Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting(WW=2pts)

Updated 2/28/11:  I have not updated the points to see what they are for the PointsPlus program.  I'm going to play with this recipe anyways.  I'm not very fond of the artificial sweetener after taste since I've cut way back on them.  But please feel free to post your own findings!

 

Don't be intimidated by the surprise ingredient, I promise, you won't taste them! Red Kidney Beans. Yep, beans. I have made black bean brownies before, the first time was nasty, but like with a lot of substitution cooking, you need to play around. These not only looked pretty, but they tasted wonderful, even frozen. Makes 32 2pt. brownies.

1 can dark red kidney beans(3)
1 1lb. 2.3oz. box Brownie Mix(61)
2 Tbl. Cocoa Powder
1 1oz. bottle red food dye
water

Preheat oven to 350'. Spray bottom only of a 9x13" pan. Rinse and drain beans well. Rinse can. Return rinsed beans to can, fill can with water to within 1/2 inch of top of can. Pour into blender and blend WELL, and then blend again, really well! You shouldn't see any grains or skins. Blend dye in with bean mixture. Poor brownie mix and cocoa into large bowl and add bean and dye mixture and mix well. Poor baking pan and bake on bottom rack of oven for 24-26 minutes. Allow to cool completely and then flip onto a cutting board and freeze for about an hour. They will be flat, but shouldn't be dry. You can also substitute the beans and water for a can of pumpkin(2pts.). It won't change the point value but pumpkin tends to make fluffier brownies than the beans. You can also use a lower fat box of brownie mix and probably cut each brownie point down to 1.

Cream Cheese Frosting(0)

1 tub of fat free whipped cream(such as Cool-Whip)(7.5)
1 small 9oz. tub of fat free cream cheese(4.5)
1 small package sugar-free fat-free vanilla or cheesecake flavored pudding mix(2)
1 tsp. vanilla(0)
1/4 cup Splenda Granular(.5)
Beat the frosting ingredients well, until smooth consistency. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Entire recipe points value 15. Only use HALF of this to spread brownie bars with. Makes 64 servings, at 0 points each!

Spread HALF of the Cream Cheese Frosting mixture on brownies. Slice into 32 servings. 2 points each.