As kids, a lot of us hated our vegetables—including spinach! But our parents, told us to eat it; it would make us grow up big and strong. Even the cartoons got in on the action. Who doesn’t remember Popeye the Sailor Man, his ever-present can of spinach, and the bulging biceps that saved the day?

But is spinach really the muscle-growing plant it is reported to be? Let’s take a look at some spinach facts:

  • Spinach is classified as a “superfood”, just like cranberries!
  • Spinach has almost zero fat or cholesterol.
  • Spinach is an excellent source of zinc and niacin.
  • Spinach is a source of fiber, protein, and calcium (which is why it is an excellent alternative to use with the Paleo diet!)
  • Spinach is high in potassium, a mineral that enhances muscle function
  • Spinach is great to eat fresh in a salad, or as an addition to pastas, quiches, dips, and sides; it is an extremely versatile food.

In fact, I have a couple of delicious spinach recipes I’d like to share with you:

Rotini with Circle B Ranch Sweet Italian Sausage, Spinach, and Pine Nuts

Serves 6

Big John and I Iove any kind of pasta prepared in any way. When I read this recipe from Family Circle Magazine, I knew that it would be delicious prepared with Circle B Ranch Sweet Italian Sausage. This recipe is something your family will enjoy time and time again. Enjoy!

Rotini with Sweet Italian Sausage

Ingredients:

  1. • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  2. • 1 lb. Circle B Ranch Sweet Italian Sausage
  3. • 1 lb. spinach, cleaned
  4. • 3 cloves garlic, sliced
  5. • ½ cup golden raisins
  6. • ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted
  7. • ¼ tsp. salt
  8. • ¼ tsp. pepper
  9. • 1 lb. rotini
  10. • ½ cup Parmesan, grated

Instructions:

  1. Heat olive oil in large, non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Crumble in sausage and grated garlic; cook 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Add spinach and cook 3 minutes.
  3. Stir in raisins, pine nuts, and salt and pepper.
  4. Cook rotini to package directions. Drain and reserve 1 cup cooking water. Toss pasta with sausage mixture and enough reserved water to create a sauce.
  5. Stir in grated Parmesan and serve.

You may also want to try this nutritious and delicious recipe for Tomato, Bacon, and Spinach Quiche by thisgalcooks. My family loved it!

Tomato and Spinach Quiche

Ingredients:
  1. 1-9 inch pie crust
  2. 3 slices of Circle B Ranch Hickory Smoked bacon, cooked crisp and chopped up
  3. ⅓ C frozen spinach, thawed, rinsed and squeezed dry (1/3 C after squeezing dry)
  4. 3 tbsp onion, chopped
  5. 4 large eggs, beaten
  6. 1 C half and half
  7. ½ C milk
  8. ½ C shredded Swiss cheese
  9. ½ C shredded cheddar cheese
  10. ½ tsp ground pepper
  11. ⅛ tsp seasoned salt
  12. ¾ of a tomato, thin sliced

 Instructions:

  1. Place the pie crust in a 9″ round cake pan. Freeze for 15 minutes.
  2. Bake the pie crust at 350 for 15 minutes.
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine the beaten eggs, cheeses, milk, half and half, bacon, spinach, onion, pepper and seasoned salt.
  4. Pour the mixture into the prepared pie crust and even out if needed. Top with the sliced tomatoes.
  5. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.

For more delicious spinach recipes and more in-depth discussion about the health benefits of spinach visit https://www.cookingdetective.com/33-amazing-health-benefits-of-spinach/

On February 13, 2017   /   Marina's Kitchen Recipes, Pasta   /   Leave a comment
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