Wednesday, August 26, 2009

What to do with a bucketful of Zucchini

Ok, at the risk of changing the mood of the blog for a few days, I thought it might be fun to find out what everyone is doing with produce from the garden. Has anyone tried dilly beans (made with string beans)? Yummy and so easy to do!
On the other hand there is the "Z" (zucchini for those non-gardeners). My neighbor brought over a few pieces of the following "z" coffee cake and I was left wanting more. Don't know if it was because of the frosting or what, but I thought I would share the recipe because it is quick and easy, and I had never seen this recipe before (that I can remember).
2 cups grated zucchini (or a little more - whatever!)
1/2 cup oil
Mix these together and set aside.
Mix together the following:
2 1/4 cups flour
1 cup sugar (could this be reduced - only an experiment will tell you)
1 1/4 tsp soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
Add dry ingredients to zucchini mixture. At first it will be kind of dry, but the consistency improves as you stir.
Add 2 tsp vanilla and nuts, if you like them.
Pour in pan (greased? or ungreased? Hmmm, the sharer of the recipe didn't include that little tidbit). Bake at 375 for app 22 minutes.
Frost with Duncan Hines Creamy Homestyle coconut frosting - see, I told you there was a reason I really liked this little cake.

5 comments:

Steve Blood said...

zucchini is the vegetable from hell. It sucks you in with a few pleasant things for you to make with it and then you decide to grow your own. It's a water logged weed. It grows faster and more prolific than peach fuzz.
You make cakes, bread, relish, you cook it with squash, you feed the rabbits but you still can't get rid of it. There is but one choice, you give it away. You give it to friends, the UPS driver, you leave it at church, you put a for free sign up at your drive way. It still grows. Friends won't open their door to you anymore,UPS stops delivering, recommends FED-EX,there's a sign in the church,"please, DON'T," and teens start aiming for the goods in your driveway. Be very careful.

Ann said...

So am I to understand you don't like zucchini?

Elizabeth said...

Steve, you are a wit without peer. Around here, the mantra is to be sure to lock your car at church. Out neighbor, being a novice gardener, planted eight (8) plants. 'Nuff said. One has done fine for us, allowing us to share with everyone. Plant the scallop squash (pattipan). It's much more pleasant in texture, really good fried with a little seasoning salt, or in a casserole with bacon, milk, eggs, and bread crumbs. I did find one recipe for zucchini patties that is good. If anyone wants it, e-mail me, and I'll send it to you. (Aunt Sofe even used to mix grated zucchini with pineapple, and then can it.)

Shannon Blood said...

The bigger they are, the more nummy meatloaf you can stuff 'em with, Dad. And I seem to remember a certain delightful zucchini chocolate cake. Speaking of which, I went to a vegetarian cooking class a couple of years ago, and was treated to a terrific broccoli-chocolate (carob, actually) cake. There's no end to the wonders of green vegetables.

Elizabeth said...

See, Steve, Shannon understands zucchini.