Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Welcoming Zucchini Season

The zucchini are starting. I told Ken that this year I'm going to be a total earth goddess and use all the vegetables in our yard. We'll see how I do. Right now it's barely starting and I'm excitedly gathering up all my zucchini recipes--both the tried and true and the untested. I'm thinking of making a little book at the end of the summer with all the good zucchini recipes. These are just sauteed with butter and olive oil and finished with sea salt. It was yummy.
And on Sunday I made this. It's chocolate chip zucchini cake with caramel icing. I peeled the zucchini for this because I wanted it well hidden. I think it turned out great. Next time I might add more chocolate chips. Here's the recipe:

Caramel Frosted Chocolate Chip Zucchini Sheet Cake

3/4 c butter -- softened
2 c packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
3 c flour
1 1/2 tsps baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups shredded zucchini
1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips (or more)
Caramel Frosting:
1/2 c butter
1 c brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar

Cream butter, brown sugar, vanilla and eggs in bowl. Stir together flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder in a separate bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture and stir until combined. Fold in zucchini and chocolate chips. Spread in greased 15 x 10 inch jellly roll pan [next time I'll use a 9x13" pan, which I think will work better]. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes.
For the frosting: Bring butter, brown sugar, and milk to a boil in saucepan. Boil for 3 minutes. Stir in confectioners' sugar. Spread over cake (this is the type of frosting that hardens, so you shouldn't take your time in the spreading step).

I got this originally when someone posted it on the Cooking Light BB (but it's not a light recipe). I have no idea what the original source is. I know some of you ladies don't like the "hidden vegetable" recipes, but I like this. No one's mistaking it for health food, though. I sent this to a potluck for Ben's music department, and it got mostly eaten up.

I'm taking the day off work today to travel to the hospital with Ken and Rainer. Hooray--thank goodness I can go with them this time. He's scheduled for chemo, but I'm pretty sure he'll need more platelets too, so we'll be there several hours. I can hug and love Rainer and actually talk to Ken--it's almost a date!

11 comments:

Sarah said...

Have you tried Nigella's zuccini cake with lime curd? It's delicious!

Jessica said...

Zucchini is my favorite summer veggie. I love zucchini bread so much. I'm going to have to get some zucchini from the market on thursday to make the recipe this weekend...it looks quiet yummy! Good luck at the hospital today.

ames said...

Oh.my.goodness. Caramel frosting? Where's my zucchini?!? And that little milk bottle is just too precious.

Hopefully everything goes well today!

Barbara said...

This cake looks lovely. I love carrot cake so I suppose this is similar - the zuccini (courgette?) keeps it really moist I guess.

I've just been catching up on your last few posts and have to say your felt pebbles are inspired and your toy storage solution looks perfect. It's a good idea to rotate things and also have them accessible for little ones.

All the best for your wee boy's hospital visit today.

Our Adventures As A Family of 4.... said...

I love zucchini, so will look for your recipes, please share. :-)

The cake looks yummy and now that I will have two little girls to cook for, will have to try this recipe out on them. :-)

Good luck at the hospital. Hope little Ranier is doing much better.

Molly

Deanna said...

If only you could email cake!!

Hope today went well.

::m:: said...

yummm...that looks so good! love zucchini in sweet breads...and the caramel frosting makes it even better! thanks for the comment on my site about the brioche...i was a little scared, but it turned out pretty good. hope to have some time to bake again this weekend! have a great week! :)

missy [project mcb]

periwinkle said...

Hope everything went ok yesterday. Looking forward to more of your Zucchini / courgette recipes. I love them, hub hates them. I've also started writing down what I eat. Thank you
Lisa x

Paula said...

Hi Mary Beth - the skirt pattern I used was Amy Butler's A-line skirt pattern. I absolutely love it.
Your zuccini cae looks delicious! Polly x x x

Julie said...

Oh, I love zucchini! I tried your chocolate chip cookie recipe over the weekend and they were so delicious--thanks!

Kelli said...

YUMMR. and so funny when you said well hidden.