Houston's Restaurant Copycat Spinach Dip

 If you have ever been to Houston's Restaurant and got their spinach dip appetizer, you will have experienced the heaven that is a cheesy warm deliciousness contrasted with salty tortilla chips. YUM! This is my attempt at copying them and, I think I did pretty well. I serve these in individual ramekins or in a french onion soup bowl.

You can freeze the leftovers. I spoon the spinach dip into muffin tins for individual servings and freeze them. When frozen, remove from muffin tins and wrap well in cling wrap and then aluminum foil and put in a bag. Pull out a serving or two and put in a ramekin and microwave until bubbly and hot. This is also delicious with eggs (don't knock it till you have tried it!)

1 bag frozen chopped spinach2 cartons frozen chopped spinach
1/2 onion, chopped1 onion, chopped
1/2 jar artichoke hearts, drained and chopped1 (14-oz) jar artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 cloves garlic, minced2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 stick butter1 stick butter
1/2 of an 8-oz brick cream cheese1 (8-oz) package cream cheese
6 to 7 Tbsp heavy whipping cream¾ cup heavy whipping cream
4-oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese (I used Pepper Jack)8-oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese (I used Pepper Jack)
2-oz shredded Swiss cheese4-oz shredded Swiss cheese
2-oz shredded mozzarella cheese4-oz shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper½ tsp cayenne pepper
salt & pepper to tastesalt & pepper to taste
2 oz shredded fresh parmesan cheese (I like Trader Joe's romano asiago cheese)


Steps
Cook and drain spinach; squeezing well until all water is completely removed.Cook and drain spinach; squeezing well until all water is completely removed.
Melt butter in large skillet; saute onion until tender.Melt butter in large skillet; saute onion until tender.
Add garlic to onion mixture.Add garlic to onion mixture.
Stir spinach and artichokes into sautaed onion mixture, mixing well.Stir spinach and artichokes into sautéed onion mixture, mixing well.
Beat cream cheese with mixer, gradually adding whipping cream until smooth.Beat cream cheese with mixer, gradually adding whipping cream until smooth.
In large bowl, stir all ingredients (except parmesan cheese) together until well blended.In large bowl, stir all ingredients (except parmesan cheese) together until well blended.
Put in microwave safe baking dish or oven safe baking dish.Put in microwave safe baking dish or oven safe baking dish.
Refrigerate at least two hours.Refrigerate at least two hours.
Top with parmesan and microwave until hot or bake at 350 F until bubbly (20 minutes or so).Top with parmesan and microwave until warm or bake at 350 F until bubbly (20 minutes or so).
Serve with tortilla chips, or to use as a dip, I add cauliflower and carrots (although the chips are DELICIOUS)