Black Bean Brownies

If you are anything like me, you try hard to make food choices that make you feel good. But some days the sweet tooth seems to have a mind of its own.   Do I stand firm against the cravings or do I give in to temptation? I certainly don't want to pay for quick food choices so my solution is to make this awesome recipe that I found on the web several years back.  

If you are just starting out on adjusting your food choices, this may sound like a very strange sort of recipe. I know, I have been in that boat of listening to well meaning health enthusiasts say something is amazing and when I taste it I think "they haven't had yummy food in so long that they forgot what yummy tastes like."

But don’t let the idea of black beans and sweets intimidate you.  It really is an impressive treat. Truthfully it doesn't taste like Betty Crocker. But there is so much sugar in those box mixes and in most recipes in general. We can actually cut out half the sugar in just about any recipe and not notice a difference in performance or taste. That rule is especially true when dealing with basic american recipes. Here in America we are so driven by the addiction of sugar and mostly are unaware just how much we intake out of craving instead of healthy need.

I remember hosting some precious Japanese students a while back and they would constantly turn up a nose and shiver at the amount of sweet that we had in everything.
But I digress....

Give this recipe a try and I think you will be pleasantly surprised. It is packed with proteins and natural goodness that will help to carry and sustain a level blood sugar pattern instead of the high and low of sugar roller coaster crashing.
Drop me a line to let me know what you think.
And as always, treasure you because we sure do.

Yummy Black Bean Brownies
 
Ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can of black beans, drained and rinsed
2 large eggs
¼ cup cacoa powder
2/3 cup raw honey
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
¾ cup chocolate chips (divide into ½ and ¼ portions)
  ` in all of these ingredients, it is better to choose organic when possible

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Place all ingredients (minus chocolate chips) into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth
Add ½ cup of chocolate chips and blend for 2 seconds, just long enough to stir but not enough to chop up the chips
Pour into a lined or greased 8x8 pan and top with ¼ cup chocolate chips
Bake approximately 40 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean
 
Want a fun variation? Try adding 1-3 drops of a culinary quality essential oil. Some options would be lemon, orange, peppermint or even lavender.