Thursday, 12 July 2012

Beetroot & Dark Chocolate Brownies


The time has come to graduate on Monday. Three years of slogging out a law degree done. Time to hug Floella Benjamin, get my piece of paper, throw my hat in the air, go to the ball...exciting times! The robes have been ordered, lunch with the parents booked, demure 'I'm a grown up now' dress bought, all I have left to get is a pair of suitable shoes that mean I will not fall flat on my face walking up the stairs or across the stage...oh to be a man and have several fine fitting suites and an array of shirts & ties. 

For men I feel it is rather easy; invites to events 'Black Tie', men that means don your tux, ladies that means faff about over the copious amount of choice of dresses out there! Such a struggle but such an excuse for a shopping trip. So last weekend when my fabulous friend threw her 21st party & the dress code was 'festival' it was such a relief ... little flowery dress bought on the gap year; check. Wellies; check. Outfit; done. It is only appropriate for a birthday that there should be cake or something of the sort. So beetroot brownies it was ...

Makes 24-30 Squares
(depending on how big you like your brownies)
Pre-heat the oven to 180°C
Bake to perfection for 16 minutes

You will need the following:
Brownie
250g Beetroot
250g Dark Chocolate
200g Butter
200g Caster Sugar
3 Eggs
100g Ground Almonds
75g Self Raising Flour
1Tsp Baking Powder

Chocolate Topping
150g Dark Chocolate
2Tbsp Honey 



Method:
Melt the chocolate in a microwave or over a bain marie

Melt the butter & add in the melted chocolate; stir

Till combined as a molten liquid

Add a drop of vanilla essence

Then the eggs one at a time

Next add in the sugar

Then the ground almonds

Grease two square tins, roughly 20cm x 20cm, with butter & coat by dusting with cocoa powder

Boil your beetroot in a pan until soft, this will take roughly 30-40 minutes
Once cooked take the skins off
Tip: Chop off the stalk last. This will hold in the colour that the beetroot releases & give you something to hold whilst cutting

Chop the beetroot & put in a bowl

Using a hand blender or food processor, purify the beetroot to a smooth paste
 Add the beetroot to the chocolate mixture

Sift in the flour & cocoa powder 

Combine

Measure the baking powder

Sprinkle over & combine

Pour the mixture into the two prepared tins & bake to perfection for 16 minutes

Once the brownies are cooked start to prepare the chocolate topping ...

Add the honey to the chocolate & melt in the microwave or over a bain marie

Once the brownies are cooked, allow to cool & drizzle over the molten liquid

Pop the trays into a fridge & leave for the chocolate topping to set.

Cut up & they're good to go

Enjoy ...

 Happy Birthday Gins 

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