Sneaky Brownies

I’m sure I’m not the only mother who struggles to feed her kids all the fruits and vegetables that they are ‘supposed’ to have.  The daily recommended servings? Well, they don’t happen all the time.  If you are one of those mothers who are lucky enough to have kids that eat all the fruits and veggies and then some…. good for you!

I don’t mind tricking or bribing my kids to finish their meal specially if it’s with sneaky treats!  If you start with clean food, you will have sneaky treats you can feel good about.

A few weeks ago I bought the book: The Sneaky Chef by Missy Chase Lapine.  Wow! It’s amazing the ways this woman hides the food your kids should be eating in the foods they already love!

My kids love chocolate, so I decided to try her Brainy Brownies. I did tweak the recipe a bit, mainly because my kids like their brownies to be moist and cakey, vs dense and chewy.  I took LOTS of pictures, because I have some friends that said “no way my kid will eat that!”

It all starts with the ‘purple’ puree (made ahead of time in a larger batch to use later)-recipe follows.

Step 1 to make Purple Puree: Steam spinach

Once spinach is steamed (can be done in microwave or stove) add blueberries and puree (this can be done in blender and a larger batch)

This is what the purple puree will look like. I know, not very eye appealing, but you are not eating it like this!

If you make a bigger batch freeze purple puree in 1/2 cup increments. That way, you’ll have it handy for next time!

Now on to the brownies.  On one bowl mix dry ingredients (not pictured) and on a separate bowl add eggs, puree, vanilla, and sugar.

On the left is your melted chocolate. On the right is the ingredients above mixed.

Pour the mixture into the melted chocolate and mix.

See!! It blends right in!!

My kids love helping (although they didn’t see the spinach and blueberry mix)

This is one mixture I don’t mind licking off the bowl!

In case you are still skeptical, you will see that it looks just like the brownie mix when you pour it on the baking dish

When done, you get super moist, delicious dark chocolate brownies your kids will love! It’s hard to stop eating it… because we moms are just ‘testing’ it out.. right??

Yup, it’s a winner!

Recipe: Sneaky Brownies – adapted from Sneaky Chef’s Brainy Brownies

Ingredients:

• 4TB unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup semisweet choc chips
• 2 large eggs
• 2 Tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup purple puree (following)
• 1/2 flour mix (1/3 white, 1/3 whole wheat, 1/3 wheat germ)
• 1TB unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Optional: 1/2cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

• Preheat oven 350F. Butter or spray 9×9 pan.
• Melt butter, and chocolate chips in double broiler or microwave. Remove from heat and allow to cool off slightly.
• In another bowl, mix eggs, vanilla, sugar, and purple puree. Combine this mixture into cooled chocolate mixture
• In a mixing bowl, stir together flour blend, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder (and optional walnuts).  Combine chocolate mixture into dry ingredients. Mix well.
• Pour in 9×9 baking pan.
• Bake 20-25min or until toothpick comes out clean.

Keeps 1 week in refrigerator covered lightly. See! now you have healthy treats to bring to school for lunch!

Purple Puree: – from The Sneaky Chef

• 3 cups raw baby spinach leaves (or 2cups frozen chopped spinach). I suggest you wash them even if you buy them pre-washed
• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (no syrup or sugar added)
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 3-4 TB water (I use water from steamed spinach)

Follow steps pictured above. remember to freeze extra in smaller portions (1/4 or 1/2 cup increments) to use in future recipes.  You can make large batches and have it ready for other things like triple chocolate cookies!