Recipe: Curried Creamy Spinach

I love palak paneer. Unfortunately, I don't have any paneer, and no fresh spices other than garlic. I also didn't have a pound of fresh spinach -- only about 4 ounces.

So I improvised. And it was delicious. This is a small recipe, so feel free to double it and adjust to your tastes.

What you'll need:

• 4 ounces baby spinach
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided.
• 1/2 small onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 tbsp garlic, diced
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1-1/2 cup mashed potatoes
• 4 oz shredded Gruyere cheese (or any creamy cheese of choice)
• Spices to taste: Curry powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper.

Directions:

1. In 1 tbsp melted butter, wilt the spinach. Once cooked, immediately submerge in cold water to stop the cooking process. You may omit the butter and steam to make this a little healthier.
2. Heat remaining butter in a skillet. Add garlic and onion, and heat until onion is translucent.
3. Add the spinach and stir.
4. When butter starts to bubble up again, add mashed potatoes and milk. Stir.
5. Remove from heat when mixture bubbles up a second time. Add cheese and stir thoroughly until melted. Serve over rice or pulse blend to make a delicious dip.