Are you sick of  eating the same food in the Dining Commons? Wanting to try something new with a little flavor? Or maybe you’re trying to find a recipe to impress a special someone in your life? Well here’s a colorful, delicious, inexpensive, quick and easy recipe that will satisfy anyone’s taste buds.

Approximate cost: $20

Cook time: Approximately 12-15 min

Yields: 5 servings

Ingredients:

– 1 pound penne

– 1 teaspoon of minced garlic

– 2 ounces goat cheese

– 1 ounce cream cheese

– Pinch of salt

– Pinch of black pepper

– 6 ounces of baby spinach leaves

– Grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

– Boil a pot of salted water and add penne. The penne should take around 12 minutes to cook.

– While your penne is cooking place garlic, goat cheese, cream cheese, salt, pepper, and spinach leaves into a blender or food processor, blend until smooth, and place aside

– Once the penne is cooked to your liking scoop 1 cup of the pasta water from the pot and set aside

– Strain penne and move to a serving bowl

– Add the spinach and cheese mixture to the penne

– Add some of the set aside pasta to the bowl of penne, spinach, and cheese to give some moisture to the sauce

– Add pepper and salt to your liking and sprinkle with parmesan cheese

– Enjoy!

Some other ideas:

Want more than just pasta?

– Add some chicken

– Keep some of the baby spinach leaves and toss them in with the penne and sauce

For the Health nut in you:

– Make the penne wheat or multi grain

– Use reduced fat cream cheese

– Use 1 clove of fresh garlic

Nicole Sforza can be reached at [email protected].