Flourless Black Bean Brownies!

I have neglected this blog for FAR TOO LONG! Life has been crazy busy, and I just couldn’t fit this in. That changes TODAY! I realized that I started this blog because of David. This blog will be something my kids will always have to remember me by when I’m no longer around, so it needs to be a priority. Plus, I take (albeit mostly crappy) photos of my food alllll the time in anticipation of posting, so I have a lot to catch up on! These brownies were a good one to start back with because they are sooooooo good and pretty good for you!

I started Sherry Thacker’s 6 week Challenge on August 1st, 2018, and it has honestly changed my life. I lost a whopping 40 lbs over the course of 3-4 months! Every recipe I make, I think of Sherry’s Challenge and if it lines up with what’s healthiest for me. These brownies have 3/4 cup of sugar in them, so let’s be clear, they aren’t entirely in line with the keto/paleo plan that I follow. But, they are better than many other brownie recipes that are loaded with sugar, flour and chocolate. And, in moderation, they are a great option for something sweet!

You would never know there are black beans in these brownies. That’s one thing I love about them so much! Who discovered this?! Something else that I pay closer attention to since following Sherry Thacker’s Challenge is using quality ingredients. For cocoa in this recipe, I use this:

My husband swears by the Bulletproof products. Of course, you don’t have to use this, but I appreciate knowing that there are good quality ingredients in this recipe.

Let’s get to these brownies!

Nonna’s Tiramisu

Years and years ago, I made tiramisu for a boyfriend, with the help of a good Italian friend from high school.  It turned out great, but I haven’t made it since.  About a month ago, my husband, and some family and I went to a wine club that we are new members of for a private dinner, and tiramisu was for dessert that night.  The tiramisu was good, but the cookie still had some bite to it, and I felt like I could make it better.

Fast forward two weeks later, over my lunch break, I found myself at McCall’s Cake Decorating store in Toronto for some Christmas baking ingredients.  Surprisingly, they were selling ladyfingers, and since I wanted to make tiramisu, I bought them.  I asked the girl behind the counter if she thought I could make two pans of tiramisu with the amount of lady fingers I had.  She told me she would ask the woman that was in the basement, as she makes them all the time.  From the basement, a lovely, little Italian Grandma comes up, and proceeds, in broken English, to tell me the recipe she has used for 30 years!  1 egg, 1 spoonful of sugar, and 100 grams of mascarpone, is what she said.  She told me that for an 8×10 pan, she uses 5 eggs, 5 spoonfuls of sugar, and 500 grams of mascarpone.   I thought that was all she was going to share, but then she kept going!  She told me to separate the eggs, and beat the yolks with the sugar and then the mascarpone.

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Till it looks like this.

In a separate bowl, beat your egg whites until they reach a soft peak.

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Like this.

Fold the egg whites into the mascarpone mixture.

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This is what you end up with.  Just the right amount of sweetness.

I will tell you, that the container of mascarpone that I bought was only 475 grams, which I knew was 25 grams short from what Nonna told me to use!  But, I figured, I’d be fine.  In truth, and this is just between you and me, I think 6 eggs, 6 spoonfuls of sugar, and 600 grams of mascarpone would have been better, as we all felt that it tasted a bit heavy on the coffee and could have used a bit more custard.  BUT, it was still damn good and needs to be shared.

Nonna's Tiramisu

Sarah Nolan
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups of espresso cooled
  • 1 package of ladyfingers about 50 ladyfingers
  • 5 eggs separated
  • 5 tablespoons of sugar
  • 500 grams of mascarpone
  • Cocoa for dusting

Instructions
 

  • Working quickly, dip each lady finger, one at a time into the espresso, on both sides. Don't let the ladyfingers sit in the espresso, as they will absorb way too much liquid. A quick dip.
  • Place each ladyfinger side by side, to fill in the space of the pan.
  • Once your bottom layer has been filled with ladyfingers, put half of your custard on top and spread smooth.
  • Repeat with another layer of ladyfingers.
  • Finish with the remainder of your custard.
  • Dust generously with cocoa to finish.
  • Enjoy!!!

(Source: Boss Of The Apple Sauce)