My general state of being is to crave chocolate...every day. With Isaac gone for the summer, that has increased to craving chocolate ALL day, every day.
Uh oh.
I tried self-restraint first. Failed. I tried giving in to my cravings without remorse. Well, a larger waistline can only lead to one thing: remorse. Failed.
Then I tried a compromise: try to find chocolatey things that are healthier. These beauties are just what I've needed. They still taste like dessert but are full of fiber and healthy oils. Should my poor waist indeed thicken this summer, these guys won't be the culprit. Yes, they contain a secret ingredient (beans) that you might find appalling. Stay calm! Let them cool off completely and I promise you won't taste the beans. You will taste the chocolate, however. Thank goodness.
Chocolate-Chip Blondies
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
heaping 1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup brown sugar*
1-2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup ground flax**
1/4 cup peanut butter***
1/3 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend all ingredients except the chocolate chips in a food processor (a blender might work too, but I haven't tried it) until very smooth. Mix in chips, and scoop into a greased (or tinfoil-lined) 8×8 pan. Bake for 38-40 minutes. You want the blondies to look a little undercooked when you take them out, because they’ll firm up as they cool, and you don’t want them to get hard.
*A note on the brown sugar. If you're scared of trying these blondies, you should start with the full amount of sugar. I cut it down to 1/3 cup and added 3 or 4 stevia packets so it would be a little healthier, and still loved them...but I'd probably be too scared to serve them to company like that. You decide.
**If you don't have flax, you could try substituting flour, quick oats, or even protein powder supposedly turns out pretty well. I have not tried any of these, though, so try them at your own risk!
***If you don't like peanut butter, you can substitute any other nut butter (cashew, almond, etc.) if your wallet can handle it, or substitute applesauce or maybe even a combo of applesauce and regular oil. Pure applesauce will be healthier but probably a little less tasty.
*A note on the brown sugar. If you're scared of trying these blondies, you should start with the full amount of sugar. I cut it down to 1/3 cup and added 3 or 4 stevia packets so it would be a little healthier, and still loved them...but I'd probably be too scared to serve them to company like that. You decide.
**If you don't have flax, you could try substituting flour, quick oats, or even protein powder supposedly turns out pretty well. I have not tried any of these, though, so try them at your own risk!
***If you don't like peanut butter, you can substitute any other nut butter (cashew, almond, etc.) if your wallet can handle it, or substitute applesauce or maybe even a combo of applesauce and regular oil. Pure applesauce will be healthier but probably a little less tasty.
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