When I’m not writing, I like to have fun in the kitchen. Sometimes these two passions collide. Below are my versions of recipes mentioned and enjoyed by characters in my books, as well as my family and friends.
Pastor Dan’s Chocolate Brownies
In Invisible Defense, Pastor Dan uses tainted brownies to illustrate how God sees even a little sin in our lives. Here is the recipe, minus the tainting.
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2/3 cup avocado oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- Basic packaged brownie mix
- 2 tablespoons ground flax
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
In medium bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in the cocoa powder, flax and brownie mix until well blended. Fold in the walnuts and chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes in a greased 13″x9″ pan. Cool in pan before cutting. They freeze well, so you always have a brownie ready to eat!
Sally Jean’s Spicy Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
In Expunged, Gloria Maldoon recalls that her fondest memories of her mother, Sally Jean McPherson, were the times spent with her in the kitchen.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Pinch of sea salt
- 2 tablespoons ground flax
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup dried cranberries
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and flax. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Slowly add the flour mixture until well combined. Stir in the oats, walnuts and cranberries. Drop by rounded tablespoons of dough on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Flatten in a crisscross pattern with a fork. Bake at 300 degrees for 18 to 22 minutes or until they are browned on the edges. This makes about 4 dozen cookies, but you can freeze the cookies in the dough stage so you can bake them up just a few at a time.
Gloria’s Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Pastor Dan discovered in Expunged why Joey Maldoon thought his mom’s pancakes were the best ever.
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons almond flour
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup or so chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup or so dark chocolate chips
In a two-quart measuring cup, sour the milk with the lemon juice. In a small bowl, whisk together the flours, flax, sugar, cinnamon and baking powder. Whisk the oil, vanilla and egg into the milk. Stir in the dry ingredients. Add the walnuts and chocolate chips. Cook on a hot griddle. Leftover pancakes can be frozen and reheated in the toaster. Top with peanut butter and sliced bananas for a great snack.
Joey’s Cheesy Scrambled Eggs
In Expunged, Joey Maldoon’s first breakfast after returning home featured his favorite way to eat scrambled eggs.
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons cottage cheese
- 2 tablespoons salsa verde
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1/4 cup Italian style blend shredded cheese
- 4 black olives, sliced
Whisk together the eggs, cottage cheese and salsa verde. Heat the oil in a medium skillet. Scramble the egg mixture until soft set. Top with shredded cheese and cook until cheese is melted. Separate into two portions and top with black olives.
Stephen Pierce 