Easy Peasy Creamy Marinara Rotini

This dish is deceivingly delicious.  It is just so darn easy it really should not be so good!  Now let's take a minute here and discuss mascarpone cheese.  This stuff is heavenly.  It is very creamy and decadent.  Luckily a little goes a long way here.  For those of you who aren't sure what it is... well, it is a key ingredient in tiramsu.  If you are still lost, it is almost like a buttery cream cheese.  It is good stuff, but it can be a bit hard to find.  I usually find it in the deli by the specialty cheeses.  (I usually can not find it by the cream cheese and packaged cheeses.)  Trust me, it is worth the hunt!

Easy Peasy Creamy Marinara Rotini

Servings: 8 • Calories: 323 • Fat: 8g • Carbs: 52g • Fiber: 4g • WW Points: 6

  Ingredients

• 1lb box of rotini pasta
• 2 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes
• 4 oz mascarpone cheese (half the tub)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• fresh basil
• low fat parmesan cheese topping (ex. Kraft)
• garlic salt (ex. Lawry's)

Cook the box of noodles as directed. In a large pan spray some non-stick spray (or use some olive oil for additional calories / points) and cook onions at medium until almost translucent.  Add the garlic and cook another couple of minutes.  Pour in both cans of tomatoes and let simmer for 3-5 minutes.

Add the mascarpone cheese to the tomato, onion, and garlic simmering in the pan.  This will melt like butter making the tomato sauce a pretty orangey pink.  Continue stirring until all the cheese has been melted. 

Dump in the cooked rotini noodles and stir well.  Turn off the burner and get ready to plate it up! That's it, you are already finished.  It doesn't get much easier than this in my opinion.

I feel it is the finishing touches that really make this dish.  Top each plate with low fat parmesan topping, garlic salt to taste, and fresh chopped basil.  My two picky eaters love this recipe as well.  Although I must admit, they do go sans basil.