birthday blondies

Friday is my dear friend Beth's birthday.  Beth and I met the summer before I started graduate school when she was an intern at the architecture firm I had been working for.  We became fast friends because we shared many interests:  design, food, running, yoga.  We swapped recipes and design ideas for two years before she moved to Philadelphia to take a job with a fabulous firm.  I miss her.  She was the person who first introduced me to brussels sprouts and kale, both of which I now can't live without. She also introduced me to figs.  I owe her many thanks for bringing dried figs into my life.

These fig almond blondies are for Beth.  Happy birthday dear friend.







This recipe comes from VeggieGirl.  I said last night that Jen @ Running With Food can cook...well, VeggieGirl can bake!!!  This is the second blondie recipe I've tried of hers, and it is definitely a winner in my household.  I will be holding both her Fig Almond Blondie and her Pear Pistachio Ginger Blondie recipes near and dear for a long time.

Fig Almond Blondies

adapted slightly from VeggieGirl's Fig Almond Blondie recipe

makes 16 blondies

Ingredients:

• 6oz plain Greek yogurt


• 1/4 cup applesauce


• 1 cup turbinado sugar


• 2 tsp vanilla extract


• 2 tsp blackstrap molasses


• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour (next time I will try whole wheat pastry flour)


• 3/4 tsp baking soda


• 1 cup sliced almonds


• 10 dried Turkish figs, chopped


• soymilk, as needed

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350* and spray 8x8 cooking pan with oil


2. In a large bowl, mix the yogurt, applesauce, sugar, vanilla and molasses together.


3. In the same bowl, add the flour, baking soda, almonds and figs.  As the mixture combines it will thicken, add a splash of soymilk as needed to help mix.  Don't add too much!!!


4. Spread batter into greased 8x8 pan and smooth the top.


5. Bake for 32-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.


6. Remove pan from oven and place on wire rack to cool. Allow to cool completely before cutting.

A quick recap of today's eats so far...

Breakfast:  Oats!  I'm so in love with my normal combo, I just can't get enough!  This morning I stepped it up an extra notch by adding dried figs.  Yum!  The fig seeds added perfect little bits of crunch.



Lunch:  Leftovers!  I know I promised another wrap, but when I opened the fridge this morning and saw a perfect lunch-sized portion of leftover pot pie and collard greens, I couldn't resist.



Snack:  1/2 cup Fage 0% and 5 lovely strawberries.  I have to say, I'm really loving the Fage.  Its making me miss my Oikos less and less each day...



Tonight the hubb and I are going over to our friend Amy's house for dinner, which is why I'm posting a bit early.  I'm making a quick lasagna recipe that I'm really excited to try and can't wait to share the results with you tomorrow!

Be sure to check out Oh She Glows for a fabulous Honest Foods Giveaway!

Have a great night!  :)