Creamed Spinach

Creamed Cheese is an easy side dish that can be made with ingredients that are on hand. 

Pixie and Piglet don't like Creamed Spinach. I don't even understand that. Pixie likes spinach in soups, Piglet  too. I'm not understanding this Creamed Spinach issue though. Oh well, I find often that I just can't win them all. The rest of us think Creamed Spinach is awesome blossom. I love that it's so easy to put together. This is a more lightened version of what's posted HERE. I also streamlined everything so there's not so much, cook, remove and set aside, cook, remove and set aside, stir it all together. I just moved steps around, and make it all in the same pan, no extra bowls etc. Easy peasy. This can be made ahead of time and  frozen. When ready to serve, just heat it in the oven, covered with foil.  If you decide to do that, make the sauce with extra milk, so that it's extra saucy. Once baked, it sauce will absorb.

This recipe is fairly easy for kids to help out with. They can measure ingredients, help chop onions,  grate garlic with a microplane, stir the roux and creamed spinach. They can also help top it with cheese for baking.

Give Peas A Chance Creamed Spinach

Makes 6-8 servings
6 Tbs unsalted sweet cream butter
5 Tbs All purpose flour
1 small onion minced
1 garlic clove minced
Salt
Black pepper
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
1/4- 1/2 teaspoon Freshly grated nutmeg
1 1/2 cup milk
4 oz cream cheese*
1 (10 oz) package frozen spinach
1/4 cup chicken broth (or water)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Optional-
Cheese (parmesan or mozzarella) to top if baking.

1. In a saucepan heat 2T butter and sauté the onions, and garlic. 
2. Push the onion to the side.
3. Add remaining butter to the pan, heat until foamy.
4. Sprinkle flour on top, stir and cook until the flour smells nutty. The roux should be thick, but creamy, not crumbly. Add butter if needed.
5. Whisk in salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, nutmeg, cream cheese, and milk. 
6. Cook until thick, keep in mind that this will continue cooking while on the stove, and in the oven if you bake it.
7. Stir in frozen spinach, cook until the spinach is warmed through. 
8. Fold in cheese.
9. Season to taste. 
10. At this point, you can serve the creamed spinach. Or put the Creamed Spinach into ramekins or a baking dish and baking in a 375 degree oven, top with cheese and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

* If your sauce is too thick add some chicken stock or milk.
* Heavy cream can be used for a richer dish.

* Cream cheese can be left out, add more parmesan or leave as is.

What about your family? Do they like Creamed Spinach? What's your favorite way to eat spinach?

Thanks for reading Give Peas A Chance!

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