black bean brownie

I needed a chocolate brownie fix fast the other day= so I desperatly searched the internet to find something that would subdue my sweet tooth. I've been wanting to try a black bean brownie for a while so I decided that now was the time.

Black Bean Brownies adapted from here

Pull from the cupboard...

• 1 19 oz (540 mL) can black beans, drained and rinsed 
• 1/2 cup sugar 
• 2 large eggs 
•  1/3 cup butter, melted 
• 1/4 cup cocoa 
• 2 tsp. vanilla 
• 1/4 tsp. salt 
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional... and Don't include if you aren't eating sugar!)
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional) 

What to do...

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the black beans, sugar, eggs, melted butter, cocoa, vanilla and salt in the bowl of a food processor and blend until smooth, pulsing and scraping down the sides of the bowl to ensure all the beans are completely pureed. 
2. Remove the blade and gently stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts. 
3. Pour into an 8″x8″ pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. 
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until slightly puffed and set. 
5. Cool before cutting into squares.

Things to think about:

1. In the end it was a great texture- kinda melt in your mouth but it tastes a little like black beans. I think I'd add more coco and maybe put a cream cheese icing or almond butter on top?
2. I don't know why but a lot of healthy recipes i'm finding have a lot of salt... I think I would cut down the ammount even on this recipe. 

Flax Crackers

I was experimenting in the kitchen again and needed a chip like substitute: Flax Crackers was the answer to that dilemma. 

They turned out great so I offered some to my roommate who is a meat and potatoes kind of girl *(not a make weird healthy kinda food)  and her response was...  

"They taste like they are store bought!". Translation= this recipe is a keeper!

They actually are a great substitute for pita chips!

Pull from the cupboard:

•  1 cup flaxsee meal
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 C water
• 1/3 C Parmsan Cheese greated

What to do:

1. Head oven to 400 deg. 
2. Mix all ingredients together. 
3. Cover pan with parchment paper.
4. Spread mixture on parchment paper. 
5. Place another piece of parchment on top of spread and roll out spread until about 1/8 inch thick. *Be sure spread is even other wise it won't bake properly.
6.  Remove top sheet of parchment paper. 
7. Bake for 15-18 min, or until centre is no longer soft. 
8. Let cool and break into pieces.

Things I'd do next time:

• DON'T add the salt!
• Try different seasonings!
• Pre-cut the spread so they are shaped more like crackers when you break them.

enjoy!
[k]

Fill up with Flax bread:

Over the past few days I've been surviving off of some lovely Green Curry Broccoli  (green curry with coconut milk, with onions, cooked through with broccoli- soooo good! SO SPICY! I love spice!)
But to add to this wonderful creation I added a side dish of bread! Don't get too excited there is NO flour in this bread... only ground flax!

Focaccia Bread:
   Pull from the cupboard...

• 2 C  ground Flax
• 1 tsp  baking soda
• 1/2 tsp  cream of tartar (I didn't have any so i dubbled the ammount with lemmon juice!)
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp xylitol
• 5 eggs, whisked
• 1/2 C  water
• 1/3 C   olive oil

  What to do...

1.  Mix together ground flax, baking soda, and cream of tartar or lemon juice, and salt
2. In a small bowl add eggs, xylitol, water and oil
3. Mix wet and dry together - then let stand for 2-3 minutes till batter thickens
4. Pour batter into a 9x9 baking dish
5. Bake at 350 for 20 min until knife comes out clean
6. Remove from the oven and cool

then... ENJOY - but beware flax is a good thing but in small quantities.

[k]