Cheesy Spinach Baked Penne Food

EASY CHEESY PENNE PASTA AND SPINACH BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray.
• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Place pasta in large mixing bowl.
• Add spaghetti sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan and ricotta cheeses, fresh chopped spinach, plus garlic powder. Stir into pasta until ingredients are fully coated and combined.
• Pour pasta into prepared 9x13 pan. Add additional mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses to top.
• Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove foil and cook for 5 more minutes. Remove pan from oven and serve pasta immediately.

EASY CHEESY SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a 12-inch saute pan over moderate heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 8 minutes. Whisk in the cream cheese and let melt. Fold in the spinach until evenly combined. Add up to 3 tablespoons water if the mixture seems too dry. Sprinkle the nutmeg on top and season with salt and pepper.
• BYOC: Lemon zest and juice would bring a little bit of sunshine to this dish. Just add with the salt and pepper.

CHEESY PENNE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
• Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepot, and saute garlic and onion until the onions become translucent, being careful not to burn them. Add crushed tomatoes, fresh parsley, marjoram and thyme. Create a slurry by gradually whisking cornstarch into 1/2 cup water. Add the slurry to the sauce to thicken and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer about 20 minutes, checking periodically to make sure the sauce doesn't burn.
• While the sauce is cooking, boil the penne until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain through a colander and set aside.
• Remove the sauce from the heat, and whisk in butter and cream cheese. Add the boiled pasta to the sauce and gently fold in along with the diced tomatoes. Transfer to serving dish and garnish with fresh parsley.

BAKED SPINACH & CHEESE

Steps:

• Coarsely chop the spinach.
• Melt the butter over medium heat & when bubbly add onion& garlic.
• Saute for 2 minutes.
• Add spinach, salt & pepper.
• Cover & reduce heat to low steam for 3-4 minutes.
• Put half of the cheese into an 8" greased casserole dish.
• Add spinach, & nutmeg.
• Cover with remaining cheese.
• Bake in 350F for apprx 20 minutes or until cheese is browned.

AWESOME PENNE SPINACH BAKE

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease a 13" x 9" baking pan.
• Cook the pasta only to firm-tender (don't overcook, as the pasta will cook more when baked in the oven) according to package directions (omit the salt in the water); drain, set aside.
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over med-high heat.
• Add in the chopped onion (if using) and the garlic; saute for 5 minutes.
• Whisk in the flour, thyme, nutmeg and black pepper; cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Gradually whisk in the half and half; cook for 4 minutes, until thick and bubbly.
• Add in the grated Swiss cheese, and the Parmesan cheese; mix well over low heat, until the cheese has melted, and the sauce is hot and bubbly; remove the saucepan from the heat.
• In a large bowl, combine the cream/cheese sauce, 1/2 cup of the remaining Swiss cheese (it is not necessery to add the remaining 1/2 cup cheese, you may omit if desired), chopped tomato, and the spinach; stir well.
• Spoon the mixture into a prepared greased baking pan.
• In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, melted butter and the Parmesan cheese.
• Sprinkle the mixture over the casserole in the baking pan.
• Bake for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
• Note: this recipes calls for NO salt, as the grated Parmesan cheese produces enough salty taste, but if you do choose to add salt, add just a small amount (to taste with the cream sauce) at a time, otherwise it tends to get too salty.

PENNE AND SPINACH BAKE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Saute onion and garlic in 1 T butter until tender.
• Add flour and stir to coat onions.
• Add milk and cook over medium low until bubbly and slightly thickened.
• Remove from heat; add 1/4 c cheese and seasonings.
• Combine pasta, sauce, 1 c cheese, tomatoes and spinach in large bowl.
• Spoon into greased 13x9 baking dish.
• Combine bread crumbs, 2 T cheese and 1 T butter.
• Sprinkle over pasta.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.