joyful pasta.

INGREDIENTS:

* 3/4 pound whole-wheat pasta, your choice
* 3 cloves garlic
* 4 cups chopped fresh spinach
* 8 oz. fresh mozzarella, shredded
* 1 cup ricotta cheese
* Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
* Red pepper flakes

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees, and butter/oil a 13×9 inch oven-safe baking dish. Prep all ingredients, including thoroughly washing and drying spinach.

2. Cook pasta according to directions, remove from heat and rinse with cold water. Toss in bowl with olive oil and set aside.

3. Heat olive oil in a skillet and saute garlic. Add spinach and cook until spinach collapses.

4. Remove spinach/garlic from heat and add to noodles. Add a 1/2 cup of ricotta and half of the mozzarella to the mixture.

5. Pour mixture into baking dish and top with remaining cheese and ricotta (in dollops).

6. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes until cheese on top is bubbling and melted. Top with red pepper flakes and salt and pepper.

(adapted from Kohler Created)