Zucchini Never Better: Chocolate Zucchini Coconut Cupcakes

I have a bumper crop of ZUCCHINI!

I have mentioned that they are the size of small children.  I just can't give them away anymore and I certainly can't throw them away.  So instead, I used that fabulous, versatile veggie in cupcakes.  Because who doesn't like cupcakes and zucchini in cupcake form is ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!

There's chocolate and coconut involved, oh yea!

Zucchini has never been better as a Chocolate Zucchini Coconut Cupcake with Coconut Whip Cream!

These cupcakes are to die for...really...no really!  I can't believe how good they came out!

The chocolate cupcake is incredibly moist.  Inside there are chocolate chips and coconut too!  Hard to believe it but the icing on the cake is even yummier....a coconut whip cream with more coconut and sprinkles.  I think I need to lay down 'cuz I am totally swooning over these cupcakes....

Here's how to make the best ever zucchini cupcake.

Ingredients for 20 cupcakes:

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 cups grated zucchini

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut

Ingredients for whip cream icing:

1 16 oz whipping cream

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp coconut extract

shredded, unsweetened coconut and chocolate sprinkles for toppings

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease a cupcake pan or use cupcake liners.  Use a mixer to blend vegetable oil and sugar.  Add eggs and blend completely.  Pour in the milk and vanilla.  More mixing.  Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.  Once everything is incorporated, stir in the remaining ingredients (grated zucchini, chocolate chips and coconut) by hand.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.

For the whip cream icing, mix whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.  Add in both extracts until well combined.  Frost cupcakes and sprinkle with coconut and chocolate sprinkles.

Chocolate Zucchini Coconut Cupcake Printable Recipe

Hard to believe there is zucchini in that forkful of yumminess?  Well, there is as well as chocolate chips and coconut.  Each bite is utterly delightful!

Out of ideas for zucchini?
Here's a good one...may want to make a double batch!
Check back again soon for all things zucchini!!!

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,
Christine

Linking up with Six Sisters' Stuff, Joyful Healthy Eats, I Heart Naptime, Keeping It Simple, 
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Best Burger Recipes

Yes!

The Labor Day weekend is here!!!

I don't know about you, but there's been a lot of laboring around here.  Getting 1 kiddo back to college, 1 kiddo back to high school and starting a new job.  Lots of afterschool driving and making sure the schedule is kept.  Does that sound like you?  I am thinking we all need to celebrate the long weekend and the fact that it is (as much as it pains me to say it) the official, unofficial end to summer.

What better way than to stoke up the barbecue and cook some burgers.

Need some ideas?  I gotcha covered.

Philly Cheesesteak Burger

Mac n Cheese Burgers

Burgers with Zucchini Ribbons and Blue Cheese Sauce

Hawaiian Chicken Burgers

 "Where's the beef?"
"Where's the chicken?"
No sir!  It's right here!
Stoke up the grill and check out one of these recipes to spice up your Labor Day celebration.

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,
Christine

Lemony Berry Zucchini Bread

So my daughter asked for help on some problems in Honors Physics.

Part of me was extremely excited that I was asked for such kind of help.  I thought, wow!??  She thinks I am a genius!  The other part of me was petrified!  Because really, who is good at physics.  Well, I guess physicists are but they aren't the average parent, right?  

So, I said "sure" with as much optimism and 'go getter' enthusiasm as I could muster.

Mind you, I haven't confronted a problem like that in...like never....never took physics in high school, which was eons ago.  And, here's a funny thing.  I don't seem to need to solve those types of problems on a daily basis because...here's the shocker.  I am not a physicst.  However, I spent some time looking at it, tried it and even googled it.  Nothing!  Must be an impossible equation to solve, right?  I gave it my best, but couldn't come through.  I will probably never ever be asked to help in physics again...probably a good thing.  Phew!

Back to my comfort zone...

No physics needed to make this absolutely delicious LEMONY BERRY ZUCCHINI BREAD.

Thank goodness!

Lemony Berry Zucchini Bread is so moist and delicious.  The raspberries and blueberries give the bread an extra special flavor.  Might need some chemistry to make this bread, but certainly not physics.  Check out how easy it is to make 2 loaves.

Adapted from I Am A Honeybee

Ingredients:

2 cups white flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

4 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

1 1/3 cup sugar

1 cup milk

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 cup grated zucchini

1/2 cup raspberries

1/2 cup blueberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour 2 bread loaf pans.

Beat together eggs.  Add oil and sugar.  Blend until well incorporated.  Add milk and lemon juice, mixing well.

Stir in the zucchini.  Add the flours, baking powder and salt.

Fold in the raspberries and blueberries.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool for 5-7 minutes before removing from pans to a cooling wire rack.

Lemony Berry Zucchini Bread

The zucchini keeps the bread so moist and the berries, as well as the lemon, give the bread such a sweet flavor.  Love it!  Great for breakfast, late morning snack, late afternoon snack or evening snack.  Anytime I suppose.  As for the physics problem?

60 = 1/2(9.8)t^2 + 20t

Hmmm...I am thinking she better take in some slices to the physics teacher.  

Some bribery never hurts, right?

Celebrate the little things...like not having to take physics these days...that make life sweet,

Christine

Linking up with Joyful Healthy Eats, I Heart Naptime, Cooking On the Front Burners, Your Homebased Mom,
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End of Summer Chopped Salad

It's still summer and with the long, upcoming weekend, I am thinking you might have some grilling plans.  NOTHING says summer like grilled food, especially grilled fruit.  AND I absolutely love mixing fruit in my salad.  Such a great combo.  So, here's an easy end of summer chopped salad that includes, grilled pineapple, grape tomaotes, avocado, sliced chicken breasts, goat cheese and pecan halves all tossed in a lime vinaigrette.  YUM!

The best part of chopped salads is that they really are a throw together meal.  Everything is included and they taste as well as look FABULOUS!

Here's what you need to gather:  2 grilled chicken breasts, 2 cups Romaine lettuce, 2 cups spinach, 8 grilled pineapple slices, 1 cup grape tomaotes, 1 avocado cubed, 4 oz goat cheese and 1/2 cup pecan halves.

To grill the chicken breasts, marinate in 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 Tbsp lime juice and 1 Tbsp minced garlic for 20 minutes before placing on the grill.  Grill over med-hot coals until no longer pink.  Remove from grill and slice.

To grill the pineapple, just place pineapple slices on the grill for 2-3 minutes per side.

Toss all your salad ingredients together and drizzle a lime vinaigrette over top.  To make the lime vinaigrette, whisk together 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 Tbsp lime juice, 2 tsp honey and salt to taste.

Summer freshness on a plate.  Didn't even need to heat up the house with the oven!  I love how the lime vinaigrette becomes creamier with the goat cheese when you toss the salad.  Each bite is delish!

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine

Linking up with Lou Lou Girls, Morsels of Life, Inside Bru Crew Life, Stone Gable Blog, Weary Chef,
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Fun Fair Inspired Foods

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but around here Labor Day weekend is the official, unofficial end to summer.  Pools close, schools are in full swing and fall is just around the corner.  ALL things FALL are in the stores (yes, even pumpkins...a topic for another day, since it is only August) and town carnivals abound!  Our city holds The Last Fling celebration, complete with carnival rides, food, music and a parade.  It's the one last hurrah before the next season and the onslaught of the next.  I know, gotta live in the moment and not the brutally cold one to come.  :)

If you don't have an opportunity to make it to a carnival in your area and partake in that yummy, yet naughty food, have no fear!  You can make all the good stuff at home.  Check this out:

Meatball Sub on a Stick

Carnival Corn

Funnel Cake

Kettle Corn

Bucket O'Cheesy Fries

 Looks like you can have a carnival in your house!  

Only thing missing are the rides.  Carnival food is covered!

What's your favorite carnival food?  Fried oreos?  Fried butter?  Fresh squeezed lemonade?

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine  

Chocolate Peanut Butter Delights

Time for some no bake after school cookies!

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER DELIGHTS

Whip up some of these no bake cookies, keep them in the 'frig and your kiddos can help themselves!

What makes them delightful?  The chocolate, marshmallows, peanut butter, coconut and oats of course!

Ingredients:

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup butter

16 large marshmallows

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup shredded coconut

2 cups rolled oats

In the top of a double broiler, melt chocolate chips, butter and marshmallows over low heat.  Stir until smooth.

Remove from heat.  Stir in the remaining ingredients.  Mix completely.  Drop rounded teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper.  Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Delights printable recipe

Totally delightful!

These cookies have it all and now you can too.

Celebrate the little things, like no bake cookies, that make life sweet,

Christine

Linking up with Skip to My Lou, A Night Owl Blog, Stone Gable Blog, Inside Bru Crew Life,
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Coconut Inspired Recipes

Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer.  :( 

I don't know about you, but I LOVED summer and can't believe it is almost over.

What happened?  It seemed way too fast this year...or do I say that every year?  Don't get me wrong, I do love fall.  But, summer always seems way too short.  So as the end of summer nears...I thought if I write really, really small maybe we can stay in summer???...I thought it would be fun to re-look at some coconut inspired recipes that you can still make whether summer comes to a close or not.

Hawaiian French Toast

Coconut Cupcakes

Fruit Salad with Coconut Croutons

Key Lime Coconut Balls

Baked Coconut Shrimp

Frozen Coconut Lemonade Slush

Let's celebrate all thing SUMMER and all things COCONUT!

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,
Christine

Tiramisu Affogato

I am a HUGE fan of tiramisu!  I mean HUGE!

I almost always order it for dessert if it is a menu choice.  So, I have totally got the 411 on this dessert.

On the other hand, I had never heard of an affogato...(I know, I live in a cave)...until I ran out of cream for my coffee one morning.  I used ice cream instead.  Totally thought I was on to something and then realized that my discovery had been around for a long time, known as the affogato...I know, I live in a very dark, deep cave.  I ran across a recipe for Tiramisu Affogato and fell in love.  I know tiramisu and I now know affogato; this combo...perfect!

Don't you just want to lick the screen?  Well don't 'cuz that wouldn't be very sanitary...I'm all about the germs.  So, make some for yourself and you can lick every last drop.

Are you ready to see how easy these are to make?  Just assemble and serve!

I love recipes like that!

Ingredients per serving:

3 Stella D'oro Margherite Combination cookies

2 scoops coffee toffee crunch ice cream

1/4 cup espresso or coffee

whip cream

shavings of semi-sweet bakers chocolate

In a glass, place 2 scoops of the ice cream. Break the cookies into large chunks.  Add the cookies to the top of the ice cream.  Slowly pour the espresso or coffee over the top.  Put a dollop of whip cream on top and add some chocolate shavings.

An impressive looking dessert that tastes just as good as it looks.  The cookies soak in the espresso/coffee and get that tiramisu texture and taste that I absolutely love!  I can't believe how quickly it came together and how good it tastes!  Not much prep work at all!  Next time you are looking for the flavors and textures of tiramisu, check out this recipe.  It will fill all those tiramisu check boxes!

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine

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