Zucchini Noodles and Sausage

This week we came upon some zucchini in the clearance area of Quality Greens. 5 big ones for $1.49. So, I started thinking....how can I use this zucchini in a yummy way. It feels like we have eaten quite enough potatoes, rice and pasta lately. I wanted something different. Then I remembered, zucchini noodles! My friend, Heather, had blogged it quite awhile back, so I decided to make my own variation of it. I got out my handy dandy mandolin, which I must say my husband hates me using! He worries I will slip and injury myself. It's quite a lovely tool, but does need to be handled carefully!
Zucchini Noodles and Sausage
2 large zucchinis (cut into noodles)
1 package of sausage of your choice
1 Pepper, whatever color you have, cut up fine
1/2 onion chopped fine
1 clove garlic crushed
1/2 a pint of grape tomatoes cut in halves
spices of your choice, I used Cajun and Greek(club house)
sprinkling of Parmesan cheese
 Put the onion and garlic in the frying pan with a small amount of butter. Season. Fry until soft and remove. Cook up the sausage with a bit of water. Remove and cut them up small. Add sausage back to pan with the peppers. Add in zucchini and put on the lid and cook for a few minutes. Add grapes tomatoes and cook to warm. Sprinkle on Parmesan cheese and serve.  You can change it up with whatever you think would be yummy. Leave out the meat and it's vegetarian! It's such a refreshing meal!

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Do you have any of these? Seems it's that time of year....Giant zucchini time.

My mother in law gave me a wonderful recipe for chocolate zucchini cake, so I thought I'd share. It needs 2 cups of grated zucchini, so you can make a bit of a dint in one of these big guys! I started by taking out the seeds, the smaller ones don't usually have these.



Then I attached my handy dandy grater that I got last year with a mail in rebate. It makes grating anything, quick work!



The wet ingredients are
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup sour milk
then add 1 3/4 cup sugar(I scaled this back to 1 1/2cup with no affect)
Cream together.

Add in 2 cups of zucchini.

The dry ingredients are
2 1/2 cups flour
4 Tbsp cocoa
1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves(I didn't have any, still tasted great)
 

Mix all ingredients together adding 1/2 cup chocolate chips.

Bake at 325 for 50-55 minutes.

This is one of the last pieces....it went fast!

I've Got Lots of Zucchini

                                    

Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Zucchini has been .49/lb lately, so now is a good time to make some zucchini cake! This is a  recipe
we enjoy....hope you do too!

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup oil
1 3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream
Cream these together
Mix the dry
2 1/2 cups flour
4 Tbsp cocoa
1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
Then add the 
2 cups zucchini
1/4 cup chocolate chips
Bake at 325 for 52-55 minutes

Enjoy!