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Mac and Cheese Florentine
 
recipe image
Prep Time: 0 Minutes
Cook Time: 0 Minutes
Ready In: 0 Minutes
Servings: 2
Add spinach and fresh breadcrumbs to macaroni and cheese for a meal that provides half of your daily calcium needs. You can vary this by using a different short pasta, such as mini penne or radiatore, and changing the cheese to gouda, Monterey Jack, or provolone.
Ingredients:
1/2 (1-ounce) slice white bread
1 tablespoon butter, melted
cooking spray
1 cup thinly sliced onion
1 cup frozen chopped leaf spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed dry
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups fat-free milk
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (about 1 1/2 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups hot cooked elbow macaroni (about 1 cup uncooked)
Directions:
1. Place bread in a food processor; pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs measure 1/4 cup. Combine breadcrumbs and butter, stirring to coat.
2. Preheat broiler.
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes or until tender. Add spinach, juice, nutmeg, and garlic; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Combine milk and flour, stirring well with a whisk. Gradually add milk mixture to spinach mixture, stirring constantly; bring to a boil. Add cheese, salt, and pepper; cook 30 seconds or until cheese melts, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in pasta. Spoon the mixture into a 1-quart soufflé dish coated with cooking spray. Top evenly with breadcrumb mixture.
4. Broil for 3 minutes or until lightly browned.
By RecipeOfHealth.com