Step 1: The Ingredients!

14 oz. Bag of Peace, Love and Happiness Pasta, ½ cup oil packed sundried tomatoes, drained and chopped, 14 oz. can quartered artichoke hearts, drained, 3 oz. (about 3 cups packed) fresh spinach leaves, cut or torn, ¾ cup minced shallots (about 4 medium sized shallots), 1 T. olive oil, ½ cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed- Use less if you don’t love lemons), 2 cups vegetable stock, divided, 1 cup dry white wine or apple juice, 1 T. cornstarch, ¼ cup chopped parsley 1 t. (or more) dried thyme or 1 T. fresh thyme, Zest of 2 lemons (or 1 if you want more of a hint of lemon), Parmesan cheese for topping and Salt and Pepper to taste.

Step 2: In a large skillet or wok, saute shallots in olive oil over medium heat for about 4 minutes or until translucent.

Step 3: Stir in lemon juice, 1 cup vegetable stock, and wine. Bring to a low boil and cook for about 10 minutes. While it is cooking start boiling the water for the pasta.

Step 4: In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch into remaining 1 cup stock until smooth. Slowly pour in to shallot mixture, stirring constantly and cook until sauce is thickened and smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir in parsley, thyme, zest, and salt and pepper to taste.

Step 5: Add sundried tomatoes, artichoke quarters, and fresh spinach and stir until spinach wilts. Keep sauce warm.

Step 6: Cook pasta in gently boiling water for approx. 6 minutes until tender but firm (salt optional).

Step 7: Drain pasta and combine with sauce. Top with Parmesan cheese!

Bon Appetit!

-Megan Grehan

Our Ongoing Contest is a Great Way to Raise Extra Money! Follow the instructions below to enter.

Ongoing Contests:

Fun Pasta Fundraising Story Time Photo Contest~ April 1st~ June 30th~ Win $300
Submit a photo along with a story about your fundraising group for a chance to win $300! Just post your photo and story (less than 200 words) to our Facebook Event or email it to pastashoppe123@gmail.com. Include in your story why you are fundraising, what you plan to do with your profits or what you have done with your profits. We want to hear about your groups so please share with us! Entries will close June 15th and voting for the winner will be from June 16-June 30th at Noon CST!

The common first step is to request our information packet. We will send you a sample brochure along with an informational flyer that gives you all the details about Fun Pasta Fundraising. We will also send you an informational email that includes some similar information. Hopefully, after seeing our brochure and getting the details about our program you decide to work with us! This is when you go ahead and Sign Up to run a fundraiser. All you need are your sales dates, the number of sellers and a goal. We will process your fundraiser and send out your brochures in just 2-3 business days, which means you can get started in about 2 weeks! While waiting for brochures this is a great time to set up your custom webpage using your leader toolkit! Once it is customized start sharing it without out-of-town friends and family.

We recommend selling for about 2 to 3 weeks using the brochure. Be sure to communicate with your sellers the dates using a parent letter and a parent reminder! We also recommend allowing a week for all orders to come in and to get them placed online through your leader toolkit (there are always one or two late comers). Once we receive your order and payment it will be about 2-3 business days before we ship your product using Fedex ground. Most people get their order in less than 2 weeks from when we confirm receipt of payment. Please Note: this process can take up to 3 days longer from September through December.

For online sales, your website will stay open through the end of the month after you turn in your brochure sales, so you can keep making money! For example, if you turn in anytime in September we will close the online account at the end of November and cut you a check for your online profits!

The key to great fundraising is a strong leader that uses all their resources! We hope this helps you throughout the fundraising process, but know our Team is always here to help!

-Megan Grehan

We actually have a great option for late or forgotten orders that turn up after an extra day, or even weeks! We always pay for your shipping on your main leader order, but if you need to place an additional order, we only charge a flat rate of $9.95. This is a super easy process, all you need to do is log into your account and click a few buttons!

Once you have logged into your account, you will go to “participants/orders” and click on the “add additional order” button on the top left hand side. Once you have placed the order, you will receive a new total that includes shipping and gives you the 40% profit immediately. As soon as we receive the payment for the extra order, we will ship your pasta right out!

You can place more than one additional order if you need to. As long as your account is still open, you can place one every day, if you want (though not recommended). If you ever have troubles or questions, feel free to call us and we will be happy to assist you!

-Anna Morris

Another great idea is to use a Fun Raffle to give out the gift card prizes. For  every 4  items a person sells place their name in the raffle. So, if the person sells 12 items their name is entered into the raffle 3 times! At the end of the fundraiser pull out names to see who will get the prizes! The more you sell the better your chances are to win a prize! It is fun and a great form of motivation!

-Megan Grehan

What type of fundraiser should I do?

There are Auctions, Bake Sales, Events such as a Talent Show or Walk-A-Thons and hundreds of different Product Fundraisers from Pasta to Candles. However, there are pros and cons to each.  The Association of Fund-Raising Distributors & Suppliers (AFRDS) has stated that product fundraising is more effective than other forms o f fundraising. Primarily because people are willing to make a purchase to support a cause (hence the growth of  companies such as Toms that gives a pair of shoes for every purchase). In fact, product fundraising works the same way, and is highly effective with much less work than event fundraisers. Anyone that plans an event knows it takes months. However, a product fundraiser can be put together in less than a month. So the decision is dependent upon how much time  you have, how many volunteers and the  organization and community you are working to support.

How often should I Fundraise?

Fundraising Burnout can happen, especially if you run more than 3-4 fundraisers a year. Running one a season is not a bad idea, but one every month can be too much. If people feel like you are always asking for money they are less likely to say yes. Not to mention the poor volunteers. So, pick carefully and space them out to see the best results!

I want to do a Product Fundraiser. How do I Pick a product?

There are so many choices! Pick something you think people will purchase (more than once). Pick something that is priced well for your community and most importantly, when you find something people like, make a tradition out of it! Other things to think about are distribution. A great reason to pick pasta is that it won’t melt, it probably won’t break, small orders can be taken home by the kids and most people love pasta! (We do offer gluten-free and whole wheat products too!) The fact is that there is something out there for everyone! However, choose wisely for great success!

Want to learn more about Fun Pasta? Request Information or E-Mail megan@pastashoppe.com!

-Megan Grehan

“The Madness is Contagious”

-Megan Grehan

Contest Details:
St. Patrick’s day is all about being Irish, wearing green and eating green foods! Take a photo with your fundraising group along with any and everything green (including our Good Luck Pasta if you can!). Post your photo to our Facebook wall by March 16th! The Photo with the most “Likes” by Noon CST on March 16th will be declared our St. Patty’s day picture! The winning group will receive $100 check and featured on our blog on St. Patty’s Day.

To enter just post your Fun Photo to Facebook before March 16th! Gather likes and hopefully earn $100! Good Luck!

For detail and rules visit the Contest Section of our website.

-Megan Grehan

Click here to support a fundraising group!

-Anna Morris

We want to thank everyone that works with Fun Pasta Fundraising! Please let us know what you are fundraising for so we can share your accomplishments too!

-Megan Grehan