Chocolate and Zukes

I don't know about you, but our garden turned out like this-

a lot of waterers and no weeders. That's a basketball on the right.

Nothing grew. Oh wait, lots of things grew, just nothing we wanted to eat.

My brother and s-i-l always grow a big ol' garden and found this recipe when they were trying to use up the ton of Zucchini they grew in their garden a couple years ago. I haven't heard how it grew this year but I'm guessing it probably went pretty well as usual. My mom brought us some zucchini when they were here for 4th of July so we got to make these muffins. They are so good and good for you! Vegetables AND Chocolate? Very healthy!

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins/Bread

Sift:

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

2 packets hot cocoa mix

in another bowl cream:

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup canola oil

1 3/4 cup sugar

add:

2 eggs

stir in:

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

add the dry mix to the wet mix and then stir in:

2 1/2 cups shredded zucchini

1 cup chocolate chips (we have used the mini chips before and that's good too)

Bake @ 325 *

muffin tins 25-30 min

bread pans 40 min or a little longer

These kids like them too!

Baking in this Heat!

So yesterday afternoon it was about 98 degrees, and not the boy band from back in the day. We got home from doing some thing, looking for some thing at thrift stores for a project I want to make but not reveal yet :) The babies were asleep from the long car ride so I took a moment to heat up the house a little extra and bake up some treats. And since not much has been going on I thought I would post the recipes for ya so you can cook just like me! Because that is the cool thing to do. SO 1st I made a Quiche, which I have to call "Breakfast Casserole" if I want anyone to eat it around here. It's from A Taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook. I went with my Mom, Gena and Stephanie to a show about 2 years ago and this was 1 of the recipes they made. It is soo good! Jennalee was here visiting from TX last night and she and her little cutie Megan tried it and liked it too.

Here goes:

1 pkg (12 oz) Breakfast Sausage patties or links

1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms (I used canned this time)

1/4 cup chopped onions ( I just used a whole small onion)

1/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper (I left out the peppers this time)

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

3 oz of cream cheese, softened

4 eggs

1/3 cup half and half cream

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese> I used colby jack for the cheeses

1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

dash ground nutmeg - I just realized I used 1/4 tsp (too much)

1 unbaked pastry shell- Pie crust

Cook sausage, chopping into small pieces for 3 minutes

Add the mushrooms, onions and peppers.

Cook and stir 5 minutes longer or until sausage is cooked through and

vegies are tender. Drain well.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.

Gradually beat in eggs and cream. Stir in the cheeses, salt pepper, nutmeg and the sausage mix.

Pour into pie crust.

Bake uncovered at 350* for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Yummy!

I also made an old family secret recipe.

If you saw that episode of "Friends" then you know what I'm talking about :)

This is all that was left at bedtime and there were only 1 left this morning.

If you want the full recipe or don't know what episode of "Friends" I'm talking about, leave a comment!

Tonight I am trying a recipe I found on this girl's super cute blog I just found. I'll let you know how it turns out. I think I've seen it before.