Posted by GayleL 10:22:30pm 2/24/03

Source: wbrc.com - Lane Carr-Smith, Golden Rule Bar-B-Q, Calera

2 teaspoons salt
2 pounds fresh spinach*, stemmed and washed
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 onion
2 bay leaves
3 cloves
1 sprig thyme
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour, sifted
1 pinch nutmeg
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup heavy cream salt and pepper
1 package tortellini (about 1 pound flavor of choice)

Bring a pot of water with salt to boil over high heat for spinach. Cook until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Rinse in an ice bath, drain and chop. Set aside.

In a saucepan, heat milk, onion, cloves, bay leaves and thyme to just below the boiling point. In another pan, melt butter and stir in flour. Cook 2 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and whisk in strained milk culture, cook until thickened and add spinach.

Add cream and mushroom room to spinach mixture. Sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Boil tortellini according to package directions and drain. Add tortellini and pour into a baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes until bubbly.

Top with parmesan cheese and chopped tomato.

Options: Add mushrooms or grilled chicken breast.

Serve with garlic bread.

NOTE: Frozen spinach may be used instead of fresh, to save time.