Macaroni & Cheese Florentine

Total Time: 3 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• 8 ounces elbow macaroni
• 10 ounces frozen spinach
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup raw cashews
• 1 3/4 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups beans, cooked
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 pinch nutmeg
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs

Recipe

• 1 cook macaroni. drain and toss with spinach.
• 2 saute onion 5 minutes in olive oil.
• 3 grind cashews to powder in blender. add water and blend until smooth.
• 4 add beans, lemon juice and spices and blend until smooth.
• 5 pour sauce over spinch and pasta and mix well.
• 6 transfer to slow cooker and cook on low 3 hours. (may also bake in a 350* oven until bubbly.)
• 7 sprinkle with bread crumbs before serving.
• 8 if desired, add 16 oz of cottage cheese to the pasta and spinach mixture in the first step for a richer, creamer consistency.