Flourless Mocha-Bacon Brownies from Practical Paleo

I have been waiting since April, yes APRIL, of this year for the release of Balanced Bites' Practical Paleo to hit the shelves - and it finally arrived on my doorstep last Thursday. It felt like Christmas. Not so much JUST because I was excited to check out all the various meal plans she has set up depending on your current health situation or goals, or even the recipes, but because I feel like this is THE book to share with other people who are struggling. Whether it be food addictions (hello SUGAR!) or health problems, I have no doubt this book can solve just about anything - maybe even world peace.

Plus, it's absolutely gorgeous. I ended up in healthcare and with a love of nutrition and being healthy, but at one time I had the strong urge to go into graphic design or photography. This book is like the best of all those worlds, plus some.

Many of you know, I do have quite the sweet tooth and when someone requested brownies, you can be sure I am not making anything with flour. In fact, I actually went through my cupboards a couple months ago and threw out all my wheat flour. Yes, whole wheat flour is still wheat flour folks. Not sure how that one isn't making sense to people.

So here's my picture and here's the recipe. And if you haven't purchased Practical Paleo yet, what the heck are you waiting for? It's over FOUR HUNDRED pages of recipes, information and meal plans.. and under $22. I feel like I stole it. Head on over to Amazon and steal a copy yourself.

Flourless Mocha-Bacon Brownies

4 ounces dark chocolate (I used 85%, but those make very dark chocolate tasting brownies)
1/2 cup butter or coconut oil, melted and cooled*
1/2 cup pure maple syrup (grade B is the best)
3 eggs
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons very strong coffee
2 tablespoons fine coffee grinds
2 slices baked bacon, chopped

(*this recipe didn't have a ton of bacon flavor - I might try replacing half the fat in this recipe with reserved bacon fat next time to up the bacon flavor)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the melted dark chocolate, butter or oil (or fat), pure maple syrup, and eggs. Slowly sift the cocoa powder over the wet ingredients, whisking it evenly. Add the strong coffee and the coffee grinds and stir until well combined.

Line a 9x9 inch square pan with parchment paper and fill the pan with the brownie batter. Top the batter with the chopped bacon pieces and bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.

NOTE: My brownies went a little flat when I opened the oven door at 15 minutes - I am thinking DO NOT open the door until you absolutely have to check them. The humidity in the oven (I think) keeps everything fluffed up. In addition, next time I may separate the egg whites and beat them to stiff peaks and gently fold those in at the end before putting in the pan.

Let me know if you try this and what you think of my suggestions if you try them!

Friday's Favorites

I'm feeling all sorts of happiness for people I know who are so creative it makes me want to get out my paintbrushes and go all artsy again. These two ladies take their passion and run with it. If I could just capture a sliver of what drives them, I will be kicking some major booty in no time. Please take a peek and show some love.

Miss Margie Ruiz

This woman is all sorts of fantastic and she has the voice to match it. Here's a little sample of her singing... but head over to iTunes and do a little search for "Margie Ruiz" and listen to the tracks from her recent release: "So This Is Love". While you're at it, check out her web page as well! I went to her CD Release Party last night and she still doesn't cease to blow me away every time I hear her sing. She truly has a God-given gift and I am so thankful she shares it with everyone! 

Miss Margie

Kristy DeVaney

You probably know by now I am a bit of a Paleo "freak" (but a good "freak", right?) and this girl has a little to do with it. She wrote a blog post a few months ago about her struggle with sugar and I might as well have written the same exact words. You see, she was CakeGrrl in every sense of what the general population considers an ordinary cake. But she ditched the flour and sugar-filled cakes and went completely pro-Paleo all the way. So what's a girl to do when the Food Network (Cupcake Wars) comes knocking on your door in response to an application you submitted months before ditching the very ingredients most of their chef's thrive on? Well, you do them your way. Here is her video submission to them. View it once or twice, write a comment, like it, share it.. just make it look really appealing to the Food Network staff. Oh, and while you're at it, wipe that scrunched up look off your face - these cupcakes taste AMAZING. You'd never know they were "different." Perhaps we can convince her to have a viewing party when her episode airs so we can all taste the fabulousness. Kristy? :)

What are some of your favorites?? Tell me.. I love inspiration!

Stuff like this makes my heart happy :)

I had to share a friends blog with you. Although posts are kind of sporadic, it's all about gardening - mainly vegetable gardening... and there are often some good pictures. Her latest post did not disappoint!

Go visit her here and maybe if we put the pressure on her she'll post more often :)