Receta Cheesy Spinach and Tomato Pasta Bake
Now that we are into January, the most truly miserable part of a Minnesota winter is about to begin. The months of January and February are nothing short of brutal. These two months always make me question exactly why I am living in this great frozen tundra. Take away those 59 days, and Minnesota would be a pretty perfect place to live.
One of the most frustrating aspects of living in a middle-of-nowhere-deep-freeze is the lack of fresh produce during the long winter months. I don't know from where my local stores obtain their produce, but it is downright depressing to see what they are selling as "fresh." Oh, what I wouldn't give right now to walk out my back door and harvest all kinds of produce from my own home garden! It is a long 5 months from now before I can even consider sticking something in the ground to grow.
So what is a Minnesota Mom like me supposed to do during these long winter months with no locally grown, fresh produce to be found? Especially at this time of year when we are all working so hard to make healthier food choices! It is almost laughable that we choose January to begin eating healthier when the fruits and veggies that are offered in our stores are the most expensive, and are at their weakest quality.
Oh, where or where would I be without the garden in my pantry? Yep, I have a garden in my pantry and it gets me through these long Minnesota winters without losing quality or flavor. A majority of Del Monte® fruits and vegetables are grown locally here in the United States, canned the same day they are picked and are preservative-free.
To help start your New Year eating off right with garden quality goodness on your table, I have to share my favorite healthy pasta dish. It is packed with tomatoes, spinach, whole grain pasta and some cheese to keep you happy. Nothing boring to be found in this dish! Seriously, you need to serve this up for dinner this week. It is so delicious.
Now, to help you start your New Year finances off right, Del Monte has generously provided me with a $100 VISA gift card to give away to one of my fabulous readers!! After the holidays, I'm sure each of you would love a little help paying for all those presents, right? To enter, all you have to do is leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite fruits and vegetables are to stock in your pantry. Good luck!!
Cheesy Spinach and Tomato Pasta Bake
(feeds 8-10)
- 13 oz box penne pasta - I used whole grain
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tb olive oil
- 2 - 15 ounce cans Del Monte® Diced Tomatoes with the flavors of Basil, Garlic, & Oregano
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (or more if you like spicy pasta)
- 1 lb fresh spinach
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, diced into small cubes
- 1 C freshly grated parmesan cheese
1. Cook your pasta to al dente according to package directions. Drain, but don't rinse, and return it to cooking pot.
2. While pasta cooks, in a large skillet, sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil over medium high heat until they begin to soften. Add the Del Monte tomatoes with the juice and bring to a boil. Boil gently for about 15 minutes, or until most of the liquid evaporates. Add the salt and pepper.
3. Add the fresh spinach on top of the pasta in the pasta pot, along with the cubes of mozzarella and 1/3 C of the parmesan cheese. Pour the hot tomatoes over the top of everything in the pasta pot and toss to combine. The spinach will reduce greatly. Transfer it all into a large greased casserole pan, top with the remaining parmesan cheese and broil for 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts and begins to brown.
$100 VISA Gift Card Giveaway Rules:
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This sweepstakes runs from 1/6/2014-2/6/2014