Ground Sausage and Spinach Bake

I had some smoked salsa to use up so put this casserole together. This takes a little extra time to prep but it makes 6 generous adult portions and keeps for up to 3 days. Turn this into something of your own, vary the ingredients and have fun! You can’t mess it up!

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef and pork mix (plain beef would work too)
2 large onions
Large bunch spinach, washed well
1 jar smoky salsa or tin of cooked tomato onion mix, add 1 tsp each smoked paprika and taco seasoning if you are using plain canned tomato mix
6 large eggs
½ cup cream or half and half
Fresh cilantro, green onions, 3 large garlic cloves, diced
2 cups grated sharp cheddar
Salt and pepper

Method

Fry diced onion until translucent
Turn on oven to 350⁰F (180⁰C)
Add ground beef mix to fried onion crumbling the mince well, and cook for about 5 minutes or until cooked through
Grease a large flat casserole dish well and pour the meat and onion mix into the casserole dish and spread out out evenly
Chop up washed spinach, drain well and re-use the pot you cooked the ground beef/onion mix
When wilted, spread the spinach over the meat and onion in the casserole dish
Sprinkle over a little onion powder
Beat 6 eggs with a pinch of salt and ground pepper to taste
Beat a ½ cup of cream into the eggs
Pour the egg custard over the meat and spinach mix
Spoon over the salsa or canned tomato mix evenly
Bake at 350⁰F or 180⁰ C for 20 to 25 minutes until bubbling
Top with the grated cheese, cilantro, chopped green onions, diced garlic and any other herbs or cheese you enjoy.
Grill until cheese is melted and bubbling.
Serve hot or room temperature and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.

The cheese didn’t bubble and melt as expected. It was a delicious smoked organic WI cheddar but it refused to grill and had such a low fat content did not melt. It was actually deliciously crispy, cheesy and smoky. This was a first time non-melty experience for me. Weird.

I do hope you are well. It feels as if my efforts are focused on self care these days. Writing a blog post takes such discipline and effort. I think with all the events happening in our world drains the hours in the day and what I used to accomplish.

Be kind to yourself, nurture the light in your heart and the people that light up your life. This is the flicker and then the flame that builds the bonfire of love and endurance that unites us.

With love and stay well until next time.

💜