Don’t get too excited about that title.
We all know that the best vegetables begin with bacon.
I’ve decided that I like onions. And mushrooms. Especially when sauteed in bacon grease.
In fact, I like a fair amount of vegetables when paired with bacon grease.
Even all of that spinach that was dying in my fridge last week. Sort of.
I didn’t really know where I was going with this, but I knew I wanted bacon, mushrooms and onions. And since that doesn’t quite make a meal… I knew beans were going to make it into the mix too.
And I figured I’d better use that spinach instead of just leaving it to rot in the crisper drawer. Or else I’d feel the wrath of Mr. How Sweet.
Next came the quinoa, because while I thought I could deal with all of that spinach alone… I really couldn’t.
So in went the beans and the grains.
As a side note, you should know that I fried more bacon than should be legally allowed this past weekend. It was wonderful.
And this was quite delicious!
Even if I did pick out every other piece of spinach. It happens.
Now there is a large container of this in my fridge for meals and side dishes and I have the best of intentions. Hopefully I won’t find it hiding out behind the mac and cheese and cheesecake in three weeks.
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Warm White Bean and Spinach Salad
serves 2-4
2 slices bacon, chopped
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 6-ounce bag of spinach (I used a little more too)
1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup cooked quinoa
Heat a skillet on medium heat and add chopped bacon. Fry until golden brown, then remove bacon with a slotted spoon and let drain on a paper towel. Add onions and mushrooms and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and spinach (I leave the stems on, I don’t mind them) and stir for 2-3 minutes, until spinach is wilted. Add in beans and quinoa. Turn off heat and stir in bacon. Serve as a main entree or side dish.
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And in case you’re wondering, the cake batter crispy treats lasted 4 hours. I should probably go eat some spinach for breakfast.
I’m Jessica and this is where I share my stuff. You will find a balance of healthy recipes, comfort food and indulgent desserts.
That looks awesome!
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Love the combination of all the different textures and flavors- definitely makes eating spinach more tolerable:-)
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Who are we kidding? Almost everything tastes better cooked in bacon grease! This salad looks amazing.
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 12:32 pm
Very true.
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This may be what convinces my guys to eat quinoa! They look at me like I am crazy any time I want to serve it to them. It looks delicious!
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 12:31 pm
I’d be so impressed! I don’t think I would have touched this as their age.
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This looks so delicious & fresh! Even with the bacon :)
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This salad looks great! Can’t go wrong with spinach and white beans, and with the addition of bacon and its grease makes it even better!
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So delicious! :) I love creating clean out the fridge meals. But mine never look this good!
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Such a great, healthy salad recipe – even with that bacon ;)
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I am legitimately going to love on this recipe sometime this week (minus the bacon grease but I’ll pretend I didn’t say that so you still love me).
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 1:09 pm
You break my heart!
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Trust you to make bacon look delicious. Bacon, sprinkles, and cake batter – the necessities of life.
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This looks wonderful. And the different recipe remixes you could come up with are endless… I bet it would also taste amazing with kale instead of spinach… throw in a handful of dried cranberries for a little savory-sweet kick and you’d have yourself a par-tay!
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 1:08 pm
Dried fruit sounds good! Though I couldn’t handle kale. I’m a big baby.
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Bacon makes everything better! =D
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I think you should do a bacon tutorial. That would be awesome.
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 1:08 pm
I think I’d eat it all before I could finish.
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I need to make this for dinner. tonight. NEED.
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I’m not normally one to say, “Yum,” about spinach, but…yum! Cover green, leafy things from my fridge with cheese or bacon and I’m game :)
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I’m always curious about the brand of bacon you use. Mine NEVER looks as delicious as yours!
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 1:18 pm
I seriously buy a different brand every week! This one is Giant Eagle Nature’s Basket All Natural Hickory Smoked – store brand.
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The fact that there is spinach in this automatically makes it healthy. The presence of anything green negates the bacon. Grease-schmease.
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 1:17 pm
Right on!
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This looks absolutely wonderful!! and you’re right about the bacon – obviously. :) The other day, the 5 Ingredient Fix Show – did a bacon (slab!), egg and frisee salad that looked amazing…mostly because it was just obviously an excuse to eat awesome bacon and eggs – and deem it a little healthy with the greens and shallots.
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 1:17 pm
That sounds insanely delicious!
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Your dislike of veggies always makes me laugh :) Glad the bacon made this dish a little more edible ;) Great combo of flavors. Would make a nice party side dish too!
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I love this combo when I order it from restaurants!
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I’m one of those weird types that loves spinach on its own but this is like spinach all sexed up!! Sounds tasty Jess!
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Mmm mmm, tasty looking salad. I love warm spinach thrown in a salad. Awesome idea.
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Love the different textures, this dish looks amazing! Adding it to my must try recipes.
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This looks ‘green’ enough that you can add as much bacon as you want without detracting from the healthiness.
;-)
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This looks delicious! I can see this being added to my meal plan very soon!
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oh my goodness. I need to make this. But without beans.
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This looks wonderful, Jess! I actually love all of those veggies on their own, hehe.
I am making something very “you” today. I’ll have to wait and see the turnout, but if it turns out well, you’ll squeal when you see.
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 8:08 pm
I can’t wait!!
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You had me at bacon! Seriously, I have been making recipes with bacon for the past three days! I made a pasta dish with wild mushrooms and bacon (YUM!), and last night I made your Clams Casino linguine…to die for! My family loved it! Bacon makes the world go ’round!
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 8:08 pm
I knew there was a reason we got along so well! :) Glad you liked the linguine!
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omg that looks so fresh and inviting. definitely gonna try it.
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This salad looks delicious!
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Bacon makes everything better, truly! Looks delicious
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this looks awesome. I love the combination of spinach and white beans!
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Looks fantastic! I have been on the hunt for some new quinoa recipes…love the idea of adding beans!
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This looks delicious! I have been craving spinach lately!
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I am so going to make this! Except I might use a different bean – like maybe chick peas. I am trying to make myself life beans but its a slow process haha recipes like this make them look so good though!
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Meaghan — February 21st, 2011 @ 2:50 pm
*like!!! Not life lol. Apparently I’m still not quite awake :P
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 8:07 pm
You can’t go wrong if you pair beans with bacon!
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Bacon makes the world go round. :-)
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I have a love/hate relationship with baby spinach. I like it in smoothies and usually cooked, but the second it starts to even go close to the expiration date, it tastes like straight up ass.
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 8:07 pm
Totally agree!
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Marking this one to try soon. I’m good with everything there…except the mushrooms. But you understand food aversions. =)
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 8:07 pm
My dad says mushrooms are a fungus – not a food.
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I have a strange love for quinoa. And cous cous. I keep thinking about this veggie “burger” I had in NYC with both of them and some other stuff and wishing I could remake it. Perhaps a vegetarian challenge for you, miss bacon?
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 8:07 pm
I’ve never had a veggie burger in my life… but I’ve wanted to make one!
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This looks great!
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that looks divine! You know I’m with you on the bacon. :)
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We’re totally on the same wavelength, I was craving something very similar the other night and whipped it right up. Such a comforting meal…
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I am salivating over this. Must. make. asap.
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I am a firm believer that the best things in life begin with bacon and this salad is no different. It looks delish!
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good recipe to have. It looks great and I know so many of my family would like this one. :)
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I love finding new sides. Thanks for the idea!
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I still can’t do onions – yet my daughter loves them. Ew! But I think I would love this dish sans the onions – thanks for the idea. :D
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Whenever my mom makes my brother dinner, he neatly eats around the veggies. It becomes veggie map on a dinner plate!
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 8:06 pm
I think he and I would get along well.
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So clean and simple. What a great salad idea. I don’t work with quinoa nearly enough!
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Ellie@fitforthesoul — February 21st, 2011 @ 7:51 pm
I agree! Once again Jess! You did it. Simple and great ingredients.
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 8:05 pm
I think it would be good with rice or couscous too!
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What is that wonderful pot you are using to wilt spinach?
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Jessica — February 21st, 2011 @ 8:05 pm
Just a calphalon skillet!
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