Weekly Winners

Weekly Winners

August 3-9th, 2008

Me playing with my new camera!! (my fuji died last week, but I quickly went out and purchased a new camera...an olympus fe-340 and am LOVING IT!)

Making chocolate zucchini cake.

The best part!!!

Chocolate zucchini cake with whipped topping....mmmmmm.....

Purty sunrise Monday morning...just had to capture it!

I'm a dork, but had to share my new Dansko shoes...like my socks?!

Another zoo trip....
Mr. Mountain Goat...contemplating a jump?

Am LOVING the zoom on my new camera!!
Mr. Bald Eagle

Zoo lovin' McShort

Tee Hee Hee....my gal pal Lori

Mr. Beaver...the first time he hasn't been in his den...yahoo!

Erin McShort, Sophie McShort and Original McShort

This sheep was tenacious, he had his nose stuck through the fence and was licking on the greenery...too funny!!!

Penguin Love with my McShort and Natalie McShort

Have I mentioned yet that I love the zoom on my new camera?

Hello! Mr. Hippo.

Neat-o birds in with the giraffe.

Mr. Monitor (icky)

Hey, are you kids old enough to drive?
Katie, Original McShort, Natalie McShort and Derrick McI'm Going to Kindergarten this year.

Love the Giraffe!

Love my new camera zoom!!!

A little zebra butt always makes my day complete. He looks like he's smiling too, doesn't he?!

The bird show at the zoo.

(Sad) Group Photo...oh well...it was a tiring day!

mmmmmm.....blueberry jam I made....come by tomorrow for directions :)

Phew...that's a lot of shots. For more, go see Lotus and all the links to more Weekly Winners!

Chocolate Zucchini Cake Crockpot Style!!!

So I mentioned that I made chocolate zucchini cake a couple days ago and said I'd have more details...so here they are.

Ingredients:
1 cup of all-purpose flour
1 cup of whole wheat flour
3/4 cup of cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup of egg substitute (or 4 eggs)
3/4 cup of vegetable oil
3/4 cup of applesauce
1 cup sugar
1 cup oil
3 cups of grated zucchini
1-2 cups chocolate chips (optional, of course)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 in baking pan or your crock pot (I used my big oval one).
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flours, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg substitute, oil, sugar, and applesauce. Pour mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well.
4. Fold in the zucchini until evenly distributed. Then stir in chocolate chips.
5. Pour into the prepared baking pan or crock pot.
6. Bake for 45-55 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Wait until the cake is completely cooled and then you can frost the cake with your favorite frosting (I used light cool whip mixed with a bit of cocoa powder for a chocolate frosting). If using the crock pot, cook with lid on for about 3 hours or until a toothpick comes out clean. A hint that you're almost there is when the edges start to pull away from the sides of the crock.

Everyone here thinks this is delicious. The original recipe I found had no sugar listed in the ingredients and someone had commented that it was horribly bitter. So I added sugar and chocolate chips. I also added walnuts...not so good and I don't recommend them. This is delicious served with whipped topping.

I got my inspiration for doing it "crock pot style" from this blog. It's called A Year of CrockPotting and I think this woman is brilliantly amazing!!! I've made a few things and have been very pleased. I tried the fried rice, coconut cake and the just throw a hunk 'o' frozen meat in and slop sauce on top trick. Fantastic they all were. I think this crock pot gig will make my life a bit easier once I'm back to work. It's also nice in the heat of the summer!!!

On a different note, I finished the book Bright Lights, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster. HILARIOUS! An easy, quick read that I laughed at all the way through. She has a very witty, snarky sense of humor that I can appreciate and connect with! I can't wait for my turn to get her other books on the library's hold list.

Happy hump day to you. Wish me luck, I have 3 little cherubs to look over today :)

OH and go see what a beautiful new baby my coworker Tony's wife just gave birth to. Congrats Tony & Christi and welcome to the world Milina! And congrats to Milli's Grammy, Sue (another co-worker of mine).