Hot Cheesy Spinach Dip

If there is one thing I love, it's a nice, hot dip. Actually, if I really could have only one thing to love, it wouldn't be dip. But I do love a hot dip just the same!

I have made this cheesy spinach dip a few times and, without fail, it flies out of the dish. This is another recipe that comes from AllRecipes.

There is nothing about this dip that says 'diet' so eat it in moderation. If you are preparing for a party, make things a little easier and prepare this the night ahead so you can just slide it in the oven the day of the party!

Though I haven't strayed too far from the original when I have made it, the submitter suggests there are numerous ways you can improvise to liven it up. I am thinking 'artichokes' for the next go around.

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INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

1 bunch baby spinach*, rinsed

1/2 cup white wine

salt and pepper to taste

hot sauce to taste

1/2 cup green onion, chopped

3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup half-and-half

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. (Obviously, you can skip this if you are preparing it the night before)

2. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, spinach and white wine. Cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes, until spinach is wilted. If you are using frozen spinach, still cook for 2 to 3 minutes so the wine has time to cook off. Mix in salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Remove from heat and transfer to a medium bowl.

3. Mix green onion, mozzarella cheese, mayonnaise, and half-and-half into the bowl with the spinach mixture. Transfer mixture to a medium baking dish.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned. Garnish with a little chopped green onion, if desired.

Yield: 6 cups, Servings per recipe: 48, Serving Size: 1/8 cup

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* A note on the spinach: I have used frozen spinach as well; just be sure to squeeze the water out of it. I have also used regular spinach, which works fine; just be sure to chop it up so you aren't pulling long strands of spinach out of the dip.

Nutritional Info: Servings per recipe: 48; Serving Size: 1/8 cup; Calories 48; Total Fat 4 g; Cholesterol 8 mg; Sodium 60 mg; Total Carbs 0.8 g, Dietary Fiber 0.2 g; Protein 2.1 g