Yummy Treats aka Tribute to T***

Is your office fortunate enough to have a resident baker? You know, the person who brings in treats on an almost daily basis? The person whose baking is really the only reason you get up to go to work on Monday? The wonderful person who makes all the office birthday cakes ... from scratch?

In my department at the Big J, this person is T***. We love her. People don't want to leave the School because of her. Not only is she an accomplished baker, but she's also a crafter and a "rockin'" shakuhachi flute player. She created this applique memento for my parents' 40th wedding anniversary.

We jokingly call T*** the "nice" Martha Stewart.* When Ms. Stewart had occasion to be at the Big J for her companion's receipt of an honorary degree, we made sure that our two Marthas had a photo op.



Mom, don't faint now, but T*** even got me to eat zucchini -- that much loathed vegetable -- by sneaking it into a killer chocolate cake. It's oooohhh so good. (When your garden makes too much zucchini Janey, I have an idea for you!)

T***’s Chocolate Cake
Aka Chocolate Zucchini Cake
From The New Good Cake Book by Diana Dalsass

9 Tbs butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 1-oz. squares unsweetened chocolate, melted, cooled
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp grated orange rind
½ cup milk
½ cup shredded zucchini
21/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
Grease and flour a 9 or 10 inch tube pan.

Cream butter and sugar.
Beat in eggs, chocolate, vanilla, orange rind, and milk.
Stir in zucchini.
Whisk together dry ingredients.
Stir into zucchini mixture.
Turn batter into pan.
Bake about 1 hour.
Cook in pan on rack 15-20 minutes.
Finish cooling cake on rack.

Serves 16+.

* MY opinions about Ms. Stewart are too well known to be re-voiced in cyberland. Needless to say, I did NOT get in a photo op with her.