The Best Black Bean Brownies

Makes 16 servings

Ingredients:

1 (15 ounce) can no-salt added black beans, drained and rinsed

3 large eggs

1/3 cup butter, melted plus (more for the baking dish)

¼ cup cocoa powder

1/8 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla extract

½ cup unbleached cane sugar (plus 2 tbsp)

½ cup dark chocolate chips

1/3 cup walnuts, finely chopped

Directions: 

1. Preheat over to 350.
2. Butter 8-in baking pan.
3. Place black beans, eggs, melted butter, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor and blend until smooth.
4. Remove the blade and carefully stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts.
5. Transfer mixture to the prepared pan.
6. Bake the brownies for 30-35 mins, or until just set in the center.
7. Cool before cutting in to squares.
8.  

Black Bean Soup

Ingredients:

1 pound black beans, cooked (or about 2 cans, drained and rinsed)

1 cup of your favorite salsa

Vegetable juice, such as low-sodium V-8 or broth or stock

Cumin, salt, pepper, and cayenne, to taste

Instructions: 

1. Combine all in a stockpot, 
2. adding enough vegetable juice or broth to cover the beans; 
3. simmer. 
4. Blend with an immersion blender to desired texture. 
5. Add more liquid if soup becomes too thick. 
6. Serve with lime wedges, cilantro, and a dollop of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.

Mint Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter”

1/3 cup low fat cream cheese (1/3 less fat)

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 large egg yolks

¾ tsp peppermint extract

½ cup oat flour (to make, place oats in food processor/blender until flourlike consistency)

½ cup all purpose flour

1/3 cup whole wheat flour

¾ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

5 oz dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1.      Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.      Prepare cookie sheets by lining w/ parchment paper (or spraying w/ canola oil spray).

3.      Cream the “butter,” cream cheese, & brown sugar on high speed using a mixer.

4.      One mixture is fluffy, reduce speed to low & add egg yolks & peppermint. Mix until combined.

5.      Combine flours, baking soda, salt, & chips in a bowl. Add to butter mixture & mix by hand until well blended.

6.      Drop heaping teaspoons onto baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Flatten lightly w/ bottom of glass that has been moistened w/ water.

7.      Bake 6-7 minutes. Rotate pans & bake until lightly browned, about another 3 minutes. Be careful not to overbake.

8.      Cool & store in tightly sealed container.

Makes 40 cookies.

Per cookie: 69.2 calories, 2.9 g fat, 10.5 g carbohydrates, .8 g protein.

Can substitute vanilla for peppermint if want plain chocolate chip oat cookies.

Whole Wheat & Honey Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

1 (.25 oz) package active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

2 cups whole wheat flour

¼ cup wheat germ

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp honey

Directions:

1.      Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahreneheit.

2.      In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water that has been warmed in microwave. Let stand in warm place (in microwave) until creamy, about 10 minutes.

3.      In a large bowl, combine flour, wheat germ, & salt.

4.      Make a well in the middle & add honey & yeast mixture. Stir well to combine.

5.      Cover & set in warm place (in microwave) to rise for a few minutes.

6.      Roll dough on a floured pizza pan & poke a few holes in it w/ a fork. Allow to rise again for few more minutes.

7.      Bake in preheated oven for ~10 minutes.

Add Favorite Healthy Toppings (here is what I like):

1.      Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini that has been cut to soften & release some water.

2.      On top of dough, sprinkle w/ cheese (< ¼ cup).

3.      Arrange zucchini slices, sliced tomatoes, & sliced red onion.

4.      Sprinkle cheese over veggies (< ¼ cup).

5.      Top with basil.

6.      Bake 15-20 minutes.

Dough per serving (1 slice; 1/8 pizza): 83 calories, .6 g fat, 0 cholesterol

Remember to add nutritional values for toppings too.

Chocolate Protein Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup Oat Flour

4 Egg Whites

2 scoops Vanilla Whey Protein Powder

½ cup Splenda, Truvia, or Ideal

½ tsp Baking Soda

¼ tsp Salt

8oz Berry flavored Baby Food

3 tbsp. Baking Cocoa

4oz Water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix dry ingredients (oat flower, vanilla whey protein, baking soda, salt, baking cocoa) together in a large bowl.
3. Mix wet ingredients (egg whites, Splenda, Truvia, or Ideal, Berry flavored Baby Food, Water) together in a medium sized bowl.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix together.
5. Spray cooking dish with a non-stick butter spray and add batter to dish.
6. Bake 20-30 minutes in oven.
7. Makes 16 squares, serving size=2 bars.

Calories:  96

Fat:  1.4 grams

Carbs:  12 grams

Protein: 10 grams