Helen Thomas is the winner of a $25 gift certificate donated by The Spice Merchant as the contributor of this month’s Recipe for You or Two.
Thomas is a member of the “Aldi Nerds” group on Facebook, whose members frequently post recipes made with Aldi ingredients.
“That’s where I found this,” she said. “I like the fact that it’s made with fresh tomatoes and fresh spinach. And almost anything with cream cheese and garlic in it is a winner for me.”
Tomato and Cream Cheese Pasta
8 oz. cream cheese
Two cartons cherry tomatoes
Minced garlic
Olive oil
Dried or fresh basil, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning
1 handful fresh baby spinach
Approximately 12 oz. cooked pasta
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place the block of cream cheese in the middle of ovenproof dish. Surround the cheese with the tomatoes and garlic. Drizzle olive oil over all. Sprinkle basil, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning over everything.
Place the dish into the oven and bake for 35 minutes, or until tomatoes are tender and skins are a little shriveled.
Remove from oven, stir until the cheese, tomatoes, garlic and seasonings are combined, and then stir in the fresh spinach. Stir this mixture into pasta and serve with garlic bread.
Serves 2 with leftovers.
Notes: A chunk of feta cheese can be used in place of the cream cheese. If fresh basil is used, double the amount.
