In The Guardian this week, there is an article about bribing children to eat vegetables, they’ve called it ‘Cash for Courgettes’. Just like sneaking vegetables into dishes this is just another way of getting kids to eat up their veggies. So I suppose Beetroot Brownies fits this bill too - not sure I'd have to bribe my boys to eat cake, though.
Using the 'hidden veggies' option means that food such as soup is a really easy way to increase our kid's intake of more healthier foods. As are sauces for bolognese, chilli, or pie fillings. I haven’t tried avocado chocolate mousse yet but I'm assured its delicious. And of course, we’ve all eaten carrot cake and persuaded ourselves it’s the healthy option.
Beetroot
I’m lucky I guess. My boys have always loved vegetables. Not all vegetables right from the start mind you, but I've found that if they see you eat it often enough, they will eventually give it a try – and what do you know, they like it. (I will never make or expect them to eat sprouts, though!)
At Christmas, my youngest proclaimed over Christmas Dinner 'I love these'. Was it the stuffing balls, pigs in blankets or indeed the prizes inside the cheap crackers that he was talking about? No, to our surprise it was parsnips. And he promptly finished off all the leftover ones too.
It always important to include more vegetables in our meals, in any way that we can. But now that they are getting older, I’d rather see my boys growing up knowing what they are eating and becoming a fan of healthy food, if possible, rather than eating vegetables and not actually being aware of them.
It always important to include more vegetables in our meals, in any way that we can. But now that they are getting older, I’d rather see my boys growing up knowing what they are eating and becoming a fan of healthy food, if possible, rather than eating vegetables and not actually being aware of them.
Baking with Beetroot
But I’m all for incorporating vegetables into recipes based on what they can add, be it flavour, texture, moisture, or nutritional qualities. Beetroot is a cheap way to make a cake moist and stop it from drying out whilst in the oven or until it is eaten up.
So here is my recipe for Beetroot Cake. Yes, this recipe includes a vegetable, making it slightly better than cake without veg. We also used a dairy free spread instead of butter meaning its a dairy free cake too!
But let’s not forget the fact that it is still cake, The ingredients include fat, flour and sugar so it shouldn’t replace our vegetables! But the greatest thing about this cake is that it tastes amazing! It’s moist, tasty and full of a little goodness too.
Beetroot Brownies
Ingredients:
- 250g cooked beetroot (For ease I use the vacuum-packed plain cooked beetroot)
- 100g dark chocolate
- 200g plain flour
- 200g margarine, melted - I used a dairy-free spread
- 200g sugar (brown or white or a mixture)
- 3 large eggs
- 3tbsp cocoa powder
- 2tsp baking powder
Method:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4.
2. Prepare an 8in cake tin by lining it with greaseproof paper.
3. Grate the beetroot (to avoid staining my fingers I hold the beetroot with a fork).
4. Break the chocolate into individual pieces.
5. Sift the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder together.
6. Whisk the melted margarine, sugar and eggs together in a bowl before adding the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder.
7. Gently stir in the grated beetroot and pieces of chocolate.
8. Pour into the prepared cake tin and lightly level out the surface.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
10. Allow the cake to cool for a few minutes in the tin before removing to a cooling rack and sprinkle with icing sugar before serving.
Beetroot is virtually fat-free and low in calories with only 38 in 100g of raw beetroot. It is low in fat, a great source of fibre, vitamin B9, manganese, potassium, iron and vitamin C.
Have you tried making or eating Beetroot Brownies?
Deb x
To be kept up to date with events, new openings, recipes, things to do and child-friendly places to take the kids, plus giveaways then follow My Boys Club on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter too.
Or why not pin this post on Pinterest?
4 Comments
I have never tried beetroot brownies...I think I need to. These look and sound very tasty x
ReplyDeleteGo on, do it. You won't regret it x
DeleteThese look yummy! Definitely one for me to try with my daughter I think! x
ReplyDeleteCan I make them without sugar?
ReplyDelete