The Best Zucchini Blueberry Bread

I remember when I was a young girl we were invited over to our neighbors house for chocolate cake. Once we arrived she shared with my mom that she had used zucchini in the cake. Say what?! I came for chocolate cake, not some veggie cake.

To my surprise the cake was amazing. It tasted just like tradition chocolate cake, but was SO moist. That's when I learned that zucchini takes on the flavor of whatever it is paired with, and is a great way to add moisture to your baked goods.

This particular recipe is one my MIL shared with me. If you have a ton of zucchini it is a good one because it uses two cups of grated zucchini. The small zucchinis you find in the grocery store typically only generate about a cup or a little less once grated, so grab a BIG one from your farmer's market or pick up a few small ones at the grocery store.

I also love that these recipe calls for the use of mini loaf pans. If you don't have these available I would split the recipe between two regular loaf pans.

Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 cup canola oil
3 teaspoons of vanilla
2 1/4 white sugar
2 cups shredded zucchini
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 pint fresh blueberries or 1.5 cups frozen

Step 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease four mini loaf pans, or two regular loaf pans.

Step 2. Grate zucchini with box grater. Squeeze out additional liquid.

Step 3. In large bowl, lightly beat together three eggs, oil, vanilla and sugar. Fold in zucchini.

Step 4. In separate bowl mix flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon.

Step 5. Beat dry ingredient mixture into wet ingredient mixture.

Step 6. Gently fold in blueberries.

Step 7. Bake 50-60 minutes, or until knife inserted in center of loaf comes out clean. Cool for 20 minutes in pan, and then remove from pan and finish cooling on wire rack.

Try not to eat an entire mini loaf in one sitting, but remember if you do you just got a 1/4 cup of veggies in, lol. Next up on my list is to try this Zucchini Chocolate Chip Bread from Dessert for Two.

 

Cadbury Chocolate Egg Brownies

A couple weeks ago I decided to whip up a pan of brownies for the Iowa Beef Expo Sale. This is a sale that we attend every year and that we sell cattle in. This year we had a bull and a heifer to sell and they are now living happily with their new owners. Oh course everyone wanted to know where I got my cow sprinkles from.

The boy doesn't eat many sweets, but he reminded me (a few times) of how much he loved the Cadbury Brownies his sister made a few years ago. I had tweaked the recipe with a Rolo brownie version, but promised him I would stick to the original recipe just for him. I actually don't really like Cadbury Eggs, but anything for your love, right?

I will let you in on a recent secret ingredient, though, that I think works no matter what boxed brownie recipe you are making. Swap your vegetable oil or olive oil. I learned this tip from the "Book of Face" so it had to be right. But seriously, I have done this twice now and they are so much more moist.


Ingredients
3 Tablespoons of Water
1/2 cup Olive Oil
2 Eggs
Brownie Mix
8 mini Cadbury Chocolate Eggs

Instructions
Preheat over to 325 F if using a 8x8 inch pan, 350 F if using a 9x9 inch pan.
Stir brownie mix, water, oil and eggs in medium bowl until well blended. Don't over mix.
Spray pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper.
Pour mix into pan. Cut Cadbury Mini Eggs in half and insert them into the batter.
Bake for 50-52 minutes in a 8x8 inch pan, or 36-38 minutes in a 9x9 inch pan.

Frozen S'Mores

I love Cool Whip and I love S'Mores. So combining them into ones dessert seemed like a fantastic idea. Especially since it has been waaay to hot in Iowa lately.

Ingredients

1 jar of marshmallow cream/fluff

1 tub of Cool Whip (I always buy the lite)

1 box of graham crackers

1 bag of melting chocolate or chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Begin melting the chocolate. One of my favorite ways to melt melting chocolate is in a zip lock bag in the microwave. Microwave for a 45 seconds the first time, and then 30 seconds at a time until chocolate is melted. It helps to "massage" the chocolate between cycles. This is also a good tutorial for melting chocolate chips or melting chocolate. 

Easy Devil's Food Cake

Have you ever made what you thought would be a perfect chocolate cake to only take it out the pan and it falls apart? Well the next time you are either A. asking yourself what to do with a broken cake or B. just craving Devil's Food Cake, this recipe will help you solve your problem. My mom helped me come up with it when I was just a little girl, when we were faced with a similar problem.  Our chocolate cake stuck to the pan, and we needed to figure out how to save that evening's dessert. Now this Easy Devil's Food Cake is a family favorite. 

Ingredients

- One chocolate cake (I usually just pick a box chocolate cake. You'll likely need eggs and oil to make the cake according to recipe). 

- 1 can of cherry pie filling

- 1-2 tubs of Cool Whip (I really like Cool Whip so I used two). If you are feeling extra fancy you can use real whipping cream.

Instructions

1. Bake the chocolate cake accruing to instructions, and then let cool 

2. Tear the chocolate cake into chunks and set aside in a bowl

3. In a large salad or dessert bowl put down a layer of Cool Whip, then a layer of cake, then a layer of cherry pie, repeat until all of the ingredients are used. I like to end with a layer of Cool Whip. If you want to dress up the dessert add some chocolate shaving to the top. 

The last time I made this recipe I didn't need all of the chocolate cake. So I put the remaining cake in a freezer bag and froze it for the next time I want to make the recipe. 

Easy Meringue Christmas Cookies

Are you in a panic because you don't have your Christmas cookies made. Need something super simple, but way impressive. Yes, I said way. Then you must make these meringues. What is a meringue? Think the top of your grandma's lemon meringue pie, but a little crispier on the outside and just a gooey on the inside.

What does this recipe require? A little time, because you have to let the egg whites come to room temperature. And these bad boys are in the oven for a long time like 2.5 hours. But think of all the fun things you can be doing in the time. Like I don't know shaking the presents under the tree to figure out what your family members bought you.

Now all the credit for this recipe goes to Make Bake Celebrate. You must go check out her blog, as she has the easiest, most creative sweets recipes. She had meringue ideas for about every season or holiday and tons of cupcake ideas. My meringues aren't quite as amazing as hers, but I would say still impressive. Just like yours will be - way impressive. Do you feel the theme here.

Ingredients

4 Egg Whites
1 1/3 cup sugar (if you can buy extra fine sugar, get that)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cream of tarter
green gel coloring (don't use regular food coloring. Also, in our Walmart this is buy the spices not the sprinkles and cookie decorating stuff)
parchment paper
pipping bag
fat round icing tip for the trees like this

big start tip for the white swirls like this

1. Preheat your oven to 150 degrees. Separate the eggs yolk from the egg whites, and place egg whites in an electric bowl (I used my Kitchen Aid mixer). Let these come to room temperature.
2. Beat eggs until white and foamy. Mix in 1/4 tsp of salt and 1/4 tsp of cream of tarter until soft peaks form.
3. Set time for 7 minutes. Slowly add in sugar a bit at a time taking the entire 7 minutes to do so. This is where finer sugar comes in handy because it dissolves better.
4. If you plan on doing multiple colors this is when you will separate the meringue into groups. Add green gel until you get the color desired. It doesn't take much color to get green.
5. Add the mixture to your piping bags.
6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. To make the trees hold your piping bag straight up and down. Squeeze the mixture onto the parchment paper until the base of your tree is big enough, then move your bag upwards and squeeze again until you have your second tier, and then a third. To make the swirls use the star tip and make a swirl (great direction there). Think of how they make ice cream corner as a reference.
8. Add you sprinkles or light star toppers.
9. The meringues don't expand like cookies so you can place them pretty close together. This recipe makes a lot so you will want to get a fair number on a cookie sheet.
10. Place the baking sheet in the center of the oven and bake for 2.5 hours.

I did some googling about whether or not you can freeze meringues and verdicts seems out. Some say yes, others were appalled by the idea. They will last about a week in an airtight container.

And they the cutest little, fat, sometimes crooked Christmas trees you ever did see. 

Perfect Fall Cocktail: The Carmel Apple

Fall is officially here. Around the farm that means seeing not the Boy very much because he has been busy in the fields with harvest. The corn and soybean crop yields have been fairly good, and the late night have given him the opportunity to catch some beautiful sunset photos like this one. You can see more of his photos on Instagram by following @jjbcattleco.

In the evening I have been spending extra time in the barn halter breaking our heifers. Halter breaking means getting the heifers used to being tied up and then eventually teaching them to lead on a halter. We do this for two reasons, 1. We'll being exhibiting some of these heifers at cattle shows later in their lives so they will definitely need to know how to lead and act like a show heifer. Another group of heifers will be sold and we like them to be as calm and quiet as possible for the new owners. and 2. Halter breaking calms the heifers down. We try to get them as use to people as possible so there is less stress on them when we are handing them.

All of these farm fall activities make me crave other things like my Apple Cookies. And that recipe requires a little apple cider. However, it only seems that apple cider comes in a big containers. Which led to a quart of apple cider in the fridge and the boy creating the perfect, most amazing adult cocktail ever.

The Carmel Apple

3 oz. Apple Cider
1 oz. Spiced Rum



That's all you need for an adult beverage that tastes just like a Carmel Apple. Hope you enjoy, and while you are enjoying think of the farmers who are working hard to finish harvest and loving the farm life.

The Perfect Whipping Cream Sandwich

I'll let you in on a secret. I actually don't like ice cream. Yup, it's true. Here's another secret. I LOVE whipping cream, and it's even better frozen. Give me a spoon and a tub of frozen cool whip and you are going to have one happy girl on your hands.

We spent our long weekend catching up on work at the farm and spending quite a bit of time with our family, including throwing a baby shower for my sister-in-law (pictures to come). One evening the subject of whipping cream desserts came up and the Boy's Grandma shared her love of whipping cream sandwiches. I had seen them on Pinterest before so I decided it was time to give them a shot.

And they were amazing.

I didn't really follow a recipe. A made a few by taking Cool Whip and mixed in mini chocolate chips. Another batch was about a cup of Cool Whip and two tablespoons of peanut butter, with M&Ms. The family also decided that bananas or strawberries mixed into the Cool Whip would be a great addition. I also saw one version that mixed chocolate pudding powder into the Cool Whip. You could also switch it up by using chocolate or cinnamon graham crackers.

One tub of Cool Whip makes 14-16 sandwhiches. If you are looking for a sweet treat, but wanting to cut a few calories you could use low fat or sugar free Cool Whip.

I am also a huge fan of sprinkles. You can see on the bottom two sandwiches I sprinkled a few sprinkles along the sides of the sandwich. Once the sandwiches are assembled stick them in your freezer. They took about an hour to set. 

I am thinking I might need to make a second batch to have in the freezer for those sweet tooth attacks!

Best Recipes of 2013

Each year I like to give a little recap of what your favorite posts were. Since New Years Eve is right around the corner and I know some of your are still looking for appetizer or meal ideas I thought I would start the recap off with your favorite Crystal Cattle recipes.

5. Apple Cookie Recipe 

This was another new recipe this year that I got from Jent's Front Porch. I have made these cookies quite a few times and they are great for breakfast or a treat.

4. Best Tailgating Dip Ever 

Otherwise know as Ugly Dip, I am very thankful that one of my good college girlfriends let me in on this recipe

3. Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe

I love pumpkin pie. This recipe is pretty much fool proof. It's not fancy by any means, but it sure is delicious.

2. Flat Iron Steak with Green Peppers

This is seriously one of our favorite recipes and it hardly takes any time to make. I also really like that you can make this with a variety of cuts of beef from more expensive sirloins to less expensive round steaks.

1. Baked Tacos

These tacos were a brand new recipe I tried this year. Lean ground beef is easy on the budget and the taco seasoning that goes with this recipe is to die for. I make the seasoning in big batches now to save time.

I have fluffy cows too!

Have your heard the Fluffy Cow buzz? It started of Reddit, and then stories showed up on Yahoo.com, and Today.com.

This is the orginial Fluffy Cow. He is actually a bull named Texas Tornado owned by Lautner Farms in Iowa. 

My family also owns some Fluffy Cows. 

This heifer (female cow that hasn't had a baby yet) is named Symphony. We sold her to some people in Tennessee in an auction last February. If you've heard me talk about Parker the Bull Calf, Symphony is his aunt. Yes, cattle can have aunts and uncles. 

So what makes Fluffy cows different from regular cows? Well Symphony was halter broke (broke to lead) when she was a baby so we could show her at the Iowa State Fair. We spent a lot of time washing her, blow drying her (with a giant hair dryer just for cows), adding conditioners to her hair and even giving her hair cuts. The people that now own Symphony are continuing to show her.

So why do we show cattle? 1. It is a great way for us to market our cattle. Obviously by showing Symphony and making sure she looked her best we were able to attract a great buyer for her. 2. Symphony is a breeding heifer so her purpose in life will be to produce other top of the line genetic offspring. 3. Sometimes we do eat Fluffy Cows, these are mostly steers that are shown in 4-H or FFA. These two youth programs teach a lot of responsibility and that hard work is one of the most important pieces to success. 

In this picture you can tell where the different cuts of beef come from. If you are looking for a great beef recipe we dug up this Beef Kabob one that we found last year. The combination of beef and vegetables with the honey & soy sauce glaze is amazing!

Hunk of Meat Monday: Jalapeño Popper Pastries

This weekend we had a few friends over to watch the Kentucky Derby. The Boy made his first Mint Julep ever, which if you like whiskey you'll like, if you don't don't bother trying them. The food portion of our evening took on a much more Cinco De Mayo feeling including my Baked Tacos and a new recipe Jalapeno Popper Pastries, which I'll definitely be making again. 

I found the original recipe on Pinterest from Lady Behind the Curtain. She put hers on popsicle sticks. Here is my recipe below with a couple of suggestions. 

Ingredients

Pre Made Pie Crust Dough - 2 sheets (usually there are 2 sheets in a box)

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons picked jalapeños, chopped

1 table spoon pickled jalapeno juice

6 bacon slices, cooked and chopped (I didn't have any bacon on hand so I used those precooked bacon pieces and did 1/2 cup. They were great this way, but I think would be better with real bacon.)

1 egg

salt and pepper

2-1/4 to 3 inch biscuit cutter

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 

Mix together cream cheese, jalapeno jucie, jalapenos and bacon until cream. I think you can best control the hotness of this dish with the jalapeno juice. Add a little more if you like hotter, take away if you don't like as much heat. I would stay as is these are mild to medium hot. 

On a lightly floured surface lay out your pie crust and roll out any edges if necessary. Using your biscuit cutter cut out as many circles as you can. Mine was probably around the 2-1/4 inch size and I was able to get 26 circles out of my two pie crusts to make 12 pastries. 

Place half of the circles on the cookie sheet, and spoon in about a tablespoon of mixture. Mix up your eggs with a tablespoon of water. Using your finger dab the wash around the outside of the circle. Place your other circle on top of the mixture and using your finger to gently press together the two pieces of dough. 

Use a pastry brush to brush egg wash onto pastry, sprinkle with salt and pepper. I like the course ground pepper. Using a sharp knife cut a little slit in the top to make an air vent. 

Bake for 23 minutes, let cool and serve! 

You'll definitely want to serve these at your next get together or they would make a great side to some grilled steaks or hamburgers. 

More more Hunk of Meat Monday recipes visit the Beyer Beware Blog and link up. 

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting Muffins and winners announced!

Pinterest wins again.

Last night I went on a bit of a cooking binge. Made supper, pumpkin muffins and raspberry cookies. I took most of it over to the grain elevator so the guys doing harvest could have a treat. One of them asked the Boy how do you get your wife to get start cooking as soon as she gets home from these trips. The Boys response was it just happens! She likes cooking and since she can't when she is on the road she makes up for it when she gets home.

Pumpkin cupcakes are delicious. That is a fact.

The recipe I want to first share with you is a pumpkin muffin/cupcake. I have really been craving pumpkin and since this recipe only had two, I repeat two ingredients I thought they would perfect.

Ingredients needed:
1 Box of yellow cake or spice cake mix
1 Can of Pumpkin (15 oz).

Instructions:
Blend two ingredients. Put into muffin wraps and back for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. I felt like my muffins definitely needed the full 25 minutes.

As an added touch I topped my muffins with some cream cheese icing. I'll admit it, I bought store ready made icing. And it was delicious I might add. I guess this is a pretty popular Weight Watchers recipe. That means healthy right? And it was no big deal that I had two?

Now onto announcing the winners of the Boot Barn Cody James contest and the Cowgirl Crush Earrings.

Emily Writer you won yourself a pair of Cody James or Shyanne Cowboy Boots from the Boot Barn and Sara Wall you are the winner of the Cowgirl Crush earrings! Please find my email under the About tab and email me with your contact information.