Whether you are looking for a green recipe to prepare on St. Patrick’s Day or just a clever way to sneak fresh vegetables into a meal, this classic dish ─ with a fun twist ─ is a crowd pleaser!

Ingredients (yields 12 servings)

• 1 lb. macaroni noodles
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 yellow onion, minced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, minced
• 6 cups packed fresh spinach
• ½ cup boiling water
• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup flour
• 2 cups milk
• 8 oz. white cheddar, grated
• 8 oz. fontina, grated
• Kosher salt to taste

Directions

• Preparation time: 10 minutes | Cooking time: 1 hour
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook macaroni until just shy of al dente (about 6 minutes). Before draining pasta, reserve ½ cup of boiling water for later use. Drain pasta and rinse with cold water; set aside.
• In a small pan, melt butter; add onions and jalapeno. Gently cook over medium-low heat for 7-10 minutes; then set aside.
• Place 6 cups of spinach and reserved boiling water into blender. If needed, use a spoon to push spinach down. Blend to a fine, bright green purée.
• In the same pot used to cook pasta, melt butter and add the flour. Stir until smooth; cook over low heat about 1 minute.
• Add milk; stir until smooth. Simmer 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened.
• Add cheese; stir repeatedly until melted, smooth, and thickened.
• Add spinach puree; stir until smooth. Season to taste with Kosher salt.
• Pour pasta into the sauce pot; add in onions and jalapeno. Toss until combined.
• Transfer macaroni into a 9x13x2” baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes until golden around edges. Serve hot!

Enter to WIN!

Log onto OrlandoFamilyMagazine.com/contests to win a copy of Heather Christo’s Generous Table:

Easy and Elegant Recipes Through the Seasons, featuring delicious recipes developed for women who may juggle marriage, family, careers, and budgets, but who still wish to host beautiful, unique get-togethers for the people closest to them. Heather pairs her experience as a working mom of young children and her expertise as a chef & entertaining expert for your homemade hostess needs.