Black Bean Brownies

First heard of these brownies on the "Dr Oz" show and found this recipe somewhere on-line.  I did adjust it to use Stevia instead of sugar so that we could eat then when were on Phase 1 of the South Beach diet.  Don't let the beans deter you - if no one told you, you won't know they were even in there!  Try and find out for yourself.

Black Bean Brownies
1 15.5oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
3 eggs
3T oil
1/4c cocoa powder
1 pinch salt
1t vanilla
3/4c sugar or 24 drops of liquid stevia or 1/8t stevia concentrate or 1/2c agave necture or equivalent sweetener of your choice
1t instant coffee (opt)
1/2c chocolate chips and or nuts (opt)

Combine all ingredients, except chips, in a blender and blend until smooth.  Pour the mixture into a greased 8x8 square pan.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips, if using.  Bake at 350* for 30 min or until the top is dry and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan.

Note: If using stevia, be sure to use a good quality one as some are better than others.

Berry Nut Blondies

I bought dried prunes a while back to help my son but we didn't eat them all and it was time for them to use up.  But what do you use dried prunes for?  So to the internet I went and found the Sunsweet site which has recipes that use prune puree as a sub for fat, just like applesauce.  So, I pureed my prunes and made Berry Nut Blondies.  The only change I made was to use only 1 1/2c brown sugar (not the 2 they say) and didn't ice them as I found them sweet enough on their own.  You don't taste the prune and they are so good I won't be able to make them too often or I will be tempted to eat the entire pan.  Another recipe to add to my favourites list!

Gevulde Speculaas

or for those not of Dutch decent, these are Almond filled spice bars (but that doesn't have as nice a ring...)
One of my FB friends requested a recipe so instead of just giving it to her I decided to share it with anyone reading this.  I got this recipe from my mom who just informed me that she combined two recipes, one for the cake and one for the filling.  As the filling can get pricy, I usually only make these at Christmas, but they do make LOTS so you can also wrap them up (freezer paper works well) and freeze for another time.  Or you can make the cake without the filling (good too, but not quite as special).  If you give them a try, make sure you come back and let me know what you think! 

Gevulde Speculaas

Filling:
4c ground almonds
3c icing sugar
3 eggs, slightly beaten
2t lemon juice
1 1/2t almond extract
Mix well.  Place in a tightly covered container.  Refriderate for at least 4 days.

Dough:
3c flour
1c each white sugar and brown sugar
1t each nutmeg, cinnamon and baking soda
1/2t each cloves and ginger
1c butter
2 eggs

Mix together.  Divide in half.  Roll half the dough between sheets of wax paper on a jelly roll pan (aka cookie sheet with sides), trying to get the dough all the way to the sides.  Remove from cookie sheet.  Roll the other half onto the cookie sheet.  Cover with the almond filling.  Place first half of dough on top.  Brush with egg wash (Mix egg with a little water to spread easier).  Spinkle with slivered almonds if desired.  Bake at 350* for 25 min or until lightly brown.

Note: If you would like a smaller recipe, I believe we cut it in half and did it in a 9x13 pan.

Breakfast Bean Cookies

I just made these cookies, found on the Parents Canada site and they are scrumptious!  They don't flatten very much, so do ensure that you do flatten them with your hand. 

Some hints on their directions:
Since I don't own a food processor, I ground up the oats in my blender, which worked really well, but then had to transfer them to a bowl to mix it with the other dry ingredients.  However, when I tried to puree the beans, it didn't work, so I did it with my immersion blender, which worked much better.  Then I mixed the butter, beans, sugar, etc together with my stand mixer and continued with the rest of the instructions using my stand mixer.  So, they were a bit "machine" intensive, but the results were well worth it - and the kids liked them too!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

My SIL had a baby recently (#5 and her first girl!) so I brought her a meal and some chocolate chip cookies and she asked for the recipe. I like my chocolate chip cookies soft, not hard and that's what these are like, and because I make them with oat flour, they are quite thin too. Do ensure that they have cooled enough to harden before removing them from the cookie sheet or the middles will fall out on the cooling racks (but since the baker has to eat those is it really a problem???)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sift together and set aside:

2 1/2c four (I use oat flour)

1t baking soda

1/2t salt

Beat together:
1/2c butter
1/2c shortening

Add and beat until fluffy:
1c packed brown sugar
1/2c white sugar

Add and beat well:
2 eggs
1 1/2t vanilla

Add dry ingredients and beat until well blended.

Stir in:
2c chocolate chips
1c walnuts

Drop from teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in 375 degree oven for 8-10 min or until done.

Lemon Crisps

My sons friend was sick when he had his b-day party so Joel and his brothers came later and had some fun outside. Joel enjoyed these cookies and kept coming back for more. So, this post is for Joel so that his mommy can make these yummy cookies for him. I found this recipe in an old church cookbook of my mom's - you know, the kind that various individuals contribute to. I also made them with Oat flour so they weren't crispy, but they might be if you use white flour.

Lemon Crisps
1c shortening
1/2c sugar
1/2c brown sugar
1T lemon juice
1 egg
2 1/2c flour
1t salt
1/4t baking soda
1t lemon rind

Cream shortening and both sugars. Add lemon juice and egg, beating until well combined. Combine flour, salt and baking soda and add to sugar mixture, stirring well. Add lemon rind. Drop by teaspoon onto cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 min.

Apricot Delights

Christmas is the time of year when it seems more people are out baking, or perhaps just baking more then normal. Here is a recipe I tried this year and I while perhaps not your typical "Christmas" goody, it's very yummy.

Apricot Delights
1/3c butter or marg, softened
1/4c sugar
1 1/3c flour, divided
1c brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2t baking powder
2 eggs, beaten
1t vanilla
1c chopped, cooked dried apricots (see note below)
1c chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Combine butter and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Add 1c flour. Mix well. Spread mixture in a 9" square pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Meanwhile, combine remaining 1/3c flour, brown sugar and baking powder. Mix well. Add eggs and vanilla and blend well. Stir in apricots and walnuts. Spread over partially baked base. Return to oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Cool completely and cut into squares.

Note: to cook apricots, combine dried apricots and 1c water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 min. Drain and chop apricots.

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

I freeze overripe bananas in my freezer and since I had quite a few I searched the net looking for a cookie recipe using bananas. I came across one and tried it yesterday and was quite impressed with the results and so were the friends I served them to yesterday. I changed a few things, so I'll copy it over here, but the original recipe can be found here: http://www.recipezaar.com/53832.

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

3/4c shortening (I used butter)
1c sugar (3/4c is enough as the bananas add sweetness too)
1 egg
1 1/2c flour (I used oatmeal flour or you could use 1/2 whole wheat)
1t baking soda
1t salt
1/4t nutmeg
3/4t cinnamon
1c bananas, mashed (about 2)
1 3/4c oats (I use large flake)
1/2c walnuts, chopped (optional)
1/2c chocolate chips (optional)

Cream the shortening/butter and sugar. Beat in egg until well incorporated. In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Add to shortening mixture. Alternately add the mashed bananas and oatmeal. Add in nuts and chips if using. Drop by teaspoons full on ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 min, or until the edges are golden brown.

Spicy Raisin Cookies

Not sure where I copied this recipe from, but I made them again last week and they are yummy.

Spicy Raisin Cookies

3/4c butter, softened
3/4c granulated sugar
1/3c molasses
1 egg
2c flour (try all oat flour or half white, half whole wheat)
2t baking soda
2t cinnamon
1/2t cloves
1/2t ginger
1/4t salt
1c raisins
Granulated or coarse sugar

Cream butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add molasses and egg and beat until well blended. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and salt. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Mix well. Add raisins. Cover and chill for about 1 hour for easy handling. Shape into 1" balls. Roll in sugar to coat well. Place on greased baking sheet. Press with fork or the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar to flatten slightly. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes until set.

Date Krispies

Here is a square recipe that I received from my cousin Laura for a recipe exchange that I participated in. They are different and quite addictive so consider yourself warned.

Date Krispies

1/2c butter
1/2c granulated sugar
1 1/2c chopped dates
3 1/2c Rice Krispies
6oz bakers chocolate

Put butter, sugar and dates into a large saucepan. Cook gently until sugar is melted and dates are soft. Remove from heat. Add Rice Krispies and stir well to mix. Press into a greased 9X13 pan and smooth the top. Cool. Melt the chocolate with 1T of butter in a double boiler (or in microwave). Pour over Krispies mixture, spreading evenly. When cool, cut into 18-24 pieces, remove from tin and store in an airtight container.

Apricot Zings

I don't remember where I got this recipe from, but they are very yummy!

Apricot Zings

Crust:
1c graham wafer crumbs
1c flour
1c brown sugar
1/2c medium grind coconut
1/2t salt
1/2c melter butter

Combine crumbs, flour, sugar, coconut and salt. Add melted butter and stir until combined. Reserve 1c for topping. Press rest in 8x8 square pan. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 10 min. Cool.

Filling:
1c dried apricots
2 eggs
1c brown sugar
1T lemon juice
1/3c flour
1/2t baking powder
1/4t salt

In a saucepan, cover the apricots with water and simmer them for 15 min. Drain, chop and set aside. In a bowl, beat the eggs until frothy. Add sugar and lemon juice. In another bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to egg mixture and mix. Mix in apricots. Spread over the base. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 min. Cool and cut into 36 squares.

Spicy Oatmeal Cookies

I found these on the Internet and changed the flour to oat flour (which is basically ground up oats), and use large flake oats.  I also use non-hydrogenated shortening (found at the health food store) as I try to avoid hydrogenated oils.  I made them for our family reunion cookie contest and they won first prize!  Give them a try and let me know what you think.


Spicy Oatmeal Cookies

1/2c shortening
1/2c butter, softened
1c light brown sugar, packed
1/2c white sugar
2 eggs
1t vanilla extract
1 1/2c oat flour
1t baking soda
1t cinnamon
1/2t cloves
1/2t salt
3c large flake oats
1c raisins or chocolate chips or both (which we like the best)

In large bowl, cream together butter, shortening, brown sugar, Splenda, eggs and vanilla until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Stir into the sugar mixture. Stir in oats and raisins and/or chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in 350 degree F oven, 10-12 min until light and golden (DO NOT OVERBAKE). Enjoy!

Note: when using oat flour, be aware that your cookies will turn out very flat.