Chocolate Fix Zucchini Cake with Buttercream Frosting

I love this time of year when all the fall produce is ready for baking and preserving! Who has some grated zucchini in their freezer? If so, make sure to try this great Zucchini Cake from my mom. Yum!
Also, I know many of you are wanting to see more England photos! You can read a little more about our trip here.

                                       

We all have a craving for chocolate now and then. If you have a large family and desire a frugal way to give them a chocolate fix, without spending big bucks on candy bars, I have a swet treat idea for you. "Let them eat cake!"

Bake this chocolate zucchini cake with buttercream frosting for instant smiles all around the table!


Chocolate Fix Zucchini Cake

Cream together:
1/2 C butter
1/2 C oil
1 3/4 C sugar
2 eggs
1 Tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 C sour milk (I add 1/4 tsp lemon juice to evaporated milk)

Mix in:
2 1/2 C flour
4 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves

Beat and blend in:
2 C grated zucchini
1/2 C chocolate chips (I use semi sweet)

Pour into greased and floured 9 X 13 baking pan. Bake 40 minutes at 350º.

Cool and frost with buttercream frosting:

Beat together:

4 C powdered sugar
1/4 C butter
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
dash salt
evaporated milk as needed for correct thickness

For more frugal recipes, check out my new blog: Big Family Frugal. Linking with:

Sharing Special England Moments with my Daughter

Slowly, I've been putting up photos and tidbits about me and Lynzie's trip to England last month. It was her first time going and I was so excited to take her to all my favorite places. There are so many happy memories from our trip, I know I'll never remember them all. 

One special moment took place on one of our visits to Winchester Cathedral. We actually spent a good part of our three days in Winchester in the cathedral. It was a favorite place for both of us, as there's so much history (and mystery!) inside that one could never grow tired of studying it. One afternoon while we were there, I took a tour while Lynzie went around sketching. When I finished with the tour, I went looking for her and found her here, lighting a prayer candle. What an amazing experience for her! 

On our first morning in Bath, I got her up really early, when it was barely light out, to show her around the best part of the city before all the rest of the tourists came out. This photo was taken just after the bells at Bath Abbey had finished playing, The Bells of Great Britain. It was awesome watching my daughter experience England for the first time. We have a lot of the same interests in common and there were times when it was emotionally overwhelming to know the joy and amazement she was feeling. 

Another special time was when we visited Chawton Manor, a family home of one of Jane Austen's brothers. We stopped off at the church of St. Nicholas and visited the graves of her mother and sister. While that was a breathtaking experience, I got really emotional when we went inside to pray. In fact, every time I visited a church on this trip, I got really emotional! God did some amazing things in my heart in England this year. He truly is the same everywhere I go.

Ideas for a Cozy Commute with Yankee Candle® Car Fragrances #LoveAmericanHome #ad #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LoveAmericanHome #CollectiveBias

When I was a new wife and homemaker, there was this lovely shop downtown called The Sycamore Tree. I loved to go in there and browse all the beautiful things for sale and imagine making my home warm and cozy and super inviting. One display I loved to spend time at was the Yankee Candle® shelf. There were dozens of glorious fragrances of jar candles to choose from! Now I can have Yankee Candle® brand products in my car with these new Smart Scent Vent Clips and Car Jar Ultimate hanging fragrances. 

Yankee Candle® brand Smart Scent Vent Clips and Car Jar Ultimate can be found in the Auto Fragrance and Air Care (near the laundry aisle) sections of Walmart. I found several great fragrances for $4.94 each in the Auto Fragrance aisle. Check out the Walmart Assortment Page for a large variety of fragrances.

 In addition to the hanging jars, there are these neat vent clips. I love the innovative idea of these air fresheners.

Just like my dreams of a cozy home, it's nice to have a cozy car---especially if you've got a long commute! Using Yankee Candle® fragrances is just one way I make the inside of my car more inviting. Here are a few more ideas for a relaxing commute:

I make sure to have a separate charging cord for my phones---one that is designated for car only. This way I don't find myself forgetting to grab it from the house, resulting in a dead battery half way through the day.

I love to listen to soothing music while I'm driving. These Celtic harp CDs inspire me to creativity.

It's also important to have some nutritious snacks and water. These help keep me awake and alert for safety---and are great for those really long waits in traffic.

Do you have a favorite Yankee Candle® fragrance? Let me know in the comments below!