e
Big plants with plenty of blossoms- but no zucchini-
until now! And it is such a huge one that I used it to make
creamed zucchini soup and chocolate zucchini cake.
They both turned out great! I haven’t made anything out of
zucchini for years because I generally love it sauteed with onions-
but I don’t use the huge ones – I usually get to them when they are
still small and tender.
Here are the recipes
Zucchini Soup creamed
Ingredients:
3 cups of zucchini chunks
1 large onion, chunked
1-2 TBS olive oil
4 cups chicken broth
1 generous pinch saffron
salt and pepper- to taste
1 cup half and half
garlic croutons
Method:
Sautee zucchini and onion in oil until tender.
Pour broth over top, sprinkle saffron on top, add salt and pepper
and cover with lid and allow to simmer for about 20- 25 minutes.
Uncover pan, stir and spear to make sure it is fork tender.
You can put in a processor or use a wand type blender at this point-
– however you choose, reduce the contents
into a thick liquid, add the half and half
and bring ALMOST to a boil.
Ladle into cup or bowl, add garlic croutons and enjoy! This is the one
soup that Frank gives me the compliment of calling gourmet! LOL!
It is really good, but very simple.
This cake makes my grandson’s eyes light up. He wears it after eating it
AND it is healthier than most. It is my daughter-in-law, Willow’s recipe
and so good!
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup softened butter
!/2 cup buttermilk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup chocolate chips
Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 9×13 pan.
Mix together flour, cocoa,soda and powder and salt in large bowl.
Cream sugars into butter , add eggs and mix together well.
Add vanilla, buttermilk and zucchini, then slowly mix in dry
ingredients. When batter is completely moistened, add chocolate
chips and pour batter into 9×13 pan. Bake for 45 minutes and then
put on rack to cool.
Slice into squares and either sprinkle with 10x powdered sugar OR
top off with marscapone cheese with raspberry preserves blended in
and whipped cream and raspberries!
Either way- this is delicious!
Pingback: Zucchini= TWO recipes-soup and cake – Steps On the Journey | American Cooking Recipes
Both sound delicious, Heidi! I wish we could grow zucchinis. Maybe this year we’ll make it work and then I can try your fantastic looking soup.. 🙂
Celia- I only got 1 -ONE – zucchini from 3 plants!?
They have flowers and I could deepfry them- but I wanted some actual vegetable from the plants.
I was gone for a week and when I came back- there was this big bat!
So we aren’t doing very well this year either!
Loved the cake. Didn’t try the soup. If memory serves, I’m sure it was great. I happy you like to share with me. I enjoy it all.
I forgot to give you some soup!
I had it packaged up for you and stored in the fridge!
Sorry- come over and get some!
Heidi I think any cake that a kid is happy to wear, has got to be a hit!
Especially with mascarpone raspberries on top- oh la la.
It is really a good cake! I thought it might be a little dense with all whole wheat flour- but it is perfect!
And I love those pictures of Aidan with the cake smeared all over! He talked about that cake for a good week after it was gone
I love zucchini but never thought of using them to make soup as I normally grill them in a barbie or roast. Must be delicious with those garlic croutons too. Your grandson is absolutely adorable and looks like he has approved the recipes! 🙂 🙂
Chopin- that is how I usually eat zucchini- grilled, sauteed or roasted! But when they get this big they need to be grated or simmered down to size! I added a little Romano cheese shaved on top of my croutons to my cup of soup- it was Perfect!
Thank you- he did approve the cake- the soup? Not so much.
OK I just want to say that I LOVE your blog and try recipes from it in my small little toaster oven and stove in Yokosuka, Japan. I think this soup is amazing and wonderful – doesn’t even really need the cream. Thanks for all of the great recipes! I plan on trying the cake with my friends on monday when they come over for wine and cheese.
Meredith- I DO LOVE hearing from you!
And I am so pleased that you read and try and love my posted recipes!
I think of you often as I write them up!
Don’t you just love the picture of Aidan enjoying the cake?!