**Pasta with Spinach Sauce** 🌱🍝

**Ingredients:**

🔹 **For the Pasta:**
– 8 oz pasta (such as spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne)
– Salt, for boiling the pasta

🔹 **For the Spinach Sauce:**
– 2 tbsp **olive oil**
– 3 cloves **garlic**, minced
– 4 cups **fresh spinach** (about 4 oz)
– 1/2 cup **heavy cream**
– 1/2 cup **Parmesan cheese**, grated
– 1/4 cup **chicken or vegetable broth** (or pasta cooking water)
– Salt and **pepper**, to taste
– 1/4 tsp **nutmeg** (optional)
– 1 tbsp **lemon juice** (optional, for brightness)

**Instructions:**

1️⃣ **Cook the Pasta:**
– Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the **pasta** and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, and set aside.

2️⃣ **Make the Spinach Sauce:**
– While the pasta is cooking, heat the **olive oil** in a large skillet over medium heat.
– Add the **minced garlic** and sauté for about **1 minute** until fragrant.

3️⃣ **Wilt the Spinach:**
– Add the **fresh spinach** to the skillet, stirring occasionally until wilted, about **3-4 minutes**. If the skillet looks dry, you can add a splash of water or broth to help wilt the spinach.

4️⃣ **Blend the Sauce:**
– Add the **heavy cream** and **chicken or vegetable broth** to the skillet and stir to combine. Let it simmer for **2-3 minutes** until slightly thickened.
– Add the **Parmesan cheese** and stir until the sauce is creamy and smooth. Season with **salt**, **pepper**, and **nutmeg** (if using). For extra brightness, stir in the **lemon juice**.

5️⃣ **Toss the Pasta:**
– Add the cooked **pasta** to the skillet with the spinach sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a bit of the reserved pasta cooking water to thin it out to your desired consistency.

6️⃣ **Serve:**
– Serve the pasta in bowls, topped with extra **Parmesan cheese** if desired.

Enjoy Your Pasta with Spinach Sauce!
This pasta dish is a great way to incorporate more greens into your meal without sacrificing flavor. The creamy spinach sauce pairs perfectly with the pasta, and the subtle notes of garlic and Parmesan elevate the whole dish. You can also add **chicken**, **mushrooms**, or **bacon** for extra protein. Would you like to explore some more variations or additional flavor additions?