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!

Eggplant Parmesan

I saw an eggplant in the supermarket and thought, hmmm why not make some eggplant parmesan, I haven't had that in a long time! So I found this semi healthier recipe online, and tweeked it a little because I only used one eggplant.
I followed some reviewers tips to cup the eggplant, and sweat out some bitterness by salting it with coarse salt for 30 minutes and letting it sit (on some paper towels), then rinsing and drying them, and then you can start the recipe.



It was soo tasty. I put it over some penne pasta with a little extra spaghetti sauce.

Southwest Turkey Burgers

2 lbs ground turkey

2 T. minced garlic

1/2 t. ginger

1 can diced green chilies (4oz)

1/2 fresh cilantro, finely chopped

1 t. salt

1/4 c soy sauce

1 t. fresh ground pepper

3 T. paprika

1 T. ground dry mustard

1 T. ground cumin

Mix all ingredients well and form into about 8 burger patties. Cook on the grill or in a pan.

I garnished mine with shredded cheese and cilantro guacamole (Avocado, lemon juice, cumin, fresh chopped cilantro, garlic and onion powder and salt- all to taste). Then I served with a side of sauteed zucchini squash and broccoli. mm-mmm-mmmm good!!!!! Patties freeze well!

Enjoy this delectable burger, cilantro lovers!

May theme

someone cook something already!  I need ideas and new recipes to try!!!!!!   

Lets start a theme - for the rest of May - SALAD month.      Post your favorite salad - pasta, green, vegetable, fruit, whatever, just post it so I can cook something. 

:)

Soft Molasses Cookies (aka, the best cookies you will ever eat!)

I literally could not stop shoving these cookies in my mouth- they are pretty much the best thing I have ever tasted!!!!

2 1/4 c. flour
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 c. margarine
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 Tbls orange juice
1/4 c. molasses

-Cream margarine and sugar together in mixer. Add egg, orange juice, and molasses and mix well.
- Stir in dry ingredients. Chill for about 1/2 hour. (I chilled mine overnight)
-Shape into balls, roll in sugar, and flatten.
-Bake 8-10 min on 350 degrees. Let cool on pan before moving to cookie racks.

enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!!!!!!!

Roma tomato bruchetta

This was as good as some of the bruchetta we tasted in Italy.  Seriously.  It was great!

Ingredients:

crusty italian style bread (i used a fresh loaf of olive oil bread)

Olive oil

4 or 5 ripe roma tomatoes

3 large leaves of basil

1/2 clove of garlic, fresh - crushed then minced as small as you can get it

Slice bread and dip one side lightly in olive oil.  Place oil side up on baking tray (I had parchment paper on my tray, but you could use foil also) and bake for 5 or 6 minutes at 350 degrees. 

While bread is warming, cut tomatoes into small pieces and place in bowl.  Take garlic clove, crush and mince the amount desired.  I used just half because it was a giant clove.  Wash and chop the 3 basil leaves.  Mix all three ingredients in bowl.  drizzle 1-2 teaspoons of oil to help blend flavors. 

At this time, the bread may be done.  Spoon small amount of tomato mixture onto warm bread and serve/eat. 

It is so fresh and reminds me of the bruchetta we had at Tiber campsite restaurant (which was the most delicious in my opinion.)

:)