Recipe Thursday: Hot Spinach-Artichoke Dip

Hot Spinach-Artichoke Dip
From Paula Deen on Food Network

Ingredients

10 oz package frozen chopped spinach
2 13 3/4 oz canned artichoke hearts
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup fresh grated Parmesan
1 cup grated pepper jack cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Head spinach to thaw and squeeze dry. Drain artichoke hearts and coursely chop in food processor.
3. Combine all ingredients except jack cheese in large bowl. Stir well. Scrape into casserole dish and sprinkle jack cheese on top.
4. Bake 30 minutes. Serve warm with bagel chips or crackers.

I took this to a party a couple of weeks ago and people really liked it. I thought it was pretty decent too. I will definitely make it again.

Recipe Thursday: Mashed Cheese Potatoes

Mashed Cheese Potatoes

Ingredients

4-5 large potatoes
1-2 green onions, chopped (whites and some greens)
3 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Butter, salt and pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 300

1. Peel and cook potatoes
2. Drain and add the 3 cheese (cream, parmesan, cheddar) and mash
3. Add butter salt and pepper to taste
4. Add green onion
5. Place potato mixture in a greased casserole dish and sprinkle with paprika
6. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour, covered

This was my favorite way to eat mashed potatoes as a kid. My friend's mom made these and my family fell in love. I usually make these at Easter.

Day 11: The Cravings Begin

I want some pizza, slathered in cheese. Fresh grated mozzarella cheese, with basil and tomatoes. Oh, it tastes so delightful in my mouth. I will not be having this pizza...but I will be craving it. I'm almost halfway through the challenge. I'm down 7 lbs, feel a lot healthier (despite the cold I picked up last night) and have a ton more energy.

I made Mircea a vegan dinner last night and he thought it was pretty good. It was very filling, but a little flavorless, as I accidently left my spice rack at his house and only had cumin and chipotle powder... I borrowed some salt from a neighbor.

Since I feel sick, I am going into hiberation mode, so I've been sitting at my desk eating Mi-Del ginger snap cookies all day. They are made with whole wheat, canola oil and cane sugar, so they aren't overprocessed. I feel guilty though-mawing on cookies isn't all that healthy but I feel like a slug today, it's all gloomy outside and damnit, I want to.

No matter how hard I try this tea doesn't taste like a cheese pizza. But it still burns the roof of my mouth.