Bacon Spinach Cheese Ball Recipe 455

Steps:

• In a large skillet cook the bacon until crisp. Set aside to cool and drain on paper towels. Chop when cool. Drain all but 1 tablespoon bacon grease from the skillet. Add the spinach and cook over medium heat until wilted and cooked through. Sprinkle the spinach with salt and set aside on a cutting board to cool. Chop finely when cooled. Add the onion to the skillet and cook until it's translucent and a tiny bit golden at the edges. Add the garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Place the cream cheese in a large bowl. Add cheese, onions, garlic, half of the chopped bacon, chopped spinach, and cayenne pepper and stir well. Roll the cream cheese mixture into a large ball and then roll in the remaining chopped bacon. Wrap tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Steps:

• Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, bacon, and garlic until bacon is crisp, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Whisk flour, salt, and black pepper into onion mixture until blended and the flour and drippings form a paste, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Slowly whisk milk into onion mixture. Bring to a boil, continuously whisking, until sauce is thick and creamy, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir spinach and half-and-half into sauce; cook until spinach is heated through, 4 to 6 minutes.