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Archive for July, 2013

Good morning, my dear readers!  First things first: I finally created a Facebook page for Picture Perfect Cooking and I would love if you would “like” it!  The link is on the right side bar just below “Who Am I”. 

I hope everyone had a great Independence Day holiday.  We celebrated a day early with C’s cousins at a cookout and had a great time.  The 4th was a complete wash-out around here.  Actually, the 4th, 5th, 6th, & 7th were washouts.  I am beginning to feel a little like Dorothy, because this doesn’t feel like Kentucky anymore; at least not Kentucky in July.  We have had days and days of cool, wet, dreary weather and I hope it is about over for a while.  If not, we will be able to start a mushroom farm in the backyard. My poor garden looks bad, but it is still producing so I guess that is all that matters.

Anywho, this week is a little short on the menu plan.  We have some busy work days and one night out planned (if it doesn’t rain out the event).  I still haven’t made it to the grocery store yet so hopefully I will venture out this week. Hope everyone has a safe, blessed and DRY week!

Leftover shredded BBQ with oven fries

Baked ham slices with butter roasted potatoes

Taco ring with salad

Shredded beef taco roast with oven fries

Pizza night

Frozen Oreo pie (didn’t get made last week)

Join me at I’m An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

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I really like to use zucchini as an ingredient in baked goods.  It seems to give the items an extra dose of moisture that results in a terrific texture for breads, muffins, or, in this case, cake.  This cake, which I found at Chocolate, Chocolate and More, would be delicious with a fruit or Jell-O salad on the side or just eat it by itself with a big ol’ cold glass of milk.  Mmmm!

chocchocchipzucchinicake

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup vegetable oil

2 cups packed grated zucchini

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare to loaf pans by spraying them with non-stick spray. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt on a plate and set aside. I prefer using a paper plate for this because it makes it easier to pour into the mixer later.

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In a medium mixing bowl, beat eggs and sugar until they are light and fluffy.  This takes about 2 minutes.  Add in the oil and vanilla and stir to combine. 

While your mixer is running on low, slowly add the flour mixture to the egg/sugar mixture.  Beat until just blended.  Fold in the shredded zucchini and chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pans and bake for 50 to 60 minutes.  Mine were perfectly done after 50 minutes so be sure and check them at that time.  Allow the loaves to cool for 10 minutes, then turn them out of the pan and cool completely.  Slice and enjoy!

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Here are 5 fun things that happened this week:

1. Last Saturday, C & I spent the day in Louisville, KY and ate some awesome doughnuts from Nord’s Baker.

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2. Went to the Derby City Comicon.

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3. Visited Yew Dell Gardens.

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4. We celebrated Independence Day a day early at a cookout hosted by C’s cousins and got to play with two sweet babies…

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5.  And enjoy a backyard bonfire and fireworks show:

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It is time for another edition of Book Beginnings!  Join me and other bloggers over at Rose City Reader for this great literary link party which will go live tomorrow.  Today I am bringing you the first couple of lines from Deborah Harkness’s follow-up to “A Discovery of Witches” called “Shadow of Night”.

"We arrived in an undignified heap of witch and vampire.  Matthew was underneath me, his long limbs bent into an uncharacteristically awkward position.  A large book was squashed between us, and the force of our landing sent the small silver figurine clutched in my hand sailing across the floor."

These words make you wonder just where they arrived and what the significance of the objects mentioned are.  You will just have to read the book to find out.  This is the second book in the All Souls trilogy and I can’t wait for the finale!

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A few shots of downtown Louisville’s architecture…

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Happy July 1st, everyone!  Are you ready for the big holiday weekend coming up in just a few days?  Nah, me neither.  We only get the 4th off from work so it will be business as usual on Friday so I don’t think we will have any grand plans for Independence Day.  It will be nice just to piddle around home and take it easy.  I am still refinishing a hutch I bought last year and I hope to have enough time Thursday and Saturday to get it finished.  Of course, there will photos coming up if I get it done.

We had a all day outing this past Saturday and I have multiple Thoughtful Thursday posts coming up soon about it all.  I just couldn’t squeeze it all into one!

This week’s menu is mostly old favorites since I am cleaning out the fridge and pantry before a grocery shopping trip at the end of the week with a new BBQ recipe and new dessert recipe to try next weekend.  I hope everyone has a happy, fun, and safe Fourth of July!

Bubble up pizza

Cheesy steak sandwiches with oven fries

Taco ring with salad

Grilled steak burgers with oven fries

Plain Chicken’s Slow Cooker Coca Cola Pulled Pork with fries

Frozen Oreo Pie

Please join me at I’m An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

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