No need to order a super-fatty version of this at a restaurant. Our Crazy-Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip is GREAT, hot or cold. Serve it with raw veggies and/or baked pita or tortilla chips! Mmmmm...

Ingredients:
One 10-oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained very well
One 14-oz. can artichoke hearts (packed in water), drained very well and chopped
One 8-oz. container fat-free cream cheese, room temperature
Half an 8-oz. can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
1/4 cup fat-free mayonnaise
1/4 cup reduced-fat parmesan-style grated topping, divided
3 tbsp. minced shallots
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Directions:
If you want to serve this dish hot, preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, and 3 tbsp. of the parm-style topping. Add the salt and cayenne pepper, and then stir until smooth.

In a pan sprayed with nonstick spray, cook the shallots and garlic over medium heat until soft (1 - 2 minutes). Set aside.

To the large bowl, add spinach, artichoke hearts, water chestnuts and garlic/shallot mixture. Stir well.

If serving dip cold, top with the remaining tbsp. of parm-style topping. If you want to serve the dip hot, transfer to a casserole dish, top with the remaining parm, and then bake for 30 minutes (or until bubbly).

MAKES 8 SERVINGS

Spinach... artichoke... mom'll be so proud that you're eating your vegetables. But not even Popeye himself, having gone without spinach for a year, would touch this. Ug-ug-ug-ug-ug! (FYI, that was Popeye laughter.) But don’t go blaming the veggies in that dip. It’s the pool of caloric ooze they’re swimming in that's at fault, full of fatty ingredients like parmesan cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise and cream cheese. They should call it artery-choke dip! BTW, once you factor in the greasy chips the stuff comes served with, an appetizer-sized order can have anywhere from 905 calories, 36g fat, and 74g carbs (hello, Chili's!) to 1,439 calories, 80g fat, and 110g carbs (we're embarrassed for you, Mimi's Café!!!). But, we gotta admit, that stuff is sooooooo gooey 'n good. And SOME kooky person at the table usually orders it -- that's where things can go wrong. Next time you're faced with the temptation to stick your head in that bowl of restaurant silliness, just head on home to whip up our equally tasty alternative. You could have 10 baked tortilla chips with a full 1/3-cup serving of our dip for only about 168 calories, 2.75g fat, and 26g carbs. So go ahead and make it. Don't be Wimpy (get it?).