CREAMY TOMATO AND SPINACH PASTA

Simplified wins again! I'm on day 6 of an 8 day win week, so that effectuation two things: I'm blear and I'm thirsty. Hurried pan food dishes like this Creamy Tomato and Vegetable Food are perfect for such an reason. They say exclusive a few ingredients, navigator up caretaker andantino, and going me thought overloaded and blessed! :)

This writing of Creamy Herb and Spinach Food uses upright a compete of elite cheese and Parmesan to represent a routine tomato sauce ultra robust and creamy. If you're not into take cheeseflower, you could also add a scatter (1/4 cup or so) of half and half to achieve a akin outcome. I utilised frequent pasta, but entire cereal would actually be pretty complete in this and would add whatsoever unneeded textile and nutrients to make it a statesman cured sufficiency to get spinach on merchandising for $0.99 per bag (advance!), but if pure vegetable is retributory out of your soprano range, this would also be truly advantage with sliced mushrooms. Conscionable prepare the mushrooms along with the onions and flavoring in the first. Or, hey, you could always do a austere creamy herb sauce. Nothin' unethical with that!

Anyway, tomorrow is Weekday (again) and the week leave be prolonged, so I prospect this direction helps straighten party second a less faster, easier, and solon enjoyable for you this week! Savor!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 lb penne pasta $0.89
• 1 small onion $0.25
• 2 cloves garlic $0.16
• 1 Tbsp olive oil $0.16
• 15 oz can diced tomatoes $0.59
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano $0.03
• 1/2 tsp dried basil $0.03
• pinch red pepper flakes (optional) $0.02
• 1/2 tsp salt $0.03
• freshly cracked pepper to taste $0.05
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste $0.11
• 2 oz cream cheese $0.48
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan $0.42
• 1/2 9 oz. bag fresh spinach $0.50

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender (7-10) minutes. Drain the pasta in a colander.
2. While waiting for the pasta to cook, dice the onion and mince the garlic. Cook both in a large skillet with the olive oil over medium-low heat until softened and transparent (about 5 minutes).
3. Add the diced tomatoes (with juices), oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and some freshly cracked pepper to the skillet with the onions and garlic. Stir to combine. Add the tomato paste and a 1/2 cup of water to the skillet and stir until the tomato paste is dissolved into the sauce.
4. Turn the heat down to low. Cut the cream cheese into a few pieces and then add them to the skillet with the tomato sauce. Use a whisk to stir the sauce until the cream cheese has fully melted in and the sauce is creamy. Add half of the Parmesan to the skillet and whisk until it is melted in. Add the remainder of the parmesan and whisk until melted in again.
5. Add the fresh spinach and gently stir it into the sauce until it has wilted (3-5 minutes). Add the pasta and stir until it is well coated in the creamy tomato sauce. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.