Popeye's Secret...Creamed Spinach

Creamed Spinach is a nutritious, yummy side dish that you can make ahead and freeze for your convenience.  I used to buy up the Green Giant version of Creamed Spinach like it was going out of style until I discovered how super fast & easy it is to make from scratch!  Here's how:

Ingredients:

3 Packages Loose Leaf Spinach
2 Cups Milk
1 Stick Butter
1/2 C Flour
1/4 C Olive Oil
3 T Minced Garlic
1 t each Salt & Pepper

You will need 2 pots - one for the "Cream" and one to wilt the spinach.

Let's start with the "Cream."  First, melt the butter in your pot on med-high heat.  With a whisk, quickly add (and keep stirring) the flour - this is called making a roux and it will thicken any liquid added to it.  When the flour is well incorporated into the butter, add the milk.  Keep whisking and you will see the mixture thicken quickly.  Add salt & pepper.  When it's the consistency of gravy, take it off the heat and set aside.

For the Spinach.  In a large pot, add the Olive Oil and Garlic. Over medium heat, add a handful of spinach at a time.  As the spinach begins to wilt, add more until all of the spinach has wilted.

Finally, stir the "Cream" into the spinach and allow to cool.

I devised this ingenious way of spooning the Creamed Spinach into freezer bags!

Separate the mixture into three freezer bags, label and freeze for up to 1 year.  When you're ready to use it as your side dish, simply microwave for about 3 minutes in a microwave safe dish.

Fake-It Yourself Breakdown:

Homemade Creamed Spinach - 3 Family Sides (Fresh Spinach $5.07, Butter $0.67, other ingredients negligible)

Total Fake-It Yourself Cost:  $5.74

Green Giant Frozen Creamed Spinach ($2.39 Each)

Total Fake-It Yourself Savings:  $1.43