Sunday is National Tangible Karma Day - spread the love with some baked goods.

I learned this evening that Sunday is National Tangible Karma Day. Honestly, I went seeking a food-related holiday and this is what I came up with instead. However, I think food can easily be put to good use for this particular event. Bake some muffins or cookies, whip up some macaroons or bake a cake - you get the idea, and surprise someone with your abilities by presenting them an unexpected culinary gift. I'm telling you, people love this kind of thing. Once, while leaving an ATM machine, a homeless man asked me for money. I told him I couldn't break a $20 but I could give him a brownie (I was on my way to a party and had a plate full of book club brownies with me at the time - I don't normally carry baked goods around with me on a casual basis). He said he would take the brownie, but I could tell my his tone he was disappointed I wasn't giving him cash, but after one bite, he smiled and said it was the best donation he'd received all night.

Now don't get me started why begging outside of an ATM when people will only have large bills is a mistake...

Chocolate...and lots of it

After perusing the March issue of Food & Wine while I jetted across North America yesterday, I thought I would check out what the magazine's web site had to offer after landing. And boy I'm glad I did! I found a whole smorgasbord of chocolate-themed recipes as part of their Menu of the Week in the Entertaining section. Highlighted recipes include:

Milk-Chocolate Pots de Crème
Milk-Chocolate Cookies with Malted Cream
Milk-Chocolate Tart with Pretzel Crust
Silky Chocolate Mousse with Peanut Butter Crunch
Milk-Chocolate-Frosted Layer Cake
Warm Double-Chocolate Brownie Cakes
Milk-Chocolate-Chip Cookies
Warm Milk-Chocolate Croissant-Bread Pudding

I'll definitely be whipping up the milk-chocolate tart with pretzel crust as well as the milk-chocolate chip cookies when I get back to New York.

Trying out one of these recipes? Tell me about it in the comments section!

Recipe of the Day - Black Bean Brownies (yes, I said Black Bean)

My wonderful pal Allison C. from Texas sent me the recipe for today's posting, and I'll admit that when I first read her e-mail, I thought she was insane. Black bean brownies? Does this concoction come complete with a barf bag? But never fear, Allison is an expert in everything she does, so trust me when I say that I will be feasting on these brownies soon.

Allison says:

"I first made this when I was living in New York City and thought that finding powdered non-fat milk would be impossible. Sure enough – Food Emporium didn’t have it. HOWEVER, much to my surprise, the little bodega down the street from me had powdered non-fat milk. Props to the bodegas."

And props to Allison for enlightening us on this very unusual recipe!

Allison Clark's I Can't Believe These are Black Bean Brownies Recipe (straight outta Texas!)

Equipment Needed
Food processor
Muffin pan or 8 x 8 baking tin
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Spatula
Cooling rack

Ingredients
1 15 oz can unseasoned black beans, drained and rinsed well
4 eggs
1 1/4 Cups Splenda
2 Tablespoons canola oil
3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 Tbs vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 Cup non-fat dry milk
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 Cup ricotta cheese
1 box sugar-free, fat-free chocolate pudding mix
Chopped nuts to taste (optional)
Fat-free Cool Whip (optional)

Blend beans in food processor. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth. Pour into 12-18 muffin cups (sprayed with Pam or lined with foil liners) and bake at 350 for approx 30 mins till set in middle. These freeze well and are really good with some fat free cool whip. You can also bake the batter in an 8X8 pan
sprayed with Pam. Takes 30-40 minutes.