I’ve been feeling a bit down lately. Don’t worry it won’t be one of those blog posts, I promise.
My IBS has been giving me a lot of stomach trouble, terrible pains and the worse digestion skills in the world. This is all alongside a lot of stress and worries of finding a job, and fast before I consider myself worthless to the world. Naturally stress and worry makes all forms of IBS worse; it just comes hand in hand.
I sat down today rethinking my whole mental strategy and how I could make this week go any better and although I can only eat them in moderation, I can always feel reassured from a brownie.
There are several reasons why making brownies is good for you.
Lots of mixing involved. I won’t get all scientific on ya’ but all the energy released is good for the ole stress. Plus any aggressions you have at the world you can determine on the strength needed for what your mixing; for example mine tends to go in a rather, Simon Cowell, Unemployment, David Cameron, kind of way. THUS, If I’m mixing together the butter and sugar by hand this is the perfect opportunity to pretend it’s a politician’s brain.
They are adaptable in every kind of way.
From the ingredients you add into them and to the frosting or flavours you put in them. For me this is where my creative energies are released and if the recipe succeeds, even better.
For this brownie recipe I chose to use Macadamia’s, and a peppermint frosting. I just find that when you bite into a macadamia it’s got such a smooth texture, which isn’t at all grainy like a walnut or pecan. The peppermint was a decision I chose to somewhat aid my stomach, as I normally drink peppermint tea after meals which often settles my pains I thought that somehow psychologically it would work in this way too.
For me, one is a good amount.
To satisfy, a good brownie should be very dense and very sugary. One is perfect with a cuppa, firstly for my IBS and secondly for my weight.
So yes, brownies do stand for comfort. You must always abide by this rule however…
Never eliminate chocolate
Dark chocolate and macadamia nut brownies with a peppermint frost.
[Substitution and additional notes: One word of warning, the larger you chop your macadamia nuts the more likely the brownie mixture will break (I found out the hard way, but managed to salvage a good few squares), so although in my pictures they are quite large-give them a chop once more. Flour I would substitute the almond for more all purpose gluten free blend, as it’s a dark chocolate recipe flours such as millet are slightly worthless really as you can’t taste it’s flavour; but by all means if you have nothing else!]
Ingredients
100g unsalted butter
150g coarsely chopped good-quality dark chocolate
40g unsweetened cocoa powder
45g gluten free all-purpose flour
45g of almond flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
½ a teaspoon of Xanthan gum
100g of finely chopped macadamia nuts (use 20g for the topping)
1 teaspoon salt
100g dark brown muscuvado sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Frosting
Cream cheese 100g
40g of soft butter
1tsp of peppermint extract
300g icing sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
Butter a loaf tin thoroughly and set aside.
Put butter, chocolate, and cocoa in a heatproof medium bowl set over a pan of simmering water; stir until butter and chocolate are melted. Let cool slightly.
Mix together flour,, xantham gum, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl; set aside.
Put sugar, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl and mix.
Add in the chocolate mixture, beat until combined.
Add flour mixture; beat, scraping down sides of bowl, until well incorporated.
Add nuts.
Pour the mixture into the loaf pan. Bake for about 25 minutes but check at 20mins with a toothpick.
Leave it to cool and prepare the frosting!
Peppermint Frosting
Beat the icing sugar and , peppermint essence and butter together until the mixture comes together. Add the cream cheese in one go and beat quickly. Don’t overmix otherwise it will become wet.
Serve whenever you need to feel better again.
