Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Description:
Experimenting with trying to make a low fat, low sugar, chocolate baked treat, I created these moist, yummy muffins.

Ingredients:
2 L eggs
1 t vanilla
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C apple sauce
1 1/2 C shredded zucchini

1 C flour
1/2 C cocoa powder
1 t baking soda
1/4 t baking powder
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
3/4 C chocolate chips


Directions:
Mix the eggs, vanilla, apple sauce and brown sugar.
Stir in the zucchini.

In a separate bowl, mix the flour cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. Mix in the chocolate chips.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined.

Spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray. Fill muffin cups with 1/2 c of batter.

Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 25 minutes or until set.

Caramel Chocolitas

Description:
This is a bar cookie to rule them all. Wait, who am I kidding. This isn't a bar COOKIE but rather a CANDY bar. Amazing bites of heaven await the person willing to try these. Cut into small pieces or risk sugar overload. They are more than worthy of the exercise it will take you to burn them off.

Ingredients:
2 C flour
1 3/4 C oats
1 1/2 C brown sugar
1 t baking soda
1/4 t salt ( I omitted this.)
1 C butter, melted
1 14 ounce package of caramels, unwrapped
1/3 C milk
2 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 C milk chocolate chips ( I used all semi-sweet and it still turned out great.)
1 C chopped pecans

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350

Line a 9 x 13 x 2 pan with foil and spray with non-stick spray

Mix together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt.

Add the melted butter and mix until crumbly

Reserve half of this mixture, about 2 1/2 cups

Press the remaining crumb mixture into your pan

Mix the chocolate chips and pecans and spread over the bottom crust

Melt the caramels and milk in the microwave on 50% power 4-6 minutes

Pour the caramel mixture over the chocolate chips and pecans

Top with the reserved crumb mixture

Bake for 20-25 minutes

Remove from the oven and cool in the pan on a wire rack before lifting out and cutting into bars.

Buttermilk "brownies" that really came out more like a chocolate cake

Description:
I had buttermilk to use up, and I came across a recipe for buttermilk brownies in a BHG cookbook from the 70's. I thought I'd replace the butter with Smart Balance, but other than that, I stayed pretty true to the recipe.

I was disappointed these were not what I would call a brownie, but rather a chocolate cake. Having said that, it was a very tasty chocolate cake, better than something you'd get from a boxed mix. If I have the need to bake up a chocolate cake, I'll use this recipe again. If I want real, chewy brownies, I'll try a different recipe.

I did use a 10 x 13 pan instead of a 15 X 10, or two 9 x 9 pans the recipe suggested. I don't think this changed the consistency though. I'm thinking the two eggs and amount of flour make this recipe more of a cake than a brownie. Its still a great, indulgent dessert.

Ingredients:
1 C Smart Balance Spread - (Its high in Omega 3s!)
1/2 C cocoa powder - (anti-oxidant power!)
1 C water
2 C flour- (you could use whole wheat)
2 C sugar -(This is where it gets bad, but oh, so good bad!)
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
2 slightly beaten eggs
1/2 C buttermilk
1 1/2 t vanilla

Your choice of chocolate frosting or icing.

Directions:
In a saucepan, melt the Smart Balance with the water and cocoa powder, stirring often. Bring to a boil and then remove from the heat.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add in the eggs, buttermilk and vanilla.

Add about a cup of the chocolate mixture into the flour mixture and stir. Add a little more and then completely mix the chocolate mixture with the rest of your flour mixture. Doing this tempers the chocolate so you don't end up with scrambled egg pieces in your cake.

Pour the mixture into a 10 x 13 pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake for 30 minutes in a preheated 375 degree oven. When your toothpick comes out clean, its done. *The original recipe only baked this for 20 minutes, but my cake didn't set until 30 minutes.

Place the cake on a wire rack to cool. Spread your choice of chocolate frosting/icing over the warm cake and allow it to cool.

Divas, Chocolate, Dining, & Yes, I'm Eccentric

My Diva night was Divine! We went to Chocolat by Daniel. I can't live in Rockford, IL because I would see Daniel on a daily basis. Daniel makes special dark chocolates. Its like comparing fine wine to grape flavored Kool Aid. Do yourself a favor and at least once in your life, be a chocolate snob. Yes, paying $4 for one piece of chocolate shocks the penny pincher in me, but we're not talking M&Ms. Chocolat by Daniel is a whole different chocolate universe.

My sister embarrassed me a little, but I guess if I were single, I'd be flirting with a gourmet chocolate maker too. Daniel is very friendly, loves his chocolate and is very eager to educate you in the true art of chocolate. I knew things had gone a little too far though when he offered my sister the bowl to lick. (Diva Sister Maija- you MUST join us next time to help me control her!)

We had supper at Pearl, which is a hip, new restaurant. The decor is all white, with white marble table tops. The wait staff is all dressed in black and white and the feeling is cool and futuristic. If you are female, you must be sure to visit the first stall in the ladies' room. That's all I'll say!

DH & the boys had their boys' night out too, dining at Famous Dave's BBQ. I'm just not a rib girl but DS13 loves them.

Sunday we had to change our plans thinking a snow/ice storm was headed out way. Turns out we didn't get much at all, but it sure was windy and brutally cold. We ended up doing a little spring cleaning.

I was frustrated with toilet seat options at the hardware store. Everything is made in China. After driving home, I opened up the package only to discover the screws on one side already stripped. I'll have to bring it back and try another, but you know, the unschooler in me has me wondering if we could build our own toilet seat?

I know, I've gone off the deep end into full blown eccentric now. Who builds their own toilet seat? But this is what unschooling has done to me. I'm always asking, "Can we do this ourselves?" "Can we do it better?"

Of course full blown, means I'm researching which trees grow the fastest, since I'll need wood for the seat. But of course, I soon discover bamboo, which is a grass, is the best choice.

Don't worry. I already know I can't grow bamboo in Zone 4/5. I'm heading back to the hardware store, receipt in hand.

First Road Trip With The New Car

Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we went. DH had to work half the weekend away, but we managed to stretch our new car's wheels and took a road trip to Kenosha yesterday.

After enjoying real thin crust ZA, only found in K-town, we stopped at Tenuta's Deli. This is another reason why I can't live in Kenosha. Too many yummy foods!

DH has not so fond memories of having to go into Tenuta's as a child. He's told us it was then a very smelly place, probably from all of the stinky cheeses. Now it has expanded to a fine specialty store with not only cheeses and meats, but all kinds of ethnic baking goodies.

Their chocolate covered candy collection is to die for. No where else have I discovered a chocolate covered almond covered in as much chocolate goodness as at Tenuta's. Don't get me started on the chocolate covered dried cranberries! (Seriously, don't get me started because I won't stop.)

The boys got a kick out of discovering cans of sliced octopus and conch. Hmmm.. Christmas stocking stuffers? LOL! Actually DS13 has requested a huge block of white chocolate for his stocking this year. What is it about bulk food that is so appealing?

Cake Truffles

For a special treat for our 15th anniversary I thought I'd try a new recipe. These were super simple and yielded a delicious result. The recipe made plenty, so I'll package up some for Mother's Day gifts.

Cake Ball Truffles

You will need:
 -1 packaged cake mix and the ingredients to bake it (I used chocolate.)
- 1 can of frosting (I used chocolate.)
 -24 ounces of chocolate chips (I used one 11.5 ounce bag of semi-sweet and one 11.5 ounce bag of milk chocolate for variety.)


-Bake the packaged cake mix according to directions
-Dump the cooled cake into a large mixing bowl, breaking the cake into crumbs
-Stir in 1 can of cake frosting
-Roll into little balls and place on a lined cookie sheet
-Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours

RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO EAT THE CAKE BALLS WITHOUT CHOCOLATE COATING!

-In half batches melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for 1 minute, stir, microwave 1 minute more, stir (I melted the chocolate in two batches to allow for the chocolate cooling.)
- Roll the chilled balls into the melted chocolate to coat
- Place coated balls back onto the cookie sheet and chill in the fridge

They end up very tasty and I must say, easier to eat than a cupcake! You could melt different chocolates and almond barks to decorate them, or use sprinkles.