Sweet Potato Chocolate Brownies from Simply Vibrant / February 14, 2018 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

Sweet Potato Chocolate Brownies from Simply Vibrant | dolly and oatmeal

happy valentine's day! if you've been reading this blog for a while then you probably know, i'm not that into this holiday. sorry to be a bummer. consider me one of those people who always thought it was a hallmark holiday. but(!) i am finding it easier to get into the spirit now that amesy's old enough to find googly-eyed hearts, or mickey mouse valentine cards funny and interesting. we're not doing any valentine projects (yet, i'm sure they'll come in time), but there is definitely a bit mote of a fuss over all the silly heart-shaped treats and decorations everywhere. dare i say that i'm excited for next year when we'll be able to make cards, or decorations together!? we'll see what happens ;) but until then, BROWNIES!

these brownies come from anya kassoff (from the ever inspiring blog, Golubka Kitchen) and her daughter masha davydova (she takes all the stunning photographs!), and their cookbook: Simply Vibrant. this is their second cookbook that focusses on plant-based, vegetarian meals spanning the day. the contents are broken into very clever categories: morning meals like porridges and pancakes. then there are: wraps and rolls; noodles, pasta, and pizza; and fritters and veggie burgers. the last couple of chapters include sweets, and basics and sauces. anya, like she does on her blog, makes her recipes so inviting not only with the beautiful photos that grace the pages, but the different flavors and textures she incorporates into each dish.

these brownies for instance are made lusciously fudgy by using sweet potato - something i would never think of incorporating into a brownie batter. there's also a good amount of chocolate, but anya instructs you to chop it in the food processor which basically makes the chocolate into a meal, it's then stirred in with the rest of the batter to form these delicious treats. and i especially love a dessert i don't have to worry about giving amesy nibbles of. they're sweetened with dates (and aforementioned chocolate), and i assume some sweetness comes from the sweet potato as well ;) these are the perfect treat to induge in on this day, or any day, really! whatever you're partaking in, i hope it is serving you well!

big XOXO's!

sweet potato chocolate brownies | v & gf

my notes: i used 85% cacao bittersweet chocolate. next time i would use between 60%-70& cacao chocolate, as most of the sweetness in these brownies comes from the chocolate.

recipe from Simply Vibrant by Anya Kassoff

print the recipe!

| makes 12 large or 24 small brownies |

1 cup (200 g) chopped dark chocolate or chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups raw hazelnuts
1/2 cup (50 grams) almond flour
3 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for dusting the brownies
pinch of sea salt
9 to 10 (140 g) large, soft medjool dates, pitted
1 medium sweet potato, baked, peeled, and roughly chopped
1/4 cup almond butter

method

preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, extending the paper up the sides. place the chocolate in the freezer.
spread the hazelnuts on a baking tray and toast them in the oven for 10 minutes. remove them from the oven and let them cool, then rub them with a clean kitchen towel to remove the skins. reserve a few whole nuts for garnishing the brownies, and place the rest of the nuts in a food processor; grind into a meal. make sure you don't overprocess. transfer to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
place the chilled chocolate in the food processor and grind into the smallest pieces possible. transfer to the bowl with the ground hazelnuts and add the almond flour, cocoa powder, and salt. stir to mix evenly.
combine the dates, sweet potato chunks, and almond butter in the food processor and puree until smooth. spoon this mixture into the bowl with the ground hazelnuts and chocolate; stir to combine thoroughly.
spoon the batter into the prepared baking dish and even out the top with a spoon. transfer the dish to the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top of the brownie is firm to the touch.
remove the pan from the oven and let it cool to room temperature, then transfer the brownie to a cutting board, using the parchment paper to lift it out of the pan. dust the brownie with cocoa powder chop the reserved whole hazelnuts and sprinkle them on top, if desired. slice the brownies into bars.

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Summer Fridays! Raw "Nutella" Bars / July 8, 2016 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

Summer Fridays! Raw "Nutella" Bars | dolly and oatmeal #vegan

i'm trying not to talk too much about pregnant life, but it's hard not to when every facet of my days has been significantly altered, and my thoughts about the future are shifting as well. i'm 30 weeks tomorrow and have acquired a subtle waddle, back aches like whoa, what feels like complete memory loss, and an affinity for naps (which i've never been a huge fan of). but i wanted to start this summer fridays series because among all those things i just listed, there are so many quick snacks and hacks i've been coming up with in a pinch that i wanted to share. if i thought the effects of my blood sugar dropping before pregnancy was bad, this new urgency to eat something before i feel like i'm going to pass out or strangle someone is soooo real. but i also thought that everyone could benefit from having some good-for-you food/beverage quickie recipes like this açaí bowl, these fizzy crushed raspberry drinks, or these here snack bars!

i've always tended to stay away from supermarket snack bars with weird ingredients, so i usually stick to my basics which include a variety of chocolate-y, nutty lara bars, but i'm constantly searching for a chocolate-hazelnut flavor with no such luck. then i thought: bars like these are easily made, so i can totally make an at-home version. i love these "nutella" bars for so many reasons, but mostly, mostly because they remind me exactly of a really good store-bought bar. they have a similar consistency and texture, and they're great on their own, but i decided to throw a little raw-ish chocolate shell over these babes, because, why not!? there's something so satisfying about making homemade snacks - i hope you feel the same and perhaps give them a try :)

xo!

raw "nutella" bars | gf & v

these bars can be made with whatever nut you like, or you could use a mixture of nuts. i think a maybe a peanut butter-pecan mix might be really good here, but the options are limitless.

| makes 8 bars |

1 1/2 cups raw hazelnuts
1 1/2 cups soft pitted dates (if dates are hard or tough, soak in warm water for 30 minutes)
3 tablespoons raw cacao powder
1-3 teaspoons filtered water
pinch of fine sea salt

toppings (optional):

raw-ish chocolate sauce
chopped hazelnuts

method

line an 8x8" square pan with parchment or foil and set aside.
add hazelnuts to a food processor fitted with a metal "s" blade and pulse until a course meal forms.
add the dates, cacao powder, 1 teaspoon water, and salt. pulse a few times, stop the motor and use your fingers to pinch the mixture. if the mixture is crumbly add more water 1 teaspoon at a time until you have a mixture that sticks together.
press the mixture evenly into your prepared pan and freeze for 25 minutes. using a sharp knife, slice into 8 bars. drizzle with chocolate sauce and chopped hazelnuts (optional), and store in an airtight container in the fridge. bars will stay good for up to 1 week.

enjoy!

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vibrant valentine's day: pink quinoa salad w/ beets, blood orange + chimichurri / February 10, 2015 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

vibrant valentine's day: pink quinoa salad w/ beets, blood orange + chimichurri | dolly and oatmeal

it's funny, for two people who choose not to really celebrate valentine's day, the occasion is a significant date in me and frank's dating history. we were friends for a few months before we began dating, and although he and i didn't speak to one another much, we kept in touch through facebook (i would often read and laugh at his rants about film vs digital projection, or how 3D movies aren't the wave of the future). the following year, frank reached out to me on valentine's day to ask for a date. while i wasn't sure if we would be more than just friends, we went out to a movie and a walk in central park a few nights later, and we've been together since then. it was 2 years later when we celebrated our anniversary by going to the same movie theater and taking the same route through central park where frank asked me to marry him. we're coming up on 5 years together in a few days and i can't help but feel super mushy and overcome with happy feelings about this life that he and i have together. sometimes it feels like we were little babies then, and sometimes it feels like it was yesterday; we've grown, and changed, found new personal paths, and remain wholeheartedly committed to rooting for one another.

speaking of rooting...this beet salad! (<--- see what i did there?!) these past couple of years i've shared chocolatey valentine's recipes, here and here. this year i wanted to create something just as festive but in salad form - basically because i've been craving all the savories lately. while i wasn't always a firm believer in beets, i've come to love them in almost any form (even tacos!), i also knew they would make my quinoa the most vibrant shade of pink/magenta. because beets are so earthy in flavor i wanted to juice it all up by adding some acid in the form of some lovely blood orange segments, and a parsley chimichurri sauce. it's all served up with some green sprouts, toasted hazelnuts and a few squeezes of orange juice; a simple meal or side to enjoy in the company of others, or on your own! :)

also, tiffany (from offbeat + inspired) and myself contributed some advice on how to throw a gluten-free dinner party - it's over on the recently re-launched Epicurious. i also have an interview of sorts over on Zeit Magazin, it's all in german, so google translate is a good tool to have here!

have a lovely week! xo

vibrant valentine's day: pink quinoa salad w/ beets, blood orange + chimichurri (v + gf)

i love this salad, not just because it's super heart and tasty, but because most everything can be made ahead of time and assembled the day of. or, assemble the salad (sans toppings) and refrigerate until ready to serve. either way this dish is most forgiving.

| serves 6 |

chimichurri ingredients

1 bunch parsley, leaves and stems roughly chopped
2 small garlic cloves
1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 teaspoon chili flakes
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/4-1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

salad ingredients

3 medium red beets, washed
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
2 blood oranges, peeled and segmented
juice from half of an orange, or a few squeezes lemon juice
extra virgin olive oil
course sea salt

to finish

big handful sprouts/micro green
handful chopped parsley
1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped

instructions

chimichurri

place chopped parsley, garlic, salt, chili flakes, vinegar, and olive oil into a food processor or upright blender and blend, scraping down the sides until thoroughly combined. taste and adjust seasoning if needed. transfer to a lidded jar and refrigerate until ready to use

salad

preheat oven to 400°
place beets inside a foil packet; prick beets all over with a fork, drizzle with olive oil to coat. secure foil in a packet and place on a rimmed baking sheet; bake for 1 hour, or until fork tender. remove from oven and let cool until ready to handle. once cool, slip beet skins off, rinse beets and pat to dry. cut beets in eighths and then slice into small chunks. set aside
place rinsed quinoa along with a big pinch of course salt into a saucepan; cook according to directions on package. once cooked, remove from heat and set aside.
in a large bowl, combine the beets and quinoa, add orange segments, chimichurri sauce, and orange juice (or a few squeezes of lemon juice); toss to combine. taste and adjust
serve warm, topped with sprouts, chopped parsley, and chopped hazelnuts