Awesome Penne Spinach Bake

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 8 ounces penne pasta, uncooked (spiral pasta may be used instead of penne)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3 -4 fresh minced garlic cloves (i use lots of garlic!)
• 1/4 cup onion, chopped (optional)
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2-1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• black pepper
• 2 1/2 cups half-and-half cream or 2 1/2 cups milk
• 1/2-3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 cups grated swiss cheese, divided
• 1 large tomato, chopped into small pieces (can use more if desired)
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained (squeeze out any excess moisture with your hands)
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 -3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 set oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 grease a 13" x 9" baking pan.
• 3 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.
• 4 in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over med-high heat.
• 5 add in the chopped onion (if using) and the garlic; saute for 5 minutes.
• 6 whisk in the flour, thyme, nutmeg and black pepper; cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• 7 gradually whisk in the half and half; cook for 4 minutes, until thick and bubbly.
• 8 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.
• 9 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.
• 10 spoon the mixture into a prepared greased baking pan.
• 11 in a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, melted butter and the parmesan cheese.
• 12 sprinkle the mixture over the casserole in the baking pan.
• 13 bake for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
• 14 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.