Crazy Brownies

A couple of weeks ago I posted on my Friday Five Foodie Finds I posted some brownies that I was super excited to try..and others were as well.

These brownies had a very unusual ingredient.  An ingredient that would make the brownies a little healthier, but an ingredient that I would never EVER think to add myself.  And even if I thought of it, I would have never tried it.

They were Black Bean Brownies.  Crazy right?  I asked the BF to guess what the secret ingredient would be and he came up with a myriad of ideas from whole wheat to coffee to broccoli.  But he did not guess black beans.   

 (I mean who would?)

We were going to be having dinner with some friends in their lovely home and I have the tendency to make new treats and test them on other people…before even trying them myself.  I am told this is not the proper way to do things, one should be sure the dish they are bringing to a party is perfection, nevertheless, I made these crazy brownies for my friends and I was NERVOUS about them.  (I really am not trying to be rude when I do this, I just want others’ opinions..)

Modified from Food Network

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup cooked black beans
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 TBS instant cappuccino (mocha is delish)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips, divided
• 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup peanut butter/chocolate chips (national peanutbutter day Tuesday, btw)

I haven’t used the blender the entire time living with the Daddio.  I have a single-sized blender for smoothies and such..but I had to remember where I put the big blender.  It’s by the crockpot that I haven’t used since my apartment days and the cake pops maker I still need to try.  *sigh*

How To:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Prepare brownie pan.
2. In a blender, blend cooked beans and vegetable oil.
3. Add eggs.  Blend.
4. Add and blend cocoa, sugar, coffee and vanilla.
5. Melt half of the dark chocolate chips and blend.
6. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt.  Add to the blender and blend, barely.  It will be tricky to blend, so just blend as best as possible.
7. Add the rest of the dark chocolate chips or sub peanutbutter/chocolate chips (if it’s national peanutbutter day) and mix with a spoon/spatula.
8. Pour into the greased brownie pan…you will probably have to use a spatula to get it all out..it will be thick!
9. Smooth the batter out and add the peanutbutter/chocolate chips to the top.
10. Bake for 20 minutes or until just firm.  You know how you like your brownies…so you be the judge if they need to stay in a little longer.  20 minutes was perfect for my taste…moist and chewy. 🙂

Serious face

I had barely enough time to let the brownies cool..so I had to set the pan on a towel in my lap on the way to our friends’ house.

We were greeted with smiles and delicious appetizers.

Brie and crackers, hummus and chips.  I almost swiped the sun dried tomato hummus and chips for my meal and/or stealthily put the hummus into my purse when no one was looking.

Mike made a delicious stir-fry of snap peas, water chestnuts, red onions, and ginger sauce while April backseat cooked.  I do the same thing April. 😉

 (Also nice action shot of April’s hair whipping around.)

While Mike was making food, I was playing with my camera and taking pictures of their two cats, Liz Lemon and Maybe.

BF and Liz Lemon.  She is a fat cat but we still love her!

“Maybe” is really much friendlier than she looks here…she was glaring at me though when I tried to take pictures.

Dinner was delish even though I wasn’t sure if I’d like the ginger in the sauce.  I’ve been scarred by the ginger they serve on the side at sushi places that tastes like straight pine sol.

 Oh and I didn’t even tell you they made us lamb!  I don’t think I’ve ever had lamb.     It was nice and juicy and I didn’t know it would be so chewy so I took a huge first bite and couldn’t join the conversation for a few minutes.  (I really must get out more often right?  Or get out of my comfort zone of usual foods.)

Finally April brought out the brownies and adorable owl plates, so I knew it was time to try the dessert that I had made for the first time, and with a questionable ingredient.

Oh and I did not tell Mike and April what the secret ingredient was.  (Besides love..because that one is obvious.)  They got the coffee part but they did not guess black beans.

Everyone enjoyed the brownies and cleaned their plates!  Success!   (or the owls ate them..do owls eat beans?)

Hi BF!  Aw those are his antibiotics he’s taking cause he’s been sick forever!  That’s what happens when you work too hard!

Mike and April are both excellent cooks and April is an amazing baker as well so I knew they would be tough to impress.  They are also extremely kind and I wouldn’t put it past them to lie about how good my food tastes… so I can really only judge the taste based on me and the BF.  (The BF is kind, of course, but I let him know that if he uses false flattery in my cooking/baking..I will likely make the meal or treat again.  It’s in his best interest to be honest.)  We give the brownies a thumbs up!

I’m smiling because I stole the hummus.  Kidding! (or am I?)

The brownies didn’t taste as sweet as normal brownies but the texture was right on and how can you beat getting fiber and protein in a brownie?

I know you’re still skeptical about black bean brownies, but just try em, okay?  Let me know what you think! 🙂

Have a great weekend friends!

What is the craziest dessert you’ve ever made?


Do you try new recipes on friends before taste-testing yourself?