Comfy Cuisine- Home Recipes from Family & Friends: Holiday Drinks & Appetizers – Hot Spinach Parmesan Dip

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The Holiday Season is upon us.  Time to get together with family and friends and celebrate!  Grab your glass  and enjoy!   Let us all count our blessings at this time of year and every day for the love of family and friends.

Hot Spinach Parmesan Dip

This is my version of that great dip from T.G.I. Friday’s

Everyone devours this!

2 tsp. olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 lb. fresh spinach, cleaned, trimmed and coarsely chopped

1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed

or

2 (10 oz. pkgs. frozen spinach, thawed

1/2 cup milk

6 ounces cream cheese

3 dashes Worcestershire sauce

Pinch of cayenne pepper

3/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup Pecorino Romano cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarella

Freshly ground black pepper

Baguette slices, breadsticks or tortilla chips, for serving

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat.

Add onion and garlic, cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

Add spinach in two additions, letting the first batch wilt before adding the next.

Cook until completely wilted, 5 to 8 minutes

Add frozen spinach and incorporate.

Transfer to a colander and drain, pressing lightly with a spoon to release all excess liquid.

In the same pot, warm milk over high heat.  Whisk in cream cheese until melted, about 3 minutes.

Off heat, add spinach, Worcestershire sauce, Parmesan, Romano, cayenne pepper and 1/4 cup mozzarella; stir to combine.  Season with pepper.  I did not think it needed salt, but test it to suit your taste.

Pour into a lightly oiled 1-1/2 quart baking dish; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and a sprinkling of paprika (optional) for color.

Bake until bubbly and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.  Serve hot.

Let this be a time when we renew our faith in the power of love and realize the importance of time with our families.