This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ChooseSmart #CollectiveBias Jalapeno Cheese & Spinach Dip Recipe: Baked In Onion Bagel Bowls + Bagel Chips

The other day my friend told me she is tired of working all week only to have her earnings “already spent” by the time she gets paid. This is a conversation I’ve had with many moms. My immediate response was, “it’s the food!” You all know how much I love to cook for my family, but I pay careful attention to the cost of cooking their meals and snacks! My friend asked me to help her redo her budget and give her a Couponing 101 course. The most important step in getting control of your budget is to know what things really cost. Food is often one of the top three expenses for families. It’s also one of the few necessary expenses that can still be cut down. Smart shopping can save you money you didn’t know you have! This delicious Jalapeno Cheese & Spinach Dip could have cost me 50% more if I’d shopped at an expensive grocery store. Instead, this whole recipe cost me about $6.00. I shopped at Smart & Final. Did you know they take coupons, too? Yep! Check out their coupon policy. Knowing a store’s coupon policy will help you avoid errors when calculating potential costs and savings. This is the perfect dish to bring to a Summer Potluck. Everyone will be asking for your “secret recipe.”

Smart & Final was already a favorite place to shop. I never have long waits in line. It’s clean, organized, and their store Brand products, First Street, Ambiance, La Romanella, Cattleman’s Finest are delicious! In this difficult economy, Smart & Final is actually re-branding and growing, because they are giving their customers what they want. For example, you can now use Instacart to have your order delivered right to you! You will even get $5 off and free delivery with this promo code: SMART5. 

Smart & Final has announced the launch of its new branding campaign which will place the ampersand (“&”) – already in the 144-year old company’s name – front and center to showcase the company’s relationship with both its customers and the communities it serves. The roll out will include print, radio, television and outdoor advertising in select markets and digital outreach now through July 3rd. The new campaign aims to tell the story of what the value-oriented food and staples retailer has become through its growth initiatives and will highlight the company’s heritage.

“Smart & Final has a rich history and commitment of inclusion. The ampersand signifies many different components of our company includ-ing the partnership between our founders Mr. Smart & Mr. Final, treating our customers like friends & neighbors and serving as a warehouse & market,” said Smart & Final Chief Marketing Officer, Eleanor Hong. “We are re-branding to ensure customers know who we are, what we offer and what we stand for so that they can choose Smart & Final as their primary shopping destination.”

For the remainder of 2015, Smart & Final is scheduled to open 16 additional Smart & FinalExtra! stores including three store conversions. Check out their new commercial!

How about that recipe?!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Hollow out the tops of 6 (one bag) First Street onion bagels to create your bagel bowls. I use a small melon baller.

Carefully slice the bottoms of the bagels into 3-4 rings per bottom.

Chop 1/2 yellow onion, 2 stemmed & seeded jalapenos, 1 seeded tomato, and mince 1 garlic clove. Wash and chop 1 bunch of fresh spinach. Set jalapenos aside in a bowl for stirring. Sautee the onion in olive oil until almost translucent. Add the tomatoes and garlic. Continue to sautee until the onions are translucent. Set aside in the bowl. Heat the spinach until wilted. Cool shortly. Squeeze to drain and add to bowl. Add salt & pepper to taste. (optional) Stir.

Add 1 cup of First Street mayonnaise, 1 cup of First Street shredded cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup of La Romanella parmesan cheese, and 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce to bowl. Stir. Fill bagel bowls with mixture. Put remaining mixture into a small oven safe baking dish. Toss bagel chip circles with olive oil. Bake bagel bowls & reserve mixture for about 30 minutes. At the same time, bake the bagel chips. THEY ARE DONE WHEN THEY START TO TURN GOLDEN, 20 – 25 minutes. Top bagel bowls with fresh diced tomatoes and sprinkle with both cheeses. (optional)

These were so good! Remember the friend I was telling you about? I wanted to share some with her but they’re already gone. I guess I’m making another batch! Keep up with the exciting rebranding of Smart & Final by connecting with them on FACEBOOK and TWITTER.

Download the recipe…

What is your favorite Summer Potluck recipe? If you loved this, please show us by sharing and telling us in the comments!

By: Alicia Gonzalez