The Sneaky Chef is the brainchild of Missy Chase Lapine, whose New York Times bestseller, The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids’ Favorite Meals (Running Press, March 2007) inspired a whole new brand in the healthy eating/lifestyles category. Missy is the former publisher of Eating Well magazine and the founder of a natural baby product line Baby Spa®. She currently teaches at the Culinary Center of New York, has taught at the New School, and is also a collaborator with The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a partnership between the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, helping schools serve healthier lunches. Missy serves on the Children’s Advisory Council of Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian where Sneaky Chef recipes are served to patients. Her highly-anticipated second book, The Sneaky Chef: How to Cheat on Your Man in the Kitchen, debuted in April, 2008.

Missy Chase Lapine--

When The Sneaky Chef first came out, one of the most talked-about recipes was the brownie recipe. Everyone was amazed that no one—neither kids nor adults—could detect the hidden spinach, blueberries, oats, wheat germ, or the missing fat and sugar.

Here, I’ve slightly modified my signature recipe by adding a bit more sophisticated flavoring for the adult palate (although that didn’t stop my kids from devouring them again!). You can also savor the fact that dark chocolate is the new health food, loaded with antioxidants and credited with the ability to lower blood pressure. Add that to the spinach, blueberries, and whole grains, and you’ll see why I call these Brawny Brownies!

Makes about 16 brownies

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

5 ounces good-quality dark chocolate (not unsweetened), coarsely chopped

(or use 3⁄4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips)

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1⁄2 cup sugar

1⁄2 cup Purple Puree (see Make-Ahead Recipe #1 below)

1⁄4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Flour Blend (equal parts whole wheat flour, white flour and wheat germ)

1⁄4 cup oat bran

One-half teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon instant coffee powder

1⁄4 teaspoon salt

Butter or non-stick cooking spray

Optional extra boost: 1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Butter or spray only the bottom, not the sides, of a 13-by- 9-inch or 9-inch square baking pan.

Melt the butter and dark chocolate together in a double boiler or metal bowl over simmering water (or in a microwave, checking every 15 seconds). Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool a bit. Meanwhile, in another bowl, stir together the eggs, vanilla, sugar, and Purple Puree. Combine this purple egg mixture with the cooled chocolate mixture.

In a mixing bowl, stir together Flour Blend, oat bran, cinnamon, coffee powder, cocoa powder, and salt. Add this to the chocolate mixture and blend thoroughly. Mix in the chopped walnuts, if using, then pour the entire mixture into the baking pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in pan before cutting the brownies and use a plastic or butter knife. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Keeps for a week in the refrigerator, covered tightly.

Sneaky Chef Make-Ahead Recipe #1: Purple Puree

3 cups raw baby spinach leaves

11⁄2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, no syrup or sugar added

1⁄2 teaspoon lemon juice

1 to 2 tablespoons water

Makes about 1 cup of puree

Thoroughly wash the spinach, even if the package says “prewashed.” If using frozen blueberries, quickly rinse them under cold water to thaw a little, and then drain.

Fill the bowl of your food processor with the spinach, blueberries, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of water; puree on high until as smooth as possible. Stop occasionally to push the contents to the bottom. If necessary, use another tablespoon of water to smooth-out the puree.

This recipe makes about 1 cup of puree; double it if you want to store another cup. It will keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days, or you can freeze 1⁄4-cup portions in sealed plastic bags or small plastic containers. 

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