Recipe: Spring Egg Scramble with Leafy Greens

Spring is a great time to start eating healthy (if you haven't already) - with most of us longing for lighter fare after the heavy comfort foods of fall and winter - and fresh salad vegetables just starting to come on.

This tasty recipe uses fresh eggs and fresh spring greens for a quick, simple, and healthy breakfast or brunch.

Spring Egg Scramble with Leafy Greens
(Serves 2.)

Ingredients:

3 whole large eggs - preferably from pasture-raised chickens
1 Tbsp whole milk
1 cup finely chopped kale (or spinach, chard, or other green leafy vegetable)
1 tsp real butter
pinch red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Whisk eggs and milk in a bowl; set aside.
• Put a skillet over medium heat with the greens and butter and cook just until greens soften, about 5 minutes (2 if using spinach), stirring frequently.
• Pour the eggs into the skillet, sprinkle with red pepper flakes and salt and pepper, stir and turn heat down to medium-low.
• Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, carefully pick up the egg mixture as it cooks and turn it over gently, continuing to cook until egg is set. Do not stir too much or turn heat up too high.
• When egg is set, transfer to plates and serve hot.

Recipe: Easy Spinach & Feta Mostaccioli

This super-simple recipe tastes like a fancy restaurant dish; all you need for a fabulous dinner is just 5 ingredients, and a few minutes to put it together! Serves about 4 people as a main dish, or more with salad and bread or other side dishes.  You can also stretch this further by adding meat or other protein.

Easy Spinach & Feta Mostaccioli

Ingredients:

Mostaccioli pasta. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

16 oz mostaccioli or penne pasta
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cans (15 oz size) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
1 box (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and liquid squeezed out
1/2 to 1 cup crumbled feta
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Put a big pot of salted water on the stove on high to boil.
• Put another pot on the stove on medium, add the oil, and when it gets hot, add the diced tomatoes and the spinach, stir and let simmer on low, stirring occasionally.  The mixture should bubble slowly - not boil.
• When the water in the big pot comes to a boil, drop in the pasta and cook according to package directions, but be sure to not let it get soft, just al dente.
• Drain pasta well, then add to tomato-spinach mixture in pot, stir to combine, and let simmer together until heated through, 1 or 2 minutes, then add feta, stir, and remove from heat.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper if necessary.
• Serve hot.

Recipe: Linguine With Feta Creamed Spinach Sauce

This simple yet delicious pasta recipe incorporates heart-healthy spinach and tangy feta in a creamy and delicious sauce that is really simple and easy to make. You can also use fresh spinach - just wilt slightly in the pasta water, drain, and use as directed below. The beautiful green color of the spinach makes this a real eye-catcher too!

Linguine With Feta Creamed Spinach Sauce(Serves 4.)

Ingredients:

Linguine (Pasta) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 pkg (16 oz) linguine, regular or spinach pasta
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 pkg (10 oz size) frozen chopped spinach, thawed in colander and liquid squeezed out
1/4 cup real sour cream
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
dash garlic powder
8 ounces crumbled feta cheese

Directions:

• Bring a pot of water with salt to a boil, add linguine, and cook until just al dente; drain through a colander and put linguine back in pot, add olive oil and toss together, then cover and keep warm.
• In a saucepan, put the spinach, sour cream, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and feta cheese.  Put over low heat, stir and cook until creamy and incorporated well.
• Pour the spinach mixture over the linguine, toss to coat, taste and season if necessary, and serve hot.

Recipe - Quick Spinach Basil Stir-Fry With Pine Nuts

If you're looking for a quick and healthy recipe with gourmet appeal, check this one out and you won't be disappointed. It only takes a few minutes, but is packed with nutrients and fresh flavor. This easy recipe makes a great side-dish for a fancy dinner, or just adds a missing veggie to round out a quick meal.

Quick Spinach Basil Stir-Fry With Pine Nuts

Ingredients:

3 tsp high heat cooking oil, like safflower oil
1/2 cup pine nuts
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 bags (12 oz total) fresh spinach
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
dash red pepper flakes
2 cups fresh basil leaves, torn
optional: fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Directions: 

1. In a very large skillet, add cooking oil over medium-low heat. Add pine nuts and cook, shaking skillet gently, until just starting to brown a little, about 2 minutes.
2. Add minced garlic and continue cooking, stirring constantly for 1 more minute.
3. Turn heat up to medium and add spinach, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
4. Toss spinach around in skillet for about 3 minutes or until it just starts to wilt.
5. Add fresh basil leaves, tossing to combine, and continue cooking for 1 minute.
6. Remove from heat and serve immediately.
7. Grate fresh Parmesan cheese on top of each serving if desired.

Recipe - Tarragon Dressed Baby Spinach Salad

If you're looking for a tasty spinach recipe to use up some of that fresh spinach that's currently taking over your garden, here's a good one to add to your repertoire. A twist on the classic "Spinach & Bacon Salad," this one offers the aromatic sweetness of tarragon, combined with the tang of lemon juice and mustard. This one will also get rave reviews at your next potluck!

Tarragon Dressed Baby Spinach Salad

Ingredients:

8 to 10 cups fresh baby spinach
8 strips bacon, diced and fried crisp, drained
2 eggs, hard cooked, and chopped
4 green onions, chopped, including the tops
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp stone ground mustard
1 Tbsp tarragon vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup olive oil
1/8 tsp honey
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Put spinach in salad bowl, top with bacon, egg crumbles, and green onions.
2. In separate bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients until smooth.
3. Pour over salad and serve immediately.
4. Add more salt and pepper if desired.

Recipe: Sauted Spinach

Image via WikipediaEven if you are not a big fan of cooked spinach or greens, you will want give this one a try. Full of nutrients and perfect for a fresh fall recipe (especially if you planted fall greens this year), this one will be a hit even for non-spinach lovers!

Check it out here:
http://cooking-from-scratch.blogspot.com/2010/10/sauteed-spinach.html 

Enjoy!

Related articles on Spinach Recipes:

• Celebrate National Spinach-Lovers' Month With These Recipes (blogher.com)
• Quail with girolle mushrooms and spinach (independent.co.uk)
• imabonehead: A Super Easy Spinach Saute | Honey, What's Cooking? (honeywhatscooking.com)
• Recipes for Health: Greens for the Summer Heat (nytimes.com)
• Tasty Recipe to Get Spinach Into Your Day (notecook.com)