Brownies & Pasta

Trying a few more new recipes the past few days. I did make a favorite Brussels sprouts recipe from Chloe's Kitchen, "Maple-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Hazelnuts (pine nuts)". I love the crispy bits of Brussels sprouts! 

~ Espresso Brownies ~

The Espresso Brownies from La Dolce Vegan were scrumptious! The recipe calls for a shot of espresso and since I don't have an espresso machine I just mixed up some instant with 1 1/2 oz. hot water and 2 tsp. of the espresso powder. It gave these brownies a deep, rich chocolate mocha flavor. I frosted them with the Chocolate Cake Glaze recipe from LDV. They were even better with some So Delicious Coconut Milk Vanilla Bean ice cream! 

~ Pasta with Greens, Chickpeas & Olives ~

This pasta dish is from Wild About Greens, by Nava Atlas. So many ways to use all kinds of greens in this cookbook. I used Swiss chard along with garlic, red bell pepper, tomatoes, chickpeas and kalamata olives to make a hearty dish. A sprinkle of some red pepper flakes gives it a nice spicy taste. It is garnished with some toasted pine nuts and chopped fresh basil. 

Hal's Maple Chocolate Flax Brownies~pg 212

Vegan Culinary Institute La Dolce Vegan! Challenge:

I have made these brownies before and I had noted that they didn't have much flavor and were too dry. Well, I thought I would doctor them up this time with some vegan vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup! They definitely aren't as good as Wolffie's Chocolatey Moist Brownies (pg 211) but they make a good base for Brownie Sundaes and anything you put chocolate syrup on tastes good!

Wolffie's Chocolatey Moist Brownies~pg 211

Vegan Culinary Institute La Dolce Vegan! Challenge:

These are heavenly, delicious, chocolatey, moist and sweet! No need to add the "Buttercream" Frosting and ruin them. I am going to use the Frosting (pg 261) on my Yella Cake that I make on July 8, 2012; so I guess I'll have to wait awhile to taste that!