seven minutes

Dec. 3, 2008

Sadly, only one in four families eats together every night, according to Parade magazine. Barilla America, Bannockburn, Ill., introduces Barilla Piccolini, the first line of miniature classic Italian pasta shapes.

Bite-sized Piccolini, which means “little ones” in Italian, are ready in seven minutes and are perfect for the whole family. Kids love the “just for me” size, while parents enjoy the traditional shapes and with a quick cook time of seven minutes, Piccolini keeps its al dente texture. Varieties include Mini Farfalle, Mini Penne, Mini Wheels, Mini Fusilli and Mini Ziti. They’re available in select markets, primarily in the Northeast.

As part of its Kids Italian Table initiative, Barilla has teamed up with children's book publisher Scholastic to create a custom story and activity book about sharing family meals. Available in the May issue of Scholastic Parent & Child and on Scholastic.com, Mealtime Magic is filled with kid-friendly activities that capture the imagination of families and make cooking traditional Italian dishes a memorable experience.

"As the world's No. 1 pasta maker, Barilla is passionate about bringing families together and teaching children to enjoy wholesome meals at an early age," says Kirk Trofholz, president of Barilla America. “Barilla and Scholastic strive to teach and inspire children to broaden their understanding of the world around them, such as the spirit of authentic Italian cooking.”