Dark chocolate avacado brownies

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour, optional almond flour for a GF recipe
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1 egg
• 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and mashed smooth
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips, recommend Enjoy Life

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly spray an 8X8 inch pan with non stick spray.
2. In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, avocado, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Mix well until smooth. Gradually add the flour mixture to the avocado mixture and blend well, Gently fold in chocolate chips and pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before cutting. Store refrigerated in an airtight container.

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

This is rich. There is no way around it. If you've been craving peanut-butter go make this right now!

Ingredients:

Crust:
1 cup of Oreo crumbs (I just bought Oreo's and made my own, but remove the cream filling)
2 tbs. of sugar
¼ cup melted butter

Filling:
24 ounces softened cream cheese (3 packages)
3/4 cup of sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 egg

2/3 cup of peanut butter (don't use the all natural stuff, it won't mix very well)

Peanut Butter Whipped Cream:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons peanut butter
1 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons sugar

Chocolate Ganache (topping):

1 cup heavy cream

8 oz chocolate, bittersweet or semi, depending on your taste (if you use bittersweet you may want to add sugar or else it will be very bitter and taste like a very dark chocolate)

Directions:

Crust:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Add Oreo crumbs, butter, and sugar together in a 9 inch pie dish.
3. Mix and then press into the pan so it is compressed.
4. Bake for 10 minutes.

Filling:

1. Set oven to 450 degrees.
2. In a bowl mix softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, peanut butter until well blended.
3. Add 1 egg at a time until it is completely mixed.
4. Pour mixture into pie pan.
5. Bake for 10 minutes at 450 degrees.
6. Reduce heat to 250 degrees and bake for 30 minutes.
7. Check done-ness by inserting a toothpick in the middle, it should come out clean.
   
8. Remove and let cool.

Whipped Cream:

1. Add cream, sugar, vanilla, and peanut butter to a mixing bowl.
2. Using a hand mixer or similar device, mix on high for 3 minutes until it forms stiff peaks. Don't over beat of you will make butter.

Chocolate Ganache:

1. Chop up chocolate and put in a medium bowl.
2. Pour cream in a small pot and bring to a boil (watch it carefully).
3. Remove immediately and add to the bowl of chocolate.
4. Mix vigorously until combined.
5. Spread a layer on top of the cooled cheesecake.
6. Garnish with half a peanut butter cup.
7. Enjoy!

Fudge Sauce

This is amazing with ice cream, and one friend likes to dip biscotti in it.

Ingredients:

2/3 C cocoa
2 C sugar
1 can evaporated milk
1 stick butter
1 t vanilla

Directions:

1. Mix the cocoa and sugar together.
2. In a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
3. Add the evaporated milk and cocoa/sugar mixture.
4. Cook, stirring constantly until the sauce comes just to the boil
5. Remove from heat.
6. Stir in the vanilla.
7. Enjoy!

Brownies

My brownie recipe is based on a recipe from my grandmother—what makes them so yummy is all the buttery goodness along with the surprise of miniature chocolate chips.

Ingredients:

2 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened chocolate
1 stick butter (not margarine)
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
¾ C all-purpose flour
½ t baking powder
½ C chocolate chips (I prefer the miniature ones)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a saucepan, heat chocolate squares and butter over very low heat. Stir while melting and once melted, remove from heat.
3. Mix in the sugar, then the eggs.
4. Blend the flour and baking powder together and then add to the mixture in the saucepan.
5. Add the chocolate chips.
6. Pour into a greased baking pan, about 8x8x2 inches (I use a Pyrex glass pan).
7. Bake for 25 minutes; test with a toothpick. The toothpick should come out clean while the brownies still look a bit moist. This is good.
8. Let cool and then cut into 16 pieces.

Of course you can always eat more than one piece at a time.