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Head Chef Notes

Spinach Artichoke Dip, this is one of my favorites!

So I've been trying some new recipes utilizing frozen spinach. Our first attempt with spinach was blending it in to meatloaf. This turned out well.

Basic Meatloaf with a Surprise
This makes two loaves so you can freeze one for later.
2 eggs
1 cup milk
½ Cup dry bread crumbs or crushed crackers
3 teaspoons seasoning salt
1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce
Pinch of pepper
2 lbs. ground beef or chicken
½ small package of frozen spinach, thawed (you can use the whole package if you'd like)
**You can also add in shredded or pureed carrots, zucchini or celery. They all work well in this recipe.
In large mixing bowl mash all ingredients together (great job for the kids) until well combined. Form into loaves. Place in baking pans. Bake at 350 degrees. Time will depend on the size of your loaf. Mini loaves may take 15-20 minutes whereas a large loaf may take 30-40 minutes. Use your meat thermometer to check for doneness.

The second attempt was blended into homemade spaghetti sauce. Okay it was partially homemade I should say. I do make my own spaghetti sauce at times but this day I didn't have the time. I started with two jars of sauce (I was feeding two large families!) Then I added one small package frozen but unthawed chopped spinach, 1 carrot and 1 shredded zucchini to my blender and pureed. I added one small can tomato sauce with Italian seasoning and cooked ground hamburger. Then I poured everything in the crock pot and left it on low all day. This turned out really well and all the kids loved it. I even forgot there was spinach in it.

Third attempt was Cream of Spinach soup. Perhaps I was feeling confident now that we had two spinach dishes successful. However this didn't go over well with my family except for my husband who loved it. Through this attempt at getting my three kids to eat spinach soup, which my daughter's first reaction was it looks like green paint, I realized perhaps I was trying too hard.

I'm a believer in letting my kids see their vegetables but I also have no problem with blending them up with other things such as the first two recipes. I do it both ways so that my kids can see they are eating vegetables and choose them but I often blend vegetables in my ground hamburger and sauces because it adds more nutrition.

If you have a spinach lover at your house, you may enjoy this Cream of Spinach soup. It is super easy.
1 cup spinach
1 thin slice onion
1 carrot peeled and cut in cubes
¼ teaspoon celery salt or 1 stalk of celery cut in pieces
1 vegetable bouillon cube
1 cup milk
Add all ingredients to blender or food processor. Blend together until smooth. You can also add ¼ cup shredded cheese if desired.

Do you have a favorite spinach recipe? I'd love some more ideas or recipes because I still have several boxes of frozen spinach in the freezer!

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Have a great time cooking!
Debbie Madson
Head chef of http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com
http://www.kids-sewing-projects.com
http://www.kids-meal-ideas.com
VA, USA