Spinach Pasta in Cheese Sauce

Hey there!  Aren't you glad its Friday?  I certainly am!  They let us leave work early today.  Did I tell you guys about that? We have no air conditioning in our building and its hotter inside than outside.  Its been over 100 this last week so we keep getting to go home early because if we stay there people might get heat exhaustion! Anyways, with my time off I got groceries and mowed the yard finally.  It was starting to resemble a jungle out there. 

Today was my 3rd meatless day this week!  Your proud, right?  I am.  Its not as easy as it sounds.  I am GREAT at getting veggies and carbs (too good at carbs perhaps) but non-meat protein is my issue.  I am constantly thinking "what kind of protein can I have with this meal that will go along with these other items?"  I know its just difficult because I am just starting.  Soon, it wont even be an issue.  Also, it will help that I am going to quit making Carb only side dishes - why cook more carbs when I already have an easy time getting carbs in my diet?  I'm going to concentrate more on proteins and veggie dishes from now on.  I am a carb lover though, so don't be surprised if I sneak a few carb side dishes in there.

Tonight's dinner was something new!!  So, its recipe time!!!  I got this recipe from the 1998 (long time ago huh?) version of Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook.  Mom and I did weight watchers when I was in high school; its how I lost all the weight.  Anyways, you don't care about that, you want to know what I made right? 


Spinach Pasta in Cheese Sauce
1.  Make some spinach pasta.  You need 3 cups of cooked pasta.  I used 6 oz dry, but probably 8 would have been better.

2. In a blender/food processor combine 1 cup of milk

1 1/4 cups part-skim ricotta cheese

1 1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

and 1/4 grated nonfat Parmesan cheese

3.  In a large skillet heat 2 tbsp butter. 

Once melted add 4 garlic cloves:

Saute until garlic is brown and smells YUMMY!!

4.   Add cheese mixture and two 10oz boxes of frozen chopped spinach (thaw and drain before adding to pan!)

Stir it up!!

5.  Once nice and hot, add the pasta.  Stir some more.  Put it on a plate.  Eat it!!

I had mine with Popeye Bread from Great Harvest, because for a good pasta meal to be complete we must top our carbs (pasta) with more carbs (bread!) Oh yeah, and I put some more Parmesan on top to make it look pretty.

At the store today I got lots of stuff for new recipes.  So in the future I have some more vegetarian recipes, some Indian inspired recipes, some soups, a healthy cookie, possibly a healthy cup cake (undecided because I might wait until mom comes to visit to make this one), and a breakfast item.  Oh yeah, tomorrow will feature 2 new recipes in one meal - its a meat eaters meal, but that's all I will tell you.  Hope you all have a great Friday night!!  "See" ya tomorrow.