brownies

Aunt Kimbo’s Brownies

This is a perfect recipe for a beginner baker. If you can read, you can make delicious brownies. This is also a perfect recipe for anyone who wants to make a fantastic chocolatey dessert for their friends and family. It’s foolproof. This is just a perfect recipe. Not that long ago I mentioned I had received a recipe card with a wedding shower gift from a family friend. I actually grew up calling her Aunt Kimbo, although technically we are no relation. She is my real aunt’s sister, and we didn’t discriminate. I love that about my childhood. I also love that she took the time to write this down for a young bride-to-be. It is one of, if not the first dessert I made as a newlywed… and still make today.

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1 cup Butter (2 sticks)

4 oz unsweetened Chocolate

2 cups Sugar

4 Eggs

1 cup Flour

2 tsp Vanilla

1 cup Nuts

1 cup Chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°.

Grease a 13 x 9 inch pan, set aside. I love using a paper napkin (or paper towel) and a pat of butter for stuff like this. There are times when spraying a baking dish with non-stick spray makes more sense… to me, now is not one of those times.

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Heat butter and chocolate squares until melted. Using all of your strength, try not to add cream and drink the mixture. (That’s really a note to myself).

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Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Take a big whiff of that chocolate goodness. There are few things that smell this outstanding, and a good portion of life is making sure you enjoy those simple pleasures. Plus, smelling doesn’t actually add calories, so awesome.

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If you have to lick your finger dipped in batter now would be the time, because we are about to add eggs and then it will be too late. Ok, add the eggs, one at a time, beating until blended.

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Stir in the flour, followed by the vanilla and nuts. Now, everything inside of me wanted to add some chopped walnuts this time. (Because really you can add your nut of choice.) And I love balancing all that sugar with some protein and a little Omega 3… But my kids act like I am poisoning them if they see nuts. Ugh. The sacrifices we make for our kids!

Pour the gooey batter into the prepared baking dish.

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 Now spread this glossy goo in an even layer.

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Ok, here is where it gets a little iffy. My organic chocolate chips (which do not expire for months) have started to get a little white coating. I have no problems with this as I know it is completely harmless and edible. I also know that once baked, you won’t see a thing. But if this bothers you… please turn your head away for the next picture(s)! But do note you are going to miss my cute little helpers.

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Bake for 40 minutes. Let cool slightly, or completely before serving… with milk or coffee or hot cocoa…

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The Richmond Avenue’s Black Bean Brownies

I love how Jasmine at The Richmond Avenue can take something that usually holds very little nutritional value and turn it into health food. (That’s what I call it, with complete justification.) In this case incorporating the black beans added protein and fiber. I can honestly say the brownies were moist and tasted like chocolate. So much so that my chocolate lover approved of them, and I felt guilt-free saying he could have them for an after school snack.

As organic as possible (from me as usual)

1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp instant coffee
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup raw sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp honey
1/4 cup coconut or olive oil
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 semi-sweet chocolate chips
Optional toppings: Chocolate Chips, Walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine all ingredients (except for toppings and chocolate chips) in a food processor and blend until smooth. Mix in chocolate chips. Pour batter into greased baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.

*Jasmine left this “1/4” chocolate chips up to personal interpretation and some might have opted for a 1/4 cup, but I knew it meant a 1/4 of the bag 😉

*As you can see I used walnuts on half, for the non-nut loving members of my family

Nutty Banana Brownies

These are scrumptious. They are moist, chocolaty, nutty, and sweet. They are my favorite way to use up bananas. These brownies also have whole wheat flour, so you can feel good about them. Of course, you can use all-purpose flour too and still feel good about them, because they are just that good.

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

3 Tbsp cocoa powder

1/4 cup chunky peanut butter

2 eggs

1 Tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 whole wheat flour (all purpose flour works just fine too)

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 cup chocolate chips, tossed in a tsp of wheat flour (all-purpose flour is fine)

1/2 chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 9 square baking pan and set aside. In a medium sized saucepan, melt the butter. Take off the heat and let cool slightly. Add the sugar, cocoa powder and peanut butter to melted butter. Stir until all is mixed together. In a separate bowl add vanilla to eggs and beat lightly. Add eggs and vanilla mixture, along with the milk to the cocoa mixture and stir. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to the mixture and stir until combined. Place the mashed bananas into the mix, and gently stir again, mixture will be lumpy. Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40 – 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool before serving. These brownies are great at room temperature (even better I think), and the bananas keep them moist for days (if they last that long). But if you must eat them warm, because they made your whole house smell incredible and you can’t wait… Please do yourself a favor and dab a little Nutella on the top, because chocolate and hazelnuts goes perfectly with nutty banana brownies.