August 8, 2011

Even Brunettes Can Enjoy Life Blondies

I enjoy the Paleo way of eating, although I’m not sure I could ever entirely give up grains completely. Nor do I think I want to. I don’t like the thought of taking away a certain food group completely. With that way of thinking comes way to much emphasis on not doing something, which in turns, makes me want that “forbidden fruit” that much more.

No, no. Placing that emphasis just makes me think about what I can’t have or shouldn’t have. But if I take away the forbiddenness and add an “instead of” in front of the said item, well then, that just makes it a truly wonderful (and once in a while) indulgence.

Kinda like these blondies. They may not be Paleo but they are certainly gluten and dairy free. Oh, and they are mighty tasty. Mighty. I say to enjoy life to the fullest, we must enjoy what we do, what we eat, and who we are.

I’m just a brunette in search of finding balance in food and health. And Enjoy(ing) Life Blondies…

Brunette’s Enjoy Life Blondies

[adapted from the back of the Enjoy Life Mega Chunks gluten and dairy free chocolate]

  • 1 cups Gluten-Free Flour Mix
  • 1 cup coconut flour (or more gluten free flour)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 large banana, very ripe and mashed (about 2/3 cup)
  • 3/4 cup NuNaturals Baking Blend (or sugar)
  • 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup almond milk, adding in by tablespoon amounts (may not need the entire amount)
  • 1 cup Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mega Chunks
  • 3 tbsp sunflower seed butter (optional for being melted and spooned on top of cooked blondies)

    • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Grease an 8″ by 8″ pan and set aside.  Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl, whisk together and set aside.  Mix banana, NuNaturals (or sugar), brown sugar, vanilla, and eggs  together, mashing bananas as well as possible. Combine dry ingredients with the banana mixture. Stir to combine and slowly, one tablespoon at a time, add in the almond milk. Combine unil the batter is a similar consistency as sticky cookie dough. Batter will be on the thick side. Fold chocolate chunks into cookie dough.

    Spread the dough into greased pan.  Bake for 33 to 35 minutes and until the edges are slightly browned.  If using, melt the sunflower seed butter for 20 seconds in the microwave and spoon over the top of the blondies.

    Allow to cool completely, then slice into 16 squares.

     

    Enjoy Life Blondies. It’s like a cookie field of tasty. And Enjoy Life brand makes yummy happen. (This is purely my opinion. I purchased, and continue to purchase, Enjoy Life products on my own. I am not sponsored to write this, but I’ll gladly take some freebie’s! Hint, hint.)

    How do you enjoy life?

    How are you enjoying your Monday?

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