Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Mix together:

1 cup oil  (to make a low fat version, use 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup applesauce)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs

Mix well and add:
1/2 cup of cocoa
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vanilla

Stir in 2 cups of shredded zucchini.

Pour in a greased 9 x 13 pan.  Sprinkle chocolate chips on top if you want.

Bake at 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes.  Check that the top springs back with you touch it in the middle to make sure it is done.

Caramel Popcorn Balls (No Bake)

 Caramel Popcorn Balls

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Ingredients:

8-10 cups	Popped Popcorn
½ cup	Sugar
1½ cups	Brown Sugar
1 cup	Light Corn Syrup
1 cup	Water
2 tsp	White Vinegar
½ tsp	Salt
½ cup	Butter

Directions:

Combine sugar, syrup, water, vinegar and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir frequently. 

Once mixture begins to boil reduce to low heat and stir in butter until melted. 

Combine syrup and popcorn in a large bowl until popcorn is coated. 

Let cool and shape mixture into balls. Make about 12 balls.

No Bake Power Cookies

11/2 cups oats
1/2 cup whole raw almonds
1/4 cup flax seed

Blend in a food processor until smooth.  Place in a bowl and set aside.

In a microwave safe bowl put:

1/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
3 drops of orange oil or extract (optional)

Warm this mixture in the microwave.
Add to the dry mixture. Stir together well. Form them into 1" balls and put them on wax paper lined cookie sheets.
Freeze until firm (about an hour).

Store in a ziplock bag in the frig or the freezer.

Soccer Practice Bars

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup flour
1 cup Old Fashioned Oatmeal
1 cup chocolate chips

Icing:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. peanut butter
2 Tbsp. milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cream butter and sugar.
Add egg and peanut butter.  Mix well.
Stir in baking soda, salt, flour and oatmeal.
Press into a 9 x 13 baking pan.
Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top (add nuts if you want ;)   )
Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from oven and drizzle with icing.

Cool completely.  Cut into squares and serve.

Makes 24 squares.

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Ingredients:
      1 1/2 cups wheat flour
      1 cup sugar
      1 teaspoon baking soda
      1/2 teaspoon salt
      1 cup buttermilk
      1 egg
      1/4 cup oil
      1/2 cup brown sugar
      3 tsp cinnamon

Mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
Mix buttermilk, egg and oil.  Stir it into the flour mixture just enough to moisten the flour.
Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together.
Grease the bottom of a 9 x 5 bread loaf pan.
Pour half of the batter into the bottom of the pan.
Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top.
Carefully pour the other half of the batter on top of this.
Sprinkle the other half of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top.
Use a clean knife and cut through the batter to swirl the cinnamon and sugar mixture through the batter.  Be careful not to mix it too much.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the top comes out clean.
Cool for 10 minutes in the pan and then remove it.  Put it on a wire rack to finish cooling.

If you want to cover it with a glaze, mix 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons of milk together.  drizzle it over the loaf.

This recipe makes one loaf of quick bread.

Meatloaf Potato Bake

I experimented with new recipe on David the other day.  He loved it, so I'm posting it!  The measurements that I am posting are meant for two servings.

Potato part:
     Thinly slice two medium size potatoes.  Put them in a zip-locking quart-size bag.  Add:
      1 Tbsp. of olive oil
      1/2 tsp. salt
      1/4 tsp pepper
      1/4 tsp garlic powder
      1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese

Mix these in the bag by shaking it around until it all seems mixed.  Put them in the bottom of a 1 quart glass baking dish and pat them down so they create a smooth top.

Meatloaf part:
       1/2 pound lean ground beef
       1/2 tsp salt
       1/4 tsp pepper
       1/4 cup rolled oats
       1 egg

Mix all ingredients well.  Gently pat it on top of the potatoes and make sure you cover the entire area of the potatoes.  Bake for 1/2 hour at 350 degrees.  Let it sit for five minutes before you serve it.

Makes enough for 2 people.

Baked Zucchini Strips

Baked Zucchini Strips

This recipe was an experiment the other day and I think it turned our well enough to put on the blog.

Cut the zucchini in strips either round or elongated.  Depending on the size of the zucchini, I will cut it into sections that are about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long.

In a plastic closure bag (Ziplock), put it
      1/4 cup olive oil
      1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
      1/2 tsp salt
      dash of pepper
      1 Tbsp Salad Supreme Seasoning (McCormick)

Add the sliced zucchini and close the bag tightly.  Thoroughly mix the oil mixture and the zucchini.  Let it sit for 5 minutes.

Place the seasoned zucchini on a baking pan, close but not overlapping each other.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 7 minutes, turn the zucchini over and back for 5 more minutes.