Description

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.

Ingredients

• 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

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. 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.
3. 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.