Christina's Killer Spinach Dip ***

Every year for Christmas Eve, our family does appetizers before opening gifts.  Since I rarely have time to try new appetizer recipes throughout the rest of the year, I look forward to this time for months.  This was a really good dip.  I absolutely adore spinach.  It's almost an unhealthy addiction for me.  However, I am really picky about spinach dips.  So many of them contain mayo, and that always just takes away from the taste, in my opinion.  The fact that this one had no mayo was what attracted me to it in the first place.  You have to really like spinach, though, since the flavor of the spinach itself comes through so strongly.  I served mine in a King's Hawaiian bread bowl, with King's Hawaiian rolls torn into pieces for extra dippers.  Yum, yum, yum!

 Photo from Food.com

CHRISTINA'S KILLER SPINACH DIP
(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy ~ Food.com)

1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temp
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, split into 2 1/2 cup portions  (I prefer to grate it myself)
1 (8 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach

Defrost the spinach.
Place it in a colander and press it until as much moisture as possible is removed.
Mix all ingredients (1/2 of the cheddar), and blend well.
Put it in a shallow baking dish (stoneware works best) in the oven for 20 minutes at 350°F.
Remove from oven.
While still hot top it with remaining cheese, heat in oven again for 5 minutes.
Remove and cool below lava stage and serve.
Goes well with tortilla chips.