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Brownies!

by seasoned
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One thing I mused about trying was something like sugar free brownies. I baked some today. I replaced the 2TBS of vegetable oil with 2TBS of coconut oil. It probably keeps a bit better, and it is just healthier. The brownies came out perfect. Only about 1/2 the height they should be. They didn't include enough mix EVEN though my pan was 1/4" smaller on each dimension!

The only problem is (SURPRISE!), they have a coconut taste to them. 8-( I guess next time I might add nuts and chips, and maybe replace 1/4 of the oil with vegetable. 8-(

Does anyone else have any ideas?

Steve
  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Steve, you can replace the oil with apple sauce. A 1/4 cup of oil would be 1/4 cup apple sauce.
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  • Profile picture of the author Roaddog
    Man, where's Thom when ya need him?...

    I don't know Steve, making sugarless brownies is tough.

    Since you have coconut flavor already, you could add...dammit now I forget the name...it's a sugar substitute made from bananas.

    Figure if you have tropical going on it might not be bad...

    Do they make sugarless chocolate?
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Stevia is an all natural sweetener - expensive as hell though!
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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    Steve,

    Stevia is really good for you (sugar substitute) and used for 20 years by holistics by the time they allowed it to hit the shelves here.

    Coconut oil is really good for you and so is coconut flour - if there is white refined flour in your mix that is bad (remember the glue we used to make in kindergarten from flour and water - enough said). Use a whole grain flour - even unbleached white flour is better than refined. Sweet rice flour is good in the oriental section.

    Cocoa is a powerful antioxidant - 3 x more than green tea or red wine which are next and very high. (**** is really powerful but loses its effectiveness quickly if not processed right away.

    Hersheys now has sugar free cocoa but I am not having much luck with using it where I am using unsweetened 100% cocoa baking chocolate (which has saturated fat - cocoa doesn't) - like to make my chocolate fudge crunchy granola. (sweetened with stevia and honey).

    Amazing cocoa makes cool whip just disappear...

    What is wrong with coconut flavor? I can't believe it is overtaking the cocoa... I love chocolate and coconut - can you email me some? If not enjoy one for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Jim,
    I'm with you, I'd like to see what Thom has to say.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Yeah, the sugar free brownie mix uses stevia.

    Pat, Imagine a sheet of brownies about 7.75"x7.75"X.5" that are regular brownie consistency with 2TBS of coconut oil. AND, now that I think about it, it WAS semisolid! It was about the consistency of margarine. Coconut oil is a saturated fat and actually solid at room temperature, I heated it up a bit to make it usable. But it is a GOOD natural fat that is mostly MCTs. Anyway, the brownies taste good, it is just that the coconut taste could be a bit more mild.

    BTW waterotter, I FORGOT about apple sauce! GREAT idea! It will help counter and reduce the taste while maybe making the chocolate a bit stronger.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Thom's a sugar addict guys, so no help on sugar free stuff
      I have switched to using this sugar though Florida Crystals : Organic Sugar

      Actually Steve when I read the part about using coconut I wished I thought of it that has to be good.
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    • Profile picture of the author Patrician
      I am going to try the coconut flour someday - I am sorry the oil sort of wrecked the brownies but glad to know this in case I ever use the oil. I guess maybe 3 to 1 with canola or some other decent vege oil. (wow apple sauce? interesting too!)

      All this talk is making my chocolate jones worse than ever. My Triple chocolate Power Crunch bars just arrived via UPS. I can't stand to run out - I am buying them this time by 3 boxes of 12 each - they must think I am a store. (about 2 boxes every 2 weeks).

      They are so good - made with whey powder in a micro form that doesn't bother us people who do not compute milk products (no it is not the lactose - but not sure what it is. (lactose free acts just the same for me - yucky) - )

      I am trying to arrange my life so that I have chocolate at every meal. LOL (serious)...

      You only live once! (thank God)




      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      Yeah, the sugar free brownie mix uses stevia.

      Pat, Imagine a sheet of brownies about 7.75"x7.75"X.5" that are regular brownie consistency with 2TBS of coconut oil. AND, now that I think about it, it WAS semisolid! It was about the consistency of margarine. Coconut oil is a saturated fat and actually solid at room temperature, I heated it up a bit to make it usable. But it is a GOOD natural fat that is mostly MCTs. Anyway, the brownies taste good, it is just that the coconut taste could be a bit more mild.

      BTW waterotter, I FORGOT about apple sauce! GREAT idea! It will help counter and reduce the taste while maybe making the chocolate a bit stronger.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Thom, the coconut oil here was just a LITTLE too much. actually LOVE coconut, bt am more used to having the flakes with a little sugar. THIS is just the oil concentrated. I don't even know how many coconuts it takes to make a jar of it. I imagine it could take 6 or more. They taste better cold though. I just had a brownie that I put in the refrigerator.

    Patrician, Whey DOES lack casein and probably a lot of the lactose. Of course, it is missing a few other things, so I imagine it IS easier on someone that is lactose intolerant. BTW I buy SO uch from vitaminshoppe that their system once went nuts I guess and said I had a credit over $1000. Unfortunately, it was only about $300. TREE times the clerks did a double take. THEY must think I am a shoppe. BTW the coconut oil is fine for cooking, etc... They cooked fine. It just kind of made them taste like the main component was coconut.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author Patrician
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      Patrician, Whey DOES lack casein and probably a lot of the lactose. Of course, it is missing a few other things, so I imagine it IS easier on someone that is lactose intolerant. BTW I buy SO uch from vitaminshoppe that their system once went nuts I guess and said I had a credit over $1000. Unfortunately, it was only about $300. TREE times the clerks did a double take. THEY must think I am a shoppe. BTW the coconut oil is fine for cooking, etc... They cooked fine. It just kind of made them taste like the main component was coconut.

      Steve
      Steve - wow! I just earned my first $10 from vitaminshoppe - how did you know? UPS? I actually found Triple Chocolate PowerCrunch at 7-11!!!! $2 each - so I went online to see where I could buy the box - BNRG is manufacturer and they are just as much as 7-11 even by the box, so I am getting a good deal from Vitashoppe - comes out about $1.30 each by the box.

      By the way I am a real expert at protein/energy bars and Triple Choc PowerCrunch is the best tasting and (LOWEST SUGAR) (only 4g, less than 1 teaspoon) - vs Cliff Bars over 25g and PowerBars around 20g --

      yeah 'healthy' food that overdoses on sugar - and organic cane juice IS STILL SUGAR PLAIN and simple - but we need a little -and at least it is not as bad as refined sugar. But honey is far better than any other sugar.

      At the same time as BNRG Trip Choc has the best taste - they have other flavors that are absolutely the worst tasting food (bitter) I ever tasted - cookies and cream and another one I can't remember - why eat anything if it is not chocolate??

      Anyway I never liked whey as it is milk - 'if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...' but this is different somehow - BNRG: ProtoWhey micro peptides -- interesting though maybe I am allergic to Casein? I just know it isn't Lactose because Lactose free milk is gross and just as bad as real milk.

      Well I have to watch every fricking thing now - fat, sugar, yeast, milk, eggs, meat, etc and now PROTEIN. If you have kidney issues you need to be careful not to eat too much protein - I think eating too many protein bars in one day is what contributed to my kidney stones (along with not enough water).
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

        Steve - wow! I just earned my first $10 from vitaminshoppe - how did you know? UPS? I actually found Triple Chocolate PowerCrunch at 7-11!!!! $2 each - so I went online to see where I could buy the box - BNRG is manufacturer and they are just as much as 7-11 even by the box, so I am getting a good deal from Vitashoppe - comes out about $1.30 each by the box.

        By the way I am a real expert at protein/energy bars and Triple Choc PowerCrunch is the best tasting and (LOWEST SUGAR) (only 4g, less than 1 teaspoon) - vs Cliff Bars over 25g and PowerBars around 20g --

        yeah 'healthy' food that overdoses on sugar - and organic cane juice IS STILL SUGAR PLAIN and simple - but we need a little -and at least it is not as bad as refined sugar. But honey is far better than any other sugar.

        At the same time as BNRG Trip Choc has the best taste - they have other flavors that are absolutely the worst tasting food (bitter) I ever tasted - cookies and cream and another one I can't remember - why eat anything if it is not chocolate??

        Anyway I never liked whey as it is milk - 'if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...' but this is different somehow - BNRG: ProtoWhey micro peptides -- interesting though maybe I am allergic to Casein? I just know it isn't Lactose because Lactose free milk is gross and just as bad as real milk.

        Well I have to watch every fricking thing now - fat, sugar, yeast, milk, eggs, meat, etc and now PROTEIN. If you have kidney issues you need to be careful not to eat too much protein - I think eating too many protein bars in one day is what contributed to my kidney stones (along with not enough water).
        At least MOST kidney stones are created from minerals. A lack of water DOES help them to harden and get bigger though. Kidney problems from protein are mainly because protein can't be assimilated, so it is broken down into amino acids and they can't stay in the blood too long, so they are eventually absorbed or deaminated. Deamination creates ammonia which makes the kidneys work harder.

        And YEAH I heard you. I went to culver's today, and they offered me the flavor of the day! GERMAN CHOCOLATE FUDGE CHUNK! WAAAAA! I couldn't resist! Why don't they just set me up for a reverse liposuction!?!?!?!? 8-(

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author Patrician
          Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

          At least MOST kidney stones are created from minerals. A lack of water DOES help them to harden and get bigger though. Kidney problems from protein are mainly because protein can't be assimilated, so it is broken down into amino acids and they can't stay in the blood too long, so they are eventually absorbed or deaminated. Deamination creates ammonia which makes the kidneys work harder.

          Steve
          oH YEAH and my other possible cause is calcium (a mineral) supplements - the doctor had me doing 1200 mg per day - the problem is that pills rush through yoiur system and do not match up with oxalates - oxalates don't do anything for you and they need to pair up with calcium to leave your body - I have a very high oxalate because of all the vegetarian stuff like soy I eat.

          My stones are oxalate - the most common form of stones according to the surgeon.

          Water helps remove everything - it is #1 problem.*

          But they did every test you can imagine including 2 MRIs and could find nothing except not enough water. The rest is what I learned myself from the brochures in the surgeons office and online.

          DARK chocolate is an extremely healthy food - but it is the sugar that is usually with it that is fattening and INFLAMMATORY. I can tell you since I cut most sugar out that I am not swollen anyplace. Then like Thanksgiving I did some sugar in things people made (and chardonay) and boom all puffed up around the gut again.

          Sugar really is one of the major factors of many diseases and conditions.

          * you mean coffee is not water? according to the surgeon yes it is (of course he has kidney stones himself) - the emergency room doctor said limit 1 cup per day - (my first episode about 90% of my water was from coffee LOL -

          ...everything I have read about kidneys, coffee is not good - but then i have read it reduces strokes in women among other things (senility things etc) so I am having 1-2 cups
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          • Profile picture of the author ThomM
            Steve you got me to do a little research on coconut oil
            Found this and thought it might interest you.
            80 Uses for Coconut Oil | Health Impact News

            As for water, I was reading an interesting article on it today.
            According to the article, most everything including us are about 70% water.
            Yet most people don't drink enough water to stay properly hydrated and wonder why they get headaches and such.
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            • Profile picture of the author seasoned
              Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

              Steve you got me to do a little research on coconut oil
              Found this and thought it might interest you.
              80 Uses for Coconut Oil | Health Impact News

              As for water, I was reading an interesting article on it today.
              According to the article, most everything including us are about 70% water.
              Yet most people don't drink enough water to stay properly hydrated and wonder why they get headaches and such.
              Thanks, but the fact that it is supposed to be able to replace carbs OR fat, has ~7calories a gram(carbs have 4 and fat has 9), supposedly is good for building muscle, and bad for getting fat(supposedly it doesn't convert well), is simple and natural, was enough for me.

              And that IS another thing, I AM using VIRGIN oil. VIRGIN means the first real pressing, and tends to have more of the basic flavor. I would NEVER use VIRGIN olive oil. YECH!

              Steve
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              • Profile picture of the author LeeLee
                Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

                And that IS another thing, I AM using VIRGIN oil. VIRGIN means the first real pressing, and tends to have more of the basic flavor. I would NEVER use VIRGIN olive oil. YECH!

                Steve
                It's an acquired taste

                First time I had eggs made with it I was like wtf. Now I prefer my eggs cooked in virgin olive oil. It is weird to eat them at a diner where they are cooked in butter.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Flax seed oil. You can get it in a lot of grocery stores.
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  • Profile picture of the author LeeLee
    Surprisingly substituting light olive oil for other oils will not alter flavor too much. You can try the extra virgin which is the better of the two but you may notice a more olivey taste. I use one or the other for all of my cooking and baking except crisp cookies.

    I also use the applesauce trick and I strictly use unsweetened apple sauce. Technically the apple sauce will be adding sugar to your recipe though.
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