Listening / watching my darling hold the ipod so tight so as soon as his fav song finished he could start it over ever so quickly because god forbid we actually listen to more than one song per day. At least he has exceptional taste …
This is a bit of a jail-food dinner but it is very quick, healthy and super tasty. I find it hard to get inspired when I am only cooking for Ethan and I on certain nights of the week, the portions are hard to work …
Yes it’s true. There is one. It’s not all spectacular family outings and cute photos of Ethan and his dog. There are days {like today} when I simply don’t know what to do any more. I have run out of good parenting tips and ideas, the reward charts aren’t working any more, taking things away seems to not faze him.
Don’t extrapolate from this and crucify me for being honest. My son is a wonderful caring boy, who is SMART beyond his years and intensely focused, driven and competitive {all of which are characteristics I value highly in people} but he also has a furious temper, is a control freak, requires instant gratification and refuses to take no for an answer.
Just like me.
So, somehow I need to teach my mini-me to respect ME and his father and his Nana and Grandad. Because, as he told me tonight, he is a lovely boy to everyone else.
So this is a bad day. And that’s all it is, but it is the truth and it is the reality of being a parent.
Another couple whom we love has joined the fab baby club – KC and Greer are the proud parents of beautiful baby Chloe. Congratulations guys she is gorgeous!
Until today I thought my name was simply Hebrew in descent in and meant something to do with honey-bees. Wow. How I underestimated the power of the MELISSA……. The Urban Dictionary has set me on the right path though, and please, take note and really …
I am awash in zucchini right now, my vege bin in the fridge is literally groaning under their weight in fact. Which is good, because it is a staple vege in our house and one all three of us really love.
So, I have frozen them, baked them in muffins, made pasta sauce out of them, put them in every stir-fry, sautéed them with WHATEVER we were eating at the time and made bread, but I needed another recipe. This one is a winner. The BEST, most moist and rich cake I have ever personally made, plus you can get part of your 5+ a Day while eating dessert, win!
I found this recipe on the aptly named chocolateandzucchini.com and can recommend it 100%
Chocolate & Zucchini Cake
– 1 1/2 C (180 g) all-purpose flour
– 1/2 C (60 g) whole wheat flour (of course, you can just use 2 C / 240 g all-purpose flour, I was just trying to be good)
– 1/2 C (40 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
– 1 tsp baking soda
– 1/2 tsp baking powder
– 1/2 tsp salt
– 1/2 C (110 g) butter, softened
– 1 C (160 g) light brown sugar
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 1 tsp instant coffee granules (the Nescafé type, the stronger the better)
– 3 eggs, at room temperature
– 2 C zucchini, unpeeled, grated (about 280 g, two medium)
– 1 C (170 g) chocolate chips
Topping :
– 40 g light brown sugar
– 1/2 C (70 g) hazelnuts, toasted and chopped
(Serves 10.)
Preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F). Grease a 3 quart (3 L) springform cake pan, and flour it or sprinkle with cocoa powder : this is to help the cake unmold easily, especially if you’re not using a magic non-stick pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
In your food processor, combine the sugar and butter, and mix until fluffy. Add in the vanilla extract and espresso powder, then the eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly between each addition.
Spoon in the flour mixture, reserving the last half-cup of it. Mix thoroughly, the batter will be thick.
Add the grated zucchini and the chocolate chips to the reserved flour mixture, and toss to coat. Fold in the batter, and blend thoroughly, it’s fun. Pour into the prepared cake pan, and flatten the surface with a spatula.
In a small bowl, combine the topping ingredients, and sprinkle all over the batter. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Turn out on a rack to cool for half an hour, then unmould.
Project 365: Week 5 The week that was Monday January 25th – Sunday January 31st, 2010