Double Chocolate Zucchini Waffles

I'm always excited to find new ways to use zucchini. So I HAD to make these after seeing them at Thriving Home. They share great recipes and inspirational thoughts. 

This recipe did not disappoint.  I love it when you can 'hide' healthy ingredients in something and your family has no clue. 

This yummy dish calls for whole wheat flour & coconut oil, which I love.  I also used almond milk. It can also be made sugar free. 

MMM - good!

I topped it with strawberry topping made from cool whip and sugar free strawberry jello....

Another variation of my Cool Peach Dessert (2 ingredients)

These freeze well, so enjoy some now...and some later.
Just thaw and enjoy. 

Enjoy them with peanut butter for breakfast...or how about some nutella???
YES! YES! YES! 

Yield: 15 - 4" waffles 

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI WAFFLES 

1 c. whole wheat flour

1/2 c. white flour

1 TB. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 c. cocoa powder, sifted

1/4 c. brown sugar

(I used 2 Tb. brown sugar splenda)

1/4 c. coconut oil, melted

(could try butter)

2 eggs

1-3/4 c. milk (I used almond milk)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. zucchini, pureed in food processor

(pumpkin would work too)

1 c. chocolate chips

(click here for my sugar free choc chip recipe)

Mix dry ingredients (whole wheat flour through cocoa powder) in large bowl. In separate bowl, whisk together brown sugar and melted coconut oil. Whisk in beaten egg, milk and pureed zucchini.  Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and whisk just until combined. (Do not overmix). Stir in chocolate chips.  Pour about 1/4 c. mix per waffle onto prepared (spray with cooking spray) waffle maker and bake until done. (About 3 - 3/12 minutes) 

Top with fruit and/or cool whip. 

Yield: 15 - 4" waffles 

These freeze nicely too! 

Linked to Foodie Friends Friday
         Mix it up Monday
         Ingredient Spotlight - Baking Cocoa
Weekend Potluck

Summertime Craftin' at Nana's 2012

I have 2 granddaughters, Charlie & Chloe, that live near by...and they love to do crafts. I wanted to be sure we had some craftin' time together before school started up again.  

I had made one of these bags for myself and it was so simple, that even these young pre-teen girls had them finished in no time flat.  I did the cutting, and off they went...

First I got a couple of t-shirts for them at Goodwill.  I'm sure we all have some t-shirts not being worn any longer in our closets or dressers.  Get to diggin them out...you can do this!  It can be made in a matter of minutes!

These cute bags would make a great gift...be nice to take to the beach, or even use to wrap a gift up in. 

I carry mine with me when I'm taking walks...it's soft on the shoulders, light to carry and it stretches.  They're really very nice.  

You cut off the sleeves, then cut out the neckline - you can do a v-neck, round or square cuts - cut up strips about 4 - 6" from the hem...tie them and you are ready to rumba...

Here's a link to a simple tutorial from Skip to My Lou {Craft Camp}. Cindy is always inspiring me with simple & fun crafts. 

Please be sure to check out her post at the link below. 

Recycled no-sew t-shirt summer tote bags

I've been dying to make some of these adorable felt flowers too, and I knew it would be more fun if the girls helped me learn. 

I set up the laptop on the kitchen counter so we could refer to the instructions as we needed to...it worked quite well and the girls kept very busy and were pleased with the results too.

I had purchased a grapevine wreath (also at Goodwill) and it was the perfect size for the girls to decorate for their home. 

Just look at those darling flowers they made for the wreath. 

While Chloe and I were doing the 'roll up' kinds of flowers, Charlie got busy and created her own style 'tulip' for the right side of the wreath! What a fine job!

Here's the link for a simple tutorial from The Crafted Sparrow. They are quick & inexpensive to make and really cute!  I suggest you give them a try. 

Felt Flowers Tutorial {5 to choose from}

Charlie & Chloe teach me when we do crafts, and it's such a fun time to make memories. 

Choose-a-Fruit Crisp

Oh how I love fruit crisps. 

I wanted to be sure to share this recipe with you while we still had fresh fruit in season. MMMM!

For me, the easiest way to turn fresh fruit into a homey comforting dessert is to make a crisp. I love the oatmeal topping and the fact there are so many fruit options for this recipe. 

One of my favorite crisp combos is blueberries and peaches, but having raspberries and peaches on hand, I knew this 'new' combo would have to be tasty.  And I was right!!!

I think being able to use what you have on hand is outta sight, so when I came across this lovely recipe at 
Better Homes & Gardens online, I didn't have to think twice about making it.

I did do a little bit of adapting, but will share just how I made a tasty and delicious RASPBERRY/PEACH crisp.  

FRUIT CRISP 

5 c. fresh or frozen fruit (raspberries, peaches, blueberries, blackberries, apricots, etc) 

3 - 4 Tb. cornstarch

1/4 c. sugar
(I substituted xylitol)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 - 1/3 c. white whole wheat flour

1/4 - 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, ginger or cinnamon

1/2 c. old-fashioned oatmeal

1/2 c. brown sugar
(I used 1/4 c. brown sugar splenda)

1/4 c. butter, softened

1/3 c. nuts or coconut

First of all, thaw fruit if frozen. Do not drain. 

Preheat oven to 350*. 

In medium bowl, mix cornstarch and 1/4 c. sugar. (If using fresh fruit, cut cornstarch amount in half.)  Add fruit and vanilla tossing together til coated well. Pour fruit mixture in the prepared dish; set aside. 

To make topping: in small bowl, mix together flour, spices and oatmeal and brown sugar. Using a fork or pastry blender, cut butter into flour until crumbs are pea-sized. Stir in nuts or coconut, then sprinkle over fruit mixture.  Bake 35 - 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown. 
(If using sugar substitutes, begin checking early as it cooks faster). 

Serve warm with ice cream or whipped topping. 

Tip - If using rhubarb, add more sugar, to taste. 

Linked to Whatcha Whipped Up Wednesday
Thursdays Treasures
Weekend Potluck

I Heart 4 little Fergusons! A LOT!

I was soo blessed to be able to make a trip to the Midwest recently to meet and visit blogger Tonya Ferguson and her 4 (very precious) little Fergusons! 

I had a shirt printed with this on the front to wear on the plane. 

Tonya has introduced me to the idea of making t-shirt scarves, so I made this braided one to accommodate my shirt also.

Let me tell you first hand...these precious little babes are every bit as sweet as they seem to be!!  Their mama trains them well.  They always called me 'Miz B' - never by my first name.  And they decided I was their 'new' grandma too - how fun is that???

I am a teacher at heart and loved making memories with them. 

(bottom left....we were making kid-friendly ice cream in a bag)

I'm not sure who enjoyed reading time more...them or me.

I have always loved reading to my own kids. I had a home daycare when they were small, and we had reading time every day. 

One of my favorite pix that Tonya posted at Facebook was this one of adorable Pax who fell asleep in my lap while I was reading.  That little guy has WON MY HEART! (We really didn't plan to coordinate our colors for the photo=). 

I was privileged to be there to help celebrate Avery's 4th birthday.

What fun to share in that special time with family and friends. 

I enjoyed visiting with the children's GREAT grandparents!! How  blessed they are to be close to them. I felt right at home with the grandparents too!

I taught the kids a fun finger play and they 'performed' at the party!

Even little Pax...who usually ran off when we practiced, got in on the act!

(The words go like this...)

SEE THE TURTLE LOW AND LUMPY,

SEE THE CAMEL HIGH AND HUMPY,

SEE THE FISH AS IT SWIMS ALONG,

SEE THE BIRD AS IT SINGS ITS SONG...

GOD IN HEAVEN...MADE THEM ALL...

AND GOD MADE ME...

(STANDING UP & PATTING THEIR HEADS)

JUST.THIS.TALL!! 

How I treasured time with family...I quickly learned to love these special ladies...moms.

and friends..(MUAH to each of you!)

Tonya and I got to spend a little time making t-shirt scarves - they make great gifts. This was the one I learned to make...T knows how to add special touches...flowers, embellishments, etc. 

Here's a link to Tonya's post about making them...they really are very simple. 

T-shirt scarves make great gifts

AND....Last, but certainly not least....Tonya and I got to meet another co-host from Weekend Potluck!!!  Kim from Sunflower Supper Club lives nearby and we were ecstatic to get to see the kitchen where she works and finally meet her in person. 

Another special blessing in my time there. 

They all made me feel like family - even Sophie, the family dachsund. 
It seemed when the last kid would leave my lap, Sophie would jump into it..unbidden..and lay down...right at home!

What sweet blessings to meet folks I feel like I've known, but
from afar.  

One very special blessing I've received in blogging is meeting new friends!
During our short time together, we made memories and friendships to last a lifetime!

The 4 little Fergusons and their family are MY 'new' family!


TEASE:

Before I left, I made my t-shirt into a tote bag and left it for Tonya....be watching for Thursday's post when I share HOW TO MAKE this fun keepsake. E-Z!!!!!!

The time has come for another Giveaway!! UPDATE!

Thanks to all of you who have been a part of this giveaway. My Facebook 'likes' have soared over this last month and I am ever grateful. Have even had over 100 new likes this past week! YIPPPEEEEEE!!!!

And now on with the show....

THE WINNER IS.....

#28 - keshakeke said...

I shared this giveaway on Facebook

keshakeke@aol.com

Please contact me with your mailing info by Friday, 10 AM EST, so I can get these

prizes out to you.  If I don't hear from you by then, I will use Random.org to choose another winner. 

********************************
(THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED) 


UPDATE: BECAUSE 'LIFE HAPPENS' SOMETIMES...THE GIVEAWAY CLOSING DATE IS BEING EXTENDED THROUGH WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22ND. MY 87 YR OLD FATHER IS HAVING SURGERY ON MONDAY THE 20TH.  THANKS! 


Oh you Awesome and Wonderful people! 

I can't tell you HOW many times you've 'razzled & dazzled me with all the new 'likes' I've received at Facebook.  And the traffic at my blog continues to increase.

THANK YOU OH-SO MUCH! 

WOWZA!!!!

As the words on a card I recently saw read...

"I can't find the words to thank you....it's hard to open your mouth when you're grinning from ear to ear."

Usually, opening my mouth is never a tough thing, but I really am at a loss for words to be able to express HOW MUCH your support means to me. I don't ever take any of you for granted. 

SO....here's what I'm offering you in a giveaway to say THANKS! 

ONE WINNER TAKES ALL!!!!

1. Taste of Home Everyday Slow Cooker & One Dish Recipes Cookbook

(with a 'Bonus Chapter' - Breads and Salads) 

2. F-A-M-I-L-Y 3-D Letter Set, complete with stickers, ribbons, rhinestones, foam squares and more - over 200 decorative pieces 

3. A lovely waffle weave tea towel with mixed berries design 

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment telling me the name of the Slow Cooker recipe you use most...entree, veggie or dessert. Your choice.  

For another entry, you can 'like' my Recipes & Recollections Facebook page - just click here. If you already like my page, just leave a comment telling me so. 

For still one more option, share this giveaway at your Facebook page, then come back and tell me. 

Giveaway will end on Monday, August 20th, at 6 PM EST. 
I will use random.org to choose the winner. 


Contest open to U.S. & Canada residents only 


Winner will be given 48 hours to contact me with your mailing info or another winner will be chosen. 

ALL OF YOU ARE WINNERS IN MY BOOK!