Super Spinach

Spinach is one of the healthiest, most nutrient packed foods out there.  It has earned the right to be listed as one of the Top Ten Superfoods because of it's amazing health benefits.  Each leaf of spinach might as well have a tiny blue and red cape with a "S" hanging from it.  You would think that something so magical would be hard to get your hands on but no, spinach comes washed and ready to go home with you in a sealed bag.  Thanks to one of my homegirls, Emmy, I now buy a new bag every week for $1-2, depending on the sale that week.  After seeing her pile it up high on a sandwich, I was hooked.  We use it in everything.  It doesn't have a very strong flavor presence so it can go undetected (if you need to be sneaky for the kids).
Here are some of the ways we use our Super Spinach:
Add it to any egg dish:  scrambled, quiche, frittata, omelets
Saute it with a little garlic as a side dish
Add it to pasta dishes (cooked or fresh right on top)
Add to casseroles, soups, and stews
Salads                                                                
Use it as your lettuce on sandwiches
Pizza topping
Add it to dips:  hummus or bean dip
Blend it into a fruit smoothie

Here are a couple of favorites that I whipped up yesterday.

White Bean and Spinach Dip

1 can white beans, drained and rinsed                                               
1 clove of garlic
 2 Tbsp. lemon juice                                                              
1/4 cup olive oil
1 handful of spinach
salt and pepper to taste
Combine ingredients in food processor
Serve with pita chips

Fruit Smoothies

1 cup of vanilla, lowfat yogurt                                                    
1/4 of a banana
hand full of blueberries (fresh or frozen)
hand full of spinach
1/4 cup of orange juice
small hand full of ice (optional)
Use blender or immersion blender to combine
Makes enough for me and my little honey
Serve as is or freeze it in Popsicle molds to make healthy cool, treats.
Try any combination of fruit with the base ingredients.

How do you use spinach?