KICKED UP CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI CAKE

1 1/2 sticks of soften butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups zucchini finely grated
2/3 cup coco powder
2 cups flour
1tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp instant espresso
1 cup chocolate chips.

Cream sugar and butter together. Then add your eggs( one at a time ) .  Next add your vanilla and zucchini. Mix well. Combined all your dry ingredients together except the choc chip and add to the wet mixture. Stir well then add your chocolate chip. Pour into a greased baking pan. Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 min. Or in till a toothpick comes out batter free. You will have a little choc on it from the chocolate chips.
This cake doesn't need icing . If you like just sprinkle with a little power sugar.

The basic recipe came fro Noreen's Kitchen . But I did kick it up with added ingredients.
You can find Noreen's cooking videos on you tube.

I have been asked for this recipe several times , so I decided to add it to my blog  to save me the time of writing it out over and over again.
 Plus this way I can't lose it by stuffing the recipe into one of my cookbooks .

Cleo's story and boxes

 This is my baby Cleopatches. She is named after( my love ) Patches. Patches died about 4 years ago. To this day I still miss her. After her passing I swear I would never get that close to animal again. Then two years ago I walked into our neighborhood book store and lost my heart. The book store sales new and used books, they also had a corner for cats that were up for adoption. I would go there at least 3 to 4 times a month for books and yes to pet the cats. But I always walked out with out one. I just couldn't bring myself to want another cat.

Then this little thing happened. I was petting the cats,  which I normally did. Then I picked this one up. She went right to my shoulder and curled up into my neck and started purring. My husband turned and walked away. The next thing I know my husband had adopted the cat without even asking me. When I asked him why ? All he said was " If you could of seen your face "
The lady came to take her from my shoulder to weight  her. It was all I could do not to grab her and make her give the cat back to me. That's when the light went off in my head to say "Yes Michelle you have lost your heart again to a cat."
Cleo is not Patches,( No cat could ever replace her ) The one thing they both do share is their independence and stubborn streak.

Cleo loves boxes! Any box works for her be it small or big. This is where her stubborn streak come in. It doesn't matter how many times you take her out of the box she will just get back in. After about the tenth time of trying to get her out of the box I usually give up.  When she is ready and only when she is ready does she come out.  Her independence runs into other areas as well. She only gets petted on her terms and only gives you attention when she is feeling generous. I was hoping that she would be as loving as patches was. But my husband reminded me that Patches was the same way when she was younger. Cleo does have to be where I am . She is always close by, so here's hoping.
Patches will always be my love,but Cleo girl you are a very close second.

 My Love Patches

30 dollar DIY Animal Feeder

 

 

 What a great and cheap way to make a feeder for your animals.

 

It only took about 2 hours to build.

Do you have some small critters that like to waste hay... or won't eat it after it has gotten wet? This project just might save you some cash.

1. Cut barrel in half.
2. Build 2 end frames. The uprights are 48" (1 8' 2x4 cut in half for each pair of legs).
3. The bottom support for the base is 32" and the legs are 16" apart (outside dimension).
4. The 2 cross rail supports that hold the bottom barrel are 42" long and mounted at 10" from the ground (top of the 2x4 is at 10"). This puts the edge of the barrel at about 18" and was a good height for my goats to reach into.
5. Place barrel half on cross rail supports and screw 16" 2x4 above each side of the barrel (inside the legs). Drill holes in the bottom of barrel for rain drainage if it will be outside.
6. Mount a 39" flat-face-up 2x4 on top of the ones holding the barrel in place.
7. Cut your stockade/wire panel pieces. Mine are 20" tall and 36" long for the main panels and 20" tall by 12" wide on the ends.
8. Mount 2 42" long cross rails at the height to catch the top of the wire panel (I didn't measure, just lined it up).

9. Use U nails (fencing nails, chicken wire nails, etc) to secure all wire panels in place).
10. Place in goat pen and fill with hay. Note- this is a critical step.
11. Put other half of barrel on top, upside down. Secure with a bungee cord over the top.

credit: backyardherds.com

Drying my own seeds.

  This will be the first year I will be  drying my own seeds for next year. So far I have seeds from my peas, beans, zucc, and corn dried.  I would love to be able to use my own seeds instead of buying them.

I went to Home Depot for the wood and screen to make a drying frame. I was in the screen department when I found this window screen. It turned out to be the best drying screen ever.  If you have a lot to dry it pulls out to double in size. Plus the best part is the wood and screen would of cost me about 15 dollars, this was only 7 dollars.  Now it's just waiting till next year to see if it worked.

Farm Boys parady to Roar. A smile for your day

Canning Zucchini

My wonderful friend Debbie showed me how to can Zucchini. I couldn't believe how easy it was. You start out the same way you do for any canning. Sterilize pint jars and rings.
Then just shred the Zucchini and place in jars.(  You can add salt if you like ,I don't. )
NOTE:  If your Zucchini is dry add a little water. With fresh Zucchini from the garden you shouldn't need to do this.( It will make it's own moister.)

I put two and half cups in each jar since that's what most of my recipe call for.
 Wipe around the lid of the jar to make sure there is no food or juice on top of the jar.
 If your Zucchini is dry add a little water. With fresh Zucchini from the garden you shouldn't need to do this.( It will make it's own moister.)
 Screw your lids and rings on to jar.
Process for 30 min at 12 pounds. This is for pint jars.


FOOT NOTE: I try a jar that Debbie had canned last year. It worked great in my bread. Since she used salt in her jars I did omit the salt from the bread recipe.