Beans are an important part of a healthy diet, they are rich in:

• Protein
• Dietary Fiber
• Carbohydrate
• B Vitamins
  • Folate
  • Thiamin
• Trace Minerals
  • Manganese
  • Phosphorous
  • Copper
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium

Many people and especially children do not care for the taste or texture of beans. As I develop recipes for my blog, I seek out recipes that disguise some of these less desirable yet nutritious foods.

This White Bean Brownie with Chocolate Ganache is a wonderful example. Eating nutritious does not mean eating tasteless or yucky foods.

I prefer to prepare my beans from dry, but canned is okay too. Be sure to look for organic beans, these companies are more likely to package their product in cans that are not lined with BPA or other hormone disrupting plastics.

Ingredients for Brownies:

2 1/2 cup white beans or 2 – 15 oz. cans

1/2 cup all-purpose wheat flour or gluten-free buckwheat flour

2 TBSP. raw cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup homemade applesauce or your favorite brand

1/2 cup oil

1 tsp. vanilla

2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

• Blend the beans really well in a food processor. Set aside in a medium bowl

• Sift together the dry ingredients
• Blend the wet ingredients together

• Alternate adding the dry and wet ingredients to the purreed beans
• Blend until all ingredients are incorporated
• Pour into a greased 8X8 pan

• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean

• Allow to cool before cutting into squares

Ingredients for Ganache:

5 TBSP. half and half cream

2 TBSP. cream cheese

1 tsp. butter

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Bring the cream, cream cheese and butter to a boil. Pour over the chocolate chips in a small glass bowl. Stir. The chips will melt, creating a thick chocolate glaze.

Place dollops of ganache on the brownies. Allow to set in a cool place or in the refrigerator.