Penne with Creamy Walnut Sauce

Quick, simple, creamy, and delicious! Serve with sliced tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and broiled zucchini with herbs for an unforgettable meal!

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 10  ounces fresh spinach
• 1⁄2 cup  toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped (Toast walnuts in a single layer on an unoiled baking tray in a oven at 350* for about 5 minutes, unt)
• 2  cups low fat cottage cheese
• 1  clove garlic, minced or pressed
• 1⁄4 cup  grated parmesan cheese
• 1⁄4 cup  loosely packed chopped fresh basil
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
•  ground black pepper
• 1 -1 1⁄2 lb penne (tubular pasta)
• 1  head broccoli
•  grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

1. Bring a large covered pot of water to a rapid boil.
2. While the water heats, wash the spinach and transfer it to a separate large pot.
3. The water clinging to the leaves should provide enough moisture to steam it.
4. Cover and cook the spinach on medium-high heat for about 4 minutes, until wilted but still bright green.
5. Drain.
6. In a food processor or blender, combine the spinach, walnuts, cottage cheese, garlic, Parmesan, basil, and salt and puree until smooth, working in batches if necessary.
7. Add pepper to taste and set aside.
8. When the water boils, stir in the pasta, cover, and return to a boil.
9. Then uncover the pot and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 7 minutes.
10. While the pasta cooks, cut the broccoli into spears, blanch it in boiling water to cover until just tender, about 5 minutes, and set it aside.
11. Drain the pasta and serve immediately in individual warmed bowls, topped with spinach-walnut sauce and several steamed broccoli spears.
12. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, if you wish.
13. Enjoy!