Iowa - The Hawkeye State, State flower: The Wild Rose

1. Leek and Pig Tail Soup
2. Iowa Slaw
3. Roast Goose with Bread Dumplings
4. Bread Dumplings
5. Baked Spinach and Tomatoes
6. Whole Wheat Nut Bread
7. Sour Cream Pie

Baked Spinach and Tomatoes - Serves 4 to 6

2 10oz packages (10oz frozen spinach, cook to package directions
1 Tbsp lemon juice
¼ cup sour cream
¼ lb fresh mushrooms
2 Tbsp butter
2 large ripe tomatoes
5 to 6 Tbsp grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Thin slices mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375º.

Sprinkle cooked spinach with lemon juice, stir in sour cream, set aside. If mushrooms are very small, leave whole. Otherwise, remove stems and quarter.

Using a sauté pan, melt butter and sauté mushrooms for 5 minutes, just long enough to soften. Fold into spinach.

Slice the tomatoes about ¼" thick. Put spinach mushroom mixture in a 1-½ qt casserole. Sprinkle lightly with grated cheese, cover with layer of tomato slices, half the salt, a few pepper grinds and more grated cheese. Repeat process using all the tomatoes and all the remaining grated cheese. Top with enough sliced mozzarella to seal.

Bake for about 30 minutes until vegetables bubble and mozzarella is golden.

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