Cheese and Spinach Puffs ♥ Recipe Redux Sponsored Dairy + Oats Recipe Contest

Who doesn't walk into the kitchen to search out a snack to tame our hunger before dinner. No reason to buy those frozen bags of fried 'surprise' meat or vegetables, just make you own with healthy and wholesome ingredients.

Sure these puffs a loaded with spinach and corn but they have a secret ingredient that really helps get the good into the body. Kids will gulp these down without a second thought. Whatever you do, do not tell them there are oats inside dem dare nuggets.
Yup, whole grain oats.

“By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by National Dairy Council and the Quaker Oats Center of Excellence and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.”

The National Dairy Council and Quaker Oats Center of Excellence have partnered with The Recipe Redux to sponsor a contest to get the word out that Oats + Dairy make a powerful combo for you and your family. It's a sad fact but most Americans do not get their daily serving recommendation of either. Surprised that dairy is up there? I was, but the more I thought about it the more it made sense. People will reach for soda, flavored waters and sports drinks before they grab a carton.

If this sounds familiar at your house, maybe we need to show you the other ways to get the whole grains and dairy into every one's diet. Those people at the National Dairy Council and Quaker Oats Center of Excellence know what they are doing. Now it's our turn to pass it on to you.

In a nutshell, Oats + Milk = Protein + Fiber + 9 Key Nutrients. That's a pretty big deal. don't you think.
We all have heard how oatmeal is a Super Food. Oatmeal made with milk is a Power Meal.

I like to feel that those moms who sneak vegetables into dishes without anyone being the wiser, already have 1 up on the rest of us. But what about whole grains? Did you know that foods made with whole wheat flour is not the same as foods made with whole grains? Whole wheat provides fiber but no more nutrients than regular all-purpose flour.

Whole grains can control blood glucose for diabetics and prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. Pretty cool, huh? Whole grains also contain nutrients that  keep your blood in tip-top shape and help strengthen your bones. Also, and this is my favorite, it's high in Vitamin A which humans need to protect your eyes. No more supplements needed, just eat oats. Dairy is perfect for calcium (your bones) and don't forget those pearly whites. Time to save money on dentist bills.
Put dairy + oats in the same room and you can feel the mood change.
Hey, digestion is important. No one wants a sour tummy.

Brings me to these snack puffs. You've probably seen those tailgating sausage balls around Pinterest. These taste just as good without all the fat and totally healthy. There is one recommended dairy serving of both dairy+oats in 5 of these spinach & cheese puffs. Pretty cool, huh?

Best part? When the kids get home from school with all their football buddies, bake off a batch of these puppies and fill 'em up with goodness. 
Takes 10 minutes to prepare, can be frozen in plastic containers and when the mood hits, 12 minutes to bake. I like to serve these with mustard or a flavorful horseradish sauce. Place a platter of these on the table and watch them disappear.
What a great snack appetizer!

Cheese and Spinach Puffs
makes 50 (1-inch) balls - 5 per serving
* 1 (10oz) package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and spoon pressed in a sieve
* 1 small sweet onion, grated
* 2 slightly beaten extra-large eggs
* 1 cup (65g) grated Colby & Jack cheese or cheddar
* 1/2 cup (10g) grated Romano cheese
* 2/3 cup (50g) quick cooking whole grain oats
* 1/3 cup yogurt blue cheese salad dressing
* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
* 1 (7-8oz) boxed corn muffin mix, your favorite choice

1. Defrost the spinach and squeeze the water using a linen kitchen towel. Grate the onion and using the same towel, squeeze the water from the onions.
2. In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well.
3. Shape into 1-inch balls using a small scoop and arrange on a baking sheet. Cover and chill till serving time (place in a freezer container; seal; label and freeze).

4. To serve, place chilled or frozen puffs on a prepared baking sheet. Bake in a 350° oven 10-12 minutes for chilled puffs or 12-15 minutes for frozen puffs until light brown.
Serve with a dairy-based dipping sauce or spicy mustard.

Variations: Add minced ham, bacon or pork sausage meat. Add feta or caso blanco instead of the Romano and a spoonful of chopped pimientos for a Tex-Mex flair.

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