Spinach Artichoke Bites

If you need an appetizer, try these. Pick your favorite dip, (like Melissa's Spicy Artichoke Dip) and make them into individual bites. The shells are wonton wraps placed in a mini muffin pan. Use just under a tablespoon in each cup. Bake for about 8 minutes at 350 degrees.

Spicy Spinach Artichoke Dip

1/2 white onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium jalapeno, minced (seeds removed for a milder flavor)
1/2 red pepper, diced
3T butter
1 10oz pkg frozen spinach, thawed (squeeze to remove most of the water)
1 can artichoke hearts, diced
1 8oz pkg cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
6 oz shredded Parmesan cheese
1 t salt
1/2 t white pepper
1 pkg blue corn tortilla chips

In a large skillet, melt better. Add jalapeno, cook 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and onion and cook another 5 minutes, until onions begin to turn clear. Add red pepper and cook 2 to 3 minutes. Add spinach and artichokes, heat through. Cut up the cream cheese into about 8 chunks and add with the sour cream. Cook until the cream cheese is melted and mixture is smooth. Add salt, pepper and 1/2 the Parmesan cheese. Heat about 3 minutes, until cheese is melted. Pour into a greased shallow dish (8" square or similar). Top with remaining Parmesan cheese. **Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes, until hot and bubbly and top starts to turn brown. Serve with blue corn tortilla chips.

**This can be made a couple of days in advance then covered and refrigerated until ready to serve. If heating from the refrigerator, it will need to be cooked for 30 to 40 minutes.

Florentine Frying Pan Pizzas

Another Rachael Ray from me, imagine that. This pizza's really good and smells amazing!! She made them in a frying pan for the deep dish approach. I just put the pizza dough on a flat baking sheet and called it good. I got a little confused because it was an "individual" but in on the show she put it in a small frying pan - but yet it's 4 to 6 servings. Not my idea of a slice of pizza. But then again, who ever just has one slice/one serving of pizza?! I spread out the whole Pillsbury pizza dough and it was enough for my whole family: 2 hefty eating adults and 2 hefty eating kids.

She also said that you can also feel good about eating it because of all the vitamins in it... well, I think all the fat in her cheese trumps the vitamins - so I cut way down on the cheese... and it still tasted real good.

4 tablespoons EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
Salt and ground black pepper
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
2 cloves garlic, grated
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, grated (I used 1/4 c.)
A pinch of nutmeg
1 box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 store-bought pizza dough from your favorite pizzeria
1 1/2 cups fontina cheese, shredded (I used 1/2 c.)

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

Preheat a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons EVOO. Add the mushrooms and sauté until golden brown. Season them with salt and pepper then remove them to a plate.

In the same skillet the mushrooms where cooked in, melt the butter. Add the flour and garlic, and cook 1-2 minutes then whisk in the milk and cook until slightly thickened.

Add the mushrooms back to the skillet along with the cheese, nutmeg and spinach. Remove the Florentine mixture and let cool.

Cut the dough into quarters, reserving one for this recipe. Wrap up the rest in plastic wrap and freeze it for another time. Roll out the dough so it fits into a 6-inch skillet (use one that's oven-safe).

Before placing the dough into the skillet, drizzle about 1 to 2 tablespoons EVOO on the bottom of the skillet. Lay the dough into the skillet, pressing gently as you work the dough up the sides so it reaches the edge of the skillet. Fill the with the filling and sprinkle with fontina cheese. Pop in the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, until the edges and bottom of the crust are golden brown.

Cumin Grilled Chicken Breasts

Cooking spray
4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves (5 to 6 ounces each) pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Spray a grill or grill pan with cooking spray and heat to medium-high heat. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil. Combine cumin, salt and pepper and rub spice mixture evenly onto chicken breasts. Grill until grill marks have formed and chicken is cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side.

Remove from heat, let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into 1/2-inch thick slices. Serve over coleslaw, if desired.

In picture: Creamed Spinach with Caramelized Onions, Garlic and Fennel from Picky Palate - AMAZING!

an Ellie Krieger recipe from Food Network

Spinach Artichoke Dip

1 small white onion, diced
2 cloves garlic crushed
3 T butter
10 oz. pkg frozen spinach, thawed
15 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
6 oz. cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
6 oz. Parmesan cheese, shredded
3 T white Worcestershire
salt and white pepper to taste

Saute onion and garlic in butter until onion is clear. Add spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, sour cream and seasonings. Cook until cream cheese and sour cream are all combined. Add half the Parmesan cheese. Pour into shallow oven safe dish, cover with remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, until hot and bubbly and cheese is melted. Can be refrigerated up to 24 hours before serving. Just bake for about 30 minutes.

I serve this with butter or whole grain crackers. Can also be served with bread or a toasted baguette--slice a baguette on an angle into 1/4" slices. Broil for 2 to 3 minutes until golden. You can also brush this with olive oil and/or rub this with a garlic clove when removed. (This is a little fancier than just crackers)

Tortellini Soup

I found this in the blogosphere. I altered it a bit and made it for the first time this week. It's simple and tasty -- a perfect fall meal! It's even filling enough to eat without sides.

15 oz. fresh tortellini
32 oz. chicken broth
4 garlic cloves, minced
14 oz. can stewed tomatoes
1/2 lb. reduced-fat ground sausage
1 tsp. basil
1 pkg chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1/2 c. parmesan cheese, grated
14 oz. can tomato sauce

Brown the sausage and garlic in a small skillet. Drain fat and dump into large soup pot. Add chicken broth, stewed tomatoes and basil. When the soup is boiling, add tomato sauce and tortellini and cook for 10 minutes. Add spinach and parmesan cheese and simmer for another 10 minutes. Done!

Crustless Spinach Quiche

9 oz pkg. frozen chopped spinach, squeezed to drain
2 T. flour
3 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 c. milk
1/4 c. mayo
1 c. sliced mushrooms
5 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled (or 2 T. bacon bits)
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/2 c. grated swiss cheese
1/2c sliced green onions

Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9" pie pan with cooking spray. In a small bowl, toss spinach and flour until well mixed, set aside. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk and mayo. Stir in mushrooms, cheeses, spinach mixture, onions and bacon. Pour into pan, back for 1 hour. Let stand a few minutes before serving.