Black Bean Chocolate Cupcakes

Before you roll your eyes at me because I have fiddled with the perfection that is chocolate cake, hear me out.

You can't taste the beans.

I've seen enough eye-rolling and "psshh-ing" when I recommend that people eat more beans. Beans are economical, full of fiber and nutrients and are versatile in meals. These cupcakes are one way to get in your bean quota and transition to including more beans in your life. Seriously, how can you turn down a chocolate cupcake?

I brought these to Easter dinner and no one seemed to mind that there were beans in them. Or that they were vegan. Whether or not I disclosed that right from the beginning is another story, but now the secret is out.

Black Bean Chocolate Cupcakes
(adapted from a Cooking Matters recipe called Chocolate Cake)
Makes 12 cupcakes

3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/3 unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup canola oil

1 Tbsp white vinegar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1.5 cup cold water

non-stick cooking spray

1 15-oz can black beans, drained

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl mix flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, mash beans well (or for complete disappearance, pulse in a food processor.) In another bowl, mix oil, vinegar, water and bean mixture. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Mix until just combined (DO NOT overmix). Coat muffin tin with cooking spray and fill cups 3/4 of the way full. Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

I added a sprinkle of sea salt and a small chunk of dark chocolate to these as soon as they came out of the oven for a bit of sweet and salty contrast. We might be eating these for breakfast in addition to dessert.

Coffee Coffee Coffee

A couple weeks of before we found out we won the Green Wedding Giveaway, I received a Twitter message from our friends at Dean's Beans wishing us the best of luck. After we won the wedding giveaway, they were kind enough to send us a congratulatory gift in the mail: two pounds of "Wedding Variety" coffee!

I continue to be amazed by the power of social media and the local connections that can be made by engaging with folks on Twitter and Facebook. 

Here are some other posts in which I've mentioned Dean's Beans and the crazy good work they do and amazing coffee they roast:

What Would Jesus Brew

A Feat to Feed Farmers

As a result, I am happy to say that Dean's Beans will be the official wedding coffee! 

Welcome Back

Apparently planning a wedding in three months (and television appearances!) are a full-time job. That is, in addition to my full-time job. But no matter what, I always return to this space. It may take a few weeks, but I have returned. This blog slump happens to me every February/March. The frequency of posts and my desire to write certainly waxes and wanes over the course of a year. But it's all part of the writing process.

So, I thought I'd share a general overview of the last three weeks.

Even before finding out Tim and I won the green wedding giveaway, we had planned to take restorative trip to Maine. We stayed in Kennebunkport, and at this time of year it was so quiet and peaceful. We stayed at the Captain Jefferds Inn and indulged in the fancy brunch including blueberry pancakes, a giant popover and strikingly strong coffee.

 Fully caffeinated, we strolled oceanside. It was a beautiful day.

Later that week, Tim and I were on television! It was the local Portland Fox station, but still. We're practically celebrities. I'll gladly give you my autograph. You'll be the first to ask!

This is me doing my official holding-an-imaginary-microphone reporter pose. I quickly realized afterward that no real news anchors hold microphones. I guess I still have a thing or two to learn about showbiz.

In addition to television, I am slowing chiseling away at my wedding to-do list. Unfortunately I haven't been doing much cooking. Lately my full-time job has kept me busy during the early evenings preparing food, leaving me with little appetite or time when I arrive home.

However, I did have the opportunity to attend the Boston University food seminar by Maria Speck. She recently wrote Ancient Grains for Modern Meals. I was able to snap some photos from the event: food tastes and a signed cookbook!

Other than that, I've been dreaming of our upcoming wedding and scheming up our honeymoon (Paris and Ireland!) In more local news, I've been considering installing one raised bed this weekend. Too ambitious? Perhaps. I'm just really hankering for getting my hands dirty. Maybe some potted plants will do.