Wednesday snippet - Lenten Brownies

Your weekly recipe

(What a shame when one has to make a batch just for a photograph!!)

Lenten Brownies
These are delicious at any time of the year, but especially during Lent - or if you are Vegan

Ingredients

• 150g tahini 
• 150g orange juice (approx. 3 oranges)
• 50g cognac 
• 200g dark  chocolate, cooking chocolate is fine - (chocolate chips are easy to use and saves chopping later)
• 150g all purpose flour 
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 150g icing sugar 
• 100g walnuts,  roughly chopped ( You could try hazelnuts for a change)
• zest of 1 orange

• Preheat the oven to 180C.
•  Line a square baking tin (approx. 22*22cm) and grease with vegetable oil. Dust with cocoa powder to prevent sticking. 

• Melt half of the chocolate in a bowl over boiling water - or carefully use the microwave in short 30 second bursts stirring regularly.  Set aside for 5 minutes to cool a little.
• In a large bowl combine the tahini, orange juice and cognac and whisk. Add the melted chocolate and whisk again until mixed. Add the flour, baking powder and sugar and fold together gently with a spatula or wooden spoon, Add the chopped walnuts and the rest of the chocolate (chopped) or chic chips and mix together.
• Bake the brownies  for about 25 minutes, until they have have a shiny slightly cracked layer but are still moist underneath - test with a toothpick. Set aside to cool down for as long as you can resist them!
• Don't be afraid to experiment with white chocolate, or adding cherries etc