First Recipe: Black Bean Brownies: Take One (definitely doing these again!)

I was initially going to do a post about my new-found amazingness: Home Made Energy Gel. But due to special request, I will be writing about the easily confused with dessert specialty infamously known as the deceitful "Black Bean Brownie" (BBB). There are hundreds of recipes out there, it is not a bit crazy - just pure awesome. Every health blog that likes flavor (and thus is worth it's memory in cyberspace) must have a BBB post. So maybe it is fitting that this is my first recipe post (thanks Al and Ronni!). Out of all the blogs that have BBB options there is one above the rest: No Meat Athlete (which will be referred to as NMA from here on) has the "Ultimate Energy Bar Formula". I've never been one to really like following a strict, specified recipe. If I do, it is to get the basics down if the recipe seems complex. I simply prefer going rogue! This basic formula lets you do whatever the heck you want and, often more importantly, is very nice when you don't live within a health market's pantry. Ever run into the problem where you see a 'critical ingredient' on a recipe and it is the first time you have ever seen that item? (Ex: I don't have brown rice flour, quinoa flakes, hemp oil, the list goes on and on). Well, with NMA's guide you can't miss.

This time, I'll give the eye candy before the recipe...but don't get too used to it!

Okay, so these are pictures of the second set of BBB I made with CC's (chocolate chips). Sadly I didn't snap a photo of the first set...I was too excited to eat them and give them away.

So I took a stab at it. And I've taken another stab since then (to make more dessert-like BBB's). Here's what I came up with on try #1:

• 1 Can (15.5oz) Goya Black Beans - drained, then rinsed a couple times to get the chunky stuff out. Don't worry about completely draining the excess water after rinsing!
• ½ C Homemade Almond Butter
• ¼ C Agave Nectar
• ½ Large Banana (makes  ¼ C mashed banana)
• ½ Cup Cocoa (I had Hershey's 100% Special Dark)

All components below are put in after you hit the first set with the food processor until fully smooth. Make sure to not pulverize the oats and especially to keep the raisins intact as best as you can!

• 1½ C Rolled Oats (Use the thick cut or regular - quick oats will likely become mush)
• ½ C Whole Wheat Flour (subbed for the preferred brown rice flour which I don't have)
• ⅓ C Raisins
• ⅓ C Shredded Coconut (I only had sweetened - I would preferably use unsweetened)
• ⅓ C Dark Chocolate Yogurt Covered Raisins (not really optimal by being 'natural', but they looked so good - and made an awesome textural & flavorful addition)

Extra notes: If things seem super thick and very hard to sculpt, feel free to add a bit of water 1-2T at a time. This step will differ based on what types of binder, flour, and sweetener you use.

Put in an 8x8 (bigger brownies) or 9x13 (more brownies) pan that has cooking spray on it. Bake on 350F for 12-18 minutes...all you need to do is firm up the mixture and get a touch of the water out, no big chemistry is happening here - but it definitely adds a lot to the completeness of the flavor and texture. If you try these with a no bake procedure I would suggest more of dry ingredients, but let me know if you give it a shot!

On this recipe, I went with the 8x8 Pyrex. Thus it made 12 pretty solid sized brownies (nutritional info is listed below). I prefer the 9x13 method, it yields 20 still good size brownies. More is more! So, how did they come out?? To quote my brother: "These do NOT taste anything like 200 calories!" He was expecting 350+. I told him I didn't use any added sugar or chocolate (cocoa powder is different) and they had zero butter. Needless to say, he was pleased and impressed.

Now for the nutrition breakdown. Did you think I'd actually go without it?! If you did, get used to knowing every little thing about my cooking. I have created a streamlined Excel template/workbook and food database, so it is very quick and easy. I include both 2000kcal and 3500kcal diet values (as my intake is far closer to 3500kcal or above, rather than 2000kcal). No gram scale...yet, so I can't be uber precise. Here it is (and If you do a 1/20th batch per the 9x13 pan...then each brownie is a mere 60% of this recipe...or 126kcal. Now that is absurb :) )

They turned out great. Unless you have an extremely keen palate, you wouldn't even notice that the base is black beans without being informed of it. Whether you are someone who likes to make healthful snacks or not, these are a must try!

The Mid-Night Baker Goes Global

Welcome to the Mid-Night Baker (MNB) Blog! I was quite bummed to see that a lot of other people had created blogs called 'Midnight Baker' in some way or another, but I was 100% set on naming it this. Why, you ask?

Story time! Because about 8 years ago, when I embarked on my first ever quest of baking I did it really late one night - probably a school night when I had more 'important' (ha!) things to do. The cookies turned out amazing. The name wasn't created then but, being the night owl that I was, I would always do my baking super late...sometimes starting around 1AM. Why? Because I LOVE COOKIES. And when I want cookies, I eat cookies. And if I don't have good cookies (read: "homemade delicious cookies"), I make said homemade delicious cookies. So I started a trend for myself. I continued to play around with a variety of recipes. My sister would plead for me to bake them for her hockey team. I'd make a huge batch (80+ cookies) and they would be gone in a few days. Supply was low, demand got high. And the process continued until the Kroot household weight had increased by a few percentage points, and the vicious cycle was ceased...temporarily...until the beast was once again awoken. That beast, as dubbed by my Mom, was jokingly named "The Mid-Night Baker". Clearly, the name stuck. I was no loch-ness monster, but the cookies inspired monster-like tendencies of indulgence and sheer lack of control.

The Mid-Night Baker Logo!
As Seen on the MNB Basic Roasted Almond Buttah Label

Over my college years, cookies became less and less common - often gracing their presence over the holidays for larger gatherings and whenever I really wanted some cookies (or the demand hit critical mass). One of the best Christmas presents I ever received was an Ice Cream Maker. I was literally going Nintendo 64 crazy circa 1996 - and, yes, I looked up the released date for an accurate statement right there. For those 'non-gamers' I'll go with Tickle Me Elmo, also released in 1996 (note: Wikipedia rocks!). I would have nights where I was both baking cookies (which sometimes was dubbed "cooking bakies" in absolute tiredness and goofiness) and making ice cream. The Mid-Night Baker's Cookiewich became instantaneous glory. I kid you not. It was epic - and this is not abuse of the word epic. Trust me. Then I got the brilliant idea to simply combine my delicious ice cream and well-loved cookies. How, you ask? Cookie Dough Ice Cream. Yes, I went there. Yes, the cookie dough was uncooked. And, yes, it was complete glory. It may even be known as my first Pursuit of Glory. My Dad - a food lover - said, at the time, "This is the best ice cream I have ever had!" I told him he was being absurd, but he assured me he 100% meant it. That was when I knew I had nailed it. Complete, top of the list, approval from Brian Kroot. The Mid-Night Baker was legit. The MNB is legit, at least in my mind thanks to my Dad's full-on approval. However, I'll keep the verdict out for you all.

With my recent resurgence in cooking and baking and new endeavor of raw recipe making, a food blog is in order. The Pursuit of Glory has a perfect counterpart now: FOOD! And, today, the Mid-Night Baker  is going to la-blog. la-blog backwards is Global. Coincidence? I. Think. Not.

The Kitchen Frenzy upon discovery of a (very old and very AWESOME) Food Processor,
which has become my new, very dear friend.

Recipe #1: Happiness from your food:
Ingredients list:

• Know exactly what you are putting into your body...and why (much more challenging than one would think!)
• Eat for recovery, eat to be constantly and optimally fueled
• Flavor. For the most part...if you don't enjoy it, you won't eat it (or at least not often)
• Balanced
• Keep the fat healthy!
• Result in: "No way is that good for you!"
• Convert people to believe experience that tasty food = healthful food
• Minimize (or neglect): Butter, cream, sat fat, added oils, sugar, non-whole grains, etc.
• Maximize: Complete nutrition, pureness of flavor, ability to taste most (or all) components

Process:

• Combine ingredients
• Enjoy
• Be Happy :)

Note: The MNB will be in association with my other blog: The Pursuit of Glory - which highlights my athletic and life endeavors. Expect a (very) high focus on high-quality, high-octane recipes to fuel the athlete looking for optimal performance. However, I will (every Blue Moon or two) include an 'unhealthy' or 'less than optimal healthfulness' recipe with a specific label that is TBD.