Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Ahhhhhh….don’t you just love having to eat your vegetables?

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The original recipe called this “Bread.” Let’s be serious guys—this ain’t bread. Bread is lovely but it tries to behave itself. This little number is moist, chocolaty and positively wicked–with no shame whatsoever.

Cake I tell you…cake.

Ingredients

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 softened butter
3 cups grated zucchini
3/4 cup chocolate chips

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Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add the eggs and butter, mix well. Fold in the 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. Cool cake completely before frosting with your favorite frosting.

Now then—tell me again. How many servings of veggies are we suppose to have each and every day? I want to be sure to get them all in.

Heh, heh, heh.


Chocolate Zucchini Cake
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 eggs
  • 1½ cups softened butter
  • 3 cups grated zucchini
  • ¾ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add the eggs and butter, mix well. Fold in the 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. Cool cake completely before frosting with your favorite frosting.

 

Rumpelstiltskin

There’s a magic feeling about…

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pretty colored string.

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a pile of it…

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a spool of it…

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or a carton of it.

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Doesn’t really matter because it’s always the same with ambitious stuff like string.

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It wants to do more than sit on the shelf or on the spool or in the box.

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It wants to BE something…

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or a lot of somethings.

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Either way—I like to believe it’s the wish of all miller’s straw…

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to be spun into gold.

Simple. Fancy. Frames.

Framessss

Simple? Fancy?

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Simple? Fancy? Sounds like somebody needs to pick a lane here.

But wait.

Frames (7)

You start with some pretty simple stuff…like basic, blank, boring wooden frames.

Frames (8)

Choose some scrapbook paper that you really like.

Frames

Find scissors and dig out the Mod Podge.

Frames (1)

You can trace around the frame if that floats your boat…

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or you can just cut out enough to fit the frame, generally. Either way.

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Paint on the Mod Podge. Have you noticed that it’s actually so much more fun to say, “Modge Podge?” I try very hard to say it just like that whenever the Bald Kid is around. It makes his eye twitch. That’s the goal.

frames again (2)

Even out the gluey stuff. Press the paper onto the sticky surface–right side up…of course. Smooth it out so that there are no bubbles under the paper. We used the end of the paintbrush and a baking scrapper… but you could use a bone folder if you’re really prepared. Now this is important—be sure to let the glue dry.

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Poke a hole in the middle and cut out the excess paper.

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Cut just a bit closer to the frame than silly Lyndi…keep cutting you nut!

Frames (5)

Now, take a file or emery board and sand the edges. It will cut the excess paper off in the process. If your paper and glue isn’t dry you run the risk of tearing the paper with the file. So again–be sure it’s all dry before you sand it.

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Keep going.

framess (1)

Make sure to get all the edges…

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inside and out.

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Top coat it with another dose of “Modge Podge”… ha ha. There are eyes twitching behind me. Heh.

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Let them dry. Let them dry. Let them dry.

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Now—add the sparkly little doo-dads that make it fancy. Oh, I think this generation calls them “embellishments.” La-tee-da.

Whatever.

Framessss

Now then–is this the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?

Simple? Check. Fancy? Check. Fabulous? Check.

Bingo.

Or–if you just want someone to do it all for you–check out Somebody’s Stuff. You’ll love it!

 

Lyndi26th birthday (6)

Happy Birthday my sweet Lyndi!

—————————

Week # 25 Food Storage Prompt is: 100 lbs. of wheat.

The Winner…

of the “Boost Your Brain Puzzle Pack” is…

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Cyntha Brady!

Congratulations my dear! You did it!

And so you know–everyone who emailed me with their answers got it right! So congratulations to all you smart little whipper-snappers. I told you we’re smarter than they were in Einstein’s day. Ha!

If anyone would like the solution to the puzzle–either email me at Launi@GraciousRain.com or leave me your email in the comments. I’ll send you the whole grid.

Thanks everyone. This was really fun!