Nothing beets being alone on Valentine's Day!

All alone on Valentine's Day and nothing to do but make a healthy brownie recipe! My dorkiness knows no boundaries. Happy Cupid's Shuffle to everyone and remember after you gorge yourself with chocolate, you'll have to pay for it later! XO


Chocolate Beet Brownies

These brownies are rich, chewy and kinda nutritious!

1/3 cup unsalted butter
4 oz. unsweetened chocolate
4 eggs
1 cup turbinado sugar
1 1/4 cup applesauce
1 tsp. vanilla
1-1/2 cup unbleached white flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup cooked, drained, mashed beets
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds(optional)
1/2 cup wheat germ

Melt butter and chocolate over low heat.

Set aside to cool. In a separate bowl, beat eggs until light in color and foamy.

Add sugar and vanilla and continue beating until well creamed. Stir in chocolate mixture, followed by applesauce and beets. Sift together flour, salt, spices and baking powder and stir into creamed mixture.

Fold in wheat germ and almonds.

Turn into greased 9x13-inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. Cool before cutting into squares.

Pinch Me. I'm a chef.

Ugh. I can't sleep! And rather than "make" myself go back to bed I thought I'd just write about what I'd been dreaming about. Funny enough, it's cooking! I just can't stop thinking about all these new recipes I want to try out on my cooking classes and new clients.

You know, other than being a socialite (which by the way I think would eventually lead to a vapid existence and an obnoxious sense of self) there's nothing else in this world I'd rather be. I know some people might say," My dream job would be being a marine biologist off the Great barrier Reef if I wasn't a fitness instructor." I'm overjoyed to be doing what I love. There is nothing else in this entire planet that I would rather be doing than cooking with, for and amongst people from all backgrounds. There's nothing else that I can do after feeling exhausted, sad, upset, blah or even, like I just want to snuggle with my dogs and read a book all day. I still get a thrill from working with people and cooking food that I believe in with my whole heart.

More than a connection, I feel the food we eat can change lives. The food I eat definitely has changed my life for the better. I can honestly say I live to cook, eat and teach people along the way. My experience with food is that profound and spiritual. I never take for granted that I have food on my plate to eat and many others don't. I appreciate every decadent morsel I'm blessed with each day. Every time my tummy growls because I'm busy and mother nature is reminding me to eat, I'm humbled and ingratiated to God and the world that I have the ability to not only feed myself, but have optimum choices of a balanced and nutritious diet.

Last night, after having a draining and rough week with health issues surrounding my puglet, Jr. I didn't know how I'd manage to pull off a great class. How could I give 150% to student when I had no energy? Some how I always manage to find reserves to teach and engage myself with students. I really think I enjoy teaching probably more than they enjoy learning. It's that meaningful to me. Anyway, I'm going to try to rest up for another day in a wonderful world of cooking!