Category: Baking

Too Good To Be True?

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Yes it is too good to be true.  I should have known.

I saw a ringing endorsement for this recipe on Peas and Thank You, a blog that I love.  It was for vegan brownies with black beans in them.  The claim was that you wouldn’t even realize that there were black beans in the brownies.  I, of course, ignored Mama Pea’s advice on altering the recipe by adding several ingredients including chocolate chips.  I should have listened to her, she is wise.  Instead I foolishly went forward with the original recipe.

This was not an easy process for me.  I gathered the ingredients, some more unique than others.  And hauled out my mother’s food processor since I was at her house (I don’t have a food processor).  I failed to remember, however, that my mother’s food processor is from a time in history long before I was born.  Getting it off the shelf in the pantry and bringing it to the counter was a workout in itself.

A moment for the Cuisinart

Remember that scene in Zoolander when the two male models are trying to figure out how to get the files from the computer and they basically turn into primates dancing around the computer and hitting it?  That’s what I was reminded of as I was trying to work this Cuisinart.  After the initial struggle, I managed to get the ingredients blended together in a uniform fashion and poured the batter into the baking pan.

Even though I went into this with optimistic ideas about the recipe, this step was a red flag for me because as I swiped a sample of the batter, I doubted the magic of the oven would make significant improvements.  But I gave it a go to see if the oven could prove me wrong.

It didn’t.  I won’t say that the brownies were bad, but they weren’t good.  They did not taste like brownies, you could certainly detect the black beans, and they weren’t sweet at all.  That was partially my fault because I did not add the optional sugar, but I was going on good faith that I didn’t need it.

My main issue with the recipe was that if I’m indulging in a brownie, I would like it to taste indulgent.  I am not interested in consuming frivolous calories that are not spectacular tasting, unless they have specific health benefits.  I feel like these don’t serve either purpose, so these brownies were a miss for me.  Try the recipe, and form your own opinion.  I’m thinking Mama Pea’s version might be a good variation to try out in the future.

Low Fat Vegan Black Bean Brownies

From Happy Herbivore

Yields on 8×8 square pan

Ingredients

  • 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 whole bananas
  • ⅓ cup agave nectar
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 Tbs cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup raw sugar (optional) (recommended, especially if your bananas aren’t brown)
  • ¼ cup instant oats

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 350, and prepare 8×8 square pan.
  2. Buzz together all ingredients in food processor, except for the oats.
  3. Fold in the oats.  Pour batter into pan.

    lick the spoon at your own risk…
  4. Bake for 30 minutes or until tester comes out clean.

Have you ever tried a “healthy” recipe with the best intentions, only to be let down?

Keeping It Cool

Sadie3 Comments

I have a little bit of an internal conflict going on right now.  It’s summer time right now, so when it gets hot, who wants to turn on the oven, right?  You’re not looking for extra heat in the kitchen.  And frankly, why bake something sweet when you can just hit the ice cream stand down the road?

I love no bake dessert options, but sometimes it makes me uneasy that something so good could be so easy.  I spend the rest of the year slaving over baked goods with multiple steps and several ingredients, and all of sudden I can combine 3-4 ingredients, throw them in the fridge for an hour, and I have an irresistible dessert.  It makes my typical effort seem completely unnecessary.

These are the stupid things that stress me out…

Anyway, here’s to less thinking, fewer ingredients, and a cool solution for a great summer treat:

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

yields 16-20 bars depending on th size you slice, from Bakerlady

Ingredients

  • 1 cup melted butter (2 sticks)
  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 cup + 4 Tbs Peanut Butter (smooth or chunky)
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or one bag (12 oz) which is probably closer to 2 cups

Method

  1. Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with parchment.
  2. Combine melted butter, crumbs, sugar, and 1 cup of peanut butter in a bowl.  Mix until the dough is a uniform sandy mixture.
  3. Press mixture evenly into the parchment lined pan.  Spread out with an offset spatula if you have one.
  4. Melt the chocolate chips with the 4 Tbs left of peanut butter.  I typically microwave it for 30 sec at a time until mostly melted then I stir until every chip is melted.
  5. Spread the melted chocolate and peanut butter on top of the peanut butter and crumb mixture.  Again, smooth with an offset spatula.
  6. Allow to cool, slice, and enjoy! (if you cool in a fridge, allow the pan to warm up slightly before trying to slice, otherwise it will be difficult to cut, and likely break into pieces)

Wish List

Sadie1 Comment

If my birthday was this month (wink, nudge), the following things would probably make me smile.

1. Silpat (or two):  For three reasons: 1. My name is Sadie and I’m addicted to baking, 2. Silpats make my baking more sustainable, I won’t be throwing away so much parchment, and 3. I can take parchment off the grocery list.

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2. Kitchen Timer:  Simple, yet important.  My oven does not have a timer and it has made for a lot of guessing games.  What time did I put that in?  Should I get up and check the oven?  What time was it when I decided they needed five more minutes?  Is that too burnt to eat/ give to friends to eat?

3.  Macbook: I know, this is a big-ticket item, and I have a PC that I use for school.  But I have a mac for home and it’s starting so show it’s age.  The battery only lasts for an hour if I’m lucky, it’s now closer to off-white, and it gets over heated when I go to Hulu.  I just want a new little silver one that I can play around with.

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4. Smartphone: Because I currently still reside in the dark ages and it’s getting inconvenient.  I’m certainly not the person who waits for the new phone models to come out.  At this point, I just want to be able to check my e-mail and don’t want to have to rely on my friends and family to use their phones to find a restaurant’s phone number when we’re on the go.  iPhone please.

5. Nice Potholder: that doesn’t have menorahs or jack-o-lanterns, and isn’t partially burnt or melted.  Just something that’s pretty and practical, but not cumbersome.  Potholders have tended to be cheesy holiday themed presents to me in the past.

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6. Watch: I like watches.  The bigger and funkier, the better.  This is my current everyday watch, and I’m obsessed with it!

7.  Camera: I know nothing about cameras, but I want one that is better at focusing and dealing with different lighting situations.  But not too complicated.  Whatever that may be.

8. New Rainbow Flip Flops.  I wear them all day, every day (when I’m not at work), and my current pair are starting to show their age.  They’ve had a good five year run, I’m not mad at them.

My Wildest Dream:

Raspberry Ice Kitchenaid Standing Mixer

Few things are this pretty.

I hope I have provided you an option within your price range.   My main rule for presents is no clothing because it will not fit, and to be honest, I probably won’t like it.  And when in doubt: flowers.

Do you have any rules or guidlines for your loved ones when it comes to giving you presents?  What’s on your wish list for the next gift giving holiday on your calendar?