Secret Special Brownies...YUM

It is funny how life throws curve balls your way.  I love the saying that when you have a plan God laughs and shows you who really is in charge!

I had set out to do the whole food thing (which I still plan on doing). What could be more 'whole' then making my own bread, right !?! So, I  went out and bought more then our fair share of grains and wheat's to make wonderful homemade breads.  Then one week later I come to find out that my daughter is gluten sensitive and my son is dairy sensitive.  Thus, the end to traditional bread making and wonderful homemade treats and goodies.

 My son is also low in iron binding capabilities in his blood.  I needed a way to increase his iron supply.  Again, not as easy as it may seem. Vitamins don't have iron or much of it in them.  And like a lot of kids he doesn't like veggies, let alone spinach and kale.

So, I have been busy surfing the web for recipes that are both lactose and gluten free.  Not the easiest of feats but do-able.  Thanks to Pineterest I came across this brownie recipe and thought it was worth a try. I made a few tweaks to make it my own.

Being the sneaky Mom that I am, I made these brownies on the sly.  No one has guessed the 'secret' ingredient....black beans.  Believe it or not you can not taste them at all!  These brownies are high in fiber and in iron.

With the iron and fiber it is one snack I can say it is okay for him to have...lol!

****These are for gluten sensitive not celiac or gluten allergic (unless all ingredients state gluten free).

Secret Ingredient Brownies
 1 15oz can organic black beans drained and washed well
3 lg eggs
4 Tbs coconut oil
3/4 c sugar
1/2 c cocoa (I used special dark)
1 tsp vanilla
1 bag chocolate chips (I used dark chocolate chips)

Pre heat oven to 350 F Baking time 30-35 minutes

Rinse black beans well after draining.  Put in food processor and blend well (this is really important).  It will turn into the consistency of re-fried beans.  Blend rest of ingredients, except for chocolate chips,  for 2 minutes on high scraping side and bottom of bowl often. Mix 1/4 of chocolate chips into batter.  Pour into prepared 8x8 inch pan.  It is important not to over bake or it they will be slightly dry. When the toothpick comes out clean they are done.  While still  hot sprinkle remaining chocolate chips on top of brownies, let melt slightly and spread to form a 'frosting'.  Cool and enjoy!

Summer time meal at the end of winter

It is still winter here in northern MI at least that is what it says on the calendar.  We have been really lucky the last few days, having temperatures in the high 60's and low 70's.  With weather like that, we took advantage and decided to grill out some hamburgers.  Trying to get away from refined flour and additives I thought I will make homemade hamburger buns.  I always have enjoyed using my bread machine; just in the last few years have gotten away from it.  So, down in the basement I go to dig it out.  All of us are glad I did.  These buns were amazing.  They are definitely a heavier more dense bun.  The ones on the store shelves that are full of whipped air not these.  If you leave the table hungry it will be your own fault!  Pretty simple.

Like I said we are a family used to buying everything pre-made and processed. Having these be wheat buns was a huge leap.  With two picky eaters (not naming names but it's the two men in the house) I was a bit skeptical.  However, there was a resounding "These are great Mom!  This is the best hamburger bun ever.  We would have to pay $15 at a restaurant for this!"  Boy, I love my kids...keep the flattery coming.

It takes a little extra time and planning but they are so worth it.  You can also make and freeze.  Enjoy!

The recipe

Honey whole wheat hamburger buns
 
3/4 c + 2 Tbsp buttermilk (I used regular milk with 1 tsp vinegar let sit 5 minutes)
1 Tbsp non processed honey
1 egg
1Tbsp coconut oil (can use any oil)
2 C whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp lecithin (optional)
2 tsp gluten flour (optional) 1 tsp sea salt fine
1 1/2 tsps active dry yeast

Put all the ingredients in your bread machine in the order listed for your machine (liquids first etc or reverse).  Select the dough setting. Push start. When the machine beeps remove the dough.  You are done with the machine.

On a floured cutting board but the dough into 6 equal pieces and form into ball.  Leave about 2 inches apart on a lightly greased pan or one lined with parchment or silicone liner. Cover with a non lint warm damp kitchen towel (clean is preferable, lol) or plastic wrap.  Let rise in a non drafty location for 1 hour.

Pre heat oven to 400.  If you would like you can brush tops with egg whites or butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds or herbs.  Bake the buns for 12-15 minutes or until browned.

Notes: You can use the regular milk with 1 tsp vinegar to 'make' buttermilk.  I used non processed honey but you can use regular honey.  Any oil you have can be substituted for the coconut oil. The lecithin and gluten flour can be found at the health food store.  It is not necessary but helps with conditioning the bread and lets it rise better.  It is also a natural preservative. Gluten flour is optional as well.  It helps give bread lift and rising.  This really helps in whole wheat breads that are usually denser and heavier.  You never need much of either of these.  Store in a cool dry place and it keeps for several months.

Our humble beginnings

Hello!  I really don't know why I am doing this.  There are a million other blogs out there. Who will want to read mine?  I am a home-schooling mom of two active teenagers, so it isn't like I am twiddling my thumbs with nothing else to do.  I am not an aspiring writer just longing to see my life in type.  With that being said I feel like I have something to share with people so I will give it a whirl for a while and see how it all goes.

We are just the 'average' American family with 2 teenagers, 3 dogs, a picket fence, and a mini-van.  Life was cruising along.  Weekly shopping trips to the grocery for "big shopping's".  Periodic trips back for missed items.  We didn't eat a lot but we didn't watch what we ate either.  Our food budget was growing weekly between the economy and teenagers.  I clipped coupons but it was getting crazy.

Our children were always sick; our daughter with asthma, our son with headaches and stomach aches.  We had and have been to so many specialists and they are on a small arsenal of medications with no major changes.  What is wrong with our kids?  With us.  We are 'young' yet we were at the doctors for one of us almost weekly.  Our parents were healthier then us...Why?

Oh, I had thought about 'getting back to the earth', going 'natural' and all of that.  However, being a one income family (and a very very very modest income at that) I didn't think I would ever be able to afford organic and whole foods.

Then through divine interventions here and there, news articles, friends at home school group, a wonderful family we met on a cruise; I thought I might be able to swing this.  Friends kept telling me of books to read and movies to watch.

It FINALLY hit me, we can't afford not  to do this.

So, I invite you to join us...(a real average family, with limited income and time, a couple picky eaters, and used to processed everything) on our journey to a Family on F.O.O.D. (Finally On Organic Diet).

I hope to share with you how our health changes, how to do it on a budget, and with limited time.  I don't have a green thumb, I am not Martha Stuart, and I won't be perfect.  We live in a small town with limited shopping. The nearest Trader Joe's or Whole Foods are hours away.  So, when we can't get organic we will do whole food.  We aren't vegan but we are going to try to cut down on the portions of meat and how often we eat them.  When we do eat meat, I hope to have it be farm raised with no chemicals, grass fed, etc.  Like I have seen stated before what our Great Grandparents used to call "food".  Heaven knows they were healthier then we are.

It might not always be pretty but it should be fun and worth a laugh every once in a while.

Now let's start this journey together!