Flourless Chocolate Cake with Black Beans

Canned pumpkin and black beans in a chocolate cake??? Try it and see how yummy it is. AND you can't taste the beans.
Tastes & Treasures cookbook also has several recipes for Chocolate Cake.

Flourless Chocolate Cake


Ingredients: 

One 15-oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 

1/2 cup (about 4 large) egg whites 

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce 

1/3 cup canned pure pumpkin 

1/4 cup Truvia spoonable calorie-free sweetener (or another no-calorie granulated sweetener 

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 

1 tsp. vanilla extract 

1/4 tsp. salt 

3 tbsp. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips 


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9" round cake pan with foil, and generously spray with nonstick spray. 


Place all ingredients except chocolate chips in a food processor. Puree until completely smooth and uniform. 

Fold in 1 tbsp. chocolate chips. 


Spread mixture into the baking pan, and smooth out the top. 

Evenly top with remaining 2 tbsp. chocolate chips, and lightly press into the batter. 


Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean, 35 - 40 minutes. 

Let cool completely, about 1 hour. 

Refrigerate leftovers. (This cake tastes great chilled.) 


MAKES 8 SERVINGS
Thanks to Hungry Girl for recipe.

March guest speaker - Jan Cleere

Legacies of the Past: Arizona Women Who Made History, by author and historian Jan Cleere
12:15-1:00 pm on March 7, 2016.

AZ Heritage Center at Papago Park, 1300 N. College Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281

www.HistoricalLeague.org    Free parking at the museum

At the League’s regular monthly membership meeting, Jan Cleere will provide an inspiring reflection on the history of Arizona told through the lives of strong, innovative, independent women from her book: LEVI’S and LACE. The book celebrates some of the amazing stories of over thirty heroic women who were known for their fortitude in the face of adversity, their confrontation of extraordinary and sometimes dangerous situations, their adventuresome spirit, and their dedication to improving the lives of others. Jan writes about the people, legends and tales of the Old West that she has uncovered among tattered documents, tear-stained journals and diaries, and the accounts told by old-timers.
If you are interested in attending please contact Dee Steen.

Delightful Journey by Barry Goldwater raises funds for National History Day

Evening Under the Stars at the David Wright house April 9 is a big fundraising event for the Historical League supporting National History Day. www.NHDAZ.org 

For the Silent Auction we received this Barry Goldwater book that was created from his journals while rafting the Green and Colorado Rivers in 1940. The 1,463-mile journey was in a small wooden boat. The cloth covered autographed book about his adventure is filled with AMAZING photos
that he took and his stories.


Thinking I will just take a few glances at the photos, I find myself reading every entry. It's like I was traveling with him . . . getting soaked in the rain, shooting the rapids, sleeping under the stars, discovering remains of old smashed boats. He was a great storyteller.

The Silent Auction raises funds for National History Day and we are eager to help those students and teachers accomplish their goals of making the National Competition in Washington D.C.

Easy Appetizer

Served at a lovely party, this is an easy and attractive appetizer - to make and to serve.

Ingredients:
Grape tomatoes cut in 1/2
Green olives cut in 1/2
Colby jack cheese cut in cubes
Long toothpicks

Directions:

Kelley created the lovely plate

Simply cut, spear with toothpick, serve on pretty platter and soak up the compliments.

Check Tastes & Treasures cookbook for more appetizer ideas.

Save the Date for Spring Event at historic David Wright house

In 1950, Frank Lloyd Wright designed a home for his son David and daughter-in-law Gladys on 10 acres in the middle of citrus groves at the base of Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona. The design elevated the home in the form of a spiral rising from the desert floor, converting the treetops into the lawn and revealing 360° views of the mountains forming the valley. Mr. Wright title of the plans “How to Live in the Southwest.” Completed in 1952, the David Wright House is one of three spiral designs realized by Mr. Wright and the precursor to the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The house is regarded as Mr. Wright’s last residential masterpiece.

We are excited to support National History Day (www.NHD.org) with this Spring Event.

NHD is a non-profit education organization that engages over half a million middle- and high-school students around the world annually in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. These projects are entered into contests at the local and affiliate levels, where the top student projects can advance to the National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park.

The idea was the brainchild of history professor David Van Tassel, who was worried about the decline of the humanities in general and history in particular in America’s schools in 1974. Van Tassel was particularly distressed by the boring rote memorization he saw in most history classrooms.  He wanted to reinvigorate the teaching and learning of history.

He employed a contest format to motivate students to study the past—and engage in the art of historical inquiry. Van Tassel didn’t want a history-light spelling bee, instead he wanted students to ask provocative questions, conduct research, and analyze information to draw conclusions. He called it “History Day.” The name stuck, but the day turned into a year-long educational experience.

Today NHD contestants become writers, filmmakers, playwrights, web designers, and artists as they create unique, contemporary expressions of history.  National History Day is a learning adventure that teaches critical thinking, writing and research skills and boosts performance across all subjects – not just history.  To facilitate this, NHD provides a framework and curriculum materials for teachers and guidance for students.