Herbed Spinach Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• ½ medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup packed fresh parsley leaves
• 1 tbsp fresh dill or 1 tsp dried
• 3 medium scallions, sliced thin
• 1 garlic clove, minced***
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp Tabasco
• ¼ tsp pepper

***The garlic must be minced or pressed before going into the food processor or else the dip will contain large chunks of garlic.

Directions:

• Process all ingredients in a food processor until well combined, about 1 minute.
• Transfer to serving bowl and refrigerate until the flavors have blended, at least 1 hour.

Variations:

1. Spinach dip with blue cheese and bacon:

• • Omit the red bell pepper, dill, salt and Tabasco.
  • Add 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese to food processor along with the spinach.
  • Sprinkle with 2 slices crisp, crumbles bacon before serving.

2. Spinach dip with feta, lemon and oregano:

• • Omit the red bell pepper, dill and salt.
  • Add 2 tbsp fresh oregano, ½ cup crumbled feta cheese, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 1 tsp grated lemon zest to the food processor with the spinach. Salt to taste.

3. Cilantro-Lime Spinach Dip

• • This dip is good served with tortilla chips.
  • Omit the red bell pepper, dill and Tabasco.
  • Add ¼ cup packed cilantro, 1 tbsp chopped chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, 1 tbsp fresh lime juice, ½ tsp grated lime zest, ½ tsp light brown sugar, and 1/8 tsp cumin to the food processor along with the spinach.