• 3 (10-ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach
• 1 tablespoon butter1 small onion, diced
• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese
• 1 (6- or 8-ounce) jar marinated chopped artichoke hearts
• 8 ounces Swiss cheese, chopped or shredded
• Salt and pepper to taste
  

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place frozen spinach in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until spinach is completely thawed. Drain well in a colander, pressing out all excess water. In a small saucepan, heat butter over medium heat. Cook onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. In a large bowl combine spinach, onion, cream cheese, artichoke hearts (with liquid) and Swiss cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to 6-cup baking dish. Cover lightly with foil and bake about 45 minutes, until bubbly, stirring halfway through cooking time. Or cook in a slow cooker for 2 to 3 hours on low, stirring occasionally.

Notes:
Tip: This dip is dense and hearty. For a creamier dip, stir in 1/2 cup mayonnaise. For a dip with some kick, add a few splashes of hot sauce. Serve this hearty appetizer warm with scoop-shaped tortilla chips, corn chips, salty wheat crackers or toast points.

Nutrition:
Per serving: 163 calories (percent of calories from fat, 73), 7 grams protein, 4 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 14 grams fat (8 grams saturated), 41 milligrams cholesterol, 179 milligrams sodium.

Labels: appetizer recipes, Dessert recipes, dip recipes, Spinach and Artichoke Dip Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
3. Spread about ¼ teaspoon mustard on each slice of bacon.
4. Sprinkle each with about ½ teaspoon cheese. Then roll the bacon slice diagonally around a breadstick with the mustard-cheese inside.
5. Lay on parchment-lined pan. Repeat with remaining breadsticks.
6. Bake for 25 to 28 minutes, turning once, or until bacon is crisp and brown. Remove and allow to cool to room temperature. Makes 24 breadsticks.

Labels: appetizer recipes, bacon breadsticks, Dinner ideas

• 1 pound (about 2 1/2 to 3 cups) black, green or mixed olives
• 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
  4 strips lemon peel, removed with vegetable peeler1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
• 2 whole small dried red chiles
• 1/4 cup lemon juice

1. Place the olives in a strainer and rinse under running water. Transfer them to a large nonreactive bowl.

2. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a skillet with the garlic, lemon peel, rosemary and chiles and cook over medium heat until the garlic softens and the herbs are fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add to the olives.

3. Add the lemon juice and the remaining olive oil, seal tightly with plastic wrap and set aside to marinate, at least one hour. If tightly covered and refrigerated, the olives will keep for several weeks.

Makes about 3 cups.Each of 12 servings: 84 calories; 0 protein; 2 grams carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 8 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 cholesterol; 308 mg. sodium.

Labels: appetizer recipes, lemon, olives, rosemary, tapas

• 1/2 pound ground Kobe beef
• 4 slices nitrate-free bacon
• 4 teaspoons minced white onion
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces grated Cheddar cheese
• 4 small brioche or other buns, toasted

1. Form the beef into four small patties; set aside. Cook the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat until the fat has been rendered and the bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper-towel lined plate.

2. Add onions to skillet; cook until lightly golden, about 4 minutes. Transfer with slotted spoon to small bowl.

3. Heat the broiler. Wipe skillet clean; raise heat to high. Cook the beef patties until cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes, turning once. Transfer to a broiler pan. Season the patties with salt. Top each with a bacon strip, onion and Cheddar cheese. Place under the broiler; cook until the cheese melts, about 1 minute. Slide burgers into brioche buns.

Nutrition information per serving: 340 calories, 44% of calories from fat, 16 g fat, 8 g saturated fat, 66 mg cholesterol, 22 g carbohydrates, 24 g protein, 697 mg sodium, 1 g fiber

Labels: appetizer recipes, Captivate Cooking, Dinner ideas, dinner recipes, hamburgers, sliders