Big Fudgy Bittersweet Brownies

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg
• 1 egg white
• 3 tablespoons plain nonfat yogurt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 ounces high-quality unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped
• 1/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup buckwheat or presifted whole wheat flour

Directions:

 Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat an 8-inch-square nonstick baking pan with cooking spray. In a small bowl, whisk together egg, egg white, yogurt, and vanilla extract; set aside.

In a small saucepan, combine sugar, oil, salt, and 3 tablespoons water, stirring constantly for 3 minutes on medium-high heat. Remove from heat; stir in cocoa and chocolate until chocolate melts, then add egg mixture. Add all flour, stirring until batter is smooth.

Pour batter into baking pan. Bake 25 minutes, or until top is firm. Cool completely in pan on rack. Cut into squares.

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Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients:

• 1  tablespoon  olive oil
• 1  medium  onion, chopped
• 2  cloves  garlic, minced
• 2-1/2  pound  butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 6  cups  low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• 1  tablespoon  plus 2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 2  tablespoons  honey
• 3  tablespoons  plain nonfat yogurt

Directions:

Heat oil over medium heat in a 6-quart stockpot. Add onions and saute until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute for 2 minutes more. Add squash, broth, curry powder, and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until squash is tender, 12 to 15 minutes.

Remove from heat, stir in honey, and puree with a mixer or in batches in a blender until smooth

Ladle into serving bowls and drizzle yogurt over each.

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Spicy Pumpkin and Shrimp Soup

Ingredients:

• 2  medium  onions, sliced
• 2  medium  carrots, thinly sliced
• 1  tablespoon  snipped fresh cilantro
• 2  teaspoons  grated fresh ginger
• 2  cloves  garlic, minced
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground allspice
• 2  tablespoons  margarine or butter
• 1  141/2-ounce can  chicken broth
• 1  15-ounce can  pumpkin
• 1  cup  milk
• 1  8-ounce package  frozen, peeled and deveined cooked shrimp, thawed
•     Fresh shrimp in shells, peeled, deveined, and cooked (optional)
•     Plain low-fat yogurt or dairy sour cream (optional)
•     Snipped fresh chives (optional)

Directions:

In a covered large saucepan cook the onions, carrots, cilantro, ginger, garlic, and allspice in hot margarine for 10 to 12 minutes or until the vegetables are tender, stirring once or twice.

Transfer the mixture to a blender container or food processor bowl. Add 1/2 cup of the chicken broth. Cover and blend or process until nearly smooth.

In the same saucepan combine pumpkin, milk, and remaining broth. Stir in the blended vegetable mixture and the 8 ounces shrimp; heat through. If desired, on small skewers thread additional cooked shrimp. Ladle soup into soup bowls. If desired top each serving with a spoonful of yogurt a sprinkling of chives, and a shrimp skewer.

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