Spinach (Photo credit: desegura89)

You can’t go wrong with spinach – whether you are seeking more fiber in your diet or you are  lowering your calorie-intake, spinach will serve you well. Rich in Vitamins A, K and calcium as well as many other nutrients, spinach packs a powerful nutrient punch. Substitute its dark leaves for the iceberg lettuce you usually use in your salads. The darker leaves of spinach will give you more vitamins than iceberg’s pale leaves. If you prefer spinach cooked, layer it with other ingredients on a tortilla for enchiladas and burritos. Or mix spinach in with your favorite stir-fry blend. For something different, try making these spinach-cheese squares.

Spinach and Cheese Squares

(Look for non-vegan substitutions in bold)

Ingredients:

• 4 regular sized bricks of frozen spinach – cooked according to package directions and drained.
• Your favorite vegan-flavored cheese [sharp or mild cheese] Cut into cubes or tear slices into bite-size pieces. Add as little or as much cheese as you like.
• 1 tblspn ground flaxseed plus 3 tblspns water  = [1 egg]
• 1/4th cup of flour mixed into 1 cup of soy milk =  [1 cup regular milk]
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
• Seasonings -your choice; onions – your choice. I like a little garlic powder and cayenne pepper.

Mix the flaxseed and water together. Add your milk/flour mixture to it (or your egg) and mix together.

Add cheese, oil and your seasonings and then mix in your spinach.

Spray a 9×9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and bake the mixture at 375-degrees until it’s firm. Stick a toothpick in the center just as with a cake.

Let it rest for 15 minutes then slice into squares.

Pretty tasty’!