A Great Dinner When the Family is Hungry & Kids Are Losing Patience

I tried this recipe for the first time last night and it passed the Hubby-Test. Not only was it delicious but also super-quick and easy to prepare. For us this is an ideal dinner entree when Lucas is losing his patience, Maddie is dying of starvation, the dogs are mooching at my feet, and I'm flying solo because Todd is at work. The recipe is from here.

Acini de Pepe With Spinach and Feta

1/2 lb acini di pepe - or orzo (I used orzo)
2 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. butter
1/4 tsp. dried hot red pepper flakes
3 scallions - chopped
10 oz chopped frozen spinach (thawed & squeezed dry)
1/2 C crumbled feta

*I added:
shredded chicken for protein (An all inclusive meal is better for those crazy evenings) and a little bit of bacon bits (real bacon, not that fake stuff) for extra flavor. The chicken came from Trader Joe's. It was pre-cooked and cut into strips. All I had to do was heat it in the microwave and shred with a chopper.

Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and transfer to a covered bowl.
Meanwhile, heat oil and butter in a 12-inch skillet over moderately high heat until hot, but not smoking. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, and scallions. Saute until garlic is golden brown (about 2 minutes). Add spinach and cook, stirring, until heated through (about 4 minutes).

Toss pasta with feta, chicken and bacon.

Serve warm and enjoy!