Baked Pasta and Meatballs

How do you get your husband to eat spinach?  Mix it with meatballs and cover it with cheese!  My husband's only knowledge of cooked spinach is the gross, slimy stuff from the school cafeteria.  Every time I make something that he's not sure he will like it say "trust me".  You know what?  He always likes it!  Anyway back to the recipe...this will make 48 small meatballs, I will use half tonight and put the rest in the freezer for some soup when it gets cooler.  Click here for my favorite meatball soup recipe.  The points plus shown are for the recipe exactly as it is listed here (using 24 meatballs).  The original recipe called for pecorino cheese but I didn't have any and didn't want to go to the store...it's ok, you can do that:) Feel free to substitute ingredients when you don't have something, I do it all the time and something like this won't affect the flavor that much.

Baked Pasta and Meatballs

6 oz. dry pasta, I used whole wheat rotini
1 1/4 lb. 93% lean ground turkey
1/3 cup plain fat free greek yogurt
1/4 cup dried seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 
1/2 t. minced garlic
1/4 t. salt
1 (10 oz) package frozed chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 (24 oz) jar light marinara sauce
1 cup part skim mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray will cooking spray.  Spray a 2 quart baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

Cook the pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, mix the turkey, yogurt, bread crumbs, parmesean, garlic and salt in large bowl.  form into 48 1 inch meatballs and place on prepare baking sheet.  Bake until cooked through, about 10-12 minutes.

Mix the spinach, 24 meatballs, pasta, marinara sauce and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese in large bowl.  Transfer to prepared baking dish and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. 

Cover loosley with foil and bake 20 minutes.  Uncover and bake until hot and bubbling at the edges, 10 minutes.

6 servings, 9 PP per serving

The only thing that would make this meal any better is a big ole hunk of garlic bread, oh well.  Enjoy!

Everyone have a good weekend:)