CREAMY SPINACH AND HAM PASTA

I came up with this recipe on a day that I had been out most of the day. I came home and needed to get dinner on the table quickly. I didn't have any idea what I was going to make. I started cooking some pasta that I had on hand and then began pulling things from my fridge. I had some ham that I had bought for sandwiches that needed to be used up so I grabbed that. I had a box of frozen spinach in the freezer, I grabbed that too. What I ended up with was so good I wrote down what I did and have made it numerous time since. Since I almost always have all the ingredients for this on hand, it is a great go to meal when I'm in a hurry. It is also versatile since I can substitute other meats or vegetables depending what I have on hand.

Source: Michelle Manson http://dontlikecooking.blogspot.com
Category: Main Dish / Ham
Method: Stove-top
Yield: 4-6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Serve with: Salad

INGREDIENTS:
16 oz. PASTA, (Any pasta will work. I like Farfalle or bow tie shaped best)
1TBS OLIVE OIL
1 small ONION, finely chopped
2-3 cloves GARLIC, pressed or minced
1 TBS. FLOUR
1 can CHICKEN BROTH
10 oz. FROZEN CHOPPED SPINACH (I have also used FROZEN BROCCOLI with good results.)
**3 wedges LIGHT LAUGHING COW ORIGINAL SWISS CHEESE (You could substitute 2 or 3 oz. cream cheese, if desired)
*6 slices HAM, cut into strips
1/3 cup PARMESAN CHEESE
SALT & PEPPER, to taste
Pinch CRUSHED RED PEPPER
Additional PARMESAN CHEESE for topping

DIRECTIONS:
Cook PASTA according to package directions.

Meanwhile, heat OLIVE OIL in skillet add ONION, sauté for about 5 minutes.
Add GARLIC, continue cooking for about 1 more minute.Stir in FLOUR and cook for 1 more minute.Stir in CHICKEN BROTH. Bring to a gentle boil, add block of FROZEN CHOPPED SPINACH.Continue to cook and stir until spinach is broken up and heated through. Stir in LAUGHING COW CHEESE, HAM and PARMESAN CHEESE. Season to taste with SALT, PEPPER and CRUSHED RED PEPPER.

Drain Pasta and add to skillet. Stir all together. If mixture is very thick you may add a small amount of the hot pasta cooking water to thin. Serve with additional PARMESAN CHEESE to top at the table.

* You may substitute any cooked meat for the ham such as Bacon, Chicken or fish (great way to use up leftover meat), or you may leave it out for a vegetarian version.

** I always keep LIGHT LAUGHING COW ORIGINAL SWISS CHEESE wedges on hand. I use it instead of cream cheese on bagels. I spread it on toast or whole grain crackers for a quick low-fat snack. I sometimes use it on sandwiches instead of sliced cheese. Each wedge has only 35 calories and only 2 grams fat yet to me, at least, makes whatever I am spreading it on taste rich and cheesy.

This recipe is from http://dontlikecooking.blogspot.com/