Creamed Spinach with Bacon...

What were we going to do with such a huge bag of spinach?

We picked up an incredibly giant bag of spinach from a Chinese supermarket, possibly 3 lbs. we primarily use it for concocting smoothies for the kids and takes a handful mixed with other greens for a salad lunch. But there was no way we could finish that bag before it goes bad at this rate, so I had to get thinking. I remembered a delicious creamed spinach I had during a cooking class way back when that used onions and bacon. I had a couple slices of bacon in the freezer and one onion left- hallelujah! This would be a perfect side dish and a perfect way to use LOTS of spinach!!

Makes 4 servings
Total Time: 15 minutes

1 pound fresh spinach, about 2 large bunches

3 to 4 strips of bacon, uncooked, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

A pinch of nutmeg

Salt and pepper to taste

1 Tbsp. butter

1 Tbsp. flour

1 cup 2% milk

Peel off the thick stems of the spinach and discard. Fill a basin with water; rinse and soak the spinach. Drain the spinach and then repeat soaking and draining until all the sand is removed.

Blanch the spinach in salted boiling water until the spinach is wilted, about two minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water to stop the spinach from cooking further. Squeeze the spinach to remove as much water as possible. Chop the spinach into bite-size pieces and set aside.

 

Heat a large skillet on medium high and add the chopped bacon; sauté until the bacon begins to render some of its fat. Add the chopped onion and garlic. Sauté until onions are translucent.

Add butter into the skillet. Add the flour and cook, stirring until blended. Slowly add the milk, stirring continuously, cooking until thick. Combine spinach with the onion and bacon mixture.  Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer and stir; remove from heat and serve.

Perhaps it was too much of a good thing all at once. My kids generally eat spinach and they love bacon so I thought this would appeal to them. My kids tried a bite here and there, and told me they didn't like it even after I threw in the "that's how Popeye got his muscles" bit. Oh well, maybe better luck next time. That's how I got Étienne to eat his broccoli- just keep exposing them to it!