Roasted Butternut Squash, Spinach and Bacon Pasta
- 3/4 teaspoons Salt, Divided
- 1/2 teaspoons Dried Rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoons Freshly Ground Black Pepper, Plus More To Taste
- 3 cups Cubed (1-inch Size) Peeled Butternut Squash
- 6 slices Sweet Hickory Smoked Bacon
- 1/2 cups Thinly Sliced Shallots
- 2 cloves Garlic, Minced
- 1 cup Spinach Leaves, Chopped
- 8 ounces, weight Uncooked Penne Pasta
- 1/4 cups All-purpose Flour
- 2 cups Nonfat Milk
- 1/4 teaspoons Ground Nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoons Ground Thyme
- 3/4 cups Shredded Sharp Provolone Cheese
- 13 cups Grated Fresh Parmesan Cheese
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In a small bowl combine 1/4 teaspoon salt, rosemary and pepper.
- Place squash on a foil-lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray and sprinkle it with the salt mixture.
- Bake at 425 degrees F for 45 minutes or until tender and lightly browned.
- Then remove it from the oven.
- Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees F.
- Cook the bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp.
- Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 1/2 teaspoons drippings in the pan.
- Crumble bacon and set it aside.
- Increase skillet heat to medium-high.
- Add shallots and garlic to pan; saute 8 minutes or until tender.
- Remove skillet from the heat.
- In a large bowl combine squash mixture, bacon, spinach, and shallot mixture; set aside.
- Cook pasta according to the package directions, omitting the salt and fat that the instructions might mention.
- When its done, drain it well.
- Combine flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Gradually add milk, stirring constantly with a whisk; bring to a boil.
- Cook 1 minute or until slightly thick, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat.
- Add nutmeg, thyme, freshly ground black pepper to taste, and provolone, stirring until cheese melts.
- Add pasta to cheese mixture, tossing well to combine.
- Spoon pasta mixture into an 11 x 7-inch baking dish that youve lightly coated with cooking spray.
- Top pasta with the squash mixture.
- Sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake at 450 degrees F for 10 minutes or until cheese melts and begins to brown.
- Recipe adapted from Cooking Light.
salt, rosemary, freshly ground black pepper, bacon, shallots, garlic, spinach, pasta, allpurpose, milk, ground nutmeg, ground thyme, provolone cheese, parmesan cheese
Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/roasted-butternut-squash-spinach-and-bacon-pasta/ (may not work)