Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Another zucchini recipe....this one came from Paula Deen
http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/chocolate_chip_zucchini_bread/

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 eggs
2 cup white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cup grated zucchini
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon orange zest
whipped cream, for serving
zucchini ribbons, for serving

Preheat oven at 350 degrees F. Grease (2) 9 by 5-inch loaf pans.

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, spices and baking soda.

In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and fluffy. Add sugar, and continue beating until well blended. Stir in oil, vanilla, zucchini, pecans, chocolate chips, and orange zest. Stir in sifted ingredients. Pour into prepared loaf pans.

Bake for 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove loaves from pans and cool. Chill before slicing. Serve with whipped cream and ribbons of zucchini.

Lazy Cake Cookies

I made these this morning....they are fast and easy to make.....and very delicious!!

Lazy Cake Cookies 
1 box of yellow or white cake mix
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. melted butter
2 c. chocolate chips
Mix together, spread into a sprayed 9X13 pan.  Bake @ 350 for 20 to 25 min. When cooled, cut into squares 

Samoa Cookies

HOMEMADE SAMOAS

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
up to 2 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment or nonstick foil.

Cream butter and sugar. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Add vanilla and milk. Only add a little milk at a time just to help dough come together. U don't want to add too much and make it sticky. Roll dough 1/4" thick and cut out circles. (NO cookie cutter? just use a glass upside down), then you will want a smaller cutter for the center. If you don't have one, try using a straw or skip this part because the filling covers a lot of the center anyway! Bake 12-14 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Cool completely.

Melt 1 bag of chocolate chips (dark, semi or milk chocolate) and dip each cookie into the chocolate and set on wax or parchment paper. You can also just dop the bottoms if you prefer but I like to dip the whole cookie.

Make the topping and place on cookies while chocolate is still wet.

TOPPING:
3 cups shredded sweetened coconut
12 oz. caramels
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cream

Preheat oven to 300 degrees and spread coconut on a baking sheet. Bake it and toss often until lightly toasted and golden -about 15-20 minutes. Cool on baking sheet, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

Place caramels, salt and cream in microwave safe cup and nuke until melted and smooth about 3mins. When smooth, stir in the toasted coconut.

Using a small spoon or spatula, spread the topping on cookies. Use any extra chocolate to drizzle across the top! Then u can set in fridge to speed the process of everything firming up.

See this and other incredible recipes at Danielle's blog at
http://www.hugsandcookiesxoxo.com/2011/03/samoas-butterfinger-thumbprints.html