Spinach-Bacon Mac & Cheese

Happy Valentine’s Day, my lovelies.  I know some people loathe the holiday so  I won’t say any more on that except to reiterate that there is no such thing as a Hallmark holiday.

What I have for you today is a recipe.  One of those little gems you find on the back of a package of cheese that ends up being sinfully delicious.  I made this for us last week and it’s definitely a keeper.

3 cups med shell mac
5 oz baby spinach leaves
5 slices bacon, chopped
2 tbsp flour
2 cups milk
2 cups sharp shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cups grated parmesan cheese

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Cook macaroni, adding spinach for last minute.  Meanwhile, cook bacon in large saucepan.  Remove bacon and save drippings in pan.
• Add flour to drippings and stir until bubbly.  Stir in milk, bring to boil stirring constantly and then and additional 3 to 5 minutes until thickened.
• Stir in one cup cheddar cheese and parmesan.  Stir/cook until melted.  Add bacon and mac; mix well.
• Transfer to casserole dish.  Top with remaining cheddar and bake twenty minutes.

Bow Ties Romano (A Recipe!)

Woohoo, a recipe!  I got this one off a box of bow tie pasta (my favorite!) a long time ago and just tried it for the first time last night.  Hubs loved it, so now it’s in our dinner rotation.  I had some leftovers for lunch and in my opinion it was even better than the dinner last night.

What you need:
1 package (12 ounces) bow tie pasta
2 tbsp butter
3 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 cup chopped prosciutto or ham (I used prosciutto since hubs loathes ham)
1 cup light cream (I used heavy because that’s what I had)
1 cup frozen peas (I eliminated because I forgot to buy them)
3/4 cup grated Romano and/or Parmesan cheese

1. Cook pasta according box directions.
2. Meanwhile, in large skillet melt butter and add mushrooms and prosciutto.  Cook five minutes until ‘shrooms are tender.
3. Add cream and heat to almost boiling.  And peas if you have them and cook through.  Remove from heat and stir in the cheese.
4. Drain pasta and toss with sauce.
5. OMG, eat it!  EAT IT!

So I’ve never had prosciutto before.  It was okay, it tasted a bit irony to me, actually.  Chris and I decided the next time I make this I should try it with bacon instead of prosciutto or ham.  I think bacon would be good.  He doesn’t want me to add the peas, but I think I’ll add the peas next time, too.  A little green never killed anyone before.

The recipe says it makes six servings, but if you’re anything like my husband and me, it will make four.