Georgia Furness: brownies

Wednesday, 25 March 2015

Feeling Foodie!

Now I'm home, I want to get in the kitchen!

I'm not a massive fan of cooking (more so baking...) in the kitchen in my shared student house. It never feels completely clean and I just don't feel inspired to taste new flavours and try new things in there. So whilst I'm at home I'm going to make the most of it!

These are the recipes I've been eyeing up recently... (aka. everything from the 'recipe' section on 'The Londoner'... But I've retrained myself slightly for this blog post!)

s a v o u r y

I do not own any of these images. All belong to links for recipes below.

I'm a bit hummus obsessed, so I cant wait to try out Anna's homemade hummus recipe.

I have made this before, but Jamie Oliver's Sexiest Salad In The World is a flavour combination to die for. Definitely going to make it again.

{Easy One Pan} Tricolore Italian Meatballs for when mumma asks me to whip up dinner.

s w e e t

I do not own any of these images. All belong to links for recipes below.

Banana Bread, I've been having cravings for it recently so I need to fulfil those.

A batch of chocolate avocado brownies. An all time favourite of mine. The previous link is to the recipe I use, I got it from The Londoner.

THOSE chocolate cookies - These are seeeeriously naughty. I'm a big fan, much like Zoe, Tanya and Anna... and probably anyone else who has ever had the chance to try them!

This Coconut Date Shake on Not Without Salt is definitely one I want to try making whilst I'm home too.

Deliciously Ella's Sweet Potato Brownies look uhh-mazing.

Hmm, I could be gaining a few pounds this easter... Looks like I'll have to share!

What have you been up to in the kitchen recently?

baking

Chocolate Avocado Brownies

I know what you're thinking...

Avocado in a brownie?!?! I think not.

But think again! These brownies are to die for and you can't taste the avocado at all.

They are very rich and feel like the naughtiest of treats, when really they're no where near as bad as normal brownies or cookies.

I'm not saying these are going to send you into minus calories (if only!) but they are a healthier option to grab with a cup of tea!

What you'll need to make these bad boys:

1 Ripe Avocado (finely mashed)

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 cup of flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

White/Milk/Dark Chocolate

Want to know why these are a healthier choice? Here's why:

- Avocado acts like butter, but it's a healthier fat!

- Sugar, these give it a little more sweetness, which I think is necessary as the cocoa powder is very rich and powerful, but in a normal recipe there'd be a hell of a lot more sugar!

- The flour in some recipes for these is optional, so if you can't have flour, you can still make these!

- Chocolate. This is where you'll be adding in some cheeky calories, but the little burst of sweetness makes them even better. It is still a treat after all! (And when they're straight from the oven, the molten waterfall of chocolate is the best bit)

They are so simple to make.

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

2. Combine finely mashed avocado, white sugar, brown sugar, egg & vanilla extract in a medium sized bowl. It will not look appetising at this stage, but don't worry!

3. Mix together cocoa powder, flour and baking powder in a separate bowl.

4. Combine both bowls together and add in your chunks of chocolate. It's up to you how big your chunks are, but I felt when I cut them smaller than the chunks they're already divided into they disappeared a bit.

5. Divide them up on a baking tray (If you're worried about the amount of chocolate you could stick a chunk in the top to go all gooey)

6. Bake for 8-10 minutes in the oven. (I would check them at 8 minutes, then decided if they need more time. Wouldn't say any longer than 12 minutes)

Stick the kettle on whilst they bake, ready to have a hot cup of tea with a melty, fudgey brownie.

They're not exactly pretty (all the more reason to eat them quickly, if you ask me!) but they taste amazing.

They're super rich, but I'm a dark chocolate fan so that's fine by me.

They taste amazing with berries, they cut through the richness a little.

If you're worried people will be put off by avocado, you don't need to mention the secret ingredient!

Sit down with your tea, indulge in your chocolatey treat and enjoy!

xxxx

Amazing

Bill's in Brighton

Okay, I'm a little bit late to the 'Bill's' party.

I'd heard so many people talk about how lovely it is there and how great the food is, although despite having one in Brighton, I'd never been, so Henry and I decided on one lazy saturday that we'd go there for a late lunch.

I knew as soon as I walked in that I would love the place. With all the bottles of wine and a rainbow of their jams, chutneys, drinks and other goodies stacked up to the ceiling as soon as you walk in.

Also, if somewhere has a recipe for Brownies scrawled across the wall in fancy handwriting, then I'm already sold!

Henry went for Bill's Beer Battered Cod with minted mushy peas, skinny fries and tartar sauce, which looked like a fabulous choice if you ask me!

Being an utter burger girl, I went for the Bill’s hamburger with a sesame seed bun, red onion, tomato, lettuce, horseradish mayonnaise, gherkins and skinny fries... and just because that wasn't quite enough I opted for Monterey Jack cheese too.

Put a gherkin in a burger and I'll be sold. Gherkin cravings all day, err'day. I'm weird, I know.

Look at me just loving life with my burger, I will definitely be ordering this again, but not before trying 'Halloumi and Hummus' a sesame seed bun with grilled halloumi, hummus, baby gem, roasted peppers, sweet chilli and yogurt, served with skinny fries. I think that sounds amazing!