This Fall Pasta Dish is Divine!

Tonight I made Rachel Ray's recipe for Butternut & Parsley Penne with only a couple changes and it was SO good. Rich tasting, but with very little fat (if you forget the cheese like I did!) and easy to tweak to accommodate picky palates.
My changes:
Used caramelized onion instead of scallions
Omitted the chili pepper (hoping my 3-year old would eat this dish)
Forgot to add the cheese - but it honestly wasn't needed!
Added some leftover chicken breast

SO GOOD! Seriously.

Sneaky Peanut Butter & Cocoa Brownies

I don't usually gravitate towards recipes with "hidden" ingredients or call for hard-to-find flours or ingredients. But, when I found this recipe today for Lightened- Up Gluten Free Brownies I was intrigued because it doesn't call for ANY flour at all OR call for anything strange. Well, except for chickpeas...and I've had some lurking in my pantry for awhile...so awesome use for something that no one else in my house will eat!
Oh...but they did for dessert this evening. Heeheehee!
I tweaked this recipe a little and am pleased to say that these brownies received rave reviews from both my 2-yr old and my husband. 

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter & Cocoa Brownies
3/4 c. peanut butter (or nut butter of your choice)
15-oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/4 c. milk
2 eggs
 1 T. vanilla
3/4 c. honey
3/4 c. dried mission figs
1/2 c. dark cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 350 and grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
Combine nut butter, chickpeas, milk, eggs, vanilla & honey in the bowl of a food processor. Puree mixture together. Add figs and pulse until figs are chopped fine and mixed in well. In a separate large mixing bowl, combine cocoa, baking soda, salt & cinnamon. Pour nut/chickpea mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix well to combine.
Spread batter evenly in your prepared dish and bake for 30-35 minutes or until center is set.

Frost while still warm with Vegan Chocolate Ganache (like I did)!

Watch your loved ones devour these brownies and smile knowing you are sneaking in some extra protein into their diets. :)