Spinach ricotta cups

I missed you yesterday. Really...I did. I missed everything to do with civilization actually. We got hit with Winter Storm Draco, just as the weather people predicted, and he didn't take it easy on us because we are out of practice, that's for sure. Sidenote: when did we start naming blizzards? Anyway, I was stranded at home alone since Main Man and his guys plow quite a few businesses around town (for 27 hours straight yesterday and he left at 10 pm so didn't get sleep for 42 hours...no bueno). I am used to be alone during snowstorms, so that wasn't an issue. The issue was the fact that I didn't have power for 13 hours during said snowstorm. The heat was off, I couldn't watch tv, blog, do a p90x workout, cook my holiday food...nothin. I tell you what, the house is spic and span though! My kindle was dead so the only distraction I had was my cell phone, which got old after a bit, so cleaning things was my only means of keeping busy and warm. The power did get restored right at dark, when I was just starting to get worried about not having real candles in the house (I'm a Scentsy addict but those require electricity), and the heat not coming on again all night.

 

Main Man tried to get home to nap a couple times but he was actually snowed out while I was snowed in...even with his big old truck with a plow on it. He walked home from down the road around midnight last night and was asleep before he hit the bed. So glad he got some rest finally...I know people get anxious and annoyed at the street cleaning crews and the power companies when they're stranded but those people who worked with no sleep in the freezing cold the last couple days to restore my power and clear the roads for me to get out today are saints in my book! I sure wouldn't want that job!

 

After the week we've had, I'm ready for the long Christmas weekend, followed by the long New Years weekend, followed very closely by our honeymoon cruise in January...besides being petrified of flying even though I've done it a million times, I am over the moon excited to be looking at a full week of relaxation! It's been a busy month, with preparations for the holidays, and other events...like the WIDZ party I made these spinach ricotta cups for a couple weeks ago. I have to admit that I never actually got a chance to try one of them because they disappeared so quickly, but that's a good thing, right?! I received a lot of compliments on these, which is nice because they really didn't take much effort...see for yourself:

 

2 packages phyllo cups (you can get the phyllo dough and make cups yourself if you like, but this is way easier)

5-8 oz fresh spinach

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1 T butter

1 16 oz container low fat ricotta cheese

4 oz goat cheese

cracked pepper to taste

thyme to taste (sprinkled on top)

 

I had originally thought of just filling these with the cheeses, but decided to add a little to the pot for flava's sake. I performed my normal routine of wilting the fresh spinach with the butter and minced garlic in the microwave. Heat for 30 seconds, stir, heat for 30 seconds, stir...done. Add that to a mixing bowl with the ricotta and goat cheese. Add cracked pepper and thyme and mix all that shizz to perfection.

 

I decided to put the mixture into a plastic baggie and cut a corner off in order to squirt it into the cups without getting them all messy using a spoon. It's a shortcut I think you'll come to appreciate if you're anything like me...and by anything like me, I mean sloppy. Things tend to come out perdier this way. Anywho...squirt the filling into the cups, sprinkle with thyme for a garnish and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Yum-diddly-umptious.  

 

Well, folks...it looks as though this is the last you'll hear from me until after the holiday...so I hope you all have wonderful celebrations with fantabulous food and unforgettable family time! I will be back late next week to hit you with some of the holiday treats I've made for the festivities...like the batch of Leslie's homemade caramels that are now going to be a yearly tradition. No one is counting how many of those I took down yesterday while being snowed in with the whole pan...