Black Beans and Chocolate

I have selected another Pinterest posting of a recipe. That being said I may have been the one that posted it or I may have found it there,  I can't remember since I read that blog anyways - ohhh well.


This morning for Sunday breakfast I decided to make Vegan Black Bean Brownie Pancakes. This recipe is from My Little Celebration.  


This is my first time using a flax egg as well, interesting process.  This recipe isn't really clear on how to use the flax egg since it calls for:


1 flax egg [1 Tbsp. flaxseed meal + 2/5 Tbsp. water]   I think it means 2 - 5 tbsp of water rather then 2/5th of a tbsp of water, which my original interpretation of it.  But the interwebs saved me on this one.


I also put in too much salt which may have made it a little bitter, but I don't know.  The kids weren't too fond of them but then again my kids generally eat regular whole wheat pancakes with egg and milk in it and pancake syrup on the top.  So although they are generally good eaters, I am pleased to say that they tried them but unfortunately they weren't impressed by them.  I might make them again for guest who might be of the vegan persuasion but we will see.  I will give them one  more go in the future to see if they get any better.

Someone was helping in the kitchen.  They were both beside me in the kitchen earlier making it hard to work since they wanted to touch everything.  Sometimes that is easier then others.  The real problem is that they fight to get closer so that ends up in a screaming match with some pushing and if I'm lucky some pinching or biting :)

This is a food processor recipe which makes it loud for little ears which is why they left.

I transferred it into another bowl for easy scooping. 

After some trial and error, I found that the non-stick pan had to be only slightly greased and the pancakes had to go from glossy and wet to

dried and matte.  The first few followed the directions and were difficult to turn over and still rather raw even when crispy on both sides and these aren't thick pancakes at all.

Little Misses favorite part was the whipped cream that I added to it.  Not Vegan but then again neither are we :)

Here is the finished pile of pancakes.  They do look like brownies, I will have to try them again with less salt.  Interesting concept and I will probably try the actual Vegan Black Bean Brownies as well

Brownies from Heaven :)

I grew up having the best brownies in the world.  I didn't know this at the time but with all the brownies out there, my mother made the best.  They are also rather weird.  I have only made them a couple times and the first time that I did make them, I ignored the "Cover when cool and set aside overnight to mature." line in the recipe.  Wow, I was shocked at how bland they tasted and I thought that was the worst thing ever since I remember these being absolutely fabulous brownies.  So the next day when I actually finished making the brownies and adding the fudgey icing and OMG it was the best thing on earth.  I decided to forgo the unsalted butter and just use saltIed butter this time since I remember it required a bit more salt so I had added a bit of crunchy salt on top of the icing to just send it over the top in greatness.

So decided to makes these delicious goodies for Monday's dinner.  I did forget that I only have 9"x9" square pan so the brownies turned out a little thinner that I like them, what I usually do is double the recipe and put it in the 11"x13" pan.  

Brownies

Recipe courtesy of my mum,

Brownies

4 oz Unsweetened Chocolate

1/4 lb (4 oz, 1/2cup) Butter

1 1/4 plus 3 tbsp Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

3 large Eggs

3/4 cup All-Purpose Flour

Fudgy Frosting

1 1/2 oz Unsweetened Chocolate, melted

1/4 cup Sugar

1/4 cup Evaporated Milk

16 Pecan halves (Optional, really optional since I believe that Brownies should not contain nuts, although these are decorative for the top and are almost tolerated.)

-Preheat oven 350. butter or line 8"x8" square pan

-In a double boiler, melt butter and chocolate, set aside for 5 minutes.

-In a bowl beat together chocolate and sugar 1-2 minutes until the mixture is completely combined.  Add vanilla, and lightly beaten eggs and mix only until combined.

-Add flour and beat until mixture is totally blended and has a shiny velvety look, 1 minute or less.

-Spread batter evenly over the prepared pan and bake 20-25 minutes.  Bake until a very thin crust forms on the top and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.  DO NOT OVER BAKE.

-Cool in pan on rack to room temp. COVER WHEN COOL AND SET ASIDE OVERNIGHT TO MATURE *this is very important*

Frosting:

-In a blender combine the melted chocolate, sugar and evaporated milk.  Blend for 3-5 minutes until the mixture is smooth and shiny (the sound of the blender will change when the mixture is ready)

-Frost brownies with a thin layer of icing.  To serve cut into 16-2" pieces and top with pecan, if desired.

I use a bowl over a pot of simmering water instead of an actual double boiler pot.  That way there is only one dish to clean.

Here is all the chocolate and butter melted and cooling

In with the sugar. 

The eggs have been added and the mixture is almost complete, all it needs is the flour.

With only a few crumbs on the toothpick it was ready to take out of the oven at around 20 minutes.

Here is my rather thin brownie.  It is still moist and fudgy but I think I will have to pick up a 8"x8" square pan.  I have also sprinkled the top with Himalayan Pink Salt. 

Chocolate Salty Balls.

Ok, they aren't really salty but I couldn't resist making that a title.  These are my first attempt at raw brownies and boy are they good.

Very simple and quick to put together.

Raw Brownies

3 cups Walnuts

1/4 tsp Salt

20 Dates

2/3 cup Cocoa Powder

1 tsp Vanilla

*In a food processor wuzz the Walnuts and the salt until it is a fine crumb.

*Then add remaining ingredients until the mixture starts to ball up in the machine. (I had to add 2 more dates since it was a little dry and didn't really want to stick together well)

*Using a small scoop, form balls and then roll them between your hands until they are the desired shape.  (Obviously, I chose balls)

The walnuts are chopped to a fine crumb, I scrapped the bowl a couple time to stop it from turning the bottom into walnut butter. Th

I added the dates. but wait there's more.

I also added the cocoa and vanilla.

Doesn't that look so chocolatey

Here is the finished product.