Spinach and Artichoke Mac & Cheese

Lots of Parmesan, small amount of cream cheese & Monterey Jack. Not all that thrilling. Seemed like a bland, white sauce.

Just OK. I would not make again. (But might consider for elderly person who needs simple tastes.) Too plain for me and too few veggies and the cheese completely disappeared--couldn't even tell it was there. PLUS, as with the last recipe I made from book (Med Mac and Cheese w/Olives -- which now I yearn for and wish I'd given more stars) too many pans/steps. I would make the white sauce in larger pan and add the ingreds to IT, rather than add the sauce and ingreds to the pot of drained pasta, for easier cleanup...and I don't know if steeping the milk with the onion and the 1 clove and the 2 bay leaves and the 3 peppercorns did much of anything, except dirty ANOTHER pan. This author seems to be shy about vegetables. The amounts are tiny, seems to me (1/2 c spinach, 1/2 cup artichoke hearts). I would like more than just a smattering of them. The topping was good. (Mix 3/4 c. Panko, 2 T. olive oil, 2 T. parsley (used cilantro), 1 sm clove garlic (I used 4 roasted). NEEDS SOME LIVENING UP is mostly my complaint. Dull. Could be peppier.