Parmesan Spinach Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound cavatappi pasta
• 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 Tablespoons flour
• 2 cups milk
• 3 heaping cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup cream cheese (about 2 ounces)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. 1

   Cook the pasta in very salty water until al dente. Drain pasta and set aside.

2. 2

   Return empty pasta pot to stove and turn the heat to medium.

3. 3

   Add butter to pot and heat until just melted.

4. 4

   Whisk flour into butter and let cook for 30 seconds.

5. 5

   Slowly stream milk into pot, whisking constantly to break up any lumps of flour. Cook, whisking occasionally, until sauce has thickened and just begun to simmer, about 7-10 minutes.

6. 6

   Stir chopped spinach, salt, and pepper into sauce and cook 1-2 minutes more until spinach has wilted.

7. 7

   Remove sauce from heat.

8. 8

   Add cream cheese and shredded parmesan cheese to sauce and stir until cheese has melted.

9. 9

   Return cooked pasta to sauce and stir to coat. Serve immediately.