CREAMY PENNE FLORENTINE WITH MUSHROOMS AND SPINACH

Creamy Penne Florentine with Mushrooms and Spinach image

Number Of Ingredients 10

8 ounces Penne Pasta
3 cups Medium Mushrooms (Shitake or Porcini), stems removed
3 cups Spinach
1 cup Heavy Cream
3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
1/2 cup Walnuts, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/2 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Steps:

Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pan or skillet over medium heat and saute mushrooms, seasoned with salt and covered, for 15-20 minutes, or until softened. Stir occasionally and reduce heat if mushrooms start to burn.
Add spinach to mushrooms and pour in lemon juice ( I used 2 T of lemon juice). Cook until wilted, then add walnuts.
Cook pasta according to packaging directions, or until just al dente. Drain (reserving 1/2 cup pasta water) and set aside.
Add heavy cream to the spinach and mushrooms, stirring well, and mix in Parmesan cheese. If sauce is too thick, add pasta water one tablespoon at a time.
Taste and season with salt and pepper if necessary.
Pour drained pasta into the sauce and toss will to coat thoroughly. Cook on low heat for 5 minutes, or until sauce thickens and sticks to pasta.