While I was trying to figure out what recipe to make for Wednesday’s Weekly food post, I got a package in the mail.  In it were 3 jars from Fratelli Mantova: artichoke paste, olive paste, and pesto Genovese.  First, let me tell you that I just mixed a teaspoon of each with some pasta and it was so yummy!!

For the first recipe from the trio, I decided to make Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tsp. butter

about a pound of fresh spinach

1 clove garlic, minced

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup mayonnaise or sour cream (or plain yogurt)

1 (6.5 oz) jar of artichoke paste

2/3 cup shredded four cheese mix

Directions:

Melt butter in sauce pan over medium heat.  Add garlic and spinach, cook until spinach is soft.  If you haven’t seen it before – here is how amazing spinach is:

one pound of spinach before

one pound of spinach after

Add cream cheese and mayonnaise and cook till creamy.

Add artichoke paste and cheese. Cook until cheese is melted and everything is well mixed. Serve with baguette slices or tortilla chips.

Eat in moderation as the calorie count is pretty high on this one!!

I was not compensated in any way for this post.  I purchased the products that I am recommending.

You can find artichoke paste at your local Italian deli or specialty grocery store.

Enjoy!!