Time To Eat!

I know I have posted the recipe for my hamburger casserole several times already, but I'm posting it again tonight.  It's just such a simple, all in one meal and it is healthy and super delicious.  I feel compelled to share it again.

Just look at this:

 Come, on, you know you want some!

Tonight I made it with black rice, instead of brown.  I really like black rice, and the slightly different flavor of the black rice added a nice touch to the dish.  Here's the recipe:

1 pound of hamburger, browned and drained.
1 cup cooked brown rice
1 green pepper, chopped
2-3 tomatoes, chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
chili powder
white pepper
salt

Brown the hamburger and drain the fat.  Add salt and pepper to taste (maybe a tsp of each?).  Add LOTS of chili powder.  I think the original recipe calls for one tbsp,but I probably use closer to two.  I don't measure.  I just pour it on the meat and stir it around until it looks red!  Stir in the rice.

Mix in the veggies and pour the whole mixture into a 9 x 13 baking dish.  Bake it at 375-400 until it starts to brown at the top (30 mins approx).  It tastes like a steak sandwich without the guilt!

Now, while I get excited over delicious main dishes, desserts are my true love.  I have been searching and searching for recipes for tasteful and healthy desserts.  Today I came across this black bean cake recipe and thought I would give it a go.  When I mixed the batter, I had my doubts.  It was really runny, and I didn't see how the stuff in my bowl could possible solidify into anything resembling a cake.  Well, now that it has baked, I am totally impressed with the outcome! 

First of all, it is fluffy and moist, just like a cake.  But the best part of all is that it tastes like chocolate cake, not some kind of health food bar!  I'm so happy!  I just need to find a healthy icing alternative and this dessert may even be worthy of taking to gatherings outside my home!  Give it a shot and tell me what you think.  And if you have any suggestions for icing, I'm all ears!
 

Black Bean Chocolate Cake

1 15oz can of black beans
1 3.5 container of Greek yogurt (I couldn't find a 3.5 ounce container, so I got the 5.3 oz one and guessed at the amount!)
6 Tbsp baking cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla (yes, you read that right, a whole tablespoon!)
3/4 cup raw sugar

Preheat oven to 325.  Rinse the beans and puree them with the vanilla extract in a food processor.  If the mixture stalls, add water (I added between 1/8 and 1/4 cup of water).

In a bowl, mix cocoa, baking soda and baking powder. 

In a separate bowl, beat eggs, sugar and yogurt together. 

Add the egg mixture and the cocoa mixture to the beans. Blend well. 

Grease an 8 x 8 pan ad pour the batter in.  Bake for about an hour, checking periodically with a toothpick.

article available online at http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2009/11/recipe-black-bean-chocolate-cake/30021/