Fudgy & Skinny Red Velvet Brownies

Soooo, I just watched Frozen.

And now I'm listening to "Let It Go" and pinning pictures of Olaf every five minutes. 

(Wait, did I just say that out loud?)

I'll spare you my praises for the characters and plot line because really, just go watch it and save us all the trouble. But, I will say, I loved that Frozen realistically showed true love. Ana thought it was at first sight, but it couldn't be. It just can't happen. And I love that, finally, Disney reflected reality, but not as a kill joy, but as a teacher and motivator. Ana learned (among other things) that true love requres sacrifice and energy and time. 

(And now I'll stop - no spoilers)

 

Valentines Day is in two weeks and to be honest, I've never celebrated the holiday. (Feel free to speculate as to why …)  But my Dad always gets my mom a box of chocolates and roses, whether he is here at home or across the country on business.  It might be an inconvenience, but he doesn't act like it. Or, when he spends the night at hotels, they let him choose a water, or a trail mix, or whatever, to make your stay "the best it can be."  My dad doesn't like chocolate, but he always chooses the Toblerone and brings it home for Mom.  That's love.  I think, at least in my age group, love can get down played, especially in dating and especially during Valentine's.  Love requres sacrifice. Energy. Time. Not hand holding or flower buying. It's putting someone else before yourself and I'm grateful my parents have been an example of that. 

And, I love that Disney is beginning to promote that truth as well. Ana thought she knew who her true love was, because it was "love at first sight."  Guys, these brownies were love at first sight.  But they weren't love at first taste. I  told a friend how bummed I was because the texture was great, the color was what I wanted, but the flavor just wasn't … sweet, and brownies are supposed to be sweet. The original recipe had called for all honey as it's sweetener, and although I was hesitant, I did it. I was regretting it after my first bite. I wasn't going to blog these. I was going to redo them. But before that could happen, we had to finish the first pan. So, a day after making them, I cut myself a piece from the nearly untouched pan and flinched as I took a bite. But then, I realized, this tastes like a brownie!  This tastes good, like, really good!

 

These brownies are no light weights.  They are moist and thick and dense - and chocolatey sweet.  They're delicious!  But, they need time.  Don't eat them right out of the oven.  Give the yogurt and the cocoa and the honey a day to meet each other and like each other and trust me, these brownies will be your new love.

Even though these need time, they don't need sacrifice or energy.  They are only one bowl and have healthy ingredients that are easy to find!  Greek yogurt provides all the "fat" and adds most of the body and moisture.  These are also completely whole wheat!  Whole wheat things are supposed to be painfully heavy and dry.  Not these; thanks to the yogurt and honey, these are heavy, but in the fudgiest way possible.  Also, I only used a teaspoon of red food coloring, because that was all we had :) and they turned out somewhat red.  If you want a deeper color, just add more food coloring.  Whatever the shade, these brownies win top award!

 

Between Frozen and these brownies, I was reminded that real friendships need time and that basing my opinions on someone after just meeting them isn't the wisest idea, nor the most accurate.  It is hard for me to not judge someone based on their hair or one word they said in a conversation.  I need to give people time.  Their true colors will show eventually, they always do (ahem, Frozen) and then I can decide whether they are real friends or not.  Honestly, after I get to know someone, I usually have to take back my first opinion. 

 

Thank goodness these brownies don't need several weeks or even years to decide whether or not they are good!

Fudgy and Skinny Red Velvet Brownies
Recipe Source: Adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction
Yield: 12-16 servings

Heaping 1 cup plain yogurt (greek or regular, nonfat or low fat) 

1 egg + 1 egg white 

1/2 cup milk ( I used low fat)

2/3 cup honey

3/4 cup whole wheat flour 

3/4 cup cocoa powder 

1-1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon red food coloring

2/3 cup dark chocolate chips (use sugar free chocolate chips to keep these refined sugar free)

Preheat oven to 350.
Whisk yogurt, egg and egg white, milk, and honey together. 
Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.  Stir well.
Add red food coloring and stir until all the food coloring is incorporated.  (Add more if you want a deeper red.  But be careful; a little goes a long ways!)
Stir in chocolate chips.
Bake for 40-45 minutes.
Let cool and sit overnight. 
Enjoy!