Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread {with secret ingredient}

After seeing this yummy recipe featured at Foodbuzz...from 
The Hungry Artist...I knew I was going to have to make it.

Oh were we ever happy we did! 

It was so moist and chocolate-y....AND full of nutrients too! 

The recipe calls for only 2 Tb. oil...I love that it uses applesauce and a banana for moisture too.  Not to mention the zucchini AND the 'secret' ingredient. 

A great start on your daily required amounts of fruits & vegetables, all rolled up in a moist chocolate bread!

WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED IT!?

I'll let you read the ingredient list to figure out the 'secret ingredient'. 
{PSST - don't tell...it's spinach}

Your family will never know they're eating a healthier option. I really do have a 'thing' for disguising foods they 'think' they don't like! 

This lovely bread would be a great after school snack or enjoy it for breakfast!

Please don't let the length of the ingredient list intimdate you.  This goes together pretty easily, and the end result is so worth your time. 

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI BREAD 

{with secret ingredient} 

Non-stick cooking spray

1-1/2 c. flour 

(I used white whole wheat) 

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/3 c. unsweetened baking cocoa

1 c. frozen spinach, or 1/2 c. cooked spinach

2 Tb. canola oil 

1 c. shredded zucchini (about 2 sm. or 1/2 medium sized)

1 ripe banana, mashed

1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce

2/3 c. granulated sugar

(I used 1/3 c. xylitol...1/3 c. sugar)

2 eggs, beaten

(I used 1 egg + 2 egg whites)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided 

(My homemade sugar free chocolate chips recipe found here)

Preheat oven to 325. Line a loaf pan with parchment and spray with non-stick spray.  Set aside. 

In medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, slat and cinnamon until evenly mixed.

Microwave frozen spinach for about 1 minute on high.  Squeeze out extra water and drain.  Process in a food processor with oil until finely pureed.  Transfer to a large mixing bowl.

Into spinach mixture, add zucchini, banana, applesauce, sugar, eggs and vanilla.  Mix well. Then add dry ingredients and mix until blended well. Stir in 1/2 c. chocolate chips. 

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and dot the top with remaining 1/4 c. chocolate chips.

Bake for 55-60 minutes. Don't overbake.  It will still test a little 'gooey' when it's done baking. 

Let cool in pan on a rack for about 30 minutes. Cut around edges with a knife and carefully lift out onto cooling rack (don't invert or chocolate chips will be smashed). 

Let cool, (if you can wait!) cut and serve. 

Linked to Melt in your mouth Monday
          Fit & Fabulous Friday
Weekend Potluck
Gooseberry Patch Roundup - Garden
  Ingredient Spotlight - Chocolate Chips
Full Plate Thursday

Nutella Banana Oatmeal Smoothie & Weekend Potluck #23

WELCOME TO WEEKEND POTLUCK!

AND

I wanted to finish out my "Drink-A-Thon" week with a very popular and yummy smoothie post from the past....

Nutella Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

Click on the link above for the recipe. Try it...you'll love it! 

ONTO WEEKEND POTLUCK!  


I have been PINNING so many WP recipes and can't tell you how pleased I am that you're linking up such awesome dishes here!  YUMMERS! Thanks so much for joining us! We set another record last week - 
KEEP 'EM COMIN!!

Now, let's take a a quick peek back at last week.......

The recipe with the most clicks was ~

     Fight Back Brownies by Baking and Cooking, A Tale of Two Loves

Recipes that caught our attention ~

Bohemian "Queso" Dip by Newlyweds Blog
Summertime Tortellini Pasta Salad by Diary of a Recipe Addict

And, a personal favorite ~

 
Raw Vegan 3-ingredient Lara Bar Balls

Don't forget - if you were featured, please grab the featured button below - 

The Better Baker ~ Marsha

Sunflower Supper Club ~ Kim & Julie

Life As a Lofthouse ~ Holly

4 Little Fergusons~ Tonya

The Country Cook~ Brandie

Remember that when you link up, it shows on all SIX blogs. Plus…

We TWEET. We PIN. We LIKE.

Linky Guidelines:


If you wish to be a featured recipe or for us to promote your recipe either on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, you MUST follow these instructions.

1. Please link up to your exact post and not the main page to your blog.
2. LINK BACK HERE from your post so that others can find the fun. (Need help linking back? Read this or watch this great instructional video.) You can use the button below or a direct link within your post.

When you are kind enough to follow our guidelines, we work hard to get you as much exposure as possible so that your time here is well invested. We want this to be a fun and rewarding experience for everyone!

Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie

June is strawberry season here in Ohio..


GLORY! GLORY! GLORY! 

I did a flip flop (well, my heart did anyway!) when I came across this recipe at Cupcakes & Kale Chips, after she linked it up to Weekend Potluck. Hurrah!  Brianne opened her post by apologizing for taking 'the easy way out' in an improv cooking challenge. 


PU-LEEEZE!!! =) I told her NO need for apologies.  I knew I would go wild over this simple recipe, though I did adapt it a little bit. She was surprised at all the attention the recipe brought her blog too!! Good for her!


Even when it isn't strawberry season, you can make this luscious treat any time because you use frozen strawberries!


This is an amazingly delicious smoothie that I enjoyed for my dinner meal (we'd been to a graduation open house and I wasn't very hungry). 

It's pretty healthy too with 'skinny' options..I love that about any recipe!

Cream cheese is my #1 favorite ingredient - added to this combo of terrific flavors and I'll all over it. 


Many options to how you might like to fix this for yourself, but no matter what, I can tell you you're gonna be SO glad you tried this simple recipe. 


I do love QUICK & EASY! 


I always keep sliced bananas in the freezer too so I can add it to any smoothie and make it cold.  MMMM! 

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE SMOOTHIE 

(Adapted from Cupcakes & Kale Chips)

1/2 c. frozen strawberries

(original recipe calls for 1 full cup, but I couldn't suck it through a straw...if that's your preference, then add more berries)

half of a frozen banana, preferably sliced

1 ozs. (about 2 Tb. cream cheese) - I used light

(or 2 Tb. cottage cheese)

1/2 c. vanilla Greek yogurt, or plain

(I used Weight Watchers vanilla as it needed to be used up)

3/4 c. 1% milk 

1 tsp. vanilla, or more

stevia, splenda or sugar to taste

Optional: Strawberries or crushed graham cracker, for garnish

Combine all ingredients except garnish, in blender.  Puree until smooth. 

(You could add flax or chia seeds for a healthier boost.) 

There ya go!!  Suck it down...but not too fast, or you'll get a brain freeze. 

Linked to 

Breakfast Ideas Monday Melt in Your Mouth Monday Foodie Friends Friday Scrumptious Sunday Mop it up Monday Gooseberry Patch Roundup - Smoothies

Naturally Sweetened Lemonade

I'm sure you've heard the saying...

WHEN LIFE HANDS YOU LEMONS, MAKE LEMONADE!

When that happens, I'm here with a terrific recipe to make some tasty satisfying lemonade!

I have become SOO fond of Brenda at Sugar-Free Mom. She's impacting my life in a positive, and healthier way.

Having a hubby who is diabetic, I've learned to use healthy options in my baking.

Brenda is leading me in a more natural way to healthy foods and I am excited about this journey toward good health.

I tried this naturally sweetened lemonade the day after I saw it posted at Brenda's website. I have made it several times since and just served it to company recently.  They loved it also!

After all - enjoying lemonade is a refreshing way to cool down when the temps warm up.

And all this fresh lemon juice is good for you!

Hubby wanted to go out the day after I first made it and get more lemons!

Give it a 'twist' and a try....

Besides water, all you need are 2 ingredients!

And it's an extra special treat for those of us who are counting calories or counting WW points...

GET THIS!!  A glass of this awesome drink is only 9 calories and

0 (Yes, ZERO!) WW points!

 9 CALORIES PER SERVING!!! 0 POINTS!!!

(Brenda also has a simple recipe for Naturally Sweetened Strawberry Lemonade - click here

Don’t waste anything because once the lemons are squeezed (I saved some of the zest to put in the freezer too)  you can throw the rinds in your garbage disposal and have a clean-smelling kitchen.

WA-LA!

NATURALLY SWEETENED LEMONADE

6 fresh lemons, juiced

1 sliced lemon to add to glasses when serving, optional 

(original recipe says to add to pitcher, but we found it made the lemonade bitter) 

1 teaspoon liquid Stevia, lemon drop

(I used vanilla stevia)

(If you prefer using sugar, dissolve in hot water before adding)

2 quarts of water

1 cup ice cubes

Slice lemons in half, squeeze out juice into a bowl, remove seeds. Add juice to a large pitcher.

Add 2 quarts of water to a pitcher.

Stir in 1 teaspoon of stevia. Taste to decide if you want more or not.

Refrigerate until ready to serve; serve over ice and enjoy!!!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Roundup - Fav Fruit Dishes
Whatcha Whipped up Wednesday
Fit & Fabulous Friday
Foodie Friends Friday
Weekend Potluck

'Homemade' Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino Light & Summertime Orange Slushie

Are you excited yet?  I nearly jumped out of my chair through the screen when I saw this recipe along with an inviting photo for homemade starbucks LIGHT! 

And Caramel even???

It just doesn't get any better than that! Atleast not for me. 

Nancy at Skinny Kitchen is always 'dragging' me into her kitchen with her heavenly dishes - she adds Weight Watchers Points too!! Oh how I love her!! (I've got a long way to go to get to the 'skinny' part of her kitchen, but she's a big help on my journey). 

I was tickled to try this when my daughter came for a visit...she's an even bigger coffee lover than I am.  She gave it 5 stars!

Keep this recipe handy to keep yourself cool and charged this summer. 

All I can say is MMMMM-MMMORE please!

STARBUCKS CARAMEL FRAPPUCCINO LIGHT 
2/3 c. double-strength coffee, chilled  
(see tip below)
2/3 c. 1% lowfat milk
(I used a little more cause I love CREAMY!)
(see substitution tip below)
2 Tb. caramel ice cream topping
(I used Torani sugar-free caramel flavoring syrup, to taste)
4 pkg. Splenda, Stevia, Equal or your favorite sugar substitute
2 tsp. sugar (or splenda or stevia)
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2-1/2 c. ice


Topping:


Light whipped cream or light vanilla flavored whipped cream
1-1/2 tsp. caramel topping


Combine chilled coffee, milk, caramel topping, Splenda, sugar, vanilla and ice in a blender.  Blend on high until ice is crushed and drink is smooth. 


Pour into 2 glasses.  Top each glass with 2 Tb. whipped cream and drizzle about 3/4 tsp. caramel topping over each. 


Serve at once with a straw.


Makes 2 - 12 ozs. each


To make double-strength coffee: Brew using 2 Tb. of ground coffee per each cup of coffee.  (You might wanna make extra so you can make more the next time) 


Substitution Tip:
To cut calories and fat further, use nonfat milk instead of 1%, and all sugar substitute, and no sugar. 


These Skinny Facts still include the topping per serving: 
109 calories, 1 gr. fat, 3 gr. protein, 22 gr. carbs, 133 mg sodium, 0 gr. fiber, 1 gr. sugar


WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS PLUS: 4 
(made with nonfat milk, no sugar, only splenda and includes toppings


WEIGHT WATCHERS (Old points): 3 

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Roundup - What you made this week
Whatcha Whipped up Wednesday
Weekend Potluck
Fit & Fabulous Friday

Scrumptious Sunday
Breakfast Ideas Monday
Ingredient Spotlight - Coffee