heartyspoonful

"I'm starved for connection, not attention."

- Anonymous

To tell you the truth, I've been stalling to post for a few weeks now. It's the longest writer's block I've ever had to go through. I mean, if there isn't a grade to earn, I suppose my brain just shut down and didn't even bother. So, the recipe sits here and because I just want it printed out, I should just go for it, no gimmicks or sarcastic commentaries.

When I transitioned to veganism, brownies were the first mountain I had to climb. Avocado brownies were such a foreign concept even back then. But I tried and it all worked out for the better. Guess who makes brownies almost every week now? Obviously, since variety is the spice of life, sometimes you just have to change it up once in a while. Basically, Minimalist Baker helped me keep it spicy. Dana is such a creative soul that sometimes, I find myself adding so many of her recipes in my favourites folder. Not a bad thing, really. Because I was on a chocolate kick, I decided to try out her recipe for vegan peanut butter swirl brownies. I mean, come on, PB and chocolate? When have I ever turned down this combo? (Way, way back when, I used to fight my brother for Reese's PB Cups on Halloween... Although, I don't think there was much need for that because he hated them.)

YESSSS

Vegan Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Brownies
Makes 9-12 squares
Adapted from Minimalist Baker

Ingredients:

• 1 15-ounce can black beans, well rinsed
• 2 flax eggs
• 3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup dark chocolate chip + more for topping

 

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."

- John Burroughs

• 2-3 ripe bananas, depending on size
• 1/4 cup tahini (or nut butter of choice)
• 1-2 tbsp brown rice syrup (or maple syrup), depending on sweetness desired
• 6 tbsp aquafaba
• 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp coconut flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• Cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• Add ins: Chocolate, medjool dates

"What horrifies me most is the idea of being useless: well-educated, brilliantly promising, and fading out into an indifferent middle age."

- Sylvia Plath

• 1/3 cup tahini/smooth almond butter
• 1/4 cup softened coconut oil
• 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp coconut sugar
• 2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flax + 6 tbsp warm water)
• 1/3 cup coconut flour (plus a few tbsp, depending on consistency)
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• Pinch of salt

• Dark chocolate
• Dried cranberries
• Vegan white chocolate
• Crushed Oreo cookies

"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it."

- Lou Holtz

• 1 19 oz can chickpeas, drained and washed
• 1/3 + 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup cashew butter
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Pinch of salt
• 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

"Too many of us are too hung up on what we don't have, can't have, or won't ever have. We spend too much energy being down when we could use that same energy - if not less of it - doing, or at least trying to do, some of the things we really want to do."

- Terry McMillan

• 2 1/2 cups gluten-free oats
• 1/2 cup buckwheat groats
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 2 tbsp hemp seeds 
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds
• 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
• 1/2 cup dried figs, sliced (or dried currants/raisins/medjool dates)
• 1/4 cup coconut flakes
• 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp pink Himalayan salt
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp maple syrup *
• 1 tsp vanilla

"You are what you think about all day."

- Dr. Robert Schuller

• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 2 flax eggs (mix 2 tbsp ground flax with 5-6 tbsp of warm water)
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup packed grated zucchini
• Chocolate chips (as much or as little as you like)

• 1/4 cup cashew butter
• 1/3 cup almond milk
• 2 tbsp Earth Balance, melted
• 1/4 cup coconut flour
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• Chocolate chips, for topping

"If you have the power to make someone happy, do it. The world needs more of that."

• 2 cups gluten-free oats (not quick cooking)
• 2 tbsp ground flax or ground chia
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• Pinch of salt
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup applesauce (add as required)
• 3 tbsp melted coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Add-ins: raisins, dried mulberries, dates, chocolate chips, dried cranberries, pepitas, etc.