Chocolate Zucchini Cake

This is hands-down one of the BEST chocolate cakes I have ever eaten! Don't let the zucchini scare you-- it makes the cake super moist and delicious! Next time I make this, I will try and cut down on the fat by using applesauce instead of oil. FYI- this is my new birthday cake request!

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 3 cups grated zucchini
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips

(the batter will look really thick and chunky
until you add the zucchini.. then it will look like the below photo)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan. (I used a bundt pan- and always will from now on!!)
   
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add the eggs and oil, mix well. Fold in the chocolate chips and zucchini until they are evenly distributed. Pour into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. (If you are using a bundt pan, you need to add an extra 10 minutes- I cooked mine for 70 minutes and it was perfect.) Cool cake completely before frosting with your favorite frosting.

I made a vanilla frosting/glaze and sprinkled some powdered sugar on the top. I've made this cake twice so far and its been a big hit. TRY IT!!!!

**Revision 11-4-10** Here is the frosting/glaze recipe I used. (Any would do, but this was a pretty darn good one!)

• 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 1/2 Tbls milk
• 1 tsp butter
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

-Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the rest and stir until smooth. Drizzle over cake. Eat it all :)

Orange dreamcicle cookies

This is just the orange version of my favorite cakemix cookies.

Ingredients:
Orange cake mix (I've used lemon, strawberry and devils food cake also)
2 eggs
1 container of cool whip (i also used lite here and it turns out just fine) thawed


Mix all ingredients well and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.  Preheat oven to 350.  Make tablespoon sized balls and coat with powdered sugar.  Place on greased baking sheet and bake for 10-11 minutes.

Let cool and enjoy.  These are great to store in the freezer also - they stay nice and moist/chewy.

NOTE - orange zest can be added to this recipe, i just forgot this time.  Same thing with the lemon cake mix and lemon zest.  Delicious!