Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Okay I know I already busted out the pumpkin muffins, but I'm not COMPLETELY done with summer yet in the kitchen. 

I have been waiting for an excuse all summer to make this chocolate zucchini cake and I finally got it last weekend when Mark and Eli came over to watch the Ole Miss game with Josh and Knox.

Bingo!  My excuse to make chocolate zucchini cake!!

(Football = Excuse to make yummy food of any kind.)

I only wish Eli was old enough to try a piece of cake.  Check out this cutie!  I think he likes me. :)

My mom has been making this recipe in the summer for as long as I can remember.  I think this may be another one that originated with my Aunt Monica but I am not sure.  All I know is that it's AWESOME. 

And dangerous.  It's really hard to just eat one piece.  We love, love, LOVE this cake!

If you don't want anyone to know there is zucchini in your chocolate cake, just peel the zucchini before you shred it up.  Everyone will rave about how moist the cake is and you can just smile and nod and keep that secret ingredient to yourself.

But if you want to show it off, like I do (or if you are just plain lazy, also like me) feel free to leave the green peel ON. :)

Enjoy!

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 3/4 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1/2 cup sour milk*

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

4 Tbl. cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

2 cups shredded zucchini

1 cup chocolate chips, divided

*Just add a little lemon juice or vinegar to the milk to sour it.

Preheat oven to 325.  Cream butter, oil and sugar.  Add eggs, vanilla and sour milk.  Beat till well blended.  Mix all dry ingredients together in a separate bowl and add to creamed mixture.  Beat well.  Stir in zucchini and half cup chocolate chips.  Pour batter into greased 13x9 pan.  Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips over the top.

Bake 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Grandpa Porter's Photos & Photography 101

Last week my family was invited to a reception at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (the hospital where I was born) :) in Brattleboro, VT because the hospital hung a display of enlargements of my great-grandfather Porter's photographs in their administration wing.   

My great-grandparents, Porter C. Thayer and Edith Webster Thayer, were photographers when photography was till somewhat of a novelty.  

They held a photography studio in Townsend, VT in the early 1900s and Grandpa Porter traveled (by horse-drawn cart) all around Southern Vermont capturing and preserving on camera images of rural life...working people, towns and landscapes.  

His photos are now quite well-known and have become an important piece of Vermont history.

If you stop at a General Store in Vermont today you are likely to find some black and white postcards with Grandpa Thayer's trademark white descriptions at the bottom of each picture.  His photos pop up all over the place.

This past year Brooks Memorial Library and the University of Vermont have been working together to digitize 1,250 of my great-grandfather's photos in order to preserve them, which I think is very exciting.

And the display at the hospital is an honor.  Here are some photos of the reception last week, courtesy of Bratteboro Memorial Hospital.

My Dad & his brother Bill, Porter's grandsons

 

Dad & Mom, Aunt Mary, Uncle Bill, my cousins Bill & Becky

So...with Grandpa Porter's photography skills on one side and Josh's photography skills on the other we're expecting great things from Knox in the photo realm...  (no pressure) :)

We've started his training early, check it out.  :)

Porter's Great Great Grandson, Photographer in Training

Velvet Covered Brick

Today I want to send a special shout out to my DAD.  

Because it's a big day.  It's his 60th birthday!!! 

Some friends once described my dad as a "velvet covered brick" and I love that description of him.

Because my dad is gentle and loving and patient and kind...but also very firm and very solid in his convictions, his beliefs and his integrity.  

People know they can trust my dad, and if you ask him for his opinion he will give you his honest answer. Even if it's not an easy answer to give.

He is a wise man.

I don't know if there is a harder working and more generous man in the world than my dad.  If someone needs a hand, he's there.  

There definitely there isn't a better auto mechanic anywhere. 

Nor a better dad.  

My dad has worked very hard all of his life.  But he has never been too busy for his girls. 

And that has meant the world to me.

I will always look up to him, and admire him, and respect him.

Happy 60th Birthday, Dad!

You are loved.

Rangers vs. Twins. GO WHITESOX!

All the Cousins

Knox probably won't often get to be with both of his cousins at the same time, so this was a special moment... worth documenting!

This picture makes me so happy, and so thankful for our families.

God is good.

Last Hurrah

This week we are enjoying one last hurrah with my sister Courtney, brother-in-law Justin and nephew Max before they move back to Indonesia in just a couple of weeks.

Justin needed to take a helicopter course in Fort Worth this week so it worked out perfectly for them to stay with us.  We are so happy they could come!

So what have we been doing together so far?

Well, we have learned that there are only two things that are fun to do in Dallas in July.

1.) Stay in the air conditioning.

  
And

2.) Stay in the air conditioning.

So we have been staying in the air conditioning. :)

We are thankful for every moment we get to spend together.

In the air conditioning. :)

New Kid on the Block

Elijah Raymond Pritchard

 Our newest, precious little nephew!

July 20, 2011

8 lbs. 5 oz.

21 inches

He has already stolen our hearts.

Welcome, sweet Eli!

Not All Cows Are Created Equal

One of Uncle Malcolm's Jersey Cows

If there's one thing a Vermont girl knows it's that not all cows are created equal.

Jersey cows, for example (the brown ones) are the best. 

This is what my Uncle Malcolm says, anyway, and I take his word as law when it comes to cows. 

You should, too.

Holsteins (the black and white ones) might give you more milk, but everyone knows that the quality of a Holstein's milk is far inferior to that of a Jersey cow. 

A Holstein will give you lots of skim milk but a Jersey will give you pure cream. 

I am very loyal to Jersey cows, as you can tell, but this summer I did discover one Holstein that could give a Jersey a run for its money.

VS.

That's right, Holstein vs. Jersey and it was a close call!

Have you ever heard of Cornhole? 

I hadn't, until our July 4th picnic when my uncle, aunt and cousins brought this game over for us to play.  I LOVE Cornhole.  It's my new favorite game.  And as soon as I move to a place where I actually have my own yard I'm going to hire my cousin Maria's fiancee Matt to make us one of these sets, and my cousin Lauren to paint it for us.  Didn't they do an amazing job with that one?!

The object is, of course, to get as many bean bags in the hole as possible.  You also get points for landing on the board, which is harder than it looks.  The first team to 21 wins, but you have to be careful because if you go over 21 you LOSE.

Jerseys rule, Holsteins drool!

The Boat

I'd like to introduce you to a very very special friend of mine.  

Meet...

The Boat:

My parents bought this beauty right after they were married.  I don't think when they towed it home they had any idea that 38 years later they would be taking her out for a ride with their two grandsons!  My dad has done an amazing job at keeping her going.

My parents have had different cars through the years, even different houses.  

But only one trusty boat.  

We love this old bird. 

Some of my favorite childhood memories are of lazy days on the lake...swimming, tubing, waterskiing, falling asleep on the shore...

I remember spending the night on the boat, anchored in the middle of the lake.  I remember earning my very own "cool" life jacket when I finally mastered waterskiing.  I remember taking her camping with us.  I remember spending many of my birthdays with her.

And I remember the dreadful day our boat died in the middle of the lake.  My dad swears he would have pulled the plug and sunk her that day if he hadn't had me and Courtney with him; he had to sit on the front and paddle her all the way back across the lake to the boat launch.  Not so fun for him but Courtney and I thought it was a great adventure.  :)

We have so so SO many fun memories involving the boat.

So this summer, with everyone home in Vermont, Courtney and I were very excited to introduce our boys to the boat.  

They must felt pretty comfortable with her, because as soon as my dad started up the motor they fell right asleep. :)

Knox, 11 months old

Max, 2 weeks old

Knox woke up after a little while, though, and he loved the boat.

Getting sleepy again. :)

I'm so thankful we all got to have another beautiful day together creating more fun memories on the lake with the boat.♥

 And I'm looking forward to many more! :)