Sauteed Spinach

I love spinach, but it hasn't always been this way. (Does this sound familiar?) I grew up being literally force-fed canned spinach. It was slimy and very gross and tasted awful, but my parents assured me I would grow up to be healthy and strong like Popeye. They would sit
at the dinner table and sing me the stupid Popeye jingle until I ate
all my spinach. Becoming like Popeye wasn't my life's dream; I liked Wimpy so much better because he loves hamburgers, but I gagged down the spinach because I wanted to be healthy and because I
wasn't allowed to leave the table until I ate it all.

Many, many, many years later I discovered fresh baby spinach.
OMG. I LOVE it! Besides being one of the top ten healthiest foods, it's delicious! I enjoy it in salads, chopped over a taco, scattered over a bowl of chili or enchiladas, mixed in with lasagna or tossed over a pizza (you get the picture), and I really enjoy it sauteed with onion, garlic, and bacon--spinach heaven! While I usually serve this as a side dish, I occasionally eat the whole batch and call it dinner.

• 6 slices turkey bacon, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (10 oz.) bag fresh baby spinach
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Heat a 12-inch, deep chef's saute pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and onion and saute until the bacon is almost crisp and the onions are limp and just starting to turn brown.

Add the garlic and saute for one minute.

Add the spinach (you may have to do this in batches), stir and cover the pan until the spinach wilts. Stir, take a taste, and season to your liking with salt and pepper.

Eat your spinach! It will make you healthy and strong! Don't make me come over to your house and sing you the Popeye jingle!