. . . if you have to buy zucchini. That was the joke in Utah where residential gardens abound. I haven't heard it in New York. I have to buy my zucchini. I always felt like zucchini was relegated to a lesser of the vegetables; perhaps it's too prolific? not exotic enough? Have you ever heard anyone mention zucchini as their favorite vegetable? Do you ever see zucchini served at fancy restaurants? And the most popular way to serve it? Fried. Covered up, physically masked and dipped in fat. I say liberate the zucchini. Try it raw! Try it sauteed in a little olive oil! Let it shine in chocolate cake! I grew up eating zucchini in chocolate cake. It has a lighter chocolate cake flavor and the orange zest and cinnamon add a little fruity undertone. So, if you happen to find zucchini on your porch, feel loved and try my mom's recips:
Zucchini Chocolate Cake
2 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. cocoa
2 1/2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
3/4 c. butter
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
2 t. vanilla
1/2 c. milk
2 t. grated orange peel
2 c. shredded zucchini
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)
Sift dry ingredients together and set aside. Grease and flour a tube or bundt pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time and beat well. Add vanilla and orange peel. Stir in the dry ingredients alternately with the milk in 3 or 4 additions beating well after each one. Add zucchini and nuts and stir in. Pour into the pan. Bake 1 hour. Cool 15 minutes before removing from the pan. Glaze or sift powdered sugar over the top.
Glaze:
2 c. powdered sugar
3 T. milk
1 t. vanilla
Beat until smooth, drizzle over warm cake.
6 comments:
I was just talking to my mom yesterday about chocolate and zucchini together in brownies.
Zucchini is one of my favorite veggies. I ate it last night, in fact. It's sad I never appreciated it whilst growing up in Utah. I hate paying the astronomical prices for it here in NY. But I do because I love it.
I like to steam it with slivers of garlic and a little butter. Yum, yum, yummy.
Thanks for the recipe, too.
check out this recipe for verdure al forno on foodtv.com where zucchini is the star
yippie for zucc! I have to dig out my awesome zucchini bisque recipe for you.
mmmmmmm....zucchini sauteed in a little butter with some salt and pepper has got to be my favorite. also, let's hear it for a warm slice of zucchini bread. yum yum.
Zucchini is one of our favorite vegies. Sadly our Z plant did not get enough care when we were on vacation. We came home to one 10lb zucchini, but alas - the poor plant put all it's effort into that one and there were no more!
Emily eats hers raw (the only way she'll eat any veggie), but we like ours brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with garlic salt and grilled.
I love, love love chocolate zuchinni cake. It's my family's favorite way to eat it!
Thanks for the reminder; it's time to make some!
Megan
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