Beef/Tomato/Spinach Pasta

Not a wonderful looking dish, but don't be fooled! I am lucky to have gotten any kind of photo at all (this is the leftovers), because later the same evening I made this... the leftovers disappeared!
 
Verdict:    TFFC: nom nom nom (ate a big bowl)
                TFC:   there's more, right?
                Kylee: wow, that was unexpected...
 
All that said, simplicity is key during the week. This meets all the major food groups, and manages to be delicious at the same time. Next time, I might add more tomatoes, and more spinach.
 
It's a one pot dish, and is ready fast. I think the major flavour punch is that the pasta is cooked in the tomato-y (that's a word), beef broth.  And the addition of cheese can never be wrong.
 
Slightly adapted from www.cozi.com
 
BEEF/TOMATO/SPINACH PASTA
 
INGREDIENTS:
 

·         ½ teaspoon salt

·         1 lb ground beef

·         1 onion, finely chopped

·         4 cloves garlic, minced

·         1 can (14.5 ounce) diced tomatoes

·         1½ - 2 cups beef broth

·         1 teaspoon dried oregano

·         1 teaspoon dried basil

·         ¼ teaspoon pepper

·         8 ounces small pasta, dried (1 cup) – we used ditalini (soup pasta), because we were out of orzo/rissoni

·         12 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed as much as possible

·         ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese

 
DIRECTIONS:

1. Sprinkle salt into a 10 to 12 inch frying pan over medium-high heat. Crumble beef into pan and cook, stirring often, until meat begins to brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
   
2. Reduce heat to medium, stir in onion, and continue to cook, stirring, until onion is soft but not brown, about 5 minutes. Spoon off and discard excess fat.
   
3. Add garlic, tomatoes (break them up with a spoon) and their liquid, broth, oregano, and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil then stir in pasta.
4. Reduce heat, cover and simmer gently until pasta is tender to bite, 10 to 12 minutes.
   
5. Stir spinach into pasta mixture just until heated through. Serve with cheese to add to taste.