zucCHIni part 3, and some other stuff

I told you there would be a plethora of posts on zucchini. As there is still half of the foot and a half long zucchini brought to me the other day. 

Today's recipe? Zucchini brownies.

Now, before you get all wow-veggies-and-desserts-DO-NOT-mix on me, this recipe was recommended to me by the entire Marketing department at work. As in, multiple of them have made this recipe and they have all consumed them. So I figured I'd give it a shot. Because honestly, I had the aforementioned attitude about desserts and veggies.

But these brownies... wow. I mean, WOW. You honestly cannot even tell there is zucchini in them. They are so good. Delicious. Delectable. Out of this world. They had better have them in heaven...

So here's the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cups shredded zucchini
• 1/2 walnuts

Frosting

• 6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 9x13-inch baking pan.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and 2 tsp vanilla until well blended. Combine flour, 1/2 cup cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Fold in the zucchini and walnuts. Spread evenly into the prepared pan (I omitted the nuts).

3. Bake for 25-30 minutes in the preheated oven, until brownies spring back when gently touched. 

4. Frosting: In a medium bowl, melt together the 6 tbsp cocoa and margarine; set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, blend the powdered sugar, milk, and 1/2 tsp vanilla. Stir in the cocoa mixture. Spread over cooled brownies before cutting into squares.

Nutritional Information

209 calories per serving. (Except I didn't get how many servings it is... I'll look for it.)

Okay, for reals. They look amazing don't they?! 

Feel free to compliment my amazing baking skills.

So other stuff: while these were in the oven, Sean came over for dinner (as he does every night), and surprised me with flowers! So sweet :)

Then we made grilled cheese and tomato soup and side salads. 

While we were making the salads, Sean decided to whittle a snowman out of a carrot. 

Seriously? He is so talented.

Isn't that little guy so cute? I had a hard time eating him, until he got covered in ranch dressing and I couldn't really see his face anymore.

In other news, this is what else we've been up to lately:

A trip to the ER for a torn AC and less than a week later, a crippling head cold that went to my lungs and triggered my asthma. Love it...

zucCHIni! part 2..

So remember my post awhile back about the zucchini that my coworker brought me? Yeah, she has brought me two more. And one is GINORMOUS. Seriously. So I looked for zucchini recipes the other day and came across this one.

And let me tell you. The batter had me wishing I hadn't put it into the bread pans. It is so good. So, so good. I had batter all over me... my face, my shirt, my hair...

Just in the oven. Only 45 minutes to go...

The bigger pans needed about 20 minutes longer than the little pans. Oh, slightly important side note: I doubled the recipe.

Voila! It was delicious.

Stay tuned for more zucchini recipe adventures. I still have the massive zucchini my coworker brought me the other day. Cake and brownies. Mmmmm bring on the calories...

P.S. For all the healthier-than-me eaters out there, the recipe (found on allrecipes.com) has a bunch of comments from people with modifications to make it healthier. I will be trying them. Someday...

you're full of crepe...

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day...

I agree. Breakfast is my favorite.

But who you eat with makes it so much better.

Thanks for breakfast Sean!

"He also brightens our summers."

I can't say it any better than this.

I love President Monson, and I can't wait for General Conference October 1 & 2.

count your blessings...

I guess that's what this post is. I was stressing about who knows what this morning. It was getting bad. So I decided to make a list of the things that are good today.

- I haven't had to leave a lot of messages at work today because the leads are super old.
- I get to go to Seven Peaks tonight for the first time this summer. (Thanks Kelly!) (And yes, first time. That's on the bad list actually. But I'm not even going to start on that list.)
- I get to play soccer tonight. Which basically translates to I get to run around and pretend like I know what I'm doing and get really good exercise.
- Sean sent me a really pretty song to listen to. really pretty. really really pretty. also classical music rocks.
- I remembered about 15 minutes ago that I put the Pride & Prejudice soundtrack on my phone the other day. That always calms me down. Commence repeat listening for the rest of work NOW
- The weather in Utah is gorgeous right now. I wish it would stick.
- The mountains are beautiful and every day on my walks I just look up at them in awe.
- We are getting free lunch at work. From the Smoking Apple. Free sweet potato fries! (Yes, I caved. They are delicious. And no, I do not feel bad.)
- One of the temple workers yesterday told me I have really pretty eyes. Thanks! It made my night!
- I don't have to work tomorrow, as I am going to CA for my sister's wedding. Which means, no work for 5 whole days. Five! Hellooooo LA, Bakersfield, King City, and San Francisco! (I usually travel from one end of the state to the other...)
- The shorts I am wearing today I didn't have to unbutton to pull on. Which reminded me that I accomplished my goal of losing 10 pounds before my sister's wedding. Can I put this twice? Because it makes me really proud. Like I actually accomplished something I've been trying/not really trying for years.
- I get to spend an entire weekend with these people:

And that is just the most wonderful blessing right now. See you in 24 hours family!