Those of you with gardens know what a good crop zucchini is as a producer. If you find yourself with lots and need some delicious ways to use them, I am here for you. Though I only grow herbs, a few tomato plants, and jalapeno peppers now due to loosing that endless battle with the hoard of wildlife living in the neighborhood, I still have some fabulous recipes to use zucchini such as these bars.
This recipe has double chocolate flavor to spoil you silly from cocoa in the batter to decadent chocolate chips, chewy chopped pieces of walnut for more texture to keep that enjoyment going, and a blend of spices that will send you practically over the edge with eating pleasure. With a cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk, you will think you died and went to heaven once you take a bite.
If you're thinking something so incredibly delicious must mean this will involve a lot of effort, then you will want to hug me when I tell you this is really easy. The hardest part is basically grating the zucchini. All you do is assemble and then mix everything together and bake.
Now, I know you must be excited as well. So here is my recipe and really do try it one day!
My Yummy Chocolate Zucchini Bars
3 large eggs
1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of canola oil
1/4 cup of brown sugar, packed (light or dark)
1/4 cup of molasses (dark or light)
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
3/4 cup of sour milk or buttermilk
2 cups of grated zucchini (well drained)
2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa
1 cup of chocolate chips
1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
Beat sugars, oil, eggs, vanilla, and milk together thoroughly.
Sift the rest of the dry ingredients together in another mixing bowl. Add the sifted mixture slowly to first mixing bowl and blend in.
Stir in the grated zucchini, chocolate chips, and nuts.
Grease a 9" x 13" pan and pour the batter in and bake at 325-degrees for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Showing posts with label fall gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fall gardening. Show all posts
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Plant Your Bulbs Now for Beautiful Spring Flowers Later!
September and October are the best times to get outside and plant your flower bulbs like colorful tulips, cheery daffodils, crocus, alliums, and spectacular Grape hyacinths in most parts of the country.
Although you can still plant in November and even into December, the ground is harder to work the colder it gets besides inserting a stored bulb that can weaken or die the longer it remains away from the soil.
Stored bulbs from last year should have been kept in a cool, dry, dark place like your basement. A place with too much moisture would have ruined them.
Before you begin, you might want to check on the condition of your bulbs. Healthy ones should be firm when touched and free of mold or any leaves growing from them besides any decay. The longer you wait to plant those bulbs, the higher your risk for those bulbs to become diseased.
After you loosen the soil with a trowel, you need to be sure to stick the pointed end of the bulb up before covering with dirt. If you find the point is hard to see on your bulb, then look for remains of the roots and plant that end down.
Naturalizing bulbs, which bloom year after year, should be grown where they receive lots of sunlight so they can thrive over time.
Another good thing to remember to help naturalizing bulbs do their best in your yard is to feed them bulb fertilizer at planting. You don't have to put any fertilizer on the non-naturalizing bulbs because their lifespan ends once they finish blooming.
Something I found striking was to plant small groups of bulbs among your perennials, shrubs, or rock borders for bright accents to wake up your garden or yard.
A wonderful suggestion that I have is to intermingle planting of flowers, such as vibrant purple Pansies now, (anything that can survive winter) so they'll bloom alongside your bulbs in an attractive color combination.
Though not a flower bulb, garlic bulbs should be planted now also. I am going to put in some delicious purple garlic that I bought off of a farmer from a visit to the flea market. I was told that garlic needs to go in by the middle of October.
As you all know, I use garlic all the time in my cooking and as a natural antibiotic when eaten raw.
Something else to consider about planting garlic is that the animals seem to leave it alone during their garden raids, which may help in your decision to put some in.
Although you can still plant in November and even into December, the ground is harder to work the colder it gets besides inserting a stored bulb that can weaken or die the longer it remains away from the soil.
Stored bulbs from last year should have been kept in a cool, dry, dark place like your basement. A place with too much moisture would have ruined them.
Before you begin, you might want to check on the condition of your bulbs. Healthy ones should be firm when touched and free of mold or any leaves growing from them besides any decay. The longer you wait to plant those bulbs, the higher your risk for those bulbs to become diseased.
After you loosen the soil with a trowel, you need to be sure to stick the pointed end of the bulb up before covering with dirt. If you find the point is hard to see on your bulb, then look for remains of the roots and plant that end down.
Naturalizing bulbs, which bloom year after year, should be grown where they receive lots of sunlight so they can thrive over time.
Another good thing to remember to help naturalizing bulbs do their best in your yard is to feed them bulb fertilizer at planting. You don't have to put any fertilizer on the non-naturalizing bulbs because their lifespan ends once they finish blooming.
Something I found striking was to plant small groups of bulbs among your perennials, shrubs, or rock borders for bright accents to wake up your garden or yard.
A wonderful suggestion that I have is to intermingle planting of flowers, such as vibrant purple Pansies now, (anything that can survive winter) so they'll bloom alongside your bulbs in an attractive color combination.
Though not a flower bulb, garlic bulbs should be planted now also. I am going to put in some delicious purple garlic that I bought off of a farmer from a visit to the flea market. I was told that garlic needs to go in by the middle of October.
As you all know, I use garlic all the time in my cooking and as a natural antibiotic when eaten raw.
Something else to consider about planting garlic is that the animals seem to leave it alone during their garden raids, which may help in your decision to put some in.
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