Midnight Brownies

So there are a couple of reasons for posting this recipe.  First, as most of you guys know, since being pregnant with Isabella, I have had VERY LITTLE desire to eat meat.  In fact, during my first trimester I definitely lurched at the thought of cooking meat (poor Matt!!!).  Well, after she was born I figured I would go back to eating meat like I normally did...not so much.  I still eat very little meat (I can probably count on one hand the times I have eaten meat since July 8th). 

Well, while I was at home I was watching a Dr. Oz Show rerun (oh my, how I have become the mom at home!) he had a guest viewer- Kim Bensen- on his show that had lost over 200 pounds!  More power to her- that's awesome!  Well, anyhow, she had these secret ingredient brownies that are a lot healthier for you (especially if you like sweets).  Well of course I was hooked, I wanted to know what was in the brownies!! (Second reason for the post: get her awesome story and the secret out!)

So, she finally revealed that her brownies contain BEANS!! WHAT!?! Serious?  Yeah, okay, so I want to try this recipe, because it appeals to my "bean" side, haha- I've been eating a lot of beans during dinner, so cool- beans. 

So, word to the cautious...I haven't tried this yet, I just found it on his site and I plan on trying them this week (as long as I have all the ingredients).


Midnight Brownies

Brownies

Ingredients

1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup agave syrup

1/2 cup self-rising flour

1/2 cup egg whites

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 tbsp  vanilla

1 tsp baking powder

6 tbsp mini semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 8x8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a food processor, mix all brownie ingredients (except chips) together. Chop on high, until smooth. Clean off sides and blend for another 20 seconds. Add the chips and stir well. Spread into the 8x8 baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for about 1 hour at room temperature.

Frosting

Ingredients

6 oz. fat-free cream cheese

1/4 cup agave syrup

2 tbsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp semisweet mini chocolate chips, melted

Directions

With a whisk attachment on an electric beater, blend all ingredients until light and fluffy. Spread evenly over the top of the cooled brownies. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the 2 tbsp of chips with a 2-second spray of nonstick cooking oil. Using a spoon, swirl the chocolate on top. Allow it to set in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Serve and enjoy. Don't forget to have seconds! 

You can find the recipe on Dr. Oz's Recipe Page as well!

You can read more about the guest that presented this recipe in her book Finally Thin.