Spinach Patties

I got this recipe from one of my good friends. Although I liked it, I thought it could use a little something extra. These are easy to make and mostly healthy and pretty cheap. Not to mention, you probably have what you need to make them already, and who doesn't love that?

Spinach Patties

1 box frozen spinach
1 1/2 cup cooked rice
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs
1/3 cup diced onion (more or less depending on your taste - it will be raw so keep that in mind)
1-2 TBS cream cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Put spinach in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 3 minutes. Stir with a fork. Microwave for an additional 1-2 minutes. Then using clean hands, squeeze out the liquid from the spinach into the sink and transfer dry spinach to another bowl (one handful at a time).

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Heat on the stove top about 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a 10inch skillet to med-high to high heat (you know how well your stove works).

Form the mixture into small patties, about 1/4 cup, using clean hands. Drop CAREFULLY into the hot oil.

Cook about 2-3 minutes on each side - until light golden brown and crisp. Place cooked patties on a plate lined with paper towel.

Serve with white sauce, recipe follows...


WHITE SAUCE

There are many ways you can make a white sauce. You can make a plain roue:

1 cup milk
1 TBS butter
1 TBS flour

Heat on stove top over medium/medium-low heat until thickened. (bland in my opinion)

You can make it a cheese sauce by adding your favorite shredded cheese to the above mixture and stirring until melted. You would do this as a start to a home made mac and cheese, BTW.

OR --- you can make an Alfredo sauce...

Basic Alfredo

1/2 cup milk (cream works best if you have some, don't use anything less than 2%)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1-2 cloves garlic, pressed with a garlic press

Heat over medium heat, whisking constantly until thickened. You can add milk and parm to reach the taste and consistency you desire.