Pasta with Feta Cheese, Spinach and Sundried Tomatoes

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cups sundried tomatoes, chopped
1 bag baby spinach, about 7 oz.
1 pound pasta
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper



Directions:

In large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat and add chopped onions. Saute onions, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about a minute. Add red pepper flakes and tomatoes, give a quick stir. Then add spinach, cooking until spinach is wilted. Set aside.



Cook pasta as instructed, drain and place hot pasta in large bowl. Add feta and parmesan cheeses and mix well, allowing cheeses to melt.



Fold in spinach mixture, pepper and salt, to taste. Drizzle with olive oil. Garnish with parmesan cheese.



Verdict:

Laura - Thumbs Up - This pasta was great. I love the feta and the sweet, chewy tomatoes. I will make it again.

Randy - Thumbs Down - Randy doesn't like pasta.

Nathan - Thumbs Down - Nathan wasn't interested in pasta tonight.

Leftovers: The leftovers were good. I ate it for lunch for several days. I just heated it up in the microwave.

Turkey Spanakopita Burgers

From Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats



Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped (I omitted the onions.)
1 10-ounce box frozen spinach, defrosted
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 pound feta crumbles
1 package ground turkey
1 tablespoon grill seasoning, such as McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning



Directions:

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. To one side, add the olive oil and butter. When the butter melts, add the garlic and all the onions and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer the garlic and onions to a bowl to cool. Return the pan to the heat.

Wring the defrosted spinach dry by twisting it in a clean dish towel over the sink. Separate the spinach as you add it to the bowl with the cooled onions and garlic, and season with the oregano. Add the feta crumbles, then the turkey, grill seasoning, and a drizzle of olive oil. Mix, score the meat into 4 equal sections, (I made 6 patties), 1-inch thick.



Raise the heat on the pan to medium high. Add the patties and cook for 6 minutes on each side. (I cooked the burgers on the grill.)

Serve with chips.

Makes 4 or 6 servings.

Verdict:

Laura - Thumbs Up - These burgers were great and full of flavor. I loved sneaking the spinach inside the burgers. I will make these again.

Randy - Thumbs Up - Randy liked the burgers. He wished there was less spinach in them. Thinks they would be great as sliders.

Nathan - Thumbs Up - Nathan ate 1/4 of a burger. He had sliced apples as a side instead of chips.

Samantha - Thumbs Up - Samantha ate a leftover burger for lunch. She wasn't too sure of the feta cheese at first but ended up loving them.

Leftovers: The leftovers were great. I've been eating them for lunch. They are just as good as when they came off the grill.

Creamy Rice, Chicken & Spinach Dinner

Prep: 5 min. Total: 30 min.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup Kraft Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thick strips
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 cups instant rice, uncooked
4 oz cream cheese, cubed - (I used fat-free cream cheese.)
1 pkg (8 oz) baby or torn spinach leaves (8 cups packed leaves)
1 medium tomato, chopped - (I used two small tomatoes.)
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese



Directions:
Heat dressing in large deep skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 3 minutes.



Add stock; bring to boil. Stir in rice; return to boil.



Cover. Reduce heat to medium; simmer 5 minutes.



Stir cream cheese into rice mixture until melted.



Add spinach (skillet will be full).



Cover and cook 2 minutes or until spinach is wilted.



Stir rice mixture gently to mix in spinach.



Cover. Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes.



Stir in tomatoes; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.



Makes 4 servings, 1 1/2 cups each.

Verdict:

Laura - Thumbs Up - I loved this meal. I would make this again. The best part was that it was all in one pot, which makes for easy clean up.

Randy - Thumbs Down - Didn't like the creaminess of the rice. Doesn't want to eat this again. Had PB&J for dinner.

Nathan - Thumbs Up - Ate a whole plates worth. Had some trouble getting the rice on his fork.

Leftovers: This meal re-heated perfectly. The rice was still creamy and not dried out. Nathan and I ate this for leftovers Saturday night. Randy ate grilled cheese.