suemunzlinger's Recipe

Creamed spinach from the Lotawata Creek Southern Grill.

Category: Copy Cat Recipes (I have not tried all of these recipes)

Lotawata Creek Southern Grill

Yield: 8 generous servings

2 pounds frozen spinach

1/4 cup ( 1/2 stick) butter

1/2 cup diced white onion

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

5 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/3 cups half-and-half

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Nonstick cooking spray

Garlic bread crumbs (see note)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Dunk spinach into a large pan of boiling water, stir a minute until soft, then remove to a colander to drain, pressing occasionally to remove excess liquid. Do not squeeze dry.

In a soup pot or Dutch oven, melt butter. Add onion and garlic; saute over medium heat until just beginning to brown. Stir in flour; cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently until flour is golden brown. Add half-and-half and cream; mix well. Cook until thickened, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently; stir in sugar, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Stir in drained spinach; remove from heat.

Coat a 7-by-10-inch baking pan with cooking spray; add spinach mixture. Bake about 20 minutes, then top with garlic bread crumbs and bake about 20 minutes more, until sides begin to brown.

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Note: Garlic bread crumbs are a byproduct of the restaurant's homemade garlic croutons. To make just the crumbs for garnish, crumble a few slices of dry white bread, toss with melted butter, toast in the oven at 325 degrees until golden, then sprinkle with garlic powder.

note: Don't cook the spinach before adding; dip it in hot water just until it becomes pliable, then drain well.