Zucchini Brownies with Chocolate Buttermilk Drizzle

Good afternoon everyone! Hope everyone is having great gardening and tablescaping adventures this week. I have been in the garden and taking my baked goods to the farmer's market each Saturday. I have been so busy that I have been neglecting my dishes and blogging. Whats been keeping you busy? I can't wait to get caught up on all my blog reading. I have missed everyone.

It has been so long since I posted a recipe. After all I did start this as a blog for my baking. So I better get to posting about all the baking that goes on around here. My zucchini's are not producing yet, as a matter of fact I just found the first of the blooms today. But I have found some wonderful zucchini's from other gardeners.

I thought this would be a perfect recipe to share with you all.

Zucchini Brownies


Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking dish

11/2 cups sugar
3/4 cups canola oil
2 teaspoons of vanilla
2 cups grated zucchini
2 cups flour
1/3 cup of cocoa
11/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon of salt

Whisk sugar,oil,vanilla and zucchini till blended. Stir in remaining ingredients and spread into a greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Cool brownies.

Glaze
3 Tablespoons melted butter
3 Tablespoons cocoa
2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons of buttermilk
pinch of salt
Stir together cocoa and butter. Add powdered sugar beat till smooth while adding buttermilk then add pinch of salt. Drizzle over brownies. Enjoy the amazingness!

These are so super easy to make and if you are not a zucchini lover you will be surprised how chewy and cakey these are with out a taste of the zucchini. The kids can not get enough of these. They still don't believe I put zucchini in them. They are very popular at the market also.

I hope you will give them a try, you will not be sorry!

Have a wonderful week and I can't wait to stop in and see what all you bloggers have been up to!

Harvest Monday With Peas

Happy Monday! Today I am going to link up with one of the most amazing gardeners and bloggers, Daphne over at Daphne's Dandelions. Make sure you hop on over there and see what all the gardening bloggers are harvesting this week. Thank you again Daphne for hosting, I look forward to every Monday!

My Asian snow peas have finally pulled out of their dilemma and are producing. These guys were left a bit to long before harvest, got a bit busy and almost forgot them. Never the less they are crunchy and sweet, I cant wait to get them in a stir fry. They are a bit curled, not sure why. This is the first time I have had this happen. It was very hot, dry and windy. If anyone know what's up with them I would appreciate any feedback. They were suffering some ailment. I treated them with a solution of milk and water and baking soda. It seemed to work.

I have finally harvested all my greens. I am sad to see them go but we will have salads for another week or two. I will  just support my other local gardeners and buy my greens at the market. How's things going in your garden?

Have a wonderful week! See you all next Monday!

Harvest Monday Again!

Happy Monday All! We are finally out of the 4 days of rain and cold! Thank Goodness! I hope everyone is enjoying time in their garden today. Especially those of you who were sidelined all weekend.

Make sure you hop on over to Daphne's Dandelions and see what all the wonderful gardeners who participate are harvesting. Leave them a comment. Bloggers love comments!

This is my harvest for this week. Two heads of butter crunch lettuce. I should have took the picture before I hacked them to bits but I was so excited for my first head lettuce harvest. Next time I will try to compose myself .(snicker!) Don't worry, I won't quit my day job.

Thank you again for stopping by! Also a super big THANKS to Daphne for hosting! Tell her how FAB her gardening is too!!!! See everyone next week. Happy Gardening!

Garden Update and My First Harvest Monday.

Good Morning All. Thanks for stopping by. I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Mother's Day. I sure did!

It's Monday again and that means it's Harvest Monday at Daphne's Dandelions. Make sure you stop by to see this wonderful blog! I'm so excited to be able to participate for the first time. There are a wonderful bunch of gardeners who drop in each week to show their harvests! You don't want to miss this I assure you!

This my first harvest from my little 20x 30 garden plot. I have just recently got back into gardening and it has been so much fun. These radishes are called Cherry Belle. They are doubly yummy cause I grew them myself. My kids are not radish lovers but are eating them and liking them. All because they helped mom grow them. Truly amazing what gardening can do!

To my followers, I hope you haven't given up on me. I am getting back to my regular postings of tablescapes and recipes soon too. I got very busy with the farmer's market season kicking off early and having way too much fun outside in the garden. Hopefully I will gain some wonderful gardening bloggers as well!

Have a wonderful week. Can't wait to see what's "growin' on" in everyones garden!

Spring Fever and Seedling Love

Happy Thursday All! Thanks for stopping by. I didn't get around to doing a tablescape this week because I was outside enjoying the weather and getting my garden ready. But the wacky Missouri weather and Mother Nature have decided winter can rear its ugly head once more. So, back to 40 degree temps for a another week or so.

I thought I would show you a few things popping up inside. I have ordered a few plants and started some seeds. I don't usually have much luck starting tomatoes from seed so I will have some plants for back up. These beauties are Cherokee Purple Heirloom tomatoes. I ordered them and shipment wasn't to be till April 8th. But they came 3 weeks ago! So, I had to repot them a few days ago. They are "curling" a bit but, I think its just from the shock.

Here are Some Poppy's just peeking out. They will be Oriental Red. I think they will be ready to thin soon.

These are Giant Scarlet Zinnia's reaching for the sun. I rotate them twice a day but they really want that sun. Can you blame them?

Last but not least are my Hale's Best Jumbo Cantaloupe. They popped up so fast. They are a early variety. But these guys have big plans. If they only knew whats in store for them!

What's going on with your garden? I would love to hear "What's Popping Up" in your world. Next week more plants will be arriving, all heirlooms of course. Bull Nose Peppers, San Marzano Tomatoes, Long Purple Egg Plant and Umpdalapet Egg Plant. I cant wait to share pics with you after they get over their shock. So come back for more.

I will be heading off to see every one's wonderful tablescapes with Susan at Between Naps On The Porch. I have dug up a wonderful vintage tablecloth and napkins that I cant wait to share! Hope to see you all soon!


garden sign photo credit: weblogs clipart about.com

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Dining With Leprechaun's!

Top O' the morn' to ya'! So glad you could stop by for a bit of St. Patrick's Day celebration. We will be dining on the usual Corned Beef and Cabbage with potatoes and onions. For dessert we will be topping it all off with Irish Creme cupcakes.



To get the table ready for the leprechauns to visit I seacrched high and low for a shamrock plant for them to take cover under.






These salad plates are my newest finds form good old EBay. The are Staffordshire Cloverdale pattern. I haven't been able to locate any other pieces or any information on them. Their description stated they were form the 30's or 40's.



I paired them with the usual Gibson Claremont dinner plates and napkin rings. My new Oneida Brooch pattern seemed to be the best fit for flatware.




























Here are a few coins for you to pay the leprechauns. Maybe they will leave you in peace to enjoy your traditional fare. They might even behave long enough to join us!

I am linking up with Kathleen for the 3rd Annual St. Patrick's Day Blog Crawl at Cuisine Kathleen. Also I cant miss Tablescape Thursday with Susan at Between Naps On The Porch. Thank you both ladies. I cant wait to see all the St. Paddy's Day finery. Have a wonderful celebration!!!

Belated Birthday For MOM

Happy Thursday all. It is that time again, Tablescape Thursday is upon us again. Please join Susan at the wonderful Between Naps on the Porch. Make sure to visit as many of the beautiful tablescapes as possible. There is some amazing talent out there!



My mom had a birthday recently and due to the weather it had to be canceled.This Sunday we will be finally having dinner for her. She has chosen Chicken Penne Pasta, salad and garlic bread. I am going to surprise her with sour cream cup cakes with raspberry filling and white chocolate icing.





Hang in there with me while I do one more green and white tablescape. I have had this vintage tablecloth and napkins for awhile and I thought they would be perfect for a Mom table. Of course you will not be shocked to find out I got it from EBay.










It only came with three napkins and I needed 6 so mixing and matching was the only option. At the ends of the table I used my old faithful dark sage napkins from efavormart.







This is my husbands grandmothers silver plate in the Moss Rose pattern. This is so beautiful, I am sure our young daughter will love using this on her table also. But I have asked her to stay 11 forever, so hopefully she will comply!




Here is a close up of the tablecloth, in some places it is stamped to look like it was embroidered. There are no markings or tags so I have no idea of its orgins.














I had six of these water goblets but I chipped one so i decided to mix in the clear Libby's to the end settings. I see mixing with higher end stemware so I hope I'm not breaking any rules with the everyday stuff!










There is is, a table simple and sweet. Perfect for Mom!




Have a wonderful Thursday, thank you so much for stopping by. I just love visitors. I am off to school for a lunch date with the kids. Dang, they grow up so fast!