Pasta e Fagioli (Pasta with Beans)

Jamie Oliver's new show inspired my family before it even debuted.

We as a family have started eating out less, taking lunches to school, drinking white milk after learning that chocolate has 22 grams of sugar (the little carton at school) and we have started seeds of change in our home by planting seeds for a vegetable garden. We would like to grow at least 50% of the veggies that we are eating.

One of the goals that I would like to achieve with the girls at From Blah to Ta-daa - is to serve my family at least 4 meatless dishes a month.

I thought that this recipe would be hearty enough that we wouldn't miss out or be left wanting more...

I have included a few tips that help me in the kitchen - hope they help you too!

I present the Rock Family's First Meatless Meal


Pasta e Fagioli
I first saw this recipe as a link on twitter from @LoveMyPhilly - you can find this recipe and more at lovemyphilly.com!!

Ingredients

1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce
2 cups water
4 large cloves garlic, minced
4 cups broad egg noodles, uncooked
1/2 cup (1/2 of 8-oz. tub) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Spread
1 pkg. (6 oz.) baby spinach leaves
1 can (15 oz.) cannellini beans, rinsed
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
1 cup KRAFT Finely Shredded Italian* Five Cheese Blend
3 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

Tip # 1

To take the skin off garlic for mincing:

I take the flat side of my knife and lay it on garlic that is stable on cutting board...then using my fist one pound or two breaks the garlic enough that I just pull it out of the outer skin.

Thanks Rachael Ray!!

Instructions

BRING spaghetti sauce, water and garlic to boil in large skillet. Stir in noodles; cover.

Tip # 2 - I put the 2 cups of water into the spaghetti sauce jar - a little shake and no sauce wasted.

COOK on medium-low heat 10 to 12 min. or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally. Add cream cheese spread; cook until melted, stirring frequently.

I only had block cream cheese...so I cut it into small cubes before adding to the sauce.
It melted just fine.

STIR in spinach, beans and basil; cover. Cook 5 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

I kept thinking that this was too much spinach - but it wilts down to just the right amount!!

Top with remaining cheeses; cook, covered, 3 to 5 min. or until cheeses are melted.

Everyone in my family really (really) enjoyed every last morsel of this dish!! This is for sure going to become part of my monthly meal plan. I love that my kids were eating so much spinach and beans...they didn't even notice that there was no meat included!

Success!!

This recipe definitely gets 5 spoons!!

Mellisa