Hot Cheesy Spinach Dip with Garlic Toast

Its snack time at USMasala again. And talking about snack time, it is just in time for the weekend to gather around your big flat screen with your favorite people and favorite snacks and just have a good time. Now I don't claim to be a big fan of the game, heck I barely know how it is played. I am still at heart the good old girl from that part of the world that lives and breathes a good game of Cricket. But watching a great game with family and friends gathered around definitely brings back some vivid memories. Just remember to handle this ever popular dip with care. It comes out of the oven really hot and just so flavorful and yummy with all that creamy spinach goodness ready to be scooped up with your favorite chip or a nice crunchy garlic toast that if you got too much into the game you might be scraping the bottom of the bowl - no pun intended.

Ingredients:

Olive oil		1 tbsp
Onion		1 small, diced
Garlic		2 cloves, minced
Frozen spinach		10 oz, thawed, chopped
Milk		1/2 cup (I use 2%)
Low fat cream cheese		6 oz
Hot sauce		1 tsp
Shredded mozzarella		3/4 cup
Grated parmesan		2 tbsp
Salt and ground pepper
For Garlic Toast
French bread		Half a loaf
Garlic		4-6 cloves minced
Green chilli		1 minced
Dried oregano		a pinch
Garlic powder		as needed
Butter/Olive oil		2-3 tbsp
Salt and pepper		to taste

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 425ºF. In a medium pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add spinach, cook till 5 min. Set aside.
2. In the same pot, warm milk over high heat. Whisk in cream cheese until melted, about 3 minutes. Add spinach, hot sauce, 1/4 cup mozzarella and the Parmesan. Stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into a lightly oiled 1 1/2-quart shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.
3. Bake until bubbly and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve hot with garlic toasts or crackers, as desired. ENJOY!

For the bread-
1. In a pan on medium heat take some butter/olive oil. Once the butter is melted, add in minced garlic and chopped green chilli. Mix.
2. Add salt to taste and dried oregano.
3. Once the garlic is cooked and has light color, take it off the flame. Be careful not to burn it.
4. Slice your bread to desired thickness and brush generously with the garlic oil  mixture on it on one side. Sprinkle with garlic powder.
5. Broil on high in the oven until golden and crispy, a minute or two. Keep an eye.
6. Serve hot with the warm dip. ENJOY!
Dip recipe adopted from here

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