SPINACH

I remember watching the cartoon Popeye as a kid.  He looooooved his canned spinach.  My mother fed me canned spinach :-(    There are 1 and 1/2 vegetables I do not like.  Brussel Sprouts (1) and canned spinach (1/2)  only half because I love it raw.  We didn't grow spinach in the garden when I was young so it wasn't until I started growing my own gardens that I discovered how wonderful fresh spinach is.

Spinach is a cool weather crop.  Plant seeds as soon as the ground can be worked.  I plant in cold frames in mid-March.  Keep well mulched to retain moisture.  Spinach will produce through the spring until the hot days of summer arrive.  To extend the season keep your soil cool to discourage bolting.  Use a shade cloth or an old white sheet to cover spinach.  I use a 16 foot wire panel bent in half the long ways and throw a cloth over top and secure with clothes pins.  This will allow a couple extra weeks of harvest.  Plant seeds again in late summer and keep moist and covered.  I again plant in a cold frame.  The spinach needs a good start before winter hits.  By using a cold frame, the heat will be drawn into the soil during the day and release it during the night.  Cover the cold -frame at night with a thick quilt.  I have grown spinach all winter long using this method.

Spinach is high in vitamins A and C.  It is loaded with fiber and is DELICIOUS.  Use spinach in salads, sandwiches or in our favorite,  a spinach quiche.

SPINACH STRAWBERRY SALAD

2C. torn spinach

2C. sliced strawberries

1/4c. chopped, cooked bacon

1/3 c. sugared, sliced, toasted almonds

DRESSING: 

2 TBS. olive oil

1 1/2 TSP. worchestershire sauce

1 TBS. red wine vinegar

1 tsp. poppy seeds

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. paprika

Pour dressing over salad.  Toss and serve.

SPINACH OMELET

Saute 1 shallot in butter until limp.  Add a large handful of torn spinach and wilt.  Pour 5 beaten eggs mixed with 3 tbsp. milk over the spinach.  As the eggs cook, lift the edge to let uncooked egg on top run underneath.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Fold when firm and serve. 

SPINACH CORNBREAD

Add 1 to two cups of pureed spinach to your favorite cornbread recipe.  Decrease the liquid if necessary.

Here is our all time favorite spinach recipe

SPINACH QUICHE and apple pie

I figure if you are going to all the trouble to make a pie crust, you may as well make enough to bake an apple pie and pie crust cookies.

In a large pie pan, place pie crust.  Flute the edges and puncture crust with a fork.  Grate Mozzarella (we use fresh goat cheese) over bottom of pan.  Cut cream cheese into cubes and add 1/3 of the cubes to the bottom of the pan.

While you are busy making the crust have your husband cut apples.  These are organic apples off our tree here in Roosevelt and from other organic sources so we leave the peelings on.  I also like to use different apple varieties, giving you a mouthful of different flavors and textures.

And don't forget to make the pie crust cookies to hold the kids over until the Quiche is done.

Add organic sugar and cinnamon to the excess crust and cook 350 degrees until crisp.

Chop stems off spinach but leave spinach whole.  It tends to float to the top and if you do not cut the leaves up they stay disbursed in the pie more evenly.

Place 1/2 of the washed and dried spinach in pie pan.  Add 1/3 of the cubed cream cheese.  Add remaining spinach and remaining cream cheese.

          
                     Beat  8 eggs (small pie pan) or 10 for a large 9" pie pan.  Pour evenly over spinach. 

                 Now, sprinkle flour, cinnamon, and sugar over the apples.  Add 1/4c. cubed butter overtop.

Place top crust on over apples.  Vent crust to allow moisture to escape.

Grate Mozarella cheese over top of quiche in a thick layer.  Brush egg white mixed with a tbs of water around the edge of quiche and over top of the apple pie.  Sprinkle sugar on top of apple pie.  Place the two pies in the oven at 350 degrees and bake apple pie 25 minutes or until crust is golden.  The spinach quich takes longer.  Cook about 50 to 70 minutes depending on your oven.  When an inserted knife comes out clean it is done.