Bri's Big Black Bean Brownies Adventure!

Lately, my husband, Brian, has been back in the kitchen now that it's no longer a “construction zone” with limited access allowed. (I last talked about Bri in my April 2011 post: "I'm Seeing Less of My Husband!") He loves to make the Hummus recipe and knows it by heart, and is not shy about showing off by reciting it for guests who appreciate that it has become his specialty item. He also likes to talk about the "extras" he adds to it.

But, today, Black Bean Brownies are the subject. You see, Bri just came home from our long time mechanics, Swedish Asian Auto Service in Santa Ana, California and, of course, he told them about the book and many of them wanted copies. (They obviously not only care about healthy cars, they care about healthy eating too!) Well, upon his return from Swedish Asian, Bri announced that he had suggested that they start with the Black Bean Brownies recipe and, before long, he decided that he was going to make them a batch before visiting again the next day. This set him into action making the Black Bean Brownies. Here's the story in his own words. Take the wheel, Bri.

Bri: Well, thanks honey. Now, where's the accelerator pedal on this blog? How's that for keeping with the visit-to-the-auto-mechanic introduction?

Tracy: If you do as well here as you did in the kitchen yesterday...well, wrong analogy. I'm sure you'll keep the “car” out of the ditch. Tell them how it went yesterday with the Black Bean Brownies.

Bri: You know that I've made quite a few of your recipes and feel like I've helped out on a bunch of them. But, I've never made any of the baking ones because either you or one of our girls is always baking something. But, I was mentally ready...I had my game face on from the beginning because I knew you were leaving and no one would be home to help me. Plus, I didn't want you to come home and have to bail me out if I messed up. I felt like the back-up quarterback finally getting my big break. So, I assembled my team of ingredients and little measuring doodads, and I remembered how you always say to read through the recipe first, so I did that, sort of. Then, I started putting things in the blender and blending away. Somehow, despite my careful attention, I had forgotten to add the agave nectar and figured it out as I was scooping the mix from the blender to the baking pan. No worries, it can just go back in the blender for a little additional tumble time.

Tracy: Wow, lucky that you remembered in time.

Bri: Yeah, I'm still not sure how I saw it in all the clutter I had out on the counter.

Tracy: Just one reason why I like to be organized and keep my work space clear.

Bri: You know that I usually clean up as I go, but you see, I was trying to break the Black Bean Brownie Land Speed Preparation Record, so...things got a little hectic. But, once I had this little mishap I knew the 3B-LSP was unattainable, so I slowed up a bit and started reading more. One big thing I appreciated was always having the cookbook available to look at. Because it lays open so easily, I just laid it open to the Black Bean Brownie recipe and placed it on the counter just outside of the war zone. Any time I had a question, I would just glance over and there the recipe was for me to read without handling the book or needing to turn pages. The one splatter that made it over onto a page wiped off just fine. So, nice design work my dear.

Tracy: Thanks, you're so sweet to say. Any other challenging moments, Bri?

Bri: Yeah, when I got to the part about laying the stuff into the pan, I just about called you in a panic. I kept scrapping the blender trying to get more into the pan because I was looking at Brownies that looked like they were going to be about a quarter inch high at best. I even thought about adding the mix that I had noticed smeared up on one of the cabinet doors. Well, anyway, before picking up the phone, I read the recipe for the first time, er, re-read it again and saw-- plain as day-- near the end of the list of ingredients..."baking soda” and “baking powder,” and, of course, because I had cleaned up a smidge, I saw both containers. I remembered for sure that I had added them in the batter because it was a little tricky getting the powder measured out without spilling it onto the counter. Anyway, without going into how the counter looked, I had fortunately just heard you talking about someone who had left baking powder and baking soda out and how their Brownies didn't rise. So, that gave me the reassurance to think let's do a Hail Mary with this thing and see if I can nail some fluffy, delicious, good-for-you Brownies. I gave my Brownie mix a little pep talk, confidently put the pan in my pre-heated oven and even remembered to set the timer.

Tracy: Remembered to set the timer, Bri? I'm so impressed!

Bri: Yeah, it even went off after 16 minutes and, by the way, I sure am glad there wasn't anything in the microwave.

Tracy: Those two can be tricky to sort out, but there really is a timer that doesn't also work the microwave.

Bri: Well, yeah, but they both go "ding," so it worked out for me.

Tracy: What next?

Bri: I was raring to go as soon as that timer sounded. I had a toothpick to stick in the middle to see if my brownies were done and I had pot holders for the tricky oven-removal procedure.

Tracy: How did it go?

Bri: Well, from past experience, I remembered that I needed to hold a hot pad in both hands (I'm so glad we have had that aloe plant out back). Unfortunately, knowing both hands would be holding something, I stuck the toothpick in my mouth to hold it there.

Tracy: Okay, so tell me you didn't use that toothpick.

Bri: Well, why not? It was definitely not in for longer than 5 seconds.

Tracy: Bri, I've told you the 5-Second Rule only applies when you cook for your guys on your football weekends. Tell me you got another one.

Bri: Well sure, George from Seinfeld taught me about “double dipping.” Besides, I knew enough to know it would be a KFP to use that toothpick.

Tracy: “KFP”?

Bri: That would be short for “Kitchen Faux Pas.” Anyway, the toothpick didn't come out clean—from the Brownies, I mean. No worries. I'll just give them some more tanning time. After another two minutes that toothpick was coming out as clean as a Matt Barkley to Marquis Lee touchdown pass. I was so thrilled, I must've poked the toothpick in a couple dozen different spots.

Tracy: Was that the toothpick equivalent of running up the score, dear? Seriously, you did great because I thought your Black Bean Brownies were very moist and delicious. Good work, honey.

Bri: Well, thanks honey. I must admit I felt a real sense of accomplishment. Plus, they really liked them over at Swedish Asian. And I'd like to say that I really do like my guys down at the shop and have appreciated having them over the years. Guess I better go clean the kitchen now.

~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes.