BAKED MOZZARELLA AND MARINARA DIP

Marinara sauce, spinach and fresh mozzarella cheese are all you need to make this easy three ingredient Baked Mozzarella and Marinara Dip! Serve the dip with slices of toasted baguette brushed with olive oil and rubbed with garlic for a crowd pleasing appetizer!

Who’s got a case of the I can’t believe it’s Monday again why does the weekend have to go by so fast blues? I do! I suppose it would help if I could have a relaxing weekend sometime in the near future. We are STILL painting the dang house! I had planned on finishing it this weekend, but that didn’t happen. We got a little more done, but not nearly as much as I had hoped. I have a good excuse though.

On Thursday right at the end of my run, literally about 3 blocks from my house, the street decided to jump up and cause me to practically do a belly flop like I was on a slip-and-slide. I “gracefully” came crashing down and slid a little ways thanks to going downhill.  I laid there for a second cursing at the street, making sure nothing was broken and hoping that no one saw, thank goodness no one did, then got back up and finished running/hobbling the rest of the way home. When I got home I assessed the damage. My favorite gloves and running tights were ripped and ruined, the nerves in my left leg were screaming in pain, my knees were both swollen and scraped with road rash, one hand was missing some skin and my triceps felt like I had just done a killer weight lifting workout, yep I was in good shape. So obviously what does a person do after a fall like this, go to the gym of course and proceed to do her weight lifting workout so she doesn’t mess up her routine…. I.HAVE.ISSUES.

So here I am several days later and still sore. I was too tired and stiff to paint yesterday, but somehow still managed to do an 18 mile long run Saturday and a 14 miler on Sunday. It’s all about priorities, right? Well here it is Monday and I’m kicking myself for not finishing the painting because now I’ll be finishing it next weekend instead of doing something fun. I guess I’ll just have to drown my sorrows and make this easy as can be Baked Mozzarella and Marinara Dip to cheer myself up.

This dip is about as easy as it comes. Pour some marinara sauce into a skillet, add in a couple handfuls of fresh baby spinach, cook it on the stove until the spinach wilts, top it with slices of fresh mozzarella cheese, then put it in the oven to bake until the cheese is melted and gooey. When it comes out serve it with toasted slices of baguette for dipping. If you want to make it a little fancier, brush some olive oil on the baguette before toasting it and when it comes out rub the top with a halved piece of fresh garlic, wa-lah garlic bread! Happy Monday and may it go by as quickly as the weekend did!

   Grilled Chicken and Asparagus Pesto Pasta

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 8 ounce ball fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into approximately 1/4 inch thick slices
• 1 baguette, sliced
• Olive oil and a clove of garlic (optional)
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• INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pre-heat oven to broil. Lay the slices of baguette cut side down on a baking sheet. Brush the slices of baguette with olive oil then place in the oven and broil until golden, don't walk away this will happen fast.
2. Peel a clove of garlic and cut it in half. Rub the cut side of the garlic all over the top of the warm toasted baguette slices, set aside.
3. In an 8 or 10 inch oven safe skillet, add the marinara sauce and baby spinach. Heat the sauce over medium high heat, stirring it until the spinach wilts and the sauce is heated through.
4. Remove the pan from the heat and lay the slices of mozzarella all over the top in a single layer. Place the skillet in the oven and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 3-5 minutes. Serve immediately with the slices of baguette