My "Special" Brownies

I have a practice of sneaking healthier options into my family’s meals without their knowing it. I purée carrots, celery and mild bell peppers into tomato based sauces, such as marinara, pomodoro and even in chili. It’s delicious. When the children were little I put broccoli and cauliflower in their macaroni and cheese so that they would eat more veggies. I find that they are less likely to complain about whole wheat pasta when it’s smothered in a good tomato-based sauce, and sprinkled generously with some Parmesan cheese. Now that the healthful benefits of cinnamon are touted, I sprinkle cinnamon generously on their yogurt, applesauce and cereal. I’m into little things like that to add some healthiness to their food.

Big Daddy is as picky an eater as you’d find, and he is usually not easily persuaded into trying anything new, let alone healthy. But even he has budged and will eat some things that he might not of before. But he will also dig his heals in a bit and be a real hard sell on these kinds of things, too! So I often have to be stealthy in my goal of cooking healthful meals.

So along those lines, I found a tip for getting them to eat some healthy legumes, in brownies of all places. I know what you’re thinking. Ugh, gross. How can beans and chocolate brownies go together, um, tastefully? I was a skeptic myself. Several years ago, someone posted on the now defunct, or unavailable Hippie Christian Board this simple tip:

Mix one regular can of black beans with one regular package of brownie mix. Mash up the beans really well before you add the mix, and then don’t add anything else - no water, oil or eggs necessary. Cook, cool, refrigerate and eat. The woman who posted it suggested you NOT eat them warm from the oven, they are best at room temperature or slightly cool. I tested this an she is correct! I also think they take slightly longer to cook than the box directions, so you have to watch them. Oh yeah, and DO NOT eat them warm.

The thing is, they are pretty good. Mind you they aren’t warm decadent brownies you serve with ice cream on your birthday or other special occasions. But when you want a little treat that you don’t have to feel super-guilty about, and that gives you some added healthy food on the down low, try this recipe. My family has been eating them this way for a couple of years and haven't noticed. Which brings me to my most recent batch of special brownies.

This past Memorial Day we were planning and packing for our picnic at the beach. We did it the night before, since we wanted to get an early start. My Mom was here visiting, and helping by making the sandwiches. She asked if I wanted her to start the brownies we bought for the picnic. “Oh no,” I said, “I have a special recipe for them, to make them a bit healthier. I’ll take care of them, but I have to do it while the Big Daddy and the children are not around because I don’t want them to see what I’m doing.” When they were otherwise occupied I made my special brownies under the very doubtful and critical eye of my Mom. I tried to convince her. “Trust me,” I said, “They are really pretty good. You’ll see. You’ll be surprised, Mom.” She was not convinced, but I swore her to secrecy and knew she’d give them a try at our picnic.

We had a beautiful morning at the beach on Memorial Day: Swimming, snorkeling, walking and relaxing, the ocean was fairly calm, the weather was great. We all worked up an appetite playing. The picnic food was good - egg salad or bologna sandwiches, pickles, chips and ripe watermelon. Simple, yummy and satisfying. That is until we got to the brownies. Which I made with spicy, seasoned black beans. I didn’t read the label.

Now my family is on to me. And I will never hear the end of this one.