Instead of making spinach dip and bread or crackers separately, try making the dip in the bread instead. It's baked right in the French bread loaf and can be served as an appetizer or along with the meal.
1 loaf French bread
10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and thoroughly drained/patted dry
1 T. olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 T. prepared pesto (homemade or store bought)
1/2 t. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 t. paprika
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
1/2 c. mayonnaise
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. sour cream
1 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. freshly grated sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 c. freshly grated Mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Slice 2 inches deep through the top of the bread, and continue to cut a large rectangle; remove top of bread; hollow out 2 inches deep to create a shallow rectangular bread bowl; set aside.
Heat olive oil over medium-high heat; add onion; sauté for about 5 minutes or until soft. Add red bell pepper and garlic; sauté for 1 minute. Stir in spinach, pesto, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, pepper and mayonnaise until well combined and spinach is warmed through. Reduce heat to low; stir in cream cheese until melted. Stir in sour cream, Parmesan cheese and Cheddar cheese until combined.
Spoon spinach dip into prepared French bread; top with Mozzarella cheese.
Bake on a baking tray for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly golden.
Remove from oven; let bread sit approximately 5 minutes to cool; slice.
Serve warm.
12 servings.
*The spinach dip can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator separate from the bread. When ready to bake, heat dip in microwave until warm, then spoon into the French bread and bake as directed.