Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe



I really love chocolate, and somehow chocolate and zucchini just don't go together in my world. Except they do in this marvelously rich, chocolate zucchini bread that is filled with flavor.

The zucchini has been coming out of our garden quite regularly, and this is the first summer I've really embraced cooking with it. It's so versatile, whether you are using it for dinner, dessert, or snack recipes.

It's healthy for you too, of course, and I feel good when my family is eating their veggies. This recipe calls for a cup and a half of grated zucchini, which is about one medium sized zucchini.

This recipe calls for chocolate chips and cocoa powder, and it really packs a chocolate punch. It's moist and so, so good.

If you don't have homegrown zucchini from your garden to use, the farmers markets are still filled with them, and it's a nice way to end the summer, by making this yummy, chocolaty bread.


Recipe for Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 cup applesauce
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened  cocoa powder
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups finely shredded zucchini
1/2 cup semi chocolate chips
baking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
 
Place first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at low speed until well blended. Stir in applesauce.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and the next 4 ingredients (through salt), stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating just until moist. Stir in the zucchini and chocolate chips. Spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack, and remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
 
I first published this recipe last summer. Since the zucchini has started getting ripe in the garden again this year, I thought I would share it again.
Patricia
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Friday, June 26, 2015

Dune Jewelry Handmade Beach Sand Inlet Cuff Bracelet Review







My childhood was full of trips to the beach. We have always lived on the west coast and enjoyed the Pacific Ocean all summer long. Anytime I am feeling over stressed I think of or even go to the beach for renewal. The reminiscence of sunshine filled days, the smell of the salty air and the sand beneath feet remind me of one of my favorite quotes, "life is like the ocean it can be calm or still and rough or ridged but in the end always beautiful". When I came across Dune Jewelry a company that makes handmade jewelry containing sand from your favorite beach you select from their sandbank or send in your own sand I knew it would be something special to have. I love the concept of jewelry that is connected to a memory from the beach.





 There are so many beaches that hold a special place in my heart I had a hard time choosing just one, but Redondo Beach CA was the one I selected. As a kid my family and I went to Redondo many times. My Dad grew up there and the stories he told us on the drive there about his childhood always fascinated me. He told us about how he once rescued a wounded seal and it recovered in the bathtub, how they would skip class to go surfing, and the one I now realize as an adult was not true, the climbing a big hill to school in 10 feet of snow. He did show us the big hill leading to school, but I now know it does not snow there! I had my own adventures at Redondo Beach with my siblings while my Dad and Mom watched from the shore. I remember my older brother and I being taught how to body surf by a random local surfer lady. She opened my eyes to a whole new way to see the little waves I was jumping in. I can still picture my older sister standing on the shore freaking out about how cold the water was while my brother and I dove right in.

As a teenager my Dad took my sisters and I back to Redondo where my sister and I realized there was an arcade under the pier with rides and all the whole time. I giggle a bit about that one since my parents were smart to not let us go there. I am grateful they never took us in since I think it would have ruined our true beach experiences. Hearing my Dad tell my son the "seal in the bathtub" story when he came to visit made me overwhelmed with joy. Its the stories and life experience we pass down to our children that they remember the most. As I was having this bracelet made my Dad has gotten much sicker and having kidney failure making the memories even more precious and reminding me I want my own son to stick his toes in the sand at Redondo Beach. The Silver Cuff Bracelet with the sand from Redondo Beach makes all that joy I felt with those memories right there.



I have been wearing the bracelet to work a few times a week since its simple design and silver color seem to match so much of my wardrobe. I have received many comments on the uniqueness of the jewelry and hearing people tell me their beach stories has been great. Not only do I now have a lovely piece of jewelry to wear I have captured memories in sand that I will treasure forever. Now my only problem is I want like 10 more pieces of jewelry! My birthday is coming and I already know 2 sands that I would love to have a piece made for and those both have beautiful memories attached to them.



Some information about Dune Jewelry:


  • Dune Jewelry the Original Beach Sand Jewelry Company® is very unique because their patented designs are custom made with beach sand!
  • With Dune Jewelry you have a choice of thousands of sands worldwide, spanning all 7 continents. 
  • New this year a custom wine bottle stopper!  Who doesn't love wine?  The Dune Jewelry custom wine bottle stopper is is the perfect gift for the holiday's or a special occasion you may be celebrating.   
  • All of Dune Jewelry's items have a lifetime warranty, come with care instructions and literature that indicates the source of the sand.
  • There is something for both men and women in the Dune Collection.
  • Dune Jewelry is available to purchase online and at various retail stores nationwide.

Dune Jewelry creates tangible reminders of life’s greatest moments.  Everyone has a beach memory. It could be a childhood memory, a place you and your friends met each year, it is where he proposed, it is where you had your beautiful destination wedding, or maybe it was where you spent your honeymoon. Dune's unique custom and personalized collection is something that will provide cherished memories all year long.

You can see more of the jewelry designs by following Dune Jewelry on Facebook, TwitterPinterest and Instagram.


I would love to hear your favorite beach memories, please feel free to share in comments :)




Laura
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Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Summer Strawberry Scones Recipe


One of my favorite parts of summer is all the luscious berries available at the grocery stores and farmer's markets. I am a big strawberry lover, and so is my family. So, I'm always on the lookout for yummy recipes that can incorporate them.

These Strawberry Scones are delicious, and if you've never made scones before, this is an easy first recipe to try. They can be made without the powdered sugar drizzle on top, but I like adding it for a little more sweetness.


Instead of using foil, I always use parchment paper for baking. The foil always sticks, so it's great to be able to just lift the scones out of the pan when their done, without sticking.


Recipe for Summer Strawberry Scones

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons butter, very cold and diced small
1 cup diced strawberries
1/2 cup half & half or vanilla coffee creamer
1 egg

For glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons milk

Directions:

Place oven rack in middle of oven and preheat to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add diced butter pieces, and with a pastry blender, cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. Stir in strawberries.
In a small bowl, whisk together half & half, or coffee creamer until smooth. Stir cream and egg mixture into flour mixture until combined. Using your hands, press the dough together to form a ball.
Place dough on a lightly floured surface and pat into a 7 to 8 inch circle, about 3/4 inch thick. Using a sharp knife, cut dough into 8 triangles.
Place on baking sheet, about 1 inch apart. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Place on a wire rack when done.
To make the drizzle, stir together the powdered sugar and milk.
 Drizzle over warm scones and serve.

Makes 8 scones.


Patricia
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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle on DVD #CuriousGeorge

*received a copy of this movie to facilitate my review, all opinions are 100% my own



Curious George is a loved character in my family. As a child I loved reading the books, now my son enjoys the books and movies. The newest movie Curious George 3 Back to the Jungle George is selected to go on a space mission but things go all wrong when he does not behave as he should. He crash lands in the African jungle and meets all sorts of friends along the way as he waits for Man with the Yellow Hat to find him.



My son as always giggles at the antics of George. He is a little monkey himself always being silly and messing with stuff just for the curiosity of it. Man with the Yellow Hat tries to teach George about being cautious and that was a great way to be able to bring up what it meant and how my son could try that too. While out shopping this week I have mentioned to my son while he was monkeying around that we need to try to be cautious like George should, he did settle down a bit.

The movie is cute and fun for all the Curious George fans in your family. There are a few fun ways to interact with the famous curious monkey with the Photo App Photo With George for free.

Here is the picture my son and I made with the photo app from his visit to Dino Days in Sacramento. Photo bombed by George and my son's favorite animal a giraffe. We laughed how it looks like the giraffe is trying to eat the leaves.



You can also follow Curious George on Twitter and Facebook

Laura
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Friday, June 19, 2015

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe


Peanut butter and chocolate are two of my absolute favorite combinations. What's not to love, right??

The other day my grandchildren asked me to make cookies for them. They love eating them, and I love baking for them. It's fun being a Nana who bakes for my grandkids, and I know we are building loving moments shared together, that will stay with them always.

These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are really delicious, easy to make, and perfect for kids and adults. I can see taking them on picnics this summer, and fun to take and share with friends for a beach lunch or dinner. And in the fall, they would be the perfect milk and cookies after-school snack.

Lining the pan with foil for them to bake in, makes them easy to lift out and cut into squares. Store them in an air-tight container to stay fresh, if you have any leftover.



Recipe for Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, regular or mini size
 
Directions:
 
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Line a 9X9 inch baking pan with foil, with foil hanging over 2 sides so that it can be lifted out when bars are done. 
With a hand or electric stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugars on medium speed. Add the egg and mix. Then add the peanut butter and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients on low speed, mixing until a dough forms. Mix in the chocolate chips, and then scoop the batter into the prepared pan and smooth into an even layer.
Bake for 20-22 minutes. The edges should be starting to turn light brown.
Let the bars cool in the pan, and then use the foil to lift the cookie out of the pan to transfer to a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut into bars.
 


Recipe inspired by Lovely Little Kitchen, but I made my own changes to the recipe.

Patricia
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