The Best Vegan Fudge Brownies

Just keep dancing, just keep dancing...

It's all I can do to stay sane. Homework? Psh. Social life? Yeah right. Just keep dancing...

That, my friends, is my week.

In the meantime, I've been meaning to do a link love post for a while and what could go better with the best vegan brownies except the best links I've found recently? So here are some things that I have been loving lately:

-This is one of the most unique TED talks I have ever seen, and hey! It's dance-related :)
-Jen Altman's food photography- love the vibrant colors and how she encorporates people.
-I have a pair of these and I get so many complements. They are addicting- I want more!
-Whenever spring and summer start to creep around the corner I start to crave one of my favorite classic desserts: strawberry shortcake. This slight twist on the traditional version looks divine. Time to put my veganizing powers to good use.
-I can't wait for this duo album to be released.

And now, onto the brownies...

The Best Vegan Fudge Brownies (adapted from 100 Best Vegan Baking Recipes by Kris Holechek)

makes about 9 brownies

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
6 tbsp earth balance
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup good quality cocoa powder
2 tbsp ground flaxseed
1/3 cup water
1 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips to add in

1. Preheat your oven to 350º and lightly oil a an 8x8 baking pan.
2. In a measuring cup, combine the flaxseed and water. Whisk for a minute ad set aside. In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Combine the earth balance chocolate chips and cocoa powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until melted together and smooth.
4. In a large bowl, beat together the "flax egg" and chocolate mixture. Mix in the sugar and vanilla, then add the dry ingredients. Fold in the remaining chocolate chips.
5. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for about 35-40 minutes. They will still be slightly gooey, but they solidify as they cool.

I think these are the best because I am a huge fan of melt-in-your mouth fudge-y brownies. These have that perfect texture along with a really deep, dark, chocolate flavor. It's impossible to just eat one!

Wanderlust & Brownies

Remember how I said I had really exciting news? Well it’s finally official:

I am taking a leave of absence from school to travel around Europe all by myself for a whole year.

I am actually bursting with excitement. It’s hard to focus on anything else except planning and fantasizing!

So far, I have an internship in London this summer working for a small theater company doing arts administration-type stuff. From there, I will travel to Paris in mid-September where I’m hoping to find some kind of au pair position, then on to Spain, Italy and Greece. I’ll be getting a student Eurail pass, so who knows where else I could end up on the way to these main destinations!

I’m still deep in the process of organizing all of this and getting tickets and such, but it’s coming along really well! I’ve been considering the possibility of taking a year to travel for a while and next year just felt like the right time. I’m one of those people who gets antsy when I stay in one place doing the same thing for too long. I need a big change in my life, so I am taking a leap of faith and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I’m terrified, obviously, but also ecstatic.

Making plans and doing research has been so much fun, but also so time consuming. However, I am a firm believer that no matter how crazy things get, you should always leave a chunk of time in your schedule for chocolate. In this case, chocolate, cinnamon and pear brownies. Trust me, these are 100% worth the procrastination.

Pear Cinnamon Brownies 

makes about 9 brownies

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup applesauce

2 tbsp water

2 tbsp canola oil

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup whole wheat flour

2/3 cup cocoa powder

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon
optional: 1 cup chocolate chips

1 pear, cored and sliced vertically

1. Preheat your oven to 350º and grease an 8x8 inch pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, applesauce, water, oil and vanilla. Stir in the flours, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon and chocolate chips (if you're using them. Unfortunately I couldn't due to the fact that my friends ate my whole bag during a study session the other night. Thanks, guys). 
3. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Place the pear slices on top in a pleasing arrangement and bake for about 45 minutes-1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before serving. Unless, like me, you enjoy eating them hot, gooey and messy :)

I brought these as a treat for the performers in the dance I'm choreographing- the pan was clean within minutes :)

I'll keep you updated on the progress of my travel plans! Let me know if any of you experienced travelers have any handy tips, tricks or resources I should know about!