Gold-n-Bubbly Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Man, this was a good little treat. Fiber and calcium rich with all the goodies a savory food lover would adore.

Ingredients:

1 8 oz block of Neufchatel cream cheese (or regular if you want)

1/2 c parmesan cheese (I used the kind you sprinkle on pizza)

1/4 c mayonnaise (eye-ball it)

1/2 tsp garlic powder (Kirkland variety is the BEST!)

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 13.75 oz can quartered artichokes, drained, rinsed and coarsely chopped

3/4 c frozen spinach, thawed, squeezed dry and chopped*

1/3 c or handful of shredded sharp cheddar

Serving suggestions: Baked flour tortilla shards (see below for directions) or corn tortilla chips.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix everything from cream cheese to salt until well combined. Fold in artichokes, spinach and cheese. Spoon into greased 3 cup ramekin. Bake for 15 minutes in the center of the oven. If serving with flour tortilla shards, place 4-6 tortillas directly onto oven rack around the dip. Bake altogether an additional 5 minutes, keeping a close eye on tortillas to prevent burning. Dip should be lightly golden and crusty. Serves 4 at a party or two happy little piggies.

* After squeezing the daylights out of the spinach, place it in the bowl with the rest of the ingredients, minus artichokes, and use a pair of scissors to chop it up a bit more. This will make for easier dipping without pulling molten-hot spinach strands up and out over your hand. Plus, it mixes the spinach in at the same time. NOW fold in the artichokes and cheese.

Also good with:

Steak. As opposed to creamed spinach. Watch this ooze into the mashed potatoes I assume you would normally serve with the steak.

Baked potatoes. Use your imagination.

Veggie Patch Pizza (just like from Applebee's). Sautee a bunch of mushrooms and onions and fold them into a couple tablespoons of the dip. Smear over a flour/whole wheat tortilla and bake at 350 F for about 10 minutes or so. Just watch out, you know how crazy those tortillas get.

Any other suggestions? Feel free to leave a comment on the box belooooow :-)

More crust than Mr Krabs. 

This is my individual ramekin of ooey-gooeyness.