OOTD and Special Agent Brownie Cake with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Yes, it was 9:00 at night, but I was craving something chocolatey. I have this awesome recipe from Trim Healthy Mama called Special Agent Brownie Cake. Would you believe you can lose weight while eating a brownie? Well, you can! But first, my OOTD.

J. Crew Mixed Print Tee

J. Crew Factory Printed Triple Loop Belt

7 For All Mankind jeans

Triple Strand Pearl Necklace

These are almost carb free - no flour or sugar. Now, what's the secret ingredient in these brownies? Black beans!

Get our your food processor and add everything into it.

Add 1 can of drained black beans. 2 eggs and 4 egg whites.

Add 4 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder.

Add 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. baking soda. 

Add. 2 tsp. vanilla extract.

Add 2 Tbs. coconut oil or butter and 1/3 cup of ricotta or cream cheese.

Add. 4-6 Tbs. Truvia depending on your sweetness level. I used 5.

After everything is in, blend for 4 minutes.

Looks like brownie batter! Pour into a greased baking pan and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Now for some Strawberry Buttercream Frosting!

Add two packages of cream cheese and a stick of butter.

Add 3 Tbs. Truvia (add more to taste once everything is mixed).

Add 1 Tbs. strawberry extract (or any extract you like).

Add 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon.

You can add some coconut flakes if you like. I added them in now so the flakes would break down a bit but you can add them in afterwards as well to keep the large flakes whole.

Mix well and adjust strawberry and Truvia to taste.

Yum!

Nutella French Toast

I know Valentine's Day is over but this recipe was too good not to share. I made this for dinner on Valentine's Day because who doesn't love breakfast for dinner?

 Nutella Stuffed French Toast
Source: Nook & Pantry

Ingredients:
1 egg
3/4 cup of milk
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Brioche or Challah bread
Nutella

Cut the bread in slices.

Slather Nutella on one side of the bread and assemble sandwiches.

Mix together the egg, milk, flour, butter, sugar, vanilla and salt.

Dredge each sandwich in the egg mixture and pan fry in a skillet with some butter.

Pour on some fresh homemade strawberry sauce.

Voila!

Happy Chocolate Day!

The other day I ran across Giada de Laurentiis' recipe for Brownie Walnut Pie  and knew that I had to make it for Valentine's Day.

Now, I'm counting down the hours until dessert. 

Biscotti Crumb Crust Ingredients:
8 biscotti
1/2 stick of butter (chilled and diced)
1/4 cup dark brown sugar

Preheat your oven to 350°

 Break up the biscotti and put them in a food processor. Add to it the butter and the sugar.

Pulse together until a crumbly mixture forms.

Pour mixture into your pie pan.

Press down along the bottom and sides. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Perfect!

Brownie Walnut Pie Ingredients:
6 tablespoons of unsalted butter
3 ounces of unsweetened chocolate
1¼ cup dark brown sugar
3 eggs at room temperature (click for a tip!)
¾ cup flour 
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup toasted walnut pieces

Preheat your oven to 350°

Put a double boiler on the stove (or fashion your own with a pot of boiling water and a glass bowl on top - watch out for escaping steam!). Add chocolate.

Add diced butter.

Keep stirring as it melts.

Almost there!

Perfect!

Take chocolate mixture off the heat and add the brown sugar.

Add the eggs one at a time. 

Now add the flour.

Now that the chocolate mixture is set, chop up the walnuts.

Toast walnuts on the stove top. Keep a close eye on the nuts as there's a thin line between toasted and burnt. Once you're able to smell the walnuts, they're done.

Fold into the chocolate.

Pour into the cooled pie crust.

Place pie plate on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven for about 35 minutes. The edges should be set but a toothpick should come out of the center gooey.

Beautiful!