Mediterranean Mac And Cheese With Olives

• 8 cloves garlic, unpeeled
• 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 6 ounces baby spinach
• 1/2 pound penne
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk, warmed
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 6 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
• 2 ounces Muenster cheese, grated
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, diced
• 3 ounces provolone, grated
• 1 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Toss garlic with oil; wrap in foil. Bake until cloves are soft, 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool. Pop cloves from skins; mash into a paste.
2. 2. Meanwhile, heat a large pot of salted water to a boil. Drop in the spinach; cook just until wilted, 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain. When cool, squeeze out liquid. Add pasta to boiling water; cook until just beginning to soften; it should not yet be al dente. Drain; rinse the pasta. Return it to the pot.
3. 3. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat; stir in flour. Cook, stirring, until mixture turns slightly beige, is bubbly and appears to have grown in volume, about one minute. Increase heat to medium; slowly whisk in the milk. Heat until just beginning to bubble, whisking frequently. Reduce heat to low; stir in thyme and lemon zest. Simmer, two minutes.
4. 4. Add goat and Muenster cheeses by 1/2-cup measures, stirring until cheese melts before adding more. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir garlic, spinach and olives into pasta. Pour sauce over pasta; stir to coat. Transfer to a buttered 13-by-9-inch baking pan. Combine provolone and breadcrumbs; sprinkle over dish.
5. 5. Bake until cheese sauce is bubbly and topping browns, 20-30 minutes. Allow to rest five minutes before serving.
6. Adapted from "Mac & Cheese," by Ellen Brown, who adapted the recipe from S'MAC (Sarita's Macaroni & Cheese) in New York

garlic, olive oil, baby spinach, penne, unsalted butter, flour, milk, thyme, lemon zest, goat cheese, muenster cheese, salt, freshly ground pepper, olives, provolone, breadcrumbs

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/mediterranean-mac-and-cheese-with-olives-52114201 (may not work)