HOT SPINACH CHEESE DIP APPETIZER

• 1 ten ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cup chopped scallions
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup rehydrated, chopped sun-dried tomatoes or chopped and drained water chestnuts crackers and or cut-up assorted fresh vegetables for serving a few shakes of Tabasco sauce

Directions

1. In a one quart mini electric slow cooker, mix together spinach and cream cheese. Stir in the scallions and garlic pepper.
2. Cover, plug in the cooker and cook for 2 hours, stirring once or twice until very hot.
3. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the cheese for the top. Stir in the remaining cheese and sun-dried tomatoes.
4. Sprinkle the reserved cheese on top. Crackers and or vegetables for dipping.

Crock Pot Cooking Tips:

Tip #1: Add water to crock pot only to cover ingredients in soup, and add more after slow cooking if you need a thinner soup. If your soup recipe calls for milk, add 1 or 2 cups of water and during the last hour, stir in milk, evaporated milk.

Tip #2: Fish and seafood are not usually good candidates for the slow cooker, and should be added late in any recipe for soup or chowder.

Tip #3: Ground herbs and spices tend to lose flavor during slow cooking. Add them to the crock pot during the last hour of cooking. Whole herbs are a good choice for crockery cooking because they add flavor over time.