Spinach Casserole with Four Cheeses

 

If you’re looking for something different to serve for Thanksgiving, or for a holiday brunch, this easy, make-ahead casserole just might be the answer. It’s certainly more nutritious than popular favorites like green bean casserole or corn pudding, but despite the high nutritional value it’s not lacking in flavor. My guess is that if you make it once, it will soon become a family favorite. If you have a hard time moving away from the French fried onions, those bits of crispy deliciousness found atop green bean casserole, you can sprinkle some on top of this one before baking.Spinach Casserole with Four Cheeses

 3 large eggs, beaten

1 16-oz. container small curd cottage cheese

1 16-oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

1 4-oz. container crumbled feta

½ c. shredded cheddar

½ c. shredded Parmesan

1 Melissa’s shallot, minced

¼ c. melted butter

⅛ tsp. garlic powder

⅛ t. freshly grated nutmeg

Freshly ground black pepper

Lemon wedges, if desired

 Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 1½-qt. casserole dish with PAM; set aside.

Place all ingredients into a large bowl, and mix with a wooden spoon until combined; transfer to prepared baking dish.

Bake, uncovered, for 40-45 minutes or until the center is nearly set. If desired, sprinkle additional grated cheese on top during the last few minutes of baking, and bake until cheese has melted.

Let cool for 5-10 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges. The freshly squeezed juice really brightens this dish.

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Cherry Cheesecake Blintzes

If you are looking for a sweet and romantic way to start your Valentine’s Day (or any day for that matter) nothing is easier than these make ahead Cherry Cheesecake Blintzes. This is my mother’s recipe, and was but one of the dozen or more dishes that would line the buffet table at her annual Christmas brunch. Employing the use of ready-made crêpes from Melissa’s Produce, and pressing your cookie scoop into service, these go together in no time.

Cherry Cheesecake Blintzes

1 10-count pkg. Melissa’s Ready Made Crêpes

Filling:
1 15-oz. container ricotta cheese
1 large egg, beaten
2 T. sugar
½ t. almond extract
¼ t. vanilla extract
2 T. butter, melted

Sauce:
1 15-oz. can pitted sweet cherries, drained, reserve ½ c. liquid
2 t. cornstarch
½ t. almond extract
Pinch of cinnamon

Spray a 1.5-qt. oven safe casserole dish with Pam; set aside.

In a small bowl combine all filling ingredients EXCEPT the butter; whisk until creamy. Spoon 2 tablespoons filling (I used a cookie scoop) in the center of each crêpe. For the two opposite edges of the crêpe to overlap filling, and then fold in the remaining sides, forming a square packet. Place each blintz, seam side down into prepared dish. Cover tightly with foil and refrigerate overnight (these can be refrigerated up to two days).

Heat oven to 400°F. Remove cover from blintzes and brush with melted butter. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until light golden brown. While blintzes are baking prepare sauce.

Sauce: In a medium saucepan combine cornstarch and reserved cherry liquid. Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens, about 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in cherries, almond extract and pinch of cinnamon. Heat thoroughly. Serve over blintzes and garnish as desired.

Serves 4 to 5

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