Turkish Zucchini Squares

This was inspired by an old Turkish Cooking book I picked up at Half-Price Books 10 yrs. ago. They're good at room temperature and reheat well.

Turkish Zucchini Squares

2 cups grated zucchini
2 eggs
handful of chopped mint
handful of chopped parsley
1 cup grated swiss or muenster cheese
1/2 cup feta
1/2 cup flour
salt and pepper to taste
dash cayenne or hot sauce(optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grate zucchini - 2 large or 4 small in a large bowl
Add eggs, mint, parsley, cheeses. Add flour a little at a time, mixing well.
If mixture seems too thin, add a little more flour.
Add salt and pepper - start with 1/4 tsp. of salt and 1/4 tsp. of pepper. (remember the cheeses have a lot of salt.) Add cayenne if using.
Spray a square 9 by 9 inch baking pan with cooking spray.
Pour mixture into the pan and spread evenly.
Bake 45 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean.
Cook into squares to serve warm or at room temperature.

Sweet and Salty Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

Another new recipe. Hard to go wrong with chocolate. I've only made this once and hubby's co-workers ate it. Still...
Some things I might try next time:
Maybe add some rice krispies to the oatmeal mixture.
A wee bit less sugar and less salt.
Different flavored chips

Sweet & Salty Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

2 cups quick-cooking or regular oats (NOT instant)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
4-6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
Chopped nuts (optional)

Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips.
Spread in greased square 9 by 9 inch pan.
Bake until bubbly, about 8 minutes, then remove from oven.
Immediately sprinkle with the chips.
Let stand until chocolate softens, about 5 minutes.
Spread evenly. Sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired.
Let cool for a few minutes then refrigerate for at least one hour.
Cut into bars. Best stored in the refrigerator.

It's started - What to Do with the Zucchini?

The following is a recipe I have made several times and consider a "keeper" - I have used both green and yellow squash. This bread is very moist and a treat for the chocolate lovers.

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

1 1/2 cups grated zucchini
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup oil
1/2 vanilla yogurt
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 chopped walnuts (optional)
1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used the dark chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix the zucchini, sugar, oil, yogurt and egg in a bowl
Mix the flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cocoa, and cinnamon in another bowl.
Mix the wet and dry ingredients.
Mix in the nuts (if using) and chocolate chips.
Pour the batter into a greased 5 by 9 inch loaf pan.
Bake in 350 oven until a toothpick pushed into the center comes out clean, about 55-70 minutes.

Note: If you grate your zucchini in a food processor, do not over-process or you will have zucchini slosh! It is best to drain the grated zucchini, although when I use my old "Salad Shooter" that I got as a wedding gift 20 yrs. ago, draining is not necessary.

Too Much Time in Texas? - Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches Cake

Cake:

6 large eggs, separated
2 cups sugar (I used  1 3/4 cups)
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup whole milk (I only had skim so that is what I used)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream Topping

(I was stuck at the house with no car and no heavy whipping cream. So mine was a dos leches, not tres)

1 14 ounce can evaporated milk (I had fat-free. 2% would have been better)
1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk (you can buy lower-fat versions, but really, this is a dessert)
1 cup heavy cream (there is no real substitute for heavy cream, and not having any I did not even attempt to use anything else)

Icing: (I used Reddi-Whip. You could go with Cool-Whip, if you like it)

Most recipes call for what is better known as Seven-Minute Frosting. If you want to go that route - I didn't have the patience - you can google it.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 by 13 baking pan.
In the bowl of a mixer, beat the egg whites on low speed until soft peaks form. Add the sugar with the mixer running until stiff peaks. Add the egg yolks, beating well.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour and baking powder. Add to the egg mixture, alternating with the milk. Add vanilla. Do this quickly, do not overbeat. Bake until golden, around 25 minutes.
Cool the pan on a rack for 10 minutes while you making the topping:
In a blender, combine the milk, the cream, and the sweetened condensed milk on high speed until well-blended.
Poke holes in the cake all over - I used a straw. Pour the topping on the cake. When the cake cools to room temperature, cover and refrigerate until chilled, 4 hours or overnight.
Do not add icing, Reddi-Whip or Cool-Whip until ready to serve.

Sliced fresh fruit such as strawberries would be an attractive addition.

Not Unhealthy Oatmeal Cake

Still experimenting with baking. Saw this recipe in the Penzy's catalog and it reminded of a cake I frequently made when I was a teenager. I cut back on the sugar and used unsweetened coconut. You probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry and so it's a good choice when you need to bring something to a potluck or you want something sweet with no fuss. And oatmeal is a whole grain, right?

Not Unhealthy Oatmeal Cake

Cake:
1 cup quick-cooking or regular oats
1 1/4 cups boiling water
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup sugar (I used 3/4)
1 cup brown sugar (I used 3/4)
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon

Topping:

1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup heavy cream (I used 2% evaporated milk)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup shredded coconut (I used Bob's Red Mill dried unsulfured, unsweetened coconut)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or use cooking spray for a 9x13 pan - use a baking pan, not a glass casserole dish, as the topping will need to be broiled briefly.
Combine oats with the boiling water in a medium bowl and let stand for 5-10 minutes until soft and water is absorbed.
Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, cream the sugars and the butter till fluffy. Add the oats and mix. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix very well.
In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, soda salt and cinnamon. Gradually add to the oats/sugar mixture and mix well.
Pour into pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until knife comes out clean.
Turn on the broiler. In a separate bowl, combine the topping ingredients and mix well. Spread evenly over the warm cake (if you like a lot of icing, you may want to double the ingredients. ) Place the cake under the broiler 2 inches from the heat and broil until lightly browned.

How to REALLY Win Friends and Influence People

I've been trying to do more baking. I haven't given up on the healthy food, but when it comes to cooking for others, it seems baked goods are always appreciated. (and eaten)
The following recipes got good feedback.

This brownie recipe is more cake-like. It's not a gooey, fudge-like brownie, but definitely rich.

Double-Chocolate Brownies

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup unsweetned cocoa
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
2/3 cup chocolate morsels
a dash of salt, if you must

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating just until blended.
Add cocoa and vanilla; beat at low speed 1 minute. Gradually add flour, mixing well.
Stir in morsels and nuts (if using) into a greased 13x9 inch pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes. Cool completely before cutting.

The following recipe is from a worn church cookbook dating back 30 yrs. that features recipes from family members.

Lemon Buttermilk Pound Cake

1 cup shortening
3 cups cake flour
3 cups sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 tsp. baking soda
5 eggs
2 Tbsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbsp. lemon extract

The secret is mixing buttermilk and soda with mixer, set aside.
Cream sugar and shortening with a mixer until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. add buttermilk and flavorings. Add flour. Bake in bundt pan. Do not preheat oven. Bake at 325 degrees fro 1 1/2 hours or until toothpick comes out clean.

My Favorite Bread Machine Recipe (so far)

I have left the bread making up to hubby for so long, I about forgot we had a machine. Since he has not shown in interest in over a year, I have been experimenting with different recipes. One I have used several times with tasty results:

Rosemary Bread (for a one pound loaf)

3/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons cornmeal
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary (I use more)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (of course I use more)
2 dashes hot sauce
1 teaspoon  active dry yeast

I put wet ingredients in first, then dry. Follow the directions of your bread machine.