Friday 29 July 2016

cake and sweet treats

I planted four zucchini plants in my garden. One died. Two shriveled up, but with lots of water, they are growing more leaves, although they still have a ways to go. The fourth zucchini plant thrived and is producing. So what's a girl to do? Make cake.


Four cups of shredded zucchini, along with some other ingredient are about to be mixed together.


I know a lot of people probably have online recipes and things saved in "favourites", but I'm still old fashioned. Even if I save a recipe from some place on the internet, if I like it, I will still write it up on a recipe card. I wish I could give credit to someone for this recipe, but I can't remember from where I got it.


I made it into two cakes this time, instead of one big 9 x 7 pan. I froze the little one to have on hand, just in case. This cake doesn't get iced. Cakes that you don't put icing on, and that you eat while still warm remind me of Duncan Hines Snack n Cakes. Do you remember those? My mother would keep one or two boxes on hand for a quick fix.


The cake ends up being pretty moist and dense. Without the chocolate chips, it would be rather boring and not too sweet at all, so I always add the chocolate chips. I remember my in-laws always saying about dessert, "Well, you wouldn't want it too sweet." And I would be thinking in my head, "Actually, that's exactly how you would want it. Isn't dessert supposed to be sweet??" Honestly, I don't think I've met a dessert that wasn't "too sweet"!!

I have a serious sweet tooth. My drug of choice is almost always chocolate, my favourite being chocolate covered almonds, or peanuts. The other night, we were in town because the husband and I had to look at some things at Home Depot for the bathroom that is now/still under construction (remember that??), and then he went to Princess Auto where he likes to be alone, so the kids and I went to a dollar store type place and got some treats. My son chose Nibs. If you don't know what Nibs are, they are little bite sized red pieces of licorice. But they taste like all of the most horrible cherry flavoured cough syrup moments you have ever had. He kept trying to tempt me to eat one. I can't even stand the smell of them. I told him I would only eat one if I was in a life and death situation, where I would most certainly die if I didn't eat one. Only then, would I eat a Nib.

It's funny how people have different tastes and preferences when it comes to treats and desserts. My daughter was remembering how when we were at my parents' home (Grandma and Grandpa) my father would offer them candy and she always wanted the blue one (and at this point, my son chimed in with the same sentiment) and she would always try it, and it would always be the same disappointment. She was talking about Licorice Allsorts, my father's favourite candy. The 'blue ones' were the little bead covered candies that were jellified licorice (i.e. black licorice flavour) on the inside. Both kids ended up laughing over that shared memory of childhood letdown. Oh, how they suffered...

18 comments:

  1. I love the memory your children have of the licorice candies. So funny. My dad would have those hard caramel drops. Your bread looks very tasty. I would love a big buttery slice at breakfast with coffee. Blessings for a great weekend, xoxo, Susie

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    1. I love the flavor of caramel, but not a big fan of hard candies. Have a great weekend, too, Susie! -Jenn

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  2. Your chocolate zucchini cake looks WONDERFUL! I haven't made zucchini bread (or cake) in ever so long. I know my husband would love this recipe of yours because he's the one in the family with the (chocolate) sweet tooth. I've always been fond of sweet breads and would gladly eat a slice (or two) for breakfast but that man I live with doesn't think that's a proper breakfast. Hmmmm, wonder if I could tempt him with the chocolate zucchini bread??

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    1. It sounds like your husband is more of an eggs for breakfast kind of guy?

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  3. HAHAHA...I laughed out loud with your remark about Nibs. I guess it's an acquired taste :)

    This post was so much fun to read. Memories, humour, etc...a lot of good stuff!

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    1. Thanks Martha. You make me laugh, too, especially on Mondays.

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  4. Licorice all Sorts! Blech! They look so good but they are one of the nastier foods on the planet.

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  5. I love this post!
    Big fan of licorice allsorts myself.
    Oh I had a good laugh about the Princess Auto comment. LOLOLOL......I HATE going into that place so my fellow either has alone time, or one on one time with his father who loves it as much as I hate it. I wish PA was beside IKEA because they hate it as much as I hate PA so it would be a perfect trade off wouldn't it?

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    1. Oh, then you would have gotten on well with my father! I get it about hating Princess Auto! There is a Winner's close to the one my husband goes to, so I can browse around there. No IKEA any where close to where we live!

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  6. Chocolate saves anything, even the bland and tasteless zucchini! What I really like is your casserole dish....

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    1. The dish is from a set purchased by my MIL from the Home Shopping Network (like the U.S. one, but just based out of Canada).

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  7. I made one today.. It looked like shit but tasted divine

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  8. Your cake looks delicious! I agree with you.....desserts should be sweet!

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  9. What a great post! This is so true how even candy can evoke a sweet memory! I adore zucchini cake and yours looks divine! This reminded me of how my grandmother kept maple nut goodies in a glass candy bowl for us. Love how your chidren have their favorites...

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  10. I went into a Princess Auto once unaccompanied looking for a gift for husband. I think I was the only woman in there and I was seriously out of place. The men there were wondering around with their mouths hanging open like they were in some kind of stupor.. I haven't been back again. Those beaded all sorts are the worst.

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  11. Over here in France they make grated Zuccini Omelettes. Personally I find them a bit dull, but they are very popular.

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