Since getting our puppy I have realized how hard it is being a mom. I compare having a puppy to a two year old that isn’t potty trained, doesn’t wear a diaper, and runs around like a maniac and chews furniture. I personally don’t know of a two year old who chews furniture but I could imagine.

I need to expand my repertoire of fast easy recipes now that I need to be cooking and running around at the same time. This is something I adapted from Jamie Oliver’s site and it is really tasty, fast and for mothers who’s kids aren’t covered in fur, the spinach in this recipe is definitely kid friendly.

Ingredients

• Enough penne or any pasta of your choice to feed 4 people
• Olive oil
• 2 tsp butter
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• ½ tsp nutmeg (I didn’t have any)
• 14 oz of fresh spinach, washed toughly  (I used a bag of baby spinach)
• Salt and pepper
• ½ cup cream (I used J’s half and half)
• 5 oz of mascarpone
• 1 tsp dried chilli flakes
• 2 handfuls of fresh grated parmesan cheese (must be fresh)

Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, add the pasta, and cook according to the packet instructions. Meanwhile get a frying pan or wok warm, add a drizzle of olive oil, the butter, garlic and nutmeg. When the butter melts, add the spinach. After 5 minutes it will have wilted down and will be nice and dark. A lot of the liquid will have cooked away and you’ll have wonderful intensely flavoured spinach. At this point season with salt and pepper, then add the cream, mascarpone and a little ladle of cooking water from the pasta. Let this come to a simmer and then taste, season again.

Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water, and then stir it into the spinach sauce. Add the Parmesan and toss everything together. It should a nice consistency; if too thick add some of the reserved cooking water. Check once more for seasoning and serve right away.

I thought this was amazing. It was creamy, garlicky and had a very subtle spice from the chilli flakes. The spinach was in disguise which for kids is great, but I wouldn’t have minded a bit more spinach. Just call me Popeye. I will leave that part up to you and your family but don’t take it out completely, its subtle and healthy!