Made with love, Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe inspired by the film The-Hundred Foot Journey

Truth be told I am a sucker for two things in life: good, savory food and good movies (OK and I am a sucker for my kids too). When a film comes out that inspires me in the kitchen, then my eyes light up, my taste buds water and I get cookin’ in the kitchen. Recently, I received a review copy of Disney’s The Hundred-Foot Journey and I was inspired to make one of my favorite savory dip recipes, all opinions are my own.

The Hundred-Foot Journey isn’t just a film about food and cooking, but the coming together of cultures and of people. The film produced by Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and Juliet Blake and staring Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal and Charlotte Le Bon shows how food really is the common denominator in all of us. The Hundred-Foot Journey is set in France where neighbor restaurateurs – who live one hundred feet away from each other are from two separate cultures battle it out over customers and turf. The story of the film is sweet and sends the message to cook what you love for who you love and this inspired me to make this dip.

Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe

Ingredients
1 package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 jar marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
8 oz Philly cream cheese
8 oz sour cream
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
8 oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1/2 white onion, finely chopped
1 stick unsalted butter
Red pepper flakes to taste, crushed

Directions
In large sauce pan saute onions in butter
Add next ingredients one at a time in this precise order:
Spinach
Cream cheese
Sour cream
Parmesan cheese
Artichoke hearts

Remove from heat, top with Monterey Jack cheese
Serve hot with chips or bread

I have served this savory creamy spinach and artichoke dip recipe with both pita chips and french bread cut at a bias like this one shown above. It is always a popular dish whenever I serve it. This recipe is so hearty and rich it is a complete meal.

Step-By-Step Directions

1. Saute finely chopped onion in one stick of butter

2. Thaw and drain 1 package of spinach. I usually set the spinach on the counter to thaw for about an hour before I pop it in the microwave on defrost. Then I place the spinach on a towel and ring out the excess spinach juice into the sink. What is left is a cud of spinach.

3. Add spinach to sauteed onions

4. Chop marinated artichoke hearts

5. First, add the cream cheese and blend well. Then add the sour cream and blend well again.

6. In my recipe above I don’t mention adding any cheese to the inside of the dip, but sometimes I do because it’s yummy.

Enjoy!

I hope my recipe has inspired you to pick up a copy of The Hundred-Foot Journey now out on Digital HD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On-Demand. It truly is a delightful film.

Bonus to the Digital HD & Blu-ray Combo Pack

The Hundred-Foot Journey With Steven Spielberg & Oprah Winfrey – Producers Steven Spielberg & Oprah Winfrey sit down to discuss “The Hundred-Foot Journey.”  What was it about the project that brought them together for their first collaboration in 30 years since “The Color Purple.” This piece is complimented with photography from the sets to give it an even more personal feel.

The Recipe, The Ingredients, The Journey – Enter the enchanting world of the film on set with director Lasse Hallström, producer Juliet Blake, author Richard Morais, cast, crew, chefs and composer A.R. Rahman.  “The Hundred-Foot Journey” comes to life from  the  pages  of  the book, to stunning locations in the South of France, with a beautifully crafted story (and mouth-watering food) that will make you hungry for home and the spice of life.

On Set With Oprah Winfrey­ – Production designer David Gropman gives Oprah Winfrey a tour of the Maison Mumbai and the “Hundred-Foot Journey” to the Le Saule Pleureur.

Coconut Chicken – Learn how to make coconut chicken in this demonstration of a beautiful, Indian inspired dish with Chef Anil Sharma.

Well, what are you waiting for? It’s time to start cooking!