Pasta with Spinach, Pine Nuts and Feta

Looking for a delicious meatless meal?  Pasta with Spinach, Pine Nuts and Feta fits the bill perfectly. When I got married 13 years ago, my dear friends and family supplied me with a recipe box full of their favorite dishes. This is one of my most cherished wedding shower gifts. It is the proverbial "gift that keeps on giving." Pasta with Spinach, Pine Nuts and Feta  was put in the recipe box by my sweet SIL, Donna, who still shares the best recipes with me. Now I will share it with you.
Here's what you need:  pasta (I use penne, but the actual recipe called for mostaccioli),frozen spinach, pine nuts, garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, butter, feta cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper

Here's how you make it:  Start boiling your water for the pasta. Start the spinach mixture by melting butter with 2 TBSP of olive oil. Saute pine nuts and garlic until light brown and fragrant. (Mercy, does this ever smell good!)

 Add spinach and tomatoes ...heat through. Meanwhile, finish up cooking your pasta.

Place cooked pasta in serving dish, add the remaining oil and toss.  Pour the spinach mixture over the pasta and toss.

 Add feta cheese and season with salt and pepper.

 Serve immediately with Parmesan cheese and some crusty french bread.

Pasta with Spinach, Pine Nuts and Feta (Serves 8)
1 Tbsp butter
8 Tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts
5 garlic cloves, minced (I use jarred)
2 10 oz. packages frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained)
4 large roma tomatoes, finely chopped
12 oz. tub crumbled feta cheese
2 16 oz. boxes of pasta (penne, mostaccioli, or any other tube variety)

Cook your pasta according to the package directions. Melt butter with 2 Tbsp oil. Saute pine nuts and garlic until light brown. Add the spinach and finely chopped tomatoes and heat through. Place cooked pasta in serving dish, add remaining oil and toss.  Pour spinach/pine nut mixture over pasta and toss.  Add feta cheese, season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately with Parmesan cheese and crusty french bread. (note: I half the recipe for our small family)

My SIL wrote at the end of the recipe, "finish this off with Breyer's ice cream and chocolate sauce and  exercise in the morning:-)." Sounds good to me.  Who am I to argue with such a wise woman?

I'm linking up to some of these great parties and

Savvy Southern Style, It's So Very Cheri and Between Naps on the Porch