"More is More" Spinach Artichoke Dip

I had a string of roommate disasters my first 2 years in college. All of those stereotypes that you read or hear jokes about probably fit one of my roommates (my sophomore year in particular). So, my parents, after being really, really patient decided that it was probably just me and that I needed to live alone because even Jack the Ripper would be better than the girls I found to live with! So, I lived by myself for one semester of my junior year and then a girl that I was friendly with, but not really friends with, called. She was moving into the apartment complex where I was living and did I want to abandon my one bedroom to be her roommate? And, I suppose the stars aligned because my parents thought that it was a great idea. And they lived happily ever after . . . Well, as college girls are wont to do, we had to have the most perfect apartment and my roommate was quite a "nester." She managed to fit almost all of our combined belongings in that apartment and we thought it was the cutest thing ever. I remember my dad came to visit (and he could never understand why I needed anything more than a desk, a lamp, and a mattress) and he walked in and he said well, more is more. Not exactly words of praise from my dad but Lauren & I liked it and many great times were had in that apartment.

Whenever I think about "more is more" (as opposed to "less is more" -- incidentally, one of my Dad's favorite aphorisms) I think of that apartment. And this Spinach Artichoke Dip definitely falls under the "more is more" heading. If a little cream cheese is good, more is better. Same for sour cream, cheese, spinach, all of it. More is more here. It's delicious! I don't like mayonnaise so I don't put in any mayo but I'm sure you could if you were so inclined. It's made on the stovetop and that way you can just spoon it into a bowl and eat it at well. And, as I told myself and the others who were eating it on Sunday, it's got spinach in it so it's good for you. Hey, it made me feel better, ok?

Spinach Artichoke Dip

2 packages of frozen spinach, thawed and drained as much as possible
2 jars of marinated artichoke hearts, roughly chopped
2 blocks of cream cheese (I think that reduced fat is fine)
~8 oz sour cream
~8 oz shredded cheese (I used white cheddar this time)
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped or minced
1/2 an onion, finely diced
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil or butter
Tortilla chips, french bread slices, or crackers for serving

Heat olive oil or butter (as much or little as you'd like) in the bottom of a heavy saucepan. Add onion and sautee until transparent. Add garlic and cook for a little bit longer, about 1 minute. Add spinach and artichoke hearts and stir to combine. Add cream cheese and sour cream and cook until hot, about 5-10 minutes. Be sure and stir this frequently so that you don't have some of this goo attaching to the bottom of your pan! When the spinach mixture and the cheese-cream mixture have thoroughly combined and are hot, add the cheese and stir to combine. At this point it should look gooey and delicious! Add plenty of salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl and dig in!