Quite some years ago, my colleague Peaches and I went shopping late one Thursday evening. We walked past a wig store and Colombian brunette Peaches pointed at a blonde bob wig and said that she wanted to try it on just for some fun. So we walked in and fell under the spell of one of the best sales people in the business. I didn’t even want a wig but she sat us down and put wigs on our heads and before I knew it, I was walking out with a $400 wig with accessories.
What was my wig like? Well, I’m almost embarrassed to tell you (and no there aren’t any pictures 
) but it was pure Pamela Anderson. I know, and can you imagine that on me, Morticia Addams? I don’t know what I was thinking but I showed it to my then boyfriend, the guy before Mr NQN and he loved it, way too much I think. He beseeched me to wear it to a pool party that week at his boss’s mansion no less. I know, the guy must have been into career suicide…
I half heartedly agreed to do it, knowing that I really didn’t want to wear it and when he picked me up that evening, his face fell. “Oh, you’re not wearing the wig,” he said disappointed and sulking. He spent the rest of the night in a mood having felt jipped (this is the man who once overpaid for a loaf of bread and spent the rest of the day sulking and chiding himself for it) and when I got there I was so glad that I didn’t wear it. It was a very nice cocktail party and some of the fellow guests worked at my ad agency.
“I want to go soon” he said sullenly as his mood hadn’t lifted the whole night. I was not blonde and he was not happy.
Anyway, the blondie versus brownie debate continues. Some prefer the chocolatey goodness or a brownies whereas other like the sweetness of a blondie. Admittedly, I usually prefer brownies to blondies but I was tipped off to this recipe by Masterchef runner up Julia Taylor. We’re both keen bakers and one night we met up for a drink and she asked if I had tried any of Harry Eastwood’s recipes.
Harry is a woman who specialises in low fat and gluten free versions of traditionally high fat recipes and Julia had made a wedding cake recipe of hers that used carrot, zucchini and orange and no butter or oil at all. Harry also had a recipe for blondies with raspberries and white chocolate without any butter or oil and I set to make these one day.
Grating the butternut pumpkin (we call it pumpkin but the rest of the world calls it squash) on a fine Microplane would make a cursing sailor out of a church going madam and I was glad when the scale finally showed 250 grams. Apart from that little part, the rest was easy and I think you could do it the Jessica Seinfeld way and steam or cook the pumpkin and puree it and add it to the mix. It smelled wonderful baking in the oven and I could barely wait until I tried it. They were pumpkiny, that’s for certain although the texture was light. However, it didn’t taste low fat or diet at all, in fact it tasted quite rich and delicious, especially with the centre of blackberries and white chocolate. I’ll admit that at first, having not expected it, I had to be persuaded but after the first, the second and third were a cinch 
Back to the party and my sulking boyfriend’s request to leave. I was in the middle of a conversation and turned to him to say “Let’s not go straight away shall we? I’m actually having a good time tonight, and I don’t even need a blonde wig to have fun!” And then I turned to continue my conversation with a very intriguing stranger I had just met with deep brown eyes, a long, rangy frame and a ready smile. That my Dear Readers, was Mr NQN. See, you don’t need to be blonde or wear a blonde wig to have fun…
So tell me Dear Reader, do you think blondes have more fun (and what hair colour do you have )? And are you team brownie or team blondie (the food?) 
Please click to enlarge
P.S. There’s a little mention of me in the fabulous new Cleo magazine! I used to get into trouble at school for reading Cleo
P.P.S. It’s Wallpaper Wednesday so here’s a new wallpaper today, the bacon maple syrup ice cream! xxx
White Chocolate & Berry Blondies (Gluten Free, Low Fat)
Adapted from a recipe by Harry Eastwood from Red Velvet and Chocolate Heartache (best name ever for a book?)
- 250g/8.83 ozs finely grated butternut pumpkin
- 3 eggs
- 120g/4.24 ozs. caster or superfine sugar
- 100g/3.5 ozs ground almond
- 1/2 cup rice flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 150g fresh or frozen berries (I used blackberries)
- 100g/3.5 ozs. white chocolate, roughly chopped
- handful of flaked almonds
- Icing sugar (optional)
Grated butternut pumpkin
1. Line a 22 x 22 square brownie tin with parchment and preheat oven to 200c/400F. Finely grate the pumpkin using a fine Microplane grater-this takes a while and is tedious so get someone strong to do it.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add the eggs and sugar. Fit a whisk attachment and whip for 5 minutes until thick and pale and triple in size-Eastwood describes it as a “bouffant.”
3. Add the pumpkin and stir to mix well. Add rice flour, almond meal, baking powder and cinnamon and make sure it is well combined. Spread half of the mixture into the prepared tin and then scatter with the berries and white chocolate and then add the rest of the batter on top. Top with flaked almonds.
4. Bake for 30-35 minutes until a skewer inserted comes out clean-check in the centre that the centre is done and not liquidy. Cool in tin for 30 minutes (it’s quite delicate and light) and then cut into squares and serve with icing sugar.
Vintage plate/ cake stand from Valentina’s Vintage Cake Stands
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67 Comments | Add your own
Those must be delicious. Perfect if you want to indulge without feeling guilty.
Cheers,
Rosa
Team brownie all the way!
[Mostly brown hair, sometimes red, other times black]
I love brownies and blondies – I think heaven is one of each, frankly
. These are lovely, I like the white chocolate and berries!
I love that you met your husband while on a date with a dud =)
And those look delicious– I wonder if mashed cooked squash would work as a substitute for the raw grated… I suppose it wouldn’t have all of its moisture, but it would probably still be good (and easier). I’m just wondering because I currently have some leftover cooked pumpkin…
I once went to a party as a brunette. People who knew me didn’t recognise me! The good thing about that party though is that it was fancy dress and there were many of us in wigs. You were quite right not to wear it to that party and I’m so pleased you ditched the sulking boyfriend. The night turned out to be a huge success for you – certainly in the long term. Congrats on being featured in Cleo xx
Mmmm, tasty and low fat – win, win! I will take brownies usually – I like my dark chocolate. I don’t think blondes have more fun.
I’m a brunette and firmly believe that my team brownie and the brunettes have all the fun they can stand! I can’t believe you don’t have a photo of you in the blond wig. Probably a bit like me in the cheongsam that I just have to have when I was in my twenties.
You and Mr NQN are much too cute my friend, who needs to be a blonde! Imagine today if you had worn Pamela’s wig that day
LOVE these blondies though, no objection from my own purple-raven locks
Can’t believe they are so healthy!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Too dangerous too be reading before breakfast Lorraine! You’re just like that wig salesgirl, I’m getting convinced that pumpkin is good for me even combined with sweet sweet chocolate, and I could whip these up in 15 minutes, and because they’re gluten free they must be a sign!
I started off a natural blonde, slowly turned brown, and am now a very UN natural red.i like too keep my options open
PS. Lucky your ex was being a twit, imagine if he’s been nice and you hadn’t given MrNQN a second look!!!
Having made both in the last couple of weeks I’m totally undecided. I think brownies are better for a dessert-type occasion and blondies go well for picnics and afternoon tea. I’ll take either any time though!
Awww such a sweet ending to the story!
I’ve been every shade of hair (blonde, blue black, dark purple, red, brunette, pink highlights, blue highlights…) but after all that I prefer my semi-natural dark brown
Not being a fan of white chocolate, I’m definitely a brownie fan, but ‘low fat’ sounds good!
I’m a brunette and that’s how its going to stay!! Blonde would just look wrong on me, lol!
As for the brownie/blondie debate… I don’t think you can go past a brownie… mmm… brownie. These do look very yummy though so maybe I will have to give the blondie a go.
team brownie all the way! gluton free food is better for you so technically gluton free brownies are healthier right? =P
That’s such a sweet story Lorriane…:D I would love to know how you and Mr NQN got together.
I am making those blondies. Yummmmmmmmm……
You lost me at ‘grate the pumpkin on a fine microplane’
BROWNIES WITH RASPBERRIES FOR THE WIN!
Oh I love a good romance story! I can’t believe you met Mr NQN at that very party! Brilliant! Oh….and the brownies look good too!
NQN, not sure if anyone else is having a problem, but I’m not getting all your photo’s, my name/email details aren’t generating in the Post a Comment section and I’m now being asked every time I log onto NQN for password and username? I’ve checked my computer and it’s not happening with anything else….just thought I would mention it….
Wow what a hilarious ‘finding Mr Right’ story!
I have to admit I’ve never tried gluten free/low fat dessert. Does it taste just as nice? I’ve not really enjoyed things like skim milk or low fat yoghurt in the past… hehe
These sound delicious but I don’t know if I’d have the patience to grate the pumpkin!
That’s such a funny story about the Blonde wig and wow you spent $400 on a wig! Have you ever worn it? hehe
But this story has such a nice ending because that’s where you met Mr NQN yay!
You met Julia in person too woo hoo
She’s such a fantastic baker ~ I’ve never made low-fat desserts or baked any cakes without oil or butter. But I really should try, because summers coming soon and I’m getting so so so pudgy! LOL
Hmmmm brownies or blondies… can I have both? Brodies? HAHAHA i dunno can’t choose
OMGosh, how romantic!
These brownies look delicious, and I’ve actually been on the look out for a good gluten-free dessert.
These look wonderful, those I am on the brownie team at heart. Definitely, brunettes have their share of fun–definitely. I am so sorry not to be able to see you in the wig, it rather reminds me of me having to have a cheongsam when I was in my twenties.
Lorraine, I love this recipe and your back story – hilarious!! My colleagues and I have recently been looking at wigs for our Christmas party this year – which is fancy dress. I’m not sold on the idea yet!!! Beautiful styling and photos in your post – I love your Limoges tea cup, gorgeous!!!
Well these look incredible and great story! You always make me laugh…
I like both depending on my mood, I’d love a bite of these right now! Glad you dumped the first guy, mr NQN sounds do much nicer!
Love the addition of berries and white chocolate, and the sweet story of meeting Mr. NQN. xoxo Mum
yum yum yum my sort of recipe! too funny, blond wig!
Is it a cliche? I mean, everybody knows that blondes have more fun, and there is another one that says that blodes are not so smart. I don’t want to offend blodes, but that’s what everybody says, more in a place that real blodes are not common.
I have a recipe of blondies with raspberries and white chocolate, my husband loves it.
I am naturally blonde. But have swung between hair colours over the years. Still think that blondes have more fun.
I have to say that I prefer a brownie over a blondie any day though the addition of pumpkin might be something I would try.
Congrats on being featured in Cleo.
Yummy Lorraine!
TEAM BROWNIE all the way, TRUE!
Have been blonde and caused A LOT of unwarranted attention too!
But getting back to food, brownies always put my in a better mood too!
Congrats on the article! Well done! WHOO HOO!
I am blonde….always have been…and I have always had a lot of fun.
Darn it, I would have loved to see a pic of you in that blonde wig, Lorraine! Haha!
Awwwww, I loved reading about how you met Mr NQN.
Thank you for the gluten free recipe.
I gotta say! I’m team blondie for sure!! Brownies are a once in a while thing for me. Don’t get me wrong! I do love chocolate but I find most brownies being overly chocolate-y! haha..
These blondies are gorgeous!!
So that’s how you met your tall dark Mr!
I like the sounds of this, sneaky vegetables are always a good thing.
I once wore a black afro wig to a party…that was oodles of fun
These look unbelievably indulgent—I love it!!
I once died my hair blonde and Dave refused to come in to the house! I am a dyed by hand red head normally
I would love to try these but sadly gluten free and sugar free just don’t seem to work 
Aw.. I love your story and the recipe for these delicious bars. gf and low fat are just bonus.
Butternut squash, cinnamon and white chocolate sounds like a delicious combination. Who knew you could make blondies so healthy?!
Oooooh I loved the end of this post, romantic that I am. I am a blonde but have a definite preference for brownies (although I do make blondies sometimes) and I died my hair dark brown at Uni one year and actually had just as much fun as a brunette!
Lush! Thank you, I will definitely be making them this weekend.
Long standing brunette here, however I did go platinum (as a bet) in my 20′s to see if I could get more dates. It worked immediately, and just goes to show that some people just have a type
x Steph
Those blondies look divine! I have yet to try a blondie though… But I do absolutely love a nice fudgy brownie slice
And aw, what a sweet story about how you met Mr NQN!
Saved! Looks like it would make a great torte maybe with a dollop of fresh cream, yum yum.
Usually prefer brownies b/c they tend to be less sweet but these I will definitely try.
What a wacky old boyfriend – didn’t appreciate what he had in the first place, good riddance!
Oh such a cute story! I’m glad it had a happy ending.
PS congrats on the inclusion in Cleo!!
I do love steaming squash. You are a champion to grate it. I never knew about steaming till I read it in a recipe by Pichet Ong… it rocked my world and made a great dessert, silky smooth. Love the idea for this cake. What can go wrong with white chocolate??
You had me at low fat! Was a red head, now a blondish redish mixture…….
In regard to edibles, I love a good blondie or brownie
Wow looks like a great recipe. Blondies can be soo sickly. I will have to try these……Blonde really?
these sounds splendid! I am on the brownie side of the brownie blondie divide but with pumpkin I can be persuaded otherwise.
I love your blondie storie – do you ever wonder what might have happened if you had worn the blonde wig and Mr NQN was not interested – it could have been your sliding doors moment!
Oh Lorraine, how that brought back memories of a short wavy ash brown wig I bought in the 60′s and used to wear at my evening job in a dance hall… My own hair was long, straight and Mahogany Red!! It was my disguise and worked well.
The above recipe looks delish, definitely on my ‘must make’ list. Thanks for always having a funny story of your interesting life to share and how you met Mr NQN…
Waw! Georgously looking tasty blondies! But I am a brownie girl: forever!
Thye do look smashing though! 
xxx
I love the story of how you met your Mr NQN!
Great recipe but even better story. That boy you were seeing before Mr NQN sounds rather a (blonde-obsessed) grump. I’d say you’re much better off with a friendly, cheery chap!
I’m a blonde and while I adore brownies, I recently tried a super tasty blondie at the Qantas club. I had to go back for seconds and thirds. I think I may be turning – and yours, with pumpkin (which we use to make donuts!) sound super good!
Well wouldn’t you know I just bought a pumpkin and I’m REALLY into healthy gluten free recipes, although I’m not 100% convinced with the whole pumpkin and white chocolate thing being more of a brownie fan. I’ll have to try it and I’ll definitely be googling Harry Eastwood thanks for this post
I’m team brownies for sure! But wouldn’t reject those blondies, if offered
LOL Lorraine…I LOVE the story of the wig shop and meeting Mr NQN at that pool party. I’m a blonde (as you know
but have often lusted after a dark bob wig a la Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction. Wigs are great fun. I once wore a red bob wig to a party and loved it so much I dyed my hair red for a while. As far as brownies go, i love Dark chocolate brownies…but these blondies are intriguing…I must give them a go! 
PS LOVE the vintage cake stand Valentina!
xx
I love your stories. I really do. I think you’d look rather chic in a blond wig (if it was obviously a wig, know what I mean?). I am brunette all the way as in no blonds do not have more fun! And given the choice I always choose brownie. And only a blondie if it has chocolate chips. Yours do look divine.
Yum. Could you replace the tedious grating with fine chopping in a Thermomix?
I was white blonde until my 20s – which made me a freak on my exchange to Japan and the focus of much touching. I turned dirty Australian blonde until my early 40s – my hairdresser’s description! Now, at 3 days off 47 I am a mixture of natural colors – grey, blonde (clean and dirty!) and odd little auburn sections. People pay good money for streaking like this!
HI Ellen-I think you could replace it with very, very fine chopping or just steaming and pureeing too
Now I really want to see your hair! 
great recipe! i recently transitioned from loving brownies to preferring blondies, even though i have auburn hair.
I love pumpkin pie so I think these would be a winner although generally chocolate will win out everytime
Great story about meeting Mr NQN
I do love me some brownies but these could sway me
I’ve never used raw pumpkin in baked goods but it would have to be faster than cooking & mashing it first.
Great gluten free recipe. I love the addition of pumpkin – this would add so much moisture to the blondies!
I’m going to have to say Brownie, but given the choice I would have one of each everytime. What a fabulous story, I think things worked out for the best in the end
Yum yum and yum! I’m making these on Friday to take with me to work on Saturday…hopefully it’ll gain a certain somebody’s attention *wink*. I’m going to be using frozen raspberries though. Q: Do they need to be defrosted first or OK to use frozen?
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