Blog Sharing: The Gastronomy Gal

I t’ried to reblog this, but I had to cut and paste because I couldn’t get more than the title to come up. I love this blog!

Blackout Mochi Brownies with Raspberry Filling (GF + Oil-Free)

BY JAMIE LIN ON  • ( 30 COMMENTS )      41 Votesn’

These gluten and oil-free mochi brownies stuffed with raspberry chocolate take brownies to the next level!

If you have followed my website for a while, you must know that I love anything that is mochi (sweet rice flour) related. From my coconut matcha butter bars to mochi baked donuts to red bean and mochi manju, the possibilities are endless! You can catch me experimenting with mochi in all sorts of dishes, so I decided to make brownies with sweet rice flour instead of all-purpose flour because why not? I went a bit above and beyond and did more than just a typical brownie… I made a blackout mochi brownie, stuffed with raspberry chocolate. Whew! That’s a long name, so let me break down each component of the dessert for you.

  • Blackout brownies are brownies made with black cocoa powder which has a smooth, non-bitter and less chocolatey taste. I got inspired by the blackout brownies from a cafe in Singapore called Bundt by Backyard Bakers.
  • Mochi brownies are brownies made with sweet rice flour instead of all-purpose flour. The best thing about these brownies are that they’re gluten and oil free! Perfect for anyone who has some sort of gluten intolerance or allergy. These turned out way better than I expected and I think I may prefer mochi brownies over regular ones.
  • I made my own raspberry chocolate to pipe into these brownies and the flavor combination is spot-on. The brownies are slightly sweet and the raspberry chocolate is a bit sour which complements the sweetness of the brownie so well! My homemade chocolate consists of white chocolate chips, raspberry powder, and a bit of cream. You can also consider using ruby chocolate, a naturally pink chocolate with a fruity taste.

I chose to use black cocoa powder instead of regular cocoa powder for this recipe since I wanted the dark black to contrast more with the pink chocolate. The common Dutch-processed cocoa powder is brown rather than black.

What is black cocoa powder?

Black cocoa powder, as it sounds, is literally pitch black. It is cocoa powder that has been processed with alkaline and yields a less bitter and less chocolatey taste. I do like it because the flavor isn’t as dense. The most popular use of black cocoa powder is in Oreos. Black cocoa powder is responsible for Oreo’s signature black, not brown, color. I had difficulty finding black cocoa powder in person so I ordered The Cocoa Trader black cocoa powder online.

What is mochi (sweet rice flour)?

Mochi or sweet rice flour is flour high in starch, made from short-grain glutinous rice. It is commonly used in East and Southeast Asian cuisines to make desserts and entrees. The flour produces a chewy and elastic product and is usually used in a dessert, although it can be used in savory dishes as well. Sweet rice flour should not be confused with other flours such as glutinous rice flour or tapioca starch. The most common sweet rice flour is Mochiko, which can commonly be found in the International aisle and Asian grocery stores. Bob’s Red Mill also sells sweet rice flour.

How do you make the raspberry chocolate filling?

The raspberry chocolate filling is simply made with white chocolate, raspberry powder, and a bit of heavy cream. You can microwave the mixture or melt over a double broiler (recommended) to prevent scorching. I use Food to Live raspberry powder, which is made from freeze-dried raspberries and is slightly sweet and sour. The filling is viscous rather than solid since you want the filling to ooze out when the brownie is cut open. If you don’t have raspberry powder, you can also use ruby chocolate, naturally pink chocolate made from pink cocoa beans. It has a sour and fruity taste, making it a good alternative for raspberry chocolate.


Blackout Mochi Brownies with Raspberry Filling

yield: 9 brownies (8 x 8 pan)

total cook time: 1 hr. 30 min.

Ingredients:

For brownies:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 185 g. or 1 c. minus 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 4 g. or 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 360 g. or 1 1/2 c. whole milk
  • 260 g. or 1 1/2 c. + 1 tbsp. sweet rice flour (such as Mochiko or Bob’s Red Mill)
  • 40 g. or 1/2 c. black cocoa powder (I use The Cocoa Trader black cocoa powder)
  • 2 g. or 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 6 g. or 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 45 g. or 1/4 c. chocolate chips, optional

For filling:

  • 120 g. or 2/3 c. white chocolate chips
  • 15 g. or 1 tbsp. heavy cream
  • 20 g. or 1 1/2 tbsp. raspberry powder (I use Food to Live raspberry powder)
  • Additional raspberry powder to dust the top.

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla extract.
  2. Add in the sweet rice flour, cocoa power, baking soda, and salt and whisk until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips, if using. Pour mixture into an 8 x 8 in. baking pan linked with parchment paper and bake at 350 F for 55-60 min.
  3. In the meantime, use a double broiler to melt white chocolate chips. In a small bowl, mix together the raspberry powder and heavy cream until a pink thick paste forms. One the white chocolate chips have melted, add in the pink paste and stir until combined. Remove the chocolate from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature and chill for 20 min. The mixture will thicken but not solidify.
  4. Once the brownies have baked, remove the pan from the oven immediately and let the brownies cool in the pan for 10 min. Then place on a cooling rack to cool for 30 min. Cut the brownies into 9 squares.
  5. Once the raspberry filling has thickened, place into a piping bag attached with a narrow piping tip. Use a small knife to core the inside of the brownie from the side and pipe some raspberry filling into the brownie brownie. Cover the raspberry filling with the cored brownie. OR, if you choose not to cover the cored brownie, you will have the filling exposed which looks great as well. Repeat for the rest of the brownies and then sift some raspberry powder on top of the brownie and enjoy!

Storage notes: The brownies should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I recommend microwaving the brownie for about 10-20 seconds. The chocolate filling may melt a little which is fine.

*Nutrition facts are estimates.

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Free Pattern Friday: Pineapple Afghan by MomsLoveofCrochet

This is a gorgeous afghan I’ve been wanting to make for a long time. I have it bookmarked, and I check it regularly to make sure it’s still online. It’s a lacy piece made up of two different motifs, and it’s so pretty.

You can check it out here:

Pineapple Afghan

I hope whoever makes this first will post a picture in the comments below. I will still like pictures if I make it first! It’s the first on my bookmark list to make this year.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!

Website Review: Robinhood

I personally use this investment site. They allow me to buy single stocks if I need them, and they don’t charge me a fee. They make all prices clear, and they are at market price as well. I like how they provide up to date news and information about all their offered stocks. I can add or detract stocks from my watchlist as well. The best thing I like about Robinhood.com is that all their stocks are from companies that are rated green. This means they not only do their best for the environment but also for their employees and their communities. That, to me, are the best reasons for investing in a company.

I have used this site for about a year now, and I’m in for the long term with my investments.

I have heard bad things about this site, but that’s mostly because people mistake it for acorn and similar sites. This site will not sell your stocks without your consent like other sites do. You have to choose which stocks to buy and to sell, they don’t do that for you. They also don’t give you investment advice. They give you information, and that’s it.

Don’t take my word for it, look them over for yourself! Robinhood.com

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!


Writing Prompt: Book Exercise #4

This is Exercise #22 in the book, What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter.

This exercise is about writing a memory from your childhood(before age 7), and it should be written as a narrative from the perspective of a child. You are only allowed to use the vocabulary of a child and if you can’t remember a lot of detail, you can embellish only stay within the boundary of the memory. You are limited to 550 words. Please, either post your memory in the comments below or link to where you have posted it so I can see what you’ve done. I’d love to see what you come up with! Here is my attempt:

I got hurt at school today. See my arm? The doctor said this is a cast, and I’m not supposed to get it wet so I have to take baths for a while. I was playing on the monkey bars in my blue dress. Teacher said I looked pretty in my dress. My hands slipped on one of the bars. I was trying to make it across the inside part, and I was skipping bars. I missed one, but I swung back and grabbed it again. I slipped trying to grab it with my other hand. I landed on my feet but then, I fell down. I put my hands down as I fell so I didn’t hit my face. I didn’t want to break my glasses. Mom would be mad if I broke my glasses. She was frowning when she had to take me to the doctor for my arm. It didn’t hurt when I fell, I was just holding my writst in Music class so I couldn’t play my flute. Teacher made me go to the nurse after I showed her my hand and told her about falling. Nurse called Mom. Mom isn’t happy with me. Why do you want to sign my cast? Oh, I can? I’ll have my friends at school and Teacher sign it tomorrow.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

YouTube Tuesday: Real Terrain Hobbies

Neil is the man behind this channel, and he does some AMAZING work!! Just check out this awe inspiring tabletop diorama he made, with some help from a miniaturist!

8 ft Ultra – Realistic Wargaming Table

You can see more of his work by following the rabbit hole from the above link or, you can check out all his playlists here:

Real Terrain Hobbies

I really love watching Neil work, and he is a very good teacher. He’s begun doing ASMR videos and only speaking when he’s teaching just do you get a better idea of the environment he works in. He does have some great teaching videos especially the one where he shows you how to make realistic looking water with waves and everything!!

Don’t take my word for it though, check him out for yourself!

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

Yes, well, that happened…

I live in East Texas BELOW the snow belt, and the entire state was hit by the worst winter storm it’s ever had. At least in my lifetime, and I’m 50 almost 51. The first 24 hrs weren’t that bad, but the secod night, due to one of the boys turning off the water faucets in the bathroom after I went to bed, the pipes froze. The kitchen faucet froze and broke off at the wall so we had to turn the meter off. A few hours later, ,the lights went out. That was Tuesday, and it’s Sunday now.

I was able to shelter in a motor coach with an onboard diesel generator with my son and our roommate, Kevin, thanks to his aunt and uncle who let us use their motor coach. I never realized how much Kevin talks until I was forced to spend almost five days with him. I was about ready to throttle him I’m sorry to say. Yes, Mimi Queen of Fluff and the lovely Butterscotch were also in the motor coach with us. Moving them wasn’t easy, but it had to be done.

Now, everything is mended and working properly, and I’m back in the house in my own space. I hope everyone else caught in the storm that raged across most of the United States are well too. Drop me a line and tell me what’s happened to you! We can swap storm stories. 🙂

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver~

Writing Prompt – Writer Igniter

This week, we’re back to DIY MFAs Writer Igniter. It’s a random generator that selects four things for you to write about. It’s used to help brainstorm, or give you a break from a stressful project while keeping you writing. In the past, I’ve used all four items selected by the Writer Igniter,and it has proven a bit tricky the last two times. I’ve decided to leave one of the four items out from now on, but it won’t be the same thing every week. I plan to change things up from week to week. Let’s get started with this week’s writing prompt:

CharacterL: Serial Killer

Situation: Gets Arrested

Setting: Cajun Food Truck

Here is my little contribution. Feel free to add yours to the comments below or link to wherever you’ve posted yours. I’d love to see what you’ve written!

Leon watched Her. She was so beautiful, so pure looking with her white dress and pretty white flats. Her chestnut hair gleamed around her thick shoulders, and her brown eyes seemed to warm when she looked over at him. He shifted in his seat, thoughts pacing in his mind.

I have to get rid of Her first. I can’t be lazy. She works close by so I have time.

He could see the dead body in his mind’s eye. It was ready to be taken out, he just hadn’t done it yet. It was early yet,too early, and he was hungry. It was the only reason why he’d left home, had been able to catch sight of Her. He watched her leave the food truck and walk back into the hospital close by the truck.

Smells good. I like Cajun. Might as well.

Getting out, he secured his van and walked over to the food truck. The smells of boudin and spicy fried fish made his mouth water.

“Mr. Walkins,” a man’s hand fell on his left arm.

Leon turned to find himself looking at a smartly dressed man with thinning hair.

“Excuse me,”he said, nodding at the food truck. “Can this wait a minute? I haven’t eaten all day.”

“So, you are Mr. Walkins, Mr. Leon Walkins?” the man said.

Leon watched a man turn away from the food truck with a plate laden with delicious food.

Was that gumbo, with crawfish??

His mouth watered.

“Sir?” the man was getting annoying.

Yes, he’s a cop, it’s written all over him.

A quick look around told him several other police officers were close by. They were all undercover, but Leon could always tell. He sighed,

Would’ve been nice, the thought made him sad, and he cast a rueful look at the hospital. Her too.

“I’m Leon Walkins,” he admitted and put his hands behind his back as he turned to face a second officer who had approached.”Any chance I can get some boudin?”

The two officers just laughed as the first one put handcuffs on him.

“You’re a pretty funny guy for a serial killer Mr. Walkins,” the second man said.

Leon just shrugged.

See you all on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

YouTube Tuesday: North of the Border

I found North of the Border when I fell down the rabbit hole of book nook creation. I had started out looking at videos teaching me how to make my own book nook,and it went downhill from there. I got lost for hours looking at videos related to book nooks, and North of the Border was one of the top five I liked when I finally freed myself from the maze.

Adam is the man behind the hands and voice of North of the Border. Strangely enough, the name of his channel only makes sense to those who live in North America – he lives in Canada. Still, it’s part of the man’s quirky sense of humor and laid back style. He makes “lots of tiny nerdy things” – his words, not mine. For only being on YouTube for about six months, the channel has over nine thousand subscribers. Yes, he’s that good!! Don’t take my word for it however! Check out the newest book nook/diorama he’s created mashing up LOTR and Star Wars!

Gandalf vs the Balrog/Rancor

I hope you enjoy watching and listening while he makes some seriously fun stuff.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!

Cover Art for The Inbetween and Crimson Knight Revised Now Available

htThe Inbetween is the second supernatural thriller I’ve written. I wrote and published the first one, but it’s currently unavailable because the original publisher is now defunct. I’ll republish it on Kindle Publishing later. Currently, The Inbetween is slated for publishing this year along with Golden Knave. In fact, the only thing I’m waiting on is the cover art. My niece is getting her degree in Graphic Design, and she’s doing the cover for my book according to our joint collaboration. I’ve agreed to allow her to sell prints of the cover without the lettering and the finished cover will be included in her portfolio for future employers to see. I’m confident she’ll do a good job.

Crimson Knight First Edition Revised is now available for purchase on Amazon in both print and ebook. It’s also still available from Audible.com in audiobook form. My narrator,Nick, did a lovely job on it. If you purchase any of these, please leave a review. I would love to know what you think of it, good or bad.

That’s it for now. I hope everyone is well and staying safe during these last few nasty weeks of Winter!

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

Blog Sharing Saturday: My (mis?)adventures with yarn

This was one of the first blogs I started following when I joined WordPress.com ages ago. It’s run by the wonderfully multi-talented Anita. Thanks to her, I have also joined the Mystery Stitch A Long she wrote about just recently.

She writes mostly about projects she’s either crocheting or knitting, and I love reading about it. If she ever does a video series, and I find out, I’ll be subscribing and watching each one!

Don’t take my word for it though, click on the link below and find out more about the lovely Anita!!

My (mis?)adventures with yarn

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!