Kahlua Fudge Brownies

Kahlua Fudge Brownies

Adapted from Cooking Light

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INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 4 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
• 2 tablespoons Kahlúa (coffee-flavored liqueur)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 large egg white
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Glaze:
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 1 ounce semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 teaspoon Kahlúa (coffee-flavored liqueur)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare brownies, coat bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray (do not coat sides of pan); set aside.
3. Combine 1.5 ounces chocolate and 4 1/2 tablespoons butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until chocolate almost melts. Stir until completely melted.
4. Stir in 1 cup sugar and next 6 ingredients (1 cup sugar through egg).
5. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl; stir well with a whisk.
6. Add chocolate mixture; stir just until moist. Spread into prepared pan.
7. Bake at 350° for 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
8. To prepare glaze, combine 2 tablespoons sugar, water, nectar, and 2 teaspoons butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 40 seconds or until sugar dissolves, stirring once. Add 1 ounce chocolate and 1 teaspoon liqueur, stirring until chocolate melts.
9. Spread over brownies; cool 20 minutes or until glaze is set.

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Adapted from Karina's Kitchen

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INGREDIENTS

• 3 medium-sized acorn squashes
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/2 medium sweet or red onion, diced
• 5 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 lb. ground turkey
• 2 cups Baby Bella mushrooms, chopped
• 1 small green or red bell pepper, seeded, cored, diced
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• A dash of spicy curry, red pepper, or other spice, to taste
• 1-15oz. can diced tomatoes
• 1-2 teaspoons dried Italian Herbs, to taste- basil, oregano, marjoram, sage, thyme
• Splash of balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon agave nectar- or molasses
• 1/4 cup good ketchup- Muir Glen is good
• 1/2 cup of broth- such as Better Than Bouillon- Organic Beef- make and set aside
• Chopped parsley, as needed

DIRECTIONS

1. Crank the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Slice the acorn squash in half, lengthwise. Clean out the seeds. Place the halves skin side down in a broiler or roasting pan. [If any of the squash is really tippy- you can slice a thin piece off the bottom to make it sit still.]
3. Pour water into the pan- you'll need a good inch or two (this helps keep the squash from scorching/sticking to the pan). Prick the hollow of the squash with a fork to make a few tiny holes. Drizzle the squash with olive oil, and some pure maple syrup until it collects in the hollow. Don't be stingy with the maple syrup- you'll use it later. Season with sea salt.
4. Place the pan into the preheated oven.
5. Roast the squash until it is fork tender-but not totally soft; you'll be baking it again.
6. Meanwhile...
7. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and add the onion and garlic; stir for a minute or two.
8. Add the ground turkey, mushrooms, pepper and tomatoes; season with spices and herbs and stir. Brown the meat a good bit.
9. Add a splash of balsamic vinegar, the agave nectar, and ketchup; stir; keep it on a low simmer and don't over-cook it. Take it off the heat as soon as the pinkness leaves the meat.
10. Toss in some fresh chopped parsley.
11. Remove the squash halves from the oven. Let them cool a bit in the pan. When they have cooled enough to handle, pour off the syrupy liquid (captured in the hollow) into a large measuring cup. Set aside.
12. Lower the heat in the oven to 350 degrees F.
13. Stuff each squash with the beef-mushroom filling.
14. Add the broth you made earlier to the maple syrup-olive oil mixture and mix well. Pour a little over the filling of each squash.
15. If the water has totally evaporated from the pan, add more- just an inch or two. Bake the squash for 25 to 30 minutes (or a bit longer if the ingredients have cooled), until piping hot- and the squash is tender.

DB Vegan Seed Crackers

My first Daring Bakers challenge! And can you believe it? I didn't have to make any substitutions thanks to this month's vegan recipe! For my toppings (from left to right) I used poppy seeds, sesame seeds, celery seeds, fennel seeds, lemon pepper, and a rosemary herb blend.

My sister's least favorite was the celery seed cracker, as it tasted like celery and was a bit bitter. My least favorite was the lemon pepper, which I felt was overpowering. As for favorites, my sister casts her vote for the poppy seed cracker. Although that one was delicious, I personally loved the rosemary herb blend, as it paired nicely with the sweetness provided by the agave nectar.

I also lack a rolling pin, so I rolled these out with a wine bottle. As a result, they were a bit thicker than was intended and took longer to cook. However, I preferred my chewy little crackers - excellent for dipping in Black Soy Bean Hummus (coming soon!).


Vegan Lavash Crackers
Makes 1 sheet pan of crackers

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups (6.75 oz) unbleached bread flour or gluten free flour blend (If you use a blend without xanthan gum, add 1 tsp xanthan or guar gum to the recipe)
• 1/2 tsp (.13 oz) salt
• 1/2 tsp (.055 oz) instant yeast
• 1 Tb (.75 oz) agave syrup or sugar
• 1 Tb (.5 oz) vegetable oil
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup + 2 Tb (3 to 4 oz) water, at room temperature
• Poppy seeds, sesame seeds, paprika, cumin seeds, caraway seeds, or kosher salt for toppings

DIRECTIONS

1. In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, salt yeast, agave, oil, and just enough water to bring everything together into a ball. You may not need the full 1/2 cup + 2 Tb of water, but be prepared to use it all if needed.
2. For Non Gluten Free Cracker Dough: Sprinkle some flour on the counter and transfer the dough to the counter. Knead for about 10 minutes, or until the ingredients are evenly distributed. The dough should pass the windowpane test (see http://www.wikihow.com/Determine-if-Bread-Dough-Has-Been-Mixed-Long-Enough for a discription of this) and register 77 degrees to 81 degrees Fahrenheit. The dough should be firmer than French bread dough, but not quite as firm as bagel dough (what I call medium-firm dough), satiny to the touch, not tacky, and supple enough to stretch when pulled. Lightly oil a bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl, rolling it around to coat it with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
3. Ferment at room temperature for 90 minutes, or until the dough doubles in size. (You can also retard the dough overnight in the refrigerator immediately after kneading or mixing).
4. For Non Gluten Free Cracker Dough: Mist the counter lightly with spray oil and transfer the dough to the counter. Press the dough into a square with your hand and dust the top of the dough lightly with flour. Roll it out with a rolling pin into a paper thin sheet about 15 inches by 12 inches. You may have to stop from time to time so that the gluten can relax. At these times, lift the dough from the counter and wave it a little, and then lay it back down. Cover it with a towel or plastic wrap while it relaxes. When it is the desired thinness, let the dough relax for 5 minutes. Line a sheet pan with baking parchment. Carefully lift the sheet of dough and lay it on the parchment. If it overlaps the edge of the pan, snip off the excess with scissors.
5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit with the oven rack on the middle shelf. Mist the top of the dough with water and sprinkle a covering of seeds or spices on the dough (such as alternating rows of poppy seeds, sesame seeds, paprika, cumin seeds, caraway seeds, kosher or pretzel salt, etc.) Be careful with spices and salt - a little goes a long way. If you want to precut the cracker, use a pizza cutter (rolling blade) and cut diamonds or rectangles in the dough. You do not need to separate the pieces, as they will snap apart after baking. If you want to make shards, bake the sheet of dough without cutting it first.
6. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the crackers begin to brown evenly across the top (the time will depend on how thinly and evenly you rolled the dough).
7. When the crackers are baked, remove the pan from the oven and let them cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. You can then snap them apart or snap off shards and serve.