Fudge cakes (low carb/no sugar)

If you aren't allergic to tree nuts, we've found that almond meal (almond flour) is a wonderful substitute for flour in making muffins & dessert breads.  My husband is diabetic (insulin-dependent) and has found that his blood sugar levels aren't really affected after eating a muffin. Or two... :)

Heat oven to 350º and line standard sized cupcake/muffin pans with paper liners.  This recipe made 16.

In a bowl, mix together:
2 large eggs
1/3 c lite sour cream
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
4 T vegetable oil
1 T honey
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Stir in:
4 T cocoa powder
pinch of salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 C almond meal (Trader Joe's is the best @$5.99 LB, which is half the price of meal purchased elsewhere)

If you like, stir in a handful or 2 of sliced almonds or chopped nuts, dried cherries or Craisins... before spooning into papers.

Fill the papers 1/2 way and bake for 20-25 minutes.  Test center with toothpick to make sure they're baked thoroughly.

Remove from pan & cool on wire rack.

Spinach Pie

This is my version of a deconstructed kind of spanakopita - it's easy as PIE (pun intended) and delicious!

Heat the oven to 375º. 
Have 4-6 sheets of filo leaves defrosted and covered, ready to use.

In an ovenproof 12"  skillet, heat 8 T butter and once it's melted, remove 2-3 T to a small bowl to use later.
In the remaining butter on medium heat, saute:
1 cup minced onion
2 cloves minced garlic
2 cups chopped mushrooms (I used standard button mushrooms but any type would be good)

Saute for 10-15 minutes, until wilted, but not browned.  To this, add 16 oz. chopped fresh baby spinach (If you're using frozen chopped spinach, defrost and squeeze ALL the liquid out) and stir, cooking another 5 minutes.  Spoon this mixture into a mixing bowl.

To the spinach mixture, stir in 3 beaten eggs,  1-1/2 cups ricotta cheese (I used whole & not skim), 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese, 1/4 tsp. fresh minced dill, 1/2 tsp. fresh minced marjoram and S&P to taste.  Add a dash of nutmeg if you like (I don't like).  

Return to skillet making sure you leave some space against the edge of the pan.
Cut the filo leaves in half.  Take one at a time and brush it with melted butter - then layer it onto the spinach mixture.  Do this one at a time (butter side down) and when they're covering the spinach (overlapping onto one another) finish up by tucking the ends under the spinach at the edge of the pan.  Messy and uneven is fine! :)

Bake for 40-45 minutes, or a bit longer if you like the pastry darker.  Remove, cook a bit and cut into wedges.