Double Chocolate Z Muffins

My version........ Double Chocolate Z Muffins........because you must never speak the Z word or they won't eat them......and that would be sad because they eat these like crazy!!!!
Place in mixer bowl:
5 eggs
2/3 c. honey
1 c. oil
1 c. brown sugar
2 t. vanilla
Mix well and add:
2 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
2/3 c. cocoa
3 1/3 c. flour
Mix well and add:
4 c. shredded zucchini
2 c. chocolate chips + some more for sprinkling on top
Mix and scoop into lined and sprayed muffin tins. Top each one with an additional sprinkle of chocolate chips.   Makes 36 regular sized muffins.  Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

This can be made in loaf pans too:
small loaf = 35 minutes
medium loaf = 45 minutes

Smallest mini muffins = bake 15 minutes

3 1/2inch mini = bake 18 to 20 minutes

DIY Furniture Polish/Repair and other cleaning recipes

DIY Furniture Polish/Repair           for fixing scratched furniture or cupboards 
1/4 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup olive oil or canola ( I used canola)
Mix together and apply with a rag or paper towel.  It magically gets rid of the scratches and cleans.
I use this on my kitchen cupboards.  If I am just cleaning them I sometimes use 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water in a spray bottle.  It cleans them nicely.  


For smaller amounts......1 T. white vinegar
3 T. olive oil or canola 
Use apple cider vinegar for darker colored wood.  

All Purpose Cleaner
2 tsp baking soda1/2 tsp Dawn dish soap4 TBSP white vinegar400 mL warm water
Stir/shake to mix well. Use a squirt bottle for optimal usage.

Dusting Spray
2 tsp olive oil1 tsp lemon juice1/4 c white vinegar1 c warm water
Stir/shake to mix well. Use a squirt bottle for optimal usage.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner
1/4 c baking soda1/4 c borax1 c white vinegarPlace ingredients directly into toilet. Mix gently with bowl brush. Let sit at least 30 minutes before scrubbing.

Granite Cleaner
1/2 c rubbing alcohol
8 drops Dawn dish soap2 c warm water
Combine in a squirt bottle.

Glass Cleaner
1/4 c rubbing alcohol
1/4 c white vinegar1 TBSP cornstarch2 c warm water
Stir/shake to mix well. Use a squirt bottle for optimal usage.

Tub Cleanser
1/2 cut grapefruit
1/4 c kosher saltPlace salt directly on grapefruit half. Scrub your tub!

Grout Cleaner
1/2 c baking soda1/4 c white vinegarMix in a small, open container. Using a toothbrush, apply paste to grout and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Rinse off.

Hard Water Stain Removal
For extreme hard water stains, I would suggest pouring a little baking soda on the tough spots first, let it sit for 5 mins and rinse....then follow up with this

Fill spray bottle half full of white vinegar
add 1/4 cup lemon juice
Fill the remaining space with dishsoap of choice (I use Dawn)
Shake up that bottle and spray on those stubborn stains
Let it sit for 30 mins….and scrub that grime away!

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup all-purpose flour or white whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons coconut oil, melted and cooled to room temperature
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup shredded zucchini
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine coconut oil and sugars, mix until smooth. Add egg and vanilla extract. Next, add the shredded zucchini. Mix until combined.
Slowly add flour mixture until just combined. Stir in oats, coconut, and chocolate chips.
Drop cookie dough by heaping tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto sprayed baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are slightly golden around the edges. Remove cookies from pans; cool completely on wire racks.

Best Ever Banana Bread

Best Ever Banana Bread
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 medium ripe bananas, mashed (1 cup)
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts
In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, combine the eggs, bananas, oil, buttermilk and vanilla; add to flour mixture, stirring just until combined. Fold in nuts.
Pour into a sprayed 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Bake at 325° for 1 hour 20 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Makes 1 loaf.

Hamburger Soup

Hamburger Soup

1 lb. ground round
1 small onion, chopped
1 T. minced garlic...
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
14.5 oz. petite diced tomatoes with juice
8 oz. tomato sauce
3 1/2 C. beef broth
1 C. uncooked elbow macaroni

In a dutch oven, brown the meat (there was no grease with mine to drain, but if you have extra grease, drain it off). Add in the onion and all the seasonings. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Add in the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce and stir well. Add in the broth and macaroni. Cook, covered for 30 minutes over med. heat.

Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake

Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake
1/3 cup butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 egg white
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups fresh or frozen unsweetened blueberries
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (8 ounces) lemon yogurt
GLAZE:
1-1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Spray a 10-in. fluted tube pan. In a large bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar until blended. Slowly add eggs, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemon peel and vanilla.
Toss blueberries with 2 tablespoons flour. In another bowl, mix the remaining flour with baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with yogurt, beating after each addition just until combined. Fold in blueberry mixture.
Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing cake from pan to wire rack; cool completely.
In a small bowl, mix confectioners' sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle over cake.

Huckleberries.... a great substitute for the blueberries!!

Cinnamon Zucchini Cake

Cinnamon Zucchini Cake     from Six Sisters

3 eggs

½ cup vegetable oil

½ cup applesauce

¾ cup white sugar

¾ cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

2½ cups all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1½ teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon nutmeg

2 cups shredded zucchini

Frosting:

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese

¼ cup butter, softened

3 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13" baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Beat eggs, vegetable oil, applesauce, white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla together in a large bowl. Add in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg and mix well. Fold in zucchini and stir until completely mixed in. Pour batter into prepared 9x13" pan.

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

While the cake cools, mix together frosting ingredients and spread over the top of the cake. If desired, sprinkle the top of the cake with cinnamon and sugar.

Almond Roca

Almond Roca
1½ cups coarsely-chopped almonds
16 oz. light brown sugar
1 lb. butter
24 oz. milk chocoalte chips

Sprinkle ¾ cup coarsely chopped almonds onto the bottom of an 18x13 inch cookie sheet. Set aside.
In a 2 qt. sauce pan, combine sugar and butter over medium high heat while stirring frequently for several minutes unit bubbly and thick. Use a candy thermometer and cook until 290 degrees F. Watch carefully after 280 degrees F to prevent it from burning. Once it has reached 290 degrees F, remove from heat.
Pour candy evenly on top of the almonds in cookie sheet. Let stand for a few minutes.
Melt chocolate chips in microwave with 1 tsp. shortening or oil to help keep it smooth. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring each time, until melted and smooth.
Cover candy with layer of chocolate and sprinkle remaining almonds evenly over the top of chocolate layer.
Allow to set up, takes few hours. Place in the fridge to cool faster.
Once completely set up and hardened, break into pieces using a knife.
This recipe makes about 2 lbs of candy and is great for gifts!

Grandma's Honey Muffins

Grandma's Honey Muffins    from Taste of Home
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup 2% milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup honey
Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, combine egg, milk, butter and honey. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm.
Freeze option: Freeze cooled muffins in resealable plastic freezer bags. To use, thaw at room temperature or, if desired, microwave each muffin on high for 20-30 seconds or until heated through. Yield: 1 dozen.

Fried Rice

FRIED RICE

3 cups cooked white rice
3 tbs sesame oil
1 cup frozen peas and carrots (thawed)
1 small onion, chopped
1tsp minced garlic
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup soy sauce

On medium high heat, heat the oil in a large skillet or wok.
Add the peas carrots mix, onion and garlic. Stir fry until tender.
Lower the heat to medium low and push the mixture off to one side, then pour your eggs on the other side of skillet and stir fry until scrambled.
Now add the rice and soy sauce and blend all together well.
Stir fry until thoroughly heated. Try adding some green onion.

ADD SHRIMP OR CHICKEN FOR COMPLETE MEAL!

Creamy Dilled Cucumber Salad

Creamy Dilled Cucumber Salad    from Taste of Home
• 2 English cucumbers, thinly sliced
  1 teaspoon salt
  1-1/2 cups (12 ounces) sour cream
  1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
  1/4 cup snipped fresh dill
  2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  2 garlic cloves, minced
  1 teaspoon sugar
  1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
   Place cucumbers in a colander over a bowl; sprinkle with salt and toss. Let stand 15 minutes. Squeeze and blot dry with paper towels.
  In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; stir in cucumbers. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour. Yield: 6 servings.

Easiest Pineapple Cake

My Cousin Eilleen Waddell shared this recipe at our SCANS gathering in the Spring.  

Easiest Pineapple Cake

THERE IS NO BUTTER OR OIL IN THE CAKE, BUT, THERE IS BUTTER IN THE FROSTING

2 c. all purpose flour

2 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

Pinch salt

1 - 20 oz can of crushed pineapple ( undrained ) in it's own juice - not syrup

1 c. chopped nuts, optional

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

1/2 c butter or 1 stick

1 - 8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c.  confectioners' sugar

Coconut for garnish - optional

Preheat oven to 350 degree F.

Mix all of the cake ingredients together in a bowl. Pour into a greased 9X13 inch pan and bake at 350 for 35 - 40 minutes (until top is golden brown).
Frosting:
Beat butter, cream cheese and vanilla together until creamy. Gradually mix in powdered sugar.
Frost cake with cream cheese frosting while still warm. Sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired.