it's my girls' world

Oh my word! We went to  a PC cooking class (highly recommend for the Canadians) recently and they made a version of this brownie. We came home and amended it a bit... the result-- chocolatey gooey, gluten free goodness!

1 1/2 cups drained and rinsed canned black beans (preferably no/low sodium)

1/2 cup of quick cooking rolled oats

1 tablespoon of sugar

2 large eggs

1/4 cup oil ( I used canola)

2 tbsp cocoa/hot chocolate mix

1 tbsp of vanilla extract

1/2 tsp of baking powder

1/2 cup of milk chocolate chips

1/4 cup of chopped walnuts (optional)

1- Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2- Spray 8 inch square pan lightly with cooking spray and line with parchment paper after, leaving an inch overhang.

3- Combine all ingredients except for the chocolate chips and walnuts in a food processor/blender ( I used my Vitamix) and blend/process until smooth.

4- In a bowl, mix the batter with the chocolate chips and walnuts. Place into prepared baking pan. 

5- Bake for 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Let it cool for 30 minutes. 

Makes 16 squares.

This one will definitely be on repeat in this house especially with the clean eating being ramped up but the desperate need for an occasional treat.

Today I'm linking up with Natalie for Thoughts for Thursday!

Also known as the one time for the month the kids sit and contemplate questions and the meaning of life. 

Here are their answers to all things love... As a reminder, C is almost eight and A is four and a half (the half is very important)

C- Ummm (looking incredibly uncomfortable)... like you have a feeling for someone.

A- Ammmmm.... heart 

C- making cookies and valentines

A- maybe give Julia something as she gives me timbits everyday. 

Girlfriend's first knitting master-piece! Better than I could do!

C- (another confused look)--- Ummm Anjali!

A- Do we celebrate Valentines? Do we celebrate everything? Whyyy?   What's a Valentine / Oh, Julian.... I mean Julia

(Julia is this girl in her dance class who shares her timbits/donut holes--- aka-- her new bestie)

C- 28!

A- Ummmmmmm none as it's February already... how many more days until Valentines?

C- hug and kiss them

A- I like Julia. 

(yeah the timbits are the key to her heart)

Linking up with Beth and some other lovelies for the kids behind the blog!

As a total side note, A brought her first home reading book home this week. A huge milestone in her little school and this Mama's heart is so, so proud!

Happy Monday! Is it just me, or should this weekend have been two hours longer? Just  enough for me to get two more hours of sleep?! 

Here's the Cole's notes:

On Friday:

- we chilled out at home and had turkey burgers

- tried a black bean brownie recipe 

- did some Just Dance with the kiddos

- I caught up on Grey's and Scandal.

I can't get over how big my four year old is... my heart breaks a little.

On Saturday:

- C had skiing lessons in the am

- I babysat for my friend Dani who has three kids, three and under, is moving to the US, has a newborn AND is starting a new business (I'm tired even writing all those things)

- I did about 7 loads of laundry-- yay me

- I made muffins for the kids with my little helper and butter chicken and rice for Dani and another friend

- we headed out in the night with some friends to Toronto for some Winterlicious dinner, drinks at a whiskey bar and a night cap at an Irish pub

At the whiskey lounge. Not ours but so pretty, I had to take a pic.

On Sunday:

- I woke up at 10:30 and totally lounged around ALL day doing little household chores, watching He's Just Not That Into You and spending time with my kids.

- we made BOTH kids nap as we were heading to....

- our friends' Alex and Jenn's Superbowl Soiree where they go all out-- think friendly bets, kids' fun and tons of amazing food. A mix of healthy and junkie! Think cauliflower bites, turkey chili, vegan nachos, wings, chicken and waffles, potato chip chicken fingers, chips and dip and so much more!

And just like that it turned into Monday again. I'm hoping for a snow day this week!

Linking up with sweet Biana today.

I don't think I've done a Friday Five since the year began. Here are a five of my favourites from the past few weeks. 

1- The girls went to a henna/karaoke party for Arisa's 7th. Lots of sometimes off-key singing, beautiful hand patterns, pizza and cake--- a success with the kid crowd!

The cake was beautiful AND yummy!

And I totally got in there with the girls as well!

2- My friend Jenn treated me to a birthday manicure awhile back and we totally rocked some Lincoln Park by OPI. Can you tell which hand is mine? ;-)

3- I just love how my four year old says "foo" instead of "who". I don't correct her and instead encourage her to sing "Who let the dogs out?" I'm out of the baby stage so I will take any cuteness I can get! 

Her second cucumber of the day

5- When it's a PD day off for either girl, I try to spend some one on one time with them. On this day, C was off so we did a little breakfast out and some shopping. Girlfriend is a browser so mall shopping is a loooong process. I have sympathy already for her future husband.

Happy weekending, lovelies!

Linking up with 

Andrea, Erika and Narci for Favourites on Friday