Kid-Friendly Pasta Florentine

I wanted to make something different for dinner tonight, and this fit the bill!  Rich but not over the top, full of chicken and spinach, this dish was wonderful on this cold and wintry day.

When I placed the hot dish on the trivet, the kids started yelling, "Yay!  Mac 'n' cheese!"  Despite the lack of cheddar and the addition of a whole bunch of spinach, they both cleaned their plates.  Works for me.

To make kid-friendly pasta Florentine, you'll need:

• 8 oz. whole wheat pasta (I used elbows b/c it's kid friendly, but rotini would be great, too.)
• 6 oz. cream cheese
• 1/2 c. chicken stock
• 3/4 c. milk
• 1 box of frozen spinach
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 T. Italian salad dressing
• 1/2 t. garlic powder
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella
• 1 c. cooked chicken
• 3 pieces of bacon, cooked and crumbled

This dish comes together very quickly.  This is all that it takes:

1. Cook pasta according to the directions on the package.  Drain.
2. Saute onion and spinach in Italian dressing.  When onions are translucent, add garlic powder and pepper.
3. Add the cream cheese, cubed, and cook over low eat.  As it melts, add milk and then the chicken stock, stirring constantly until it begins to thicken.
4. Add chicken, Parmesan, and pasta to the sauce.  Stir to combine.
5. Pour into a prepared 11" X 7" baking dish.  Top with mozzarella cheese, a sprinkle of Parmesan, and the crumbled bacon.  Bake at 350 until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes.

Enjoy!