SNOW!

Snow, snow, snow, I LOVE snow!  It's so peaceful.  And all the winter ugly bare turns white wonderland...  Even the birds are happy and although I feel bad that I forgot to get them birdfood to spread on top of this cold blanket that covers thier natural food source, they seem to be just fine, hopping and pecking away at the snow to get down to thier seeds anyway, completely without my help.  God takes care of them also.  I am posting here some pictures of our first real snow in our new house.  Very country cottage I think.  The first picture is our beautiful tree lined driveway, even though you can't see the driveway anymore!  Then the front, sans garage but with our cute little Christmas like trees flanking the corners!  Then where I promise our pool was just yesterday!  So pretty.

Spinach Madeline

You should have figured out by now that spinach is becoming one of my favorite veggies.  Here is one of my absolute favorite recipes using it.  This one is delicious and even though it has lots of butter and creamy milk, I can pronounce all of the ingredients and know what they are and roughly where they come from and that's important to me.

2 pkgs frozen spinach
4 Tbls butter (I use salted light)
2 Tbls flour
2 Tbls onion chopped
1/2 C. evaporated milk (I use fat free)
1/2 C. spinach juice
1/2 tsp black pepper
3/4 tsp celery salt
3/4 tsp garlic salt (I use powder and then add some salt)
salt to taste
6 oz. jalapeno cheese or mexican velvetta
1 tsp worcestershire sauce

Cook spinach according to pkg directions
Drain, reserving liquid
Melt butter in saucepan
Cook onion in butter
Add flour and stir over low heat until smooth (this is always goopy, never like when I make white sauce for mac n cheese), do NOT brown
Add evap milk and spinach liquid (remember to measure the liquid, you won't need all of it)
Add seasoning
Add cheese
Stir over low heat until melted and smooth
Add spinach
Cook in buttered casserole dish at about 350 degrees until bubbly

I enjoy this with sweet potatoes, maybe because it reminds me of Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it sure is good.  Italian chicken (pour Italian salad dressing over chicken breast and bake) is really good with it to me also.

Enjoy!