Black Bean Brownies!

OK, so there a tonne of recipes going around for black bean brownies at the moment, so I thought I'd create my own, and surprisingly, it worked! Don't be mislead by the black beans, you can't taste them at all once they're baked.  Plus, this recipe is sugar and dairy free, so everyone can give it a go! 

TIME: 10 minutes prep, 35 minutes baking

MAKES: 16 brownies 

INGREDIENTS: 

1 can of black beans, rinsed & drained

3 very ripe bananas 

2 eggs 

100ml almond milk

2 tbsp Wetherspoons sugar free chocolate sauce 

4 tbsp cocoa powder 

1 scoop chocolate protein powder 

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup oat flour 

1 cup almond flour 

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips 

Another 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips and 1/2 cup ground almonds for on top 

METHOD: 

Pre-heat the oven to 180*C, and grease and line a 16cmx16cm baking tin with coconut oil and baking sheet

In a food processor, first blend the black beans and banana, then adding in the other ingredients one by one

Instead of processing, stir in the chocolate chips (so they don't break up)

Pour the mixture into the baking tin, then sprinkle with ground walnuts and more chocolate chips

At this point, take a chopstick (or something pointy) and gently swirl in some of the walnuts on top, so that they don't all fall off during eating and are slightly combined with the top of the brownie mixture

Bake in the oven for about 35 minutes (or until a tooth pick comes out relatively clean)

Cut into 16 squares and enjoy warm! 

These will keep in the fridge for about 5 days, or freeze then reheat to enjoy (that's if you don't eat them all at once!) 

These are honestly some of the most moist, yummy brownies I've ever tasted! 

V x 

A Spirulina A Day Keeps The Doctor Away...

I'm not going to sugar coat this, my daily shot of spirulina tastes awful. Every morning I mix 1/4 teaspoon of spirulina powder with enough water to fill a shot glass (my Mexico shot glass - classy gal) and try and get it down my throat as fast as possible.  You may ask why I torture myself...well basically the benefits of spirulina far out way the taste (not exaggerating, it makes wheatgrass taste like sweet nectar). 

So what is spirulina? Basically it's a type of algae formed in warm, alkaline lakes in Africa as well as Central and South America.  What we eat is dried and comes in a powder form.  The alkalinic properties of this algae contains a tonne of chlorophyll giving it it's dark green colour, which makes it an extremely powerful detoxifier. 

 Many studies have found it to be effective at detoxing heavy metals (including arsenic) from the body, helping to improve the blood health.  It has also been found to eliminate Candida, the bacteria that can cause yeast infections, as well as disrupt the microfloral balance of the gut contributing to leaky gut syndrome and other digestive disorders.  It can reduce nasal congestion, so make sure you hit it up when you're feeling fluey!

As well as helping to detox the body, spirulina has been found to promote production of anti-bodies, anti-inflammatories and infection fighting proteins in the body, which in turn can improve our immunity.  It's even been found to affect cancer cells, helping to reduce the growth and development of cancer.  Finally on the medical front, it has been found to reduce cholesterol and decrease blood pressure.  This in turn reduces the chance of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.  

Personally, I've found spirulina to boost my energy.  I'm not a coffee drinker, but before my daily spirulina shots, I would get a little drowsy mid morning, despite doing everything 'right'.  For me, it has also reduced bloating (thanks to balancing my gut flora) and I have seen a little weight loss in the past couple of weeks, but that may also be due to a slightly improved eating plan.  

My main reason for starting to take spirulina, however, is my liver health.  Spirulina has been found to improve liver health and function, most likely due to it's ability to help purify the blood and eliminate toxins from the body.  Our liver acts a lot like a cleansing system for our bodies.  It stores excess fat, processes antibiotics and medications, and of course, eliminates alcohol from our blood stream.  Years of 'abusing' your liver can have severely detrimental effects, so a shot of spirulina can seriously help the liver out and improve your health.  

Now, what we've all been waiting for....spirulina has been found to aid in weight loss!!  It is thought to reduce appetite (I would definitely agree with that) due to it's high protein content and 18 essential amino acids.  It is best consumed in the morning, on an empty stomach before breakfast.  Obviously, following a healthy diet and exercising regularly will help you reach your health goals, but by incorporating spirulina daily, your results will be even better.  

So man up, hold your nose and chuck that green goodness down your throat! 

V x