Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Flourless Brownies

You are not going to believe this recipe.  Well, you're not going to believe it tastes so good when I tell you what they are made of.  It's crazy.  As you may know, beans ain't my thang.  I just don't like them.  I think part of it is a consistency thing, and part of it is they just taste...nasty.  I know, some of you reading are thinking how much you like beans.  Well, um, not me.  However, I know they are good for us, and have been trying to incorporate them into my family's diet here and there.  So, when I come across a recipe that uses beans, but are not supposed to taste like beans, I'm all for giving it a try.  And when that recipes calls for chocolate...well, I'm all over it.  Because we all know chocolate makes everything....mo'betta ;)
These are flourless brownies, made with black beans.  And they are YUMMY.  I kid you not.  Fudgy, yummy, chocolate deliciousness.  And since they are made with beans, the sugar and butter calories just don't count.  These are good for you. *wink wink*  You have an obligation to make them for your non-bean eating family.  Or, you must make them out of sheer curiousity like I did!  I just couldn't believe that these would be good.  But they are.  Even Number One likes them.  Even after she found out what was in them!  So, that's proof, these taste like chocolate.  Not beans.  You're welcome.

Flourless Brownies from Lynn's Recipe Adventures

1- 15 ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained

3 eggs (Poor Mr. Two couldn't have these)

1/3 cup butter, melted I used Smart Balance 50/50

1/4 cup cocoa

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1 cup chocolate chips *I used 3/4ths cup Hershey's Dark Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a food processor or blender puree the black beans, eggs, butter, cocoa, vanilla, and sugar until smooth.

Stir chocolate chips into the batter and spread into a greased 8×8 pan.

Bake for 30-33 minutes.
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I know, I can see you shaking your head in disbelief.  You just gotta see for yourself.  These are good out of the oven, but they are even better the next day.  Straight from the oven (you know I had to try them immediately) they are tasty and melty (is that a word?) but the consistency is a little...different.  The next day, they were dense and fudgy and moist.  (These are not cake-like, as you should guess).

I was pleasantly surprised with these little gems, and will be making them again! 

As I sit here and type, with my morning coffee, the news is on.  Doesn't it seem strange to y'all to go about your daily business while seeing the devastation going on in Japan?  It's surreal.  And now, a nuclear meltdown on top of everything else?  If you are around my age, you probably remember all the movies that came out about nuclear war, I guess early 80's maybe?  My parents wouldn't let me watch them, but of course, I somehow managed to sneak around and watch at least one of them anyway.  And the images have stayed with me....why won't kids listen to their parents?  They really do know best.  *sigh*  Anyway, I feel horrible about what is going on over there, and I have to admit how relieved I am that it is not happening here.  That may sound selfish, but I can't help it.  I have children to worry about.  While I'm on the subject of terrible things, I have an anquaintance whose son just underwent brain surgery for a brain tumor.  He is 10 years old.  He was a former classmate of my oldest daughter.  Thankfully, it was benign, and he seems to be recovering well, but that family went from life being pretty normal one day, to being told their son had a brain tumor on a Friday, and brain surgery on a Monday.  How frightening and overwhelming is that?  So I guess my point to all this is....be very thankful each and every day for what you have.  It's so easy to take advantage of our everyday "normal" life, and we don't stop and really appreciate it until the "normal" is gone.  Then you want nothing more than to have the same normal, boring routine back!  I know this from experience with my dad's cancer hell . 

Well, how's that for a deviation from topic?  I feel like I should leave you on a happy note...or Prozac.
Tulips are happy!  Spring is on the way!!! 
It's supposed to be an awesome weekend here in NC.

I'm linking up with these Tuesday linkys and hops today, go check 'em out!

And after eating all these brownies, you may want to check out the giveaway I have going on this week!
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15 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 15, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    great post sissy. mama told me about the brownies...she said even she was going to try them. i'll probably pass for now :)

    i'm going to see the puppy on friday. and guess what the girl's name is that is selling him....Winter!

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  2. mryjhnsnMarch 15, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Love the brownie recipe! And thanks for the tulips...

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  3. MeganMarch 15, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    OK I'm curious. I'll have to try this recipe!

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  4. adrienzgirlMarch 15, 2011 at 12:33 PM

    Ok...I admit. I was sitting here shaking my head in disbelief. I'm still scratching my head trying to process this. I do trust your culinary adventures though so perhaps I will give these a whirl.

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  5. Tanya (a Taste of T)March 15, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    MMMMMM I might just have to make these. I love flourless everything. Its so much sweeter :).
    It's a week of giveaways on A Taste of T

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  6. LisaMarch 15, 2011 at 2:28 PM

    Sending my thoughts out to the little boy. That's just so heartbreaking.

    On a happy note, I do love flowers and I do love brownies! I keep hearing how good these bean brownies are. Need to try them!

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  7. REBrownMarch 15, 2011 at 7:07 PM

    I've had these before and you really can't taste the beans. It just tastes like a really fudgy brownie.

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  8. AnonymousMarch 15, 2011 at 9:11 PM

    I'll admit that beans and brownies just don't sound very appealing together. However, I know sometimes it's those weird combinations that surprise you. My family has a tried and true brownie recipe where you can't dare make brownies without THE recipe, but I try to eat gluten free, so I need to get brave and try these sometime.

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  9. CandaceMarch 16, 2011 at 5:26 PM

    I have simply got to try these. It sounds like an odd combination; but I'm feeling brave these days. There are some awful things happening in this world these days. So much devastation and pain. While I was reading your post about Japan and your friend's child, my husband was reading to me a prayer request that he got from our pastor for a little 2 year old boy who has bone cancer. He is suffering terribly with pain because the morphine isn't touching it. So much to pray about these days!

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  10. Ott, A.March 16, 2011 at 7:57 PM

    Just Stopping by from TMTT. I can safely say I have never seen anything like this made with beans. that's crazy, and yet I am very tempted to try it. While I'm here I wanted to invite you to check out my Iron Chef Challenge This month's themed ingredient is canned tomatoes, so link up a recipe using those and you could win a prize. It should be a lot of fun, hope you can join us!!

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  11. CharleneMarch 17, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    I've heard of black bean brownies, but haven't tried them--but I have made a pie out of navy beans! It's absolutely delicious, too!

    http://www.secretsofasouthernkitchen.com/2009/09/youll-never-guess-whats-in-this-pie.html

    Try it sometimes, I think you'll like it!

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  12. TreeMarch 18, 2011 at 1:26 AM

    I've heard of this...never tried it, but I do love black beans AND brownies! They look so fudgy and good! Thanks for linking up for Tasty Tuesday this week!

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  13. The Wise Alternative 918-836-0565March 18, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    I tried a flour substitution with some brownies I made the other day and was amazed...so I have no doubt about your black bean recipe.

    Great post and thanks for sharing at the hearth and soul hop.

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  14. UnknownMarch 19, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    you have me convinced...I'm going to have to try them! I'll just have to keep the husband out of the kitchen while I make them! Thanks for linking up to Made From Scratch Tuesday!

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  15. ChristyMarch 20, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    I have some black beans in the freezer just waiting to become brownies - I so want to try this! Thanks for sharing this with us at the Hearth and Soul Hop!

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