Squash Brownies

No really, they're fabulous.

1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup palm oil shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar (or honey or maple syrup, etc)
1/2 cup pureed squash/pumpkin
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp tapioca starch
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/4 tsp sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 350*F
2. Melt shortening
3. Stir in cocoa until well mixed
4. Stir in sugar/sweetener
5. Stir in squash & vanilla
6. In a separate dish, mix rice flour, tapioca starch and sea salt
7. Add flour mixture to cocoa mixture, stirring just until all dry ingredients are wet
8. Pour batter into a greased 8x8 glass pan
9. Bake for 30 or so minutes at 350*F (you will know it's done when a knife or toothpick poked into the center comes out clean)
10. Enjoy

Easy One Bowl Brownies

Not only did we recently re-lose eggs, now we are finally addressing the lingering chocolate issue. Namely: I love it and really don't want to give it up, despite a potential reaction. I am in serious denial here, but we really need to find out.

So, vicariously, I am posting this fantastic brownie recipe. It's a little crumbly as is, but if you can tolerate eggs, that helps immensely.

INGREDIENTS:

• 10 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 cup safflower oil
• 2 Tbsp flax meal + 6 Tbsp water heated in microwave = flax meal gel
• 1 cup cane sugar
• 1 cup brown rice flour
• 1 cup sorghum flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix flours, salt, soda & cocoa.
2. Add sugar.
3. Add oil.
4. Add flax meal gel.
5. Add vanilla.
6. Pour batter into a greased & lightly floured 9x13 glass pan.
7. Bake at 350*F for 30 minutes or so. Edges will pull away from sides of pan & knife tip will come out clean when pushed into center.

Yield: Double batch. For us, that means 24hrs, 48 max. For other, more will-power endowed, it will last longer.

ALTERNATIVES:

• Eggs instead of flax meal, will help it hold together better.
• Try adding chocolate chips, dried coconut, or dried fruit, like cherries.
• Use coconut oil to grease pan.
  
• Make a chocolate "buttercream" frosting and frost like a cake.
  
• Pour into muffin tins for brownie "bites".