A Healthy Dose of Deception: White Bean Blondies

A Healthy Dose of Deception: White Bean Blondies

I like spy/detective comedies like Get Smart ( w/ Don Adams) and The Pink Panther (w/ Peter Sellers). I like preposterous CIA shows like White Collar and Covert Affairs. I like hilarious detective shows like Psych and Monk. I like getting-it-done-our-way-who-cares-about-the-law-we-are-the-law-and-we-are-also-like-a-family shows like NCIS. Basically, I like (fictional) lies, deception, and secrets!  To satisfy my taste for intrigue and scandal, I’ve hidden a scandalously healthy vegetable….in plain sight (I do NOT like the show In Plain Sight, actually) Better yet, in a place where you would hardly expect it! In….(dramatic pause) A DESSERT!

I’ve tried recipes for black bean brownies before (1 can beans, pureed + 1 box brownie mix= a pretty tasty fudgy brownie….by the way that’s a recipe I learned from a friend’s mom) so I thought it was high time to address a high protein, high fiber, low fat solution to the brownie’s paler cousin, the blondie.  Don’t be afraid. You really can’t taste the beans unless you’re looking for them.  I’m still fiddling around with this recipe, but they were a hit with my family- gone in 2 days! (I thought they were much better warm and on the first day)  I know some of you will think this is disgusting, but if I gave it to you without telling you what was in it….you might just like it! (But of course, I wouldn’t do that to you. So, without further ado, here’s the recipe.  Try it out yourself!  It’s also good with butterscotch chips or white chocolate chips added!

1 cup tightly packed dark brown sugar

1 can of white beans, drained and rinsed

½ cup skim milk

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup All-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon of baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup walnuts, chopped.

 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray 8X8 pan with cooking spray. Mix flour, salt, baking powder and soda; set aside.  Puree the beans in a blender or food processor until very smooth. Mix with brown sugar, milk, and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients, mix. Stir in chopped nuts. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Surprise!!!

Also, here's a shout-out to my readers from Slovenia, where, according to the blogger stats, there are quite a few folks reading my nonsense.  I'm not sure how that happened, but you're very welcome here, and perhaps you can send me some Slovenian recipes....

Court's Favorites of the Week!

I really like this no-sew fabric flower tutorial from Disney at Ruffles and Stuff.  I'll be trying this very soon!

Check it Out HERE!

I've made curried chicken salad before, but this recipe caught my eye because of the fruit.  It's also on the list.

Check it Out HERE!

I really like this song...by Hanson. Hanson! You know, the boy-band that was so popular back in elementary school?  Well, they're still making music....and it's pretty great!  This video is sort of adorable.

My friend Jess showed me this Sugarland video the other day, and I have to say, it makes kidnapping look hilarious.  Also the song is pretty cute.

I continue to be impressed by A) Melinda Sullivan's tap dancing and B) Sara Bareilles' voice in this video.

And finally, to close things out, I'm a tremendous fan of the newest Hellogoodbye album.  So, here's one of my favs off of it, "Getting Old." Just listen to it, it's not a video.

And those are my favorites for the week.

Georgia: Just a scone's throw away from the UK, right?

As any true admirer of Jane Austen, I often find myself sipping a cup of tea while reading a favorite novel. In fact, I’ve quite the teapot collection, but that is another story for another time.  Now, as a southern girl my first recollection of tea is of course of sweet iced tea and I must admit that on a true Georgia summer day you’d be hard pressed to find something more delicious. 

That said, hot tea is almost equally delightful and certainly deserving of the appropriate baked good to accompany it.  In an effort to complement my tea with a worthy companion I recently tried my hand at making scones with a recipe I found in Southern Living.   I used white whole wheat flour rather than white all-purpose flour, however.  The scones still turned out quite delicious, I think.  I had every intention of adding walnuts to them but after painstakingly chopping all the nuts I completely forgot to add them.  To make up for this negligence I melted a bit of chocolate to add to their tops so that my dear little scones might not look so unclothed. Next time, I plan on adding dried cranberries and using skim milk, just to see how it works with a bit less fat. Recipe after the picture!

This china belonged to my great-grandmother!

Scones (Southern Living’s “Best Ever Scones”)

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup cold butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 cup whipping cream, divided

1. Preheat oven to 450°. Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender until crumbly and mixture resembles small peas. Freeze 5 minutes. Add 3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. cream, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.

2. Turn dough out onto wax paper; gently press or pat dough into a 7-inch round (mixture will be crumbly). Cut round into 8 wedges. Place wedges 2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush tops of wedges with remaining 2 Tbsp. cream just until moistened.

3. Bake at 450° for 13 to 15 minutes or until golden.


YUM!

It’s a Jolly Holiday with Amelia

**This post got deleted for some terrible internet reason, so I reposted it***

When I was a freshman, I met this girl named Amelia at the dining hall through some mutual friends and then sort of never saw her again.  Until this year (hereafter referred to as “the year of Amelia”) when we hung out bunches, mainly because:

1. I did ISM, and she was an ISM intern
2. I went on a mission trip to Costa Rica…which she led. Or rather, co-led..
3. She is awesome

Anyway, I’m kind of sad that we didn’t hang out since freshman year, but at least we had this year (she told me we’re “legit” friends now; I told her before we were “sort-of-acquaintances”).  Amelia is wonderful, so when she told me she wanted to come over and do crafts with me, I was pretty excited.  Our original plan was to make these adorable animal-puppet washcloth things, but at the last minute I realized I have really let my embroidery skills slide and didn’t have time to learn the chain and satin stitches required for said project. So then we went with making a teddy bear. We made a bear for Amelia and a bird for me.  They look……well….unique.  The bear’s ears are on the side of his head, I’m not even sure how that happened. His weird arm is totally my fault; I was the one doing the sewing machine. My favorite part was when Amelia said “If I tie this ribbon tight around his neck, it gives his head a better shape.”  Poor little bear. I forgot to put a weight in the bottom of my bird so it doesn’t sit up without assistance.  So, while our crafts may have gone awry, it was a morning well spent with a great friend….who is about to pack up and move hundreds and hundreds of miles away.  Amelia and Michael, I’ll miss y’all!

Tea Party. Because my bird can't sit up on her own.

Amelia's bear, named "Courtney Jessica Harrell"

My bird, Named "Amelia Michael Harrell"

No Place Like Home

Well, I'm at home. For 4 weeks. That's the longest I'll have stayed at home since the summer after freshman year.  I'm looking forward to it, and not just because there's a pool in the backyard.  It's not all fun and games, though, I have an internship...but nevertheless, let's see what craft shenanigans I get into here.

Things We Learned From Movies

I found this old list while cleaning out the "misc" folder in "My Documents".

Things We Learned From Movies

By Jessica and Courtney

What Women Want – Being electrocuted makes you a more sensitive person…..and it’s hilarious.

Mickey Blue Eyes – Marrying into the Italian mob is both hilarious and dangerous. Forgid aboud id.

Hairspray - Ever since this old world began a woman found out if she shook it she could shake up a man.

The Baxter- Every Baxter is somebody’s leading man. Reading the dictionary is an attractive quality.  Hip Hop Dance offs can be dangerous.

Love Comes Softly – If your pioneer husband doesn’t come back from the woods in 20 minutes, he might be dead.  Chances are, he is.

Road to Zanzibar- Political correctness hadn’t been invented then. But we do love Bob Hope and Bing Crosby!

Cinderella (the 1960’s version) – Female rights are overrated. Bad teeth can’t prevent you from marrying a prince.

Cinderella (The Brandy version) - one white queen + one black king = an Asian prince? According to this, at least. 

Star Wars (A New Hope)- The name “Obi Wan Kenobi” is way cooler than “Old Ben Kenobi”. Seriously, why the not-so-sneaky change, Alec Guinness/Ewan McGregor?

Star Wars (The Empire Strikes Back)- Responding to “I love you” with “I know” is kind of a let down.  And no, you don’t really like nice men. Don’t stay outside too long on the ice planet Hoth or your ton-ton will freeze.

Star Wars (The Return of the Jedi) – Falling into the gaping maw of the Sarlacc is probably the WORST way to go.  Sorry, Boba Fett.

Star Wars ( The Phantom Menace) – There is a pseudo-scientific way to see if the force is strong with you.  Just let Qui-Gon have a little of your blood.  Pod Racing is an acceptable hobby for children.

Star Wars (Attack of the Clones)- Star Wars has TERRIBLE relationship dialogue.

Star Wars (The Revenge of the Sith)- First sign of turning to the dark side = domestic violence.

Nic and Nora’s Infinite Playlist- Just say no. To EVERYTHING this movie is and stands for. Ick.

He’s Just Not That Into You- he’s just not that into you……unless he is. You probably won’t know.

Sixteen Candles- Turning sixteen isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  Unless, of course, it is.

The Breakfast Club- This movie has little or nothing to do with breakfasts or clubs. However, it is good for learning that crazy 80’s fast-feet dance Molly Ringwald does. Opposites Attract.

Gone with the Wind- Curtains make great clothes.  Just because you went through the civil war doesn’t mean you have to look like it.

Marie Antoinette- Rip Torn is the least French person ever.  Living in the 18^th century was kind of boring.

The Duchess- Don’t marry terrible old men. And if you do, don’t let your very charming best gal pal stay over all the time.  It’s SUCH a bad idea.

The Beautician and the Beast- Fran Drescher plays the same type of character in everything. We’re okay with that, I guess.

Father of the Bride- Hot dog buns and hot dogs are sold in differing quantities. 

The Patriot- When you are attacking enemy armies, start with the officers and work your way down. 

It’s a Wonderful Life- Apparently, the worst possible thing that can happen to an unmarried woman is to be a librarian……and you should appreciate what you have.

Oceans 11, 12, and 13- It’s better to be a good bad guy than a bad bad guy.  Criminal activity is always more socially acceptable if you look like George Clooney.

Catch Me if You Can- Drop out of school, become a master paperhanger! Get caught years later abroad, end up working for the FBI!  Check that out. High school drop-out to FBI. No college, no grad school.

Gigi- We can’t even talk about Gigi. That song that goes “Thank heaven for little girls…” Do you know what that’s really about?! This movie is a tribute to creepers everywhere.

The Sound of Music- Even if you are well on your way to being a nun, you can still change your mind and marry a widowed captain with 7 children.  Curtains make great play clothes!

High School Musical- Beautiful people are also multitalented in various ways! We’re all stars.

High School Musical 2 – Even upper middle class kids from the Midwest get oppressed by evil country club tyrants.  Why can’t we be friends?

High School Musical 3- Picking a college is hard.  Prom is the night of nights. Breaking out into a choreographed graduation dance is proper and natural.

Head over Heels- With enough makeup, anyone can be a model! Always find out if the guy you’re dating is an undercover FBI agent.

Grease- Apparently, abandoning your morals and wearing tight fitting clothing is a great way to end the school year!

Just Friends- Forgiveness is more than saying sorry.  Catching your private plane on fire does not mean you’re being punk’d.

27 Dresses- Men who don’t believe in marriage may, indeed, believe in marriage. Maybe they just haven’t met Katherine Heigl….or you.

December Boys- Daniel Radcliffe has a monopoly on teen angst.

Easter Parade- Fred Astaire is forever young.

Funny Girl- Don’t marry a French professional gambler. Or any kind, really. You’re asking for it if you do.

Hello Dolly- New York is a place where dreams come true….if you can talk fast enough to keep every one confused.

On The Town- Consider a career as a singing sailor.

Thoroughly Modern Millie- So sad to be all alone in the world. Don’t pay taxi drivers with checks.  Acrobatics is a useful way to defeat the bad guys.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day- If three men want you, choose the one who actually loves you (and is Lee Pace with a British accent). Also, if middle age finds you loveless and unemployed, you just might be able to find a guy like Cieran Hinds….so don’t give up the ship.

Be Kind To Your Web-footed Friend, For A Duck May Be Somebody's Mother

Court and Mom, before digital cameras.

Do you have a wonderful mother? I do, and that’s why today’s post is all about my mother.  Without my mother, Court couldn’t make that, so it is perfectly fitting to spend a blog post waxing poetic about my mom.

She taught me how to sew.  She taught me how to cook.  She taught me how to jump off a trotting horse, how to sing “Be kind to your web-footed friend, for a duck may be somebody’s mother” to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner, and that you should never match your eye shadow to the color of your shirt because it can look tacky.  She taught me how to make everyday, practical things beautiful.  She’s amazing, and not just because of her craft-related skills.   She is the most wonderful, patient, humble, kind, wise, elegant woman who I know.  I can hardly let a day go by without thanking God for letting me be her daughter.  We're alarmingly similar- we have the same eyes (although I totally missed out on her height and generally willowy-ness), have been known to buy the same clothes at different stores in different towns with no idea of the other's intentions, and today we both quoted the most recent episode of Modern Family to each other at the same time.

So what I’m getting at is this….Mother’s day is a special day, because I like to let my mom know how much I love her and how much I appreciate her.  For this Mother’s Day, I had an old picture of the two of us enlarged and framed for her.  I knew she loved this picture, and I do too.  I hope someday I’m a great mother like mine.

Yep, this is sort of hilarious looking. But who can resist the classic "recreate the photo holding the photo" shot?

PS- We celebrated on Saturday so that's why she's already gotten her present.