Quick Cook Recipe - Spinach with Mustard Time (5mins) Skill (Easy) Eating (Easy)

What is it? Chopped spinach with a mustard & creme fraiche (slightly soured dairy cream) dressing.

I discovered this when I was a nanny in France years ago. It's great as a side dish of vegetables, or on its own as a quick snack or even as a meal if you don't fancy or are too tired for anything else.  If you don't use the Creme Fraiche it's also great for filling you up if you're trying to lose weight.

Time required - About 5 -10 mins - the length of time it takes to get spinach out of the freezer, into the microwave and mix mustard & creme fraiche into it.

Cooking Skill required - Easy. Ability to use a microwave and stir!

Eating Skill required - Easy. Very little chewing.

FRENCH STYLE DRESSED SPINACH

Portion Size - one serving

Ingredients - Essential
Frozen chopped spinach - this usually comes in a bag with the spinach frozen into little portioned balls. I use 6-8 balls for one bowl if I'm not eating much else.

Or you could use fresh baby leaf spinach, wash it (to get the dust & grit off),  put a bit of water in a pan, on a low heat to wilt it instead of microwaving. But unless you get the carer to chop it up, it needs more chewing!

Ingredients - Optional Depending on smell/ taste & food sensitivities
1 tsp (teaspoon) whole-grain French Mustard or a Mustard Condiment (like Savora or similar)
NOT Coleman's yellow mustard powder, it's really hard to get it to mix without bits that blow your head off. You have been warned!

Creme Fraiche - full or low or zero fat. 
Doesn't matter. It's just to add a bit of silkiness and make it less dry. If you're trying to lose weight, then just the mustard with no Creme Fraiche is lovely or you could use Quark or similar (lower calories). Sometimes I use plain live yoghurt which gives a tartness to it, so I'd use less mustard.

Lardons or Bacon (pre-cooked) - add these to the spinach half way through to heat right through. Adds a nice flavour, but also adds chewiness.

Preparation

1. Take the frozen chopped spinach out of the freezer.  If you plan ahead, get the carer to take it out earlier so it defrosts a bit, makes the cooking quicker.
2. Put it in a bowl, cover with some sort of appropriate lid and microwave for about 5 mins until defrosted and piping hot underneath the bowl. 
   
   Usually the ice in the spinach provides enough moisture so it doesn't dry out, if you're not sure,  add 2 -3 tbsp (tablespoons) of cold water.  Half way through, check it and maybe stir it & add water if necessary (after a while you'll know what your microwave & spinach needs...) If, when it's cooked there's too much water, push the spinach to the side and use a spoon to ladle out the excess water, squish the spinach against the side of the bowl to get it to release the water, otherwise when you  mix the mustard & creme fraiche in, suddenly you'll find it's swimming in water if you added too much! I quite like wet food over dry food personally, but I know some don't.
3. Stir the spinach to make sure it's heated through, and add some mustard and creme fraiche to taste. Stir again & eat whilst hot. (If you're a slow eater, it's quite nice after it's cooled which is useful).

 Alternatives: defrost the spinach for a bit before putting it on full power.  Or use a pan on the hob, it just takes longer to defrost/ heat up that way.

Serving Suggestions

• By itself as the whole meal.  Nice easy tasty way to get 2 of your 5 a day!
• With some cold cooked ham, or leftover roast/ cooked meats
• As a vegetable side dish alongside whatever else you are eating
• Lovely with plain cooked fish like salmon or trout and boiled new potatoes or mash.

Is it freezable? Not really, why would you bother it's so quick! But you could get your carer to get some out in a bowl ahead of time, and to mix up some mustard with creme fraiche in another bowl, then all you need to do is microwave the defrosted spinach and then scoop the mustard mix into it.  If you have one call a day like me and have to organise the other meal for yourself, it's a good easy and healthy choice. Not great if reheated, so keep the ingredients separate.