1. I prepared this dish with fresh spinach (and arugula when I ran out of spinach) instead of frozen/canned because it has more nutrients.
2. I used Trader Joe’s Fat Free Feta Cheese which tastes just as delicious!
3. I substituted a low fat goat cheese (possibly also from Trader Joe’s) for ricotta cheese (ok, well that was mainly because I didn’t have ricotta cheese at home).
4. Using my olive oil sprayer, I was able to cut down on the amount of olive oil, and spritzed inbetween every other layer of phyllo dough instead of spraying each layer.

Spinach Pie

Yield 4-6 servings

3 tablespoons of olive oil
¼ large onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
12 ounces of fresh spinach
4 ouces of fresh arugula
¼ cup parsley
1 tsp of pepper
1 egg
1 cup feta cheese
½ cup goat cheese (crumbled)
8 sheets of phyllo dough

1. Prepare a 9×9 pan (spray with olive oil) and preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet.
3. Sautee onion and garlic until lightly browned.
4. Reduce to low heat and slowly add in spinach and arugula mixing until condensed and wilted.
5. In a large bowl combine parsley, pepper, egg, and cheeses.
6. Mix spinach and arugula into cheese mixture.
7. Unroll phyllo dough (be careful not to break it). Line the bottom of the pan with 2 sheets of phyllo dough.
8. Lightly spray with olive oil and layer 2 more sheets of phyllo dough on top.
9. Spread spinach and cheese mixture evenly over phyllo dough.
10. Cover spinach and cheese mixture with 2 sheets of phyllo dough.
11. Lightly spray with olive oil and layer 2 more sheets of phyllo dough on top.
12. Run fingers around the edge of the pan tucking phyllo dough around the spinach, sealing the dough. 
13. Bake for 30 minutes at 350° F.

Healthier & Many Substitutions!
H&M

Cake Pops

4 large Styrofoam blocks
75 lollypop sticks
Variety of sprinkles (we used about 5 jars of sprinkles)
3 packages of candy melts (we bought:  white, dark chocolate, and pink  – it’s a girl!)
75 baggies and baggy ties

1. Make Double Vanilla Confetti Cake and Vanilla Bean Frosting.
2. Allow cake to cool and then crumble in a large bowl.
3. Using a spatula combine frosting and cake crumbs to the consistency of dough. 
4. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
5. Roll cake mixture into 1 inch balls and place on cookie sheet. 
6. Put in freezer for at least 1 hour.
7. Place candy melts in a microwave safe bowl and cook for 45 seconds, stir and then cook another 30 seconds (or until melted).
8. Set up decorating area with Styrofoam blocks, bowls of sprinkles, melted candy melts and lollypop sticks. 
9. Dip lollypop stick in candy melts. 
10. Stick lollypop ½ inch into cake ball. 
11. Apply a thin coat of candy melt to cake ball. 
12. Decorate with sprinkles. 
13. Place in Styrofoam. 
14. Wrap in mini baggies and baggy ties. 

Happy Motherhood!

H&M

Double Vanilla Confetti Cake

1 2/3 cups sugar
¾ cup butter, room temperature
4 large egg whites
1 whole large egg
1 cup buttermilk
½ vanilla bean
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 ½ cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup colored Jimmies

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Prepare a 9×13 inch pan by coating with a thin layer of butter and flour.
3. Cut open vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds. 
4. Place the seeds, empty bean, and the buttermilk in a small saucepan over low heat. Lightly simmer for 2 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and allow to cool while beginning cake.
6. In a mixer combine butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
7. Add the egg whites one at a time, then the whole egg. Beating for 30 seconds and scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl after each is added.
8. In a separate bowl, sift flour and combine with baking powder, salt, and Jimmies.
9. Add vanilla extract to buttermilk.
10. Remove empty vanilla bean from buttermilk.
11. Slow add buttermilk mixture and flour mixture alternately to the butter mixer while mixer is on low. 
12. Mix until just incorporated. 
13. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick can be inserted into cake and remove cleanly. Allow to cool before frosting. Or if using for cake pops, see Cake Pop recipe. 

Vanilla Bean Frosting

8 ounces whipped cream cheese, room temperature
4 tablespoons butter, room temperature
½ cup powdered sugar
½ vanilla bean
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Whip cream cheese and butter in mixer until light and fluffy.
2. Add in seeds from vanilla bean, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar.
3. Mix until thoroughly blended. 

Homemade & Mixed recipes

H&M