In Greek orthodox religion Mary mother of Jesus plays a very important role and is worshiped with great honors. According to several written sources, Mary learned from God that she was going to die and thus went to the Mount of Olives which was located east of the old city of Jerusalem in order to pray and prepare.
From there she messaged the disciples of Jesus to be ready for the coming event. Nevertheless, because some of them during her death were not close to Jerusalem it is said that a cloud transported them close to her.
Mary was buried in Gethsemane, a garden at the foothills of the Mount of Olives, ten years after her son’s death. Three days after her death the tomb was found empty and orthodox religion claims that her body too ascended to God.
Every year Greek orthodox church celebrates her Ascension on August 15th with big festivities all over Greece. This date is a national holiday and before that there is a 14-day lent as strict as fasting even the olive oil. Not many people follow this as it is in the middle of summer holidays and if you can’t eat during holidays, when can you?
Nevertheless, I have couple of friends who follow this and for them I made this delicious brownie completely vegan and utterly delicious. It is also extremely easy something that makes it attractive even to those of us who do not fast.
It is soft, sort of fudge textured and it is loaded with chocolate flavor. You can improvise and dress it with whipped cream (if not vegan) or put some marmalade on top or chocolate ganache or white chocolate ganache or just a dollop of ice cream now that it is summer. It is the perfect base for so many variations and it is perfect also as it is, plain and simple.
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ¾ cup sugar
- 6 tbsp cocoa powder
- ½ tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup water
- 2 tbsp corn or sesame oil
- ½ cup almond milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate flakes
- Preheat oven to 175° C / 350° F.
- In a bowl, mix everything except the chocolate flakes.
- Grease a brownie pan and pour half of the batter.
- Scatter the chocolate flakes keeping some of them to garnish on top.
- Pour the rest of the batter and bake for about 25 minutes.
- Remove, let it cool a bit and scatter the chocolate flakes you reserved.
- Serve with a dollop of ice cream or with some strawberry marmalade.
- 1 φλ. αλεύρι για όλες τις χρήσεις
- ¾ φλ. ζάχαρη
- 6 κ.σ. κακάο σε σκόνη
- ½ κ.γ. μπέικιν πάουντερ
- 1 πρέζα αλάτι
- ½ φλ. νερό
- 2 κ.σ. καλαμποκέλαιο ή σησαμέλαιο
- ½ φλ. γάλα αμυγδάλου
- 1 κ.γ. εκχύλισμα βανίλιας
- 1 φλ. νιφάδες σοκολάτας
- Προθερμαίνετε το φούρνο στους 175° C.
- Σε ένα μπολ ανακατέψτε τα πάντα εκτός από τις νιφάδες σοκολάτας.
- Λαδώστε ένα ταψί 24cmX24cm και ρίξτε το μισό από το μείγμα.
- Απλώστε τις νιφάδες σοκολάτας, κρατώντας μερικές από αυτές για να γαρνίρετε από πάνω.
- Ρίξτε το υπόλοιπο από το μείγμα και ψήστε για περίπου 25 λεπτά.
- Αφαιρέστε, αφήστε το να κρυώσει λίγο και σκορπίστε τις νιφάδες σοκολάτας που κρατήσατε.
- Σερβίρετε με παγωτό ή με μαρμελάδα φράουλα.
