Christy Craigs Lime Spinach Pasta Food

SPINACH PASTA WITH OLIVES, BASIL, GARLIC, AND LIME

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package instructions.
• Add olive oil to a skillet. Heat over medium until oil begins to ripple.
• Reduce heat to medium low. Add olives and garlic. Cook for about 3 minutes.
• Add butter, basil, lime zest, and pepper. Stir together and cook for about 2 minutes.
• Add drained pasta. Squeeze 1/3 lime over pasta. Toss all together.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Top with grated parmesan, if desired.
• Enjoy!

LEMON RICOTTA PASTA & SPINACH

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Meanwhile, make the ricotta sauce.
• In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, olive oil, parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon zest and juice. Season with 1/4 tsp of salt and a good pinch of pepper.
• Stir until well combined, taste and make sure you're happy with the seasoning.
• In the last minute of the pasta's cooking time, reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then and add spinach to the pot. Stir well and push the leaves down to submerge them in water.
• After 1 minute, drain and return pasta and spinach to the same pot.
• Add the ricotta sauce and part of the reserved cooking water. Stir well to evenly coat the pasta in the sauce, add more cooking water as needed, you want a smooth and creamy texture.
• Serve immediately and garnish with grated or shaved Parmesan cheese, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and lemon wedges if desired (for extra freshly squeezed juice, but I leave it optional). Plus, I love adding a good pinch of red pepper flakes, you might give it a go. Enjoy!

CHRISTY CRAIG'S LIME & SPINACH PASTA

Steps:

• Salt the water and cook the spaghetti noodles until al dente.
• Drain and set aside.
• While pasta cooks, heat oil in a large sauce pan, add lime zest and garlic, S&P, capers and saute one minute.
• Add meats and cook until done.
• Add spaghetti, toss to coat and toss with spinach leaves and lime juice.
• Top with crumbled Feta.

FLAKY CRUST SPINACH PIE

Steps:

• Heat butter and oil in large skillet.
• Add onions and sauté until soft about 5 minutes.
• Add spinach to onions and continue cooking for about three minutes until the water has evaporated from spinach.
• Season spinach with a dash of nutmeg.
• In large bowl combine spinach, eggs and all the cheeses.
• Season with salt and pepper if desired.
• Pile mixture into unbaked pie crust.
• Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for one hour or until golden brown on top.

TUNA SPINACH PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta in large pot according to package directions. Meanwhile, drain tuna, set aside. Mince garlic, set aside.
• When pasta is done, drain and set aside. Reduce heat to medium. In same pot, add olive oil. Add garlic. Saute garlic over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until garlic takes on color. When garlic is colored to a medium golden brown, add spinach. Lid pot and reduce heat, stirring occasionally. When spinach is shiny and wilted, add tuna. Stir. Lid and let simmer for one minute. Add pasta, stir. Lid again, let simmer one minute. Add breadcrumbs, stir, lid for one minute. Add cheese, stir and serve.

EASY SUMMER SPINACH PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, rinse under cold water and drain.
• In a large bowl, combine the pasta, spinach, cheese, red onion and olives.
• Whisk together the salad dressing, garlic, lemon juice, garlic salt and pepper.
• Pour over salad and toss.
• Refrigerate for 2 hours and serve chilled.

JOAN'S GREEN NOODLE RING (SPINACH PASTA)

Steps:

• Boil noodles in salted water about 7 minutes.
• Drain noodles and put into a bowl with the egg yolks, cottage cheese, sour cream and pepper.
• Mix with the noodles.
• Beat the egg whites and fold into the noodle mixture.
• Grease a ring mold very well.
• Put the mixture into the mold and cover with foil.
• Place mold in another pan with some water and bake at 300 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.

CREAMED SPINACH PASTA

Steps:

• Add the ricotta to a large bowl; season well with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water and drain.
• Prepare your sauce while the pasta cooks: If using, cook the pine nuts in a deep 12-inch skillet over medium heat until toasted, stirring occasionally to make sure they do not burn, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl.
• Wipe skillet clean and melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and sauté until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach, stirring it in by the handful if needed, and cook until it wilts, adding a few tablespoons of the pasta water to help it along if needed, about 4 minutes. Season with salt.
• Add the cream, bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until sauce begins to thicken slightly, about 2 minutes more. Stir in the nutmeg then season with salt and pepper. Add the cooked pasta directly to the skillet and toss until the noodles are glossy with sauce.
• Turn off heat and stir in the prepared ricotta, thinning the sauce with a bit of pasta cooking water if needed. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Divide among bowls. Top with pine nuts, if using, and pass grated pecorino or Parmesan at the table.