Shock and Awe

I have three, sometimes four baking days a week. On those days, I get up early, dress in my baking clothes, and spend all day in the kitchen. I try new recipes, work out recipe bugs, and stock up the kitchen and the freezers ( yes, I have more than 1).  So, anyhow, last wednesday I was focusing on figuring out a good pumpkin bread recipe and lemon poppyseed bread. The pumpkin bread is close but not quite how I want it to be, it's still too moist. The lemon poppyseed was a complete failure! Flat, not done in spots, and mushy. Yuck! So at the end of the night, I tossed the whole loaf into my half full trash can, finished the dishes, and went to relax, and watch my DVR.  Half-way thru "Make it or Break it", I hear my dog, Zander, rustling around in the kitchen. A little back history on Zander. He is a 4 year old Goldendoodle, which is  a purposeful mix between a golden retriever and a standard poodle. Now Zander is not allowed in the kitchen. Ever! There is a line that he is not to cross.

So, back to my story. I hear him rustling around his "Not-to-Cross" line. So sitting there I think, "hmmm. His Kong must be stuck and he's reaching to get it." I glance over my shoulder to make sure, and what do I find? I find my dog with his face and neck buried in my trash can! I run over shewing and yelling. He jumps back still chewing. When I look in the trash I see he wasn't scarfing down the chicken I had for dinner, he wasn't nibbling the potatoes I threw away, no. Instead he's chomped down half of my nasty Lemon Poppyseed bread!! I started busting up laughing. Zander has a bit of a baked good fetish, especially Gluten-Free baked goods. Normally he is a very good dog, but every now and then he just can't help himself. Haha.

This is actually not the recipe I was going to share with you today.I wanted to talk about the marvelous benefits of Flax. Especially flax wrapped in a deep dark chocolate  brownie. Oh yeah. Flax is an amazing source of Omega-3's, 2000mg per serving to be exact, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and fiber. It's a power food. Now about the brownie. It's a delicious, tender, slightly salty brownie. I love when you can get a brownie that convinces your subconcious that it's healthy. So here it is my own personal "Health" food.

Dark Chocolate Flax Brownies

Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Corn-Free

4 oz Unsweetened Bakers Chocolate, this is just pure chocolate, no sugar
1 oz semi-sweet allergen free chocolate chips
½ c. Spectrum Organic Shortening, cholesterol free
2 eggs, organic cage-free
½ c. rounded organic flax meal
¼ c. Brown rice flour
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp corn-free baking soda
2 tsp vanilla
1 c. Brown Sugar
or
1/2 c. Brown Sugar
1/2 c. Splenda
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 x 8 inch pan with parchment paper.

2. Using the microwave, melt the dark chocolate and shortening in a large measuring cup. Stir together to combine. Set aside.

3. In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs till frothy. Add the brown sugar and beat until the mixture is smooth. Add the melted chocolate mixture into the egg-sugar mixture a little at a time- incorporate it slowly- and beat well for a good minute.

4. In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients: Flax, rice flour, salt, and baking soda; whisk together. Add the dry flour mix into the chocolate mixture and beat well for a minute, add the vanilla, mix for 30 seconds. Pour into prepared pan.

5.Bake for 33 to 35 minutes.