Fight Over The Spoon Creamed Spinach Food

THE BEST CREAMED SPINACH RECIPE

Steps:

• Cook spinach in microwave according to package directions. Remove excess water (squeeze carefully using cheese cloth, a tea towel, or a colander) and set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt butter. Add onion and sauté until translucent.
• Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add cream cheese and cook, stirring, until melted.
• Add heavy cream and cook for 2 minutes. Add mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Stir till combined.
• Fold in spinach into cream sauce and cook for an additional minute to reheat spinach.
• Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. The leftovers reheat great and you can also freeze it!

CLASSIC CREAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• Blanch the spinach. Bring 1 gallon water to a boil in a large pot. Add a pinch of kosher salt. Place the spinach in the boiling water. After 45 seconds (exactly), remove the spinach leaves with a slotted spoon, spider or tongs and drain in a colander. Let cool completely.
• Use your hands to press the spinach against the sides of the colander. When most of the liquid has been released, squeeze handfuls of the spinach to make sure all of the excess water has been removed. Set aside.
• In a wide, high-sided saute pan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. With a wooden spoon, stir the flour into the melted butter to create a roux that will look like wet sand. Cook the roux for 3 minutes, stirring continuously to make sure it doesn't burn and it becomes a "blond" color. Add the milk to the roux, whisking vigorously to make sure that the roux completely dissolves into the milk without lumping.
• Turn down the heat to maintain a low simmer. You're making a bechamel sauce, which is the base for the creamed spinach. Next, whisk in the cream and return the mixture to a simmer. Cook the bechamel until thickened and smooth, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Season the sauce with the salt, pepper and cayenne.
• Preheat a small saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil and let heat for about 1 minute. Add the onions and season with a pinch of salt. Cook until the onions soften and become translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook an additional minute or two.
• Add the cooked onion and garlic along with the drained spinach to the bechamel, folding to make sure it's completely coated with sauce. Season with the nutmeg. Cook for 2 minutes, then taste the spinach. Adjust the seasoning with more salt and the nutmeg, and/or more cayenne if desired.

CREAMED SPINACH AND BACON BAKE

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter an 9-inch baking dish (or use an 8 x 8-inch baking dish).
• In a medium saucepan melt 5 tablespoons butter over medium heat; add in onions and saute for about 4 minutes (or until soft).
• Add in garlic, mushrooms, cooked bacon, cayenne pepper and seasoned salt, saute for 1 minute.
• Add in flour and stir with a wooden spoon and stir constantly for 2 minutes.
• Slowly add in the cream; bring to a boil over medium heat stirring constantly until thickened and smooth (this should take about 3-4 minutes).
• Reduce the heat to low and add in the spinach and stir until combined and mixed into the cream sauce.
• Mix in the cheddar cheese and 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese; stir until the cheese has melted.
• Season with black pepper to taste.
• Transfer to prepared baking dish.
• Sprinkle with 1/3 (or to taste) Parmesan cheese.
• Bake for about 25 minutes or until browned on top and bubbly.
• Let sit for 20 minutes before spooning out of the baking dish, this only gets better the longer you leave it sit, but you won't be able to keep your spoon out of the dish lol!.