Chocolate Zucchini Cake Recipe

Leftover zucchini? No problem! At the end of the zucchini harvest, I throw all the leftovers in the food processor and shred it. I then measure out two-cup portions and put in containers to be used in my favorite chocolate cake recipe. 

Sshhh...there's no need to tell the kids about the nutritious benefits of the zucchini- let them eat cake!

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

• 1/2 cup canola oil

• 1 1/2 cups white sugar

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup liquid (water, rice milk, soy milk)

• 2 cups shredded zucchini

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan (or two 9 inch pans).

2.  In a large bowl, mix together the oil, sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, 1/2 cup cocoa, baking soda and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Add one cup of liquid. Fold in the zucchini. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.

3.  Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until cake springs back when gently touched.

• To make frosting, melt together 6 tablespoons of cocoa and 1/4 cup margarine (Fleischmann's unsalted margarine sticks are dairy free, but contain soy at this writing); set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, blend together 2 cups confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup liquid (water, rice milk, soy milk) and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in the cocoa mixture. Spread over cooled cake before cutting. 

*Sometimes I throw in some dairy-free chocolate chips into the batter for a Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cake with Chocolate Frosting (I like to see how often I can use the word "chocolate" in the recipe title:)

Enjoy!

Chicken-less Eggs Benefit People With Egg Allergy

 Beyond Eggs may be just what the doctor ordered for egg allergic consumers. For those of us in my family not allergic to eggs, I spend the extra money for free-range eggs, as I don't want to contribute to the practice of hens in tiny cages. Finally there's an alternative that deals with the egg allergy and the humane issues.

A report on NPR's "All Things Considered" caught my attention last week. "Why Bill Gates is Investing in Chicken-less Eggs", talked about how Hampton Creek Foods has come up with a plant-based substitute for eggs. 

Why mess with Mother Nature, you ask? Well, there is growing concern that in the coming decades the demand for animal meat and by-products will surpass the supply. In addition, these substitute eggs:

• reduce our carbon footprint
• are less expensive
• have no risk of salmonella
• contain no cholesterol
• and, most important to me, are safe for those with egg allergies. They are also free of soy, lactose and gluten.

In a recent taste test, cookies baked with chicken eggs were compared to cookies baked with Beyond Eggs. Tasters did not notice a difference. And watch this video using Beyond Eggs to make scrambled eggs.

I did contact Hampton Fooods to inquire about nutrition information and I am very pleased with the response. Chicken eggs and Beyond Eggs are pretty comparable in terms of protein. Beyond Eggs also contains a good amount of calcium, less fat and no cholesterol.   
 
While I've adapted many of my recipes and find a mixture of baking soda, oil and water to work in many of my homemade cookies and cakes, I love the idea of this nutrition boost and I'm hopeful that Beyond Eggs will work in some of the recipes I've had to abandon for now (traditional brownies, pound cake and angel food cake to name a few).

Check out Hampton Food's Facebook and Twitter pages to keep up 

with the release date and latest news. It's eggcellent (insert groan 

here) news and I can't wait to try it out!

Best Recipes for Food Allergies

Homemade Granola Bars Free of Dairy, Eggs, Nuts

I've spent a little time freshening up and tweaking my recipe section. Please take a look and try out a few. Our family favorites include Marinated Chicken (yummy baked or grilled!), Homemade Rolls, Granola Bars, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, Fruit Salsa...oh, the list goes on.

If you're looking for some new recipes to try this week, follow the link and head to the kitchen. I can smell those granola bars now!