SOURDOUGH CAROB & CHOCOLATE BROWNIES RECIPE

These brownies are quite rich. If you prefer a milder recipe just use less baking cocoa and cinnamon.

SOURDOUGH CAROB BROWNIES
Makes 12-16

• 3/4 cup of almond, brazils or hazelnuts.
• 1 cup of Californian dates, (pressed down into the cup)
• 4 eggs, from pasture fed chickens.
• 1 cup of Kefir.
• 200 grams (3/4 cup) of butter, softened.
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• 1/2 cup of barley malt or honey.
• 1/2 cup sourdough starter.
• 3/4 cup of light carob powder (use less if you have dark carob).
• 3/4 cup of baking cocoa.
• 2 1/2 cups spelt flour.
• 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
• 3 teaspoons of cinnamon
• Water

INSTRUCTIONS:

Almonds
Either grind the nuts in a grain mill or blender just before use and mix them with the flour, or soak them for 12 hours in water, then sprout for 12 -24 hours before drying them in a cool oven. Then chop the nuts into small pieces.

Preparation
Chop the dates, then process them in a food processor with the eggs, Kefir and softened butter for a few minutes at medium speed until the mixture forms a rough batter. Then one ingredient at a time, add the sourdough starter, vanilla essence, carob, cocoa and just enough water to make a smooth cake batter. The intention at this stage is to ensure that the dates are homogenised with the other ingredients.

In a separate bowl mix the salt and cinnamon with the flour and chopped nuts or nut flour, then add the flour mixture to the batter in the processor. Depending upon the type of processor you may need to use a wooden spoon to help mix the flour with batter. You will also need to add just enough water for the mixture to reach the consistency of a cake batter.

Grease a 12 x 8 x 1 1/4 inch baking tin. Dust the tin with flour, spoon in the mixture and level out with a spatula. Leave the mixture to rise in a warm place (25-28C) for about 12-18 hours or until the mixture has increased in volume by about 80%. Bake at 180C for 45 minutes or until a clean knife comes out dry.

Notes
The nuts may produce a slightly cheesy flavour.

The optimum time to bake the brownies are when the batter has increased in volume by about 80%, then the batter should rise in the first few minutes of baking. It's called 'oven spring'. If you wait until the batter has doubled in size before you bake it then it will most likely sink.

MEASUREMENTS 1 teaspoon = 5 ml / 5 gm. 1 tablespoon = 15 ml / 15 gm. 15 tablespoons = 1 cup / 225 ml. 1 cup = 8 fluid oz / 225 ml. 1 US gallon = 3.6 litres. 1 lb = 16 oz / 454 gm. Temperature 20C = 68F. Conversion from Fahrenheit to Celsius: °C = (°F - 32) / 1.8. Conversion from Celsius to Fahrenheit: °F = °C × 1.8 + 32 Post your comments at the Rejoice Newsgroup. Exchange recipes and experiences with others interested in traditional food preparation at the Rejoice-In-Life News Group. Sign up at rejoiceinlife newsgroup MORE RECIPES MAKE FRIENDS WITH GoodBugs Simple recipes - great results. Culture: probiotic sauerkraut. Make: kefir and simple cheese. Bake: Sourdough bread, cakes, Christmas cakes and puddings. - Easy sourdough starter recipes. Brew: Refreshing probiotic ginger beer type beverages made with a probiotic starter culture that you can buy at your health food shop. Get Abby's recipe for low alcoholic real beer. It is easy to make; just brew it in the bottle and ready to drink in 5 days. .