Blue Ombre Buttercream Striped Wedding Cake

by penji1
Blue Ombre Buttercream Striped Wedding Cake

Blue Ombre Buttercream Striped Wedding Cake

My first attempt at an ombre style cake and it turned out pretty good.  This is a wedding cake for my friend Sam who I’ve known since she was a little girl.  It was so fun to make this cake for her and to be a part of her wedding day.

The cake was a Funfetti cake from this recipe here.

The frosting was my favorite buttercream from this recipe here.

The frosting was colored with the Wilton Performance Color System which you can check out here.

Here’s another look at the cake so you can see the ombre better on the top tier but you can also see the crack from traveling or decorating, I’m not sure.

Blue Ombre Buttercream Striped Wedding Cake

Blue Ombre Buttercream Striped Wedding Cake

Congratulations to Sam and Jonah!

Sparkling Citrus Punch

by penji1
Citrus Punch

Sparkling Citrus Punch

Easy peasy lemon sueezy punch recipe!

52 oz cold Simply Lemonade

52 oz cold Simply Limeade

2 liter cold bottle of Sprite or 7Up

sliced lemons and limes, seeded

ice

Combine all ingredients in punch bowl and party on!

recipe from The Frugal Girls

Amish Friendship Muffins

by penji1
Amish Friendship Muffins

Amish Friendship Muffins

My daughter Courtney and I hosted a bridal shower last night for our good friend Sam so I decided to make these muffins since she was going to be surrounded by friends at the shower.  They were delicious.

muffins

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cups sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup buttermilk

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

cinnamon and sugar mixture

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1  Preheat oven to 350.  Line muffin pan with paper liners.

2  Cream butter, sugar, vanilla and egg together.  Add  milk, flour and baking soda.  Do not over mix, mix just until combined.

3  Mix together sugar and cinnamon in separate bowl.

4  Fill each muffin cup with half the batter, sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar, fill with remaining batter to fill each cup to almost the top then sprinkle with remaining cinnamon/sugar.

5  Bake 20 – 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in batter comes out clean.

recipe from The Semisweet Sisters

Homemade Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats

by penji1
Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Homemade Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats

These were such a hit with the dog squad that I had to make another batch almost immediately after the first.

1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats

1 banana

1/2 cup peanut butter, without xylitol

1  Preheat oven to 350.

2  Grind oats in food processor until they are powder.

3  Slice banana and add it and peanut butter to oat powder in food processor.

4  Process until well blended and starting to come together in a ball in the processor.

5  You can roll these out and cut with cookie cutters or you can press them into a silicone mold.

6  Bake for 10 – 15 minutes or until just starting to brown.

recipe adapted from Three Little Ferns

One Sweet Festival Review

by penji1
One Sweet Festival

One Sweet Festival

My daughter Courtney and I went to the One Sweet Festival last week and had a great time.  I would like to have sampled every vendor there but both my wallet and my waistline prevented me from doing so.  Nevertheless, we did do some sampling so away we go!

Pop' n Dot

Pop’ n Dot

We started off with a free drink from Pop’ n Dot which was awesome because it was a hot day.

Pop' n Dot

Pop’ n Dot

I had a Diet Coke with Vanilla and Cort had some pink, fruity thing.

Dough Gods

Dough Gods

Next we hit up Dough Gods because I’ve been wanting to try edible cookie dough.

Dough Gods

Dough Gods

And it did not disappoint!  We got a salted caramel cookie dough with toffee bits and it was really good, really sweet but for me that’s a win!

Momo's Gourmet Cheesecakes

Momo’s Gourmet Cheesecakes

Then we skipped over to Momo’s cheesecakes because that is one of Cort’s favorite desserts.

Momo's Gourmet Cheesecakes

Momo’s Gourmet Cheesecakes

We got 4 mini cheesecakes – 1 raspberry lime, 1 peanut butter cup and 2 Samoas, I was told they were delicious, I let Cort have mine.

Lisa's Passion for Popcorn

Lisa’s Passion for Popcorn

We finished up with a bag of sugar cookie popcorn from Lisa’s Passion for Popcorn which was also yummy!

All in all it was great time with my girl.  Like I said, we would like to have tried every vendor there but you know – money and calories!  Thank you One Sweet Festival for the “VIP” early entrance!

Lemon Zucchini Cake

by penji1
Lemon Zucchini Cake

Lemon Zucchini Cake

Zucchini season is almost over people, I think we’re going to make it!  I made this cake for my friend Kent who gave me air conditioning at work in the most improbable situation so I promised him cake.  Thanks Kent!

cake

1 1/2 cups sugar

3/4 cup canola oil

3 eggs

1 tablespoon lemon zest

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 teaspoon lemon extract

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini

frosting

2 cups powdered sugar

2 – 3 tablespoons lemon juice

1  For the cake, preheat oven to 325.  Spray a bundt pan with cooking spray for baking.

2  Beat together sugar, oil and eggs until well blended.  Add in lemon zest, lemon juice and lemon extract and beat well.

3  Add in flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Beat for 2 – 3 minutes.  Fold in shredded zucchini.

4  Pour into prepared pan.  Bake 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool in pan 10 – 15 minutes before removing.  Allow to cool completely before frosting.

5  For the frosting, whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth.  Add more or less juice for desired consistency.  Pour over top of cake, allowing to drip down sides.

recipe from Shugary Sweets

Death By Chocolate Zucchini Bread

by penji1
Death By Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Death By Chocolate Zucchini Bread

But, on the upside, you would die happy and full of chocolate!

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup flour

2 cups grated zucchini

1 cup chocolate chips

1  Preheat oven to 350.  Spray loaf pan with cooking spray for baking.

2  Whisk together butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and cocoa.  Stir in baking soda, baking powder, salt and flour.  Fold in zucchini and chocolate chips.

3  Pour into prepared pan and bake for 45 – 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

4  Let cool 10 – 15 minutes before removing from pan.

recipe from Mindee’s Cooking Obsession

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Brownies

by penji1
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Brownies

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Brownies

If you follow my blog then you know that I have a thing for baking with zucchini.  My favorite zucchini recipe is this Blue Ribbon Zucchini Bread and after much research and taste testing, I have finally found my #2, this recipe right here.  It’s to die for and if you don’t tell anyone that there is zucchini in them, they will never know!

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil

2 cups flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 cups shredded zucchini

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/4 cups chocolate chips

1  Preheat oven to 350.  Grease 9 x 13″ pan with cooking spray.

2  Beat together sugar, oil and flour until it resembles wet sand.  On low, add cocoa, zucchini, vanilla, salt and baking soda and beat until well combined.  Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips.

3  Pour batter into prepared pan and sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips.  Bake 28 – 32 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

recipe from Two Peas and their Pod

Italian Zucchini Bread

by penji1
Italian Zucchini Bread

Italian Zucchini Bread

There is just no end to the ways to use zucchini which is lucky for me because my Jurassic Park zucchini plant likes to grow them big!

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon oregano or Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dried minced onion flakes

1 cup butermilk

1 stick butter, melted

2 eggs

1 cup shredded zucchini

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1  Preheat oven to 350.  Spray loaf pan with cooking spray for baking.

2  In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, oregano, garlic powder and onion flakes.

3  In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, melted butter and eggs.

4  Add wet ingredients to dry and stir together just until combined.  Fold in zucchini and cheese.

5  Bake for 55 – 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center.  Let cool for 10 – 15 minutes before removing from pan.

recipe from The Southern Lady Cooks

Fudgy Chocolate Zucchini Bread

by penji1
Fudgy Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Fudgy Chocolate Zucchini Bread

We plated two zucchini plants in our garden and one died.  The surviving one looks like something that belongs in Jurassic Park, it’s massive and apparently trying to  make up for the loss of it’s companion because it’s producing these massive zucchinis that are really only fit for bread and baked goods so buckle up followers and let the zucchini recipes take over!  This one was delicious by the way.

1 cup flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup olive or canola oil

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups packed shredded zucchini1

1 1/4 cups chocolate chips, divided

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1  Preheat oven to 350.  Grease loaf pan with cooking spray for baking.

2  Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.

3  In another bowl, whisk together brown sugar, butter, oil, eggs and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir together just until combined.

4  Add zucchini, 1 cup chocolate chips and walnuts and fold into batter.

5  Pour batter into prepared pan, sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips and bake for 50 – 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

6  Remove bread from oven to wire cooling rack and let rest for 15 minutes before removing from pan.

recipe from Sweet and Savory Meals