March 26th is National Spinach Day #NationalSpinachDay. Even though David says he will eat #Spinich its been a while since I’ve made any Spinach for myself. Looks like the next time I go to the Grocery Store I need to pick up a couple cans of Popeye Spinach. Do you use canned Spinach or Fresh Spinach? If it’s canned what brand do you use and why?
The next question is when I make the Spinach is should I add Vinegar or not? My dad didn’t like Spinach with Vinegar and my mom didn’t like Spinach without Vinegar so you never knew how Spinach was going to be fixed in my home growing up.
Then you through Suzzane into the mix and she liked Cream Spinach from Boston Market or for her Big Sister from Big Sisters/ Nig Brothers to make Creamed Spinach for her for dinner. Which I don’t know about you but I will pass not only on Creamed Spinach but Boston Market.
Before I finish my post I thought I would share a Popeye The Sailor Man trailer with you and a bit from his saying he always said. If your #Homeschooling your children you could have them make a recipe using Spinach in there Cooking Class and in Drama Class watch Popeye the Sailor.
“I’m Popeye the Sailor Man
I’m Popeye the Sailor Man
I’m strong to the finich
‘Cause I eats me spinach…”
The quote above comes from the world’s best-loved animated Sailor since it’s National Spinach Day on March 26! Not only does Spinach provide iron, it’s also an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, and vitamin C . Not to mention manganese and magnesium.
National Spinach Day Activities
- There is a lot of different ways to enjoy Spinach, but we bet you’ve only tried a couple of them. If you usually enjoy cooked Spinach, make a Spinach Salad for your next meal. If you love you some raw-Spinach-y goodness, try Spinach cooked!
- If you have a green thumb, embark on a fun project and grow Spinach on your windowsill or your backyard. There are a couple bonuses to this plan. Including growing your own Spinach will save you money, because you’re not purchasing Spinach from the store. It will provide you with a challenge—keeping a Plant alive is no walk in the park. And Spinach will put you on the path to sustainability. Maybe you’ll grow a whole garden one day!
- If you have the opportunity open an old Comic Book or go check out Youtube for some old Cartoons where Popeye was featured. Then, enjoy the tale of the salty Sailor who has an on and off fling with Olive Oil! Everyone’s favorite Spinach-eating hunk definitely deserves a little extra love on National Spinach Day.
Why People Love National Spinach Day
- Spinach is one of the healthiest Vegetables, and Spinach is delicious to boot!
- Spinach is rich in water-soluble vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins, iron, calcium, cancer-fighting antioxidants, phytonutrients … we could go on, but we’d run out of space.
- When it’s raw, Spinach is basically a super-food. And, although Spinach loses some of its nutrients when it’s cooked, it still maintains enough of them to be incredibly healthy.
- Remember a bit of Spinach a day keeps the doctor away! Or does it?
- There are so many different, yet iconic ways to cook Spinach. And they all go way beyond boiling Spinach into mush like your mother.
- The classic unhealthy way to cook Spinach is to boil it and add heavy Cream creating Creamed Spinach!
- You can also use Spinach completely raw to make a Salad. Just add Vinaigrette and Craisins.
- Sprinkle Spinach leaves into your next Stir-Fry or add them into your homemade Burrito for a quick calorie and nutrient boost.
- Spinach is useful, and delicious.
- One of the world’s most amazing sights is how much Spinach reduces in size when it’s cooked. Have you ever added an entire bag of Baby Spinach to a pan until it was overflowing? Have you questioned how you were going to add any of the other ingredients in your recipe? And then have you watched Spinach reduce at least six times in size until it barely took up any space in the pan? Spinach constantly reminds us of how amazing science is, and we love it.
- You could even turn cooking Spinach into a #Homeschool Science project and watch kids faces as it shrinks. For Cooking Class have them come up with there own Spinach recipe.
Recipe for Creamed Spinach
Yields: 8 serving(s) Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Total Time: 30 mins
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plus 3 tbsp. butter, divided
- 8 Tbsp. flour
- 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 cups milk
- 24 oz. baby spinach
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Pinch ground nutmeg
- In a pot, melt 1/2 cup butter. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk together. Cook over medium heat until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and stir together, cooking for another minute. Pour in the milk, whisking constantly, and cook for another 5 minutes.
- . Meanwhile, in a separate pot, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter. Add the spinach in increments until all is incorporated, and cook until wilted but not soggy, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Season the cream sauce with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the spinach to the cream sauce, stirring gently to combine. Serve immediately.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
