Guys! I had my first celebrity sighting the other day. I was at brunch with a friend the other day, having a grand ol’ time. As we were chatting, the family in the booth directly behind me stands up to put on their coats (and hats, scarves, mittens…it’s cold where we live!) and leave. Kathleen sort of stares at the husband (who is standing to my left and slightly behind me, just out of my line of vision) and says very quietly, “You know, that guy kind of looks like that Sandwich King guy from the Food Network. Sounds like him, too.”
I didn’t want to be obnoxiously creepy and turn around to stare, so as I was able I snuck a peek at him, thinking she was probably a bit crazy.
“You know…he does look just like him…”
At that moment, the Possible Sandwich King waves to the kitchen staff, and says goodbye to each of the hosts as he leaves.
“Kat…I think that was him.”
“Google image search his family. I was looking at the wife and son over your shoulder for most of the last hour. If I saw a picture, I could totally tell you if it was them or not.”
*Commence Google creeping. Find picture of Sandwich King’s wife and son on his website.*
“Was this them?”
“Yes. Yes, that was absolutely them. Stephie, WE WERE JUST SITTING NEXT TO A FOOD NETWORK STAR.”
It totally figures that my first celebrity sighting would be someone in the food industry.
Relatedly, I am now going to creep on that diner, since he seemed to be a regular customer.
Just kidding. Sort of.
Unrelated: I made you some Peppermint Black Bean Brownies. Yes, you read that correctly: brownies made with black beans. I promise you that they don’t taste at all like beans, and that they are awesomely gluten-free and will rock your Christmas socks off.
Adapted from The Roasted Root, ganache adapted from Savory Sweet Life
Peppermint Black Bean Brownies
Ingredients
For the brownies:
- 1 can 14 ounces black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup Dutch process cocoa powder
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon coffee grinds
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
For the ganache:
- 6 ounces baking chocolate chopped into small pieces
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Crushed candy canes or peppermint candies
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper; set aside.
- Place all brownie ingredients except chocolate chips in a blender. Blend until smooth, and then fold the chocolate chips into the batter. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes until brownies are set up and a toothpick tests clean. (Baking times vary based on your oven. Start checking your brownies at 20 minutes and add about 5 minutes at a time as needed until done.)
- Allow brownies to cool while you prepare the ganache.
Make the ganache:
- Place the chocolate pieces in a large bowl; set aside.
- Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until it starts to bubble. Remove the cream from the heat and immediately pour into the bowl with the chocolate, stirring until completely melted, mixed, and glossy. Allow to cool for a few minutes until just thick enough to spread. (The longer the ganache cools, the thicker it will become.)
- Using a knife or offset spatula, spread the ganache over the brownies. Depending on how thick you want the ganache to be, you may have some extra ganache leftover. Sprinkle with the crushed peppermint candies.
- Place the pan of brownies in the refrigerator to allow the ganache to fully cool and set. Remove from fridge and cut into 16 bars. Store leftover brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
On two occasions, I had celebrity “sightings” in NYC and in L.A. On both occasions, I was walking with friends, who were all, “there’s such and such!” and I was like, “I don’t know who that is.” So who knows how many actual sightings I’ve had, considering I don’t know ’em when I see ’em! Anyway, I’d be AMPED about seeing a Food Network celebrity over an actor/singer any day. Pretty cool! Okay, I’m going to go take a gander at these peppermint brownies. Only geniuses make brownies out of black beans, so I’ve got to check this out 😉
I have always had this theory that if I saw someone famous, I would either not know who they were (like you), or I would just be like, “Oh, that lady looks a lot like Oprah! Lalaladeedooo…” The only reason either of us was able to determine that this was indeed Jeff Mauro was his voice. If I hadn’t heard him speak, I would have just thought, “huh! Looks like the Sandwich King…”
Maaaaaany years ago, while at a baseball game, my friend and I were just sitting in the bleachers talking to these scroungy, leather-clad, men. Nice enough. And then all of a sudden a ton of people came over asking for their autographs. Ya, um. Turns out we had been talking to Metallica for 2 hours. Didn’t even know it. They were sitting in the cheap seats to avoid being spotted.
Also? I love that you put black beans in brownies. (So sayeth the gal who puts chickpeas in cookies.)
Haha!! That is the greatest story ever.
Ha, I love this. It’s so hard to sneak peeks without looking conspicuous, I’ve tried so many times and failed!! Sounds like you got away with it though (unless he follows your blog, bwahaaa, that’s an interesting thought!). Loving the sound of this recipe, despite some hesitation at the black beans. I’m yet to be convinced by the chocolate black bean combo but if anyone can convince me, it’d be you Stephie! Wishing you and your lovely family a very merry Christmas!!! xxx
Laura, I was skeptical, too, but she made them here at my house and I had to suffer by trying them. 🙂 They are delicious! You truly would have no idea that they had black beans in them. Plus, with the beans, it’s pretty dang easy to convince myself that I’m having a hardy lunch when I eat the pan of them. Oh. I mean…when I eat one of them. 🙂
Haha, my friend was like, “We should have told him you have a blog!!” Talk about a way to make me turn red quickly….
I hope you had a very merry Christmas, too!! xoxo
So jelly! I have yet to get a legit celebrity sighting in my life. Maybe I need to make and eat all these brownies and then it will happen for me. Yes. Good plan.
OBVIOUSLY you just need to come visit me more often, since I apparently live just around the corner from this dude (yes, there may have been some major retroactive internet creeping happening after said sighting….)
I have a friend stationed near Savannah and every time she goes into the city she runs into Paula Deen. Every. single. time. They are totally on a first name basis. I think once you see them, and you’re aware they’re around, you are almost guaranteed to run into them again. Good luck! And Merry Christmas! 🙂
I sure wouldn’t mind being on a first-name basis with Paula.
I hope you had a merry Christmas, too!
I seriously need to make brownies with black beans. They are my favorite kind of bean. Oh my, I probably would have went all giddy and stalker-like if I saw the Sammie King in person.
I was so surprised by how well they turned out! Aaaand now that I know I live near him and he seems to frequent this place….I’m gonna live there.
Kidding.
Sort of.
ooooh how cool, congrats on your first sighting!
and also um CONGRATS ON MAKING OUTRAGEOUS BROWNIES THAT LOOK DECADENT AND DELISH BUT ARE ALSO LIKE HAVE BLACK BEANS IN EM? whaaa?!