Why make bread when you can make Zucchini Chocolate Cake?

2 1/2 c flour

½ cup cocoa

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

¾ cup soft butter.

2 cups white sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp orange juice concentrate

2 tsp vanilla

½ c milk

2 c zucchini

Mix dry ingredients and cream the rest in a separate bowl then mix it all together. Pour into greased and floured bundt pan and bake at 350 for one hour.

It's Peachy!

Anticipation!

Here is your postcard from my trip to New York City. We enjoyed the landscapes of four Great Lakes and the Finger Lakes. Historic districts Marshall Michigan, Niagara on the Lake Ontario, and Hudson Ohio were welcome distractions to the miles of roads in between. Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca NY, sushi in Brooklyn and Balthazar - a French Bistro in SOHO made us glad to be hungry. Farmstands graced the roads in Ontario and New York. We stretched our legs from the long drive and walked from Battery Park into Manhattan. My friends sister gave us a personal tour of Ralph Lauren Corporate headquarters on Madison Avenue. I was adopted to experience apartment living in Brooklyn and a home on Long Island. We worked at a Vineyard sampling grapes and bottling Pinot Noir.

The highlight? It was the peaches. Those numerous farm stands had peaches galore and I did my best to eat up to three of them a day. Eyes closed, a deep breath and sweet juice running down your chin...heaven.

Whole Peach Pie

The prize of August since I can remember

I can't let summer go until I have made this recipe. The trick is finding good peaches. I have feasted on good local peaches in the southeast, northwest and northeast - if that matches your zip code, you will be more fortunate then those of us in the Midwest who must wait for the Colorado peaches to arrive in late August. My mother made Whole Peach Pies as long as I can remember, and I plan to do the same - as long as I can still remember!

Pie Crust (enough for 4-5 peaches)

1 c Butter-flavored Crisco or unsalted butter

2 c unbleached flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

6 tbsp ice water

Mix the shortening and dry ingredients with pasty blender until it is the texture of course sand. Sprinkle the ice water over and blend together - do not overwork! Divide into 4-5 balls and roll each between waxed paper. Wrap each peach carefully, avoid stretching or tearing the dough. Bake at 375 for about 35 minutes until golden.

4-5 washed Peaches

Honey Sauce

1 c powdered sugar

1/2 c butter

3 tbsp cream

5 tbsp honey

Mix the sauce ingredients and cook on low heat for 30 minutes until golden in color. Pour sauce over peaches just before serving.

Tell me this is not heaven....

It works!

Wow this is too easy!
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Exceptional Apple Cake with Carmel Sauce

1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature

1 c sugar

1 egg

1 c flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cloves

2 large or 4 small tart apples, sliced thin

1/2 c chopped walnuts

1/4 c whipping cream

1/2 stick unsalted butter

1/4 c granulated sugar

1/4 c packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

This is the BEST apple cake I have ever had! Heat the oven to 350 and butter a 9x9 or Swedish loaf pan. Cream the butter sugars and eggs. Mix in the dry ingredients and stir together. Add the apples and nuts and bake for 40-45 minutes. On the stove top heat the cream, butter and sugar until sugar is melted and then boil for one minute. Add vanilla and serve over the top.

Blueberry Galette

1 1/4 c flour
1/4 c cornmeal
2 tsp granulated sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick chilled unsalted butter
4 to 5 tbsp ice water

3 c fresh blueberries
1/4 c granulated sugar
1 oz (2 tbsp) butter, chilled
Pinch of cinnamon

2 tsp powdered sugar

Mix the cornmeal, flour, sugar and salt with the butter using a pastry blender until it is the consistency of sand. Then add ice water and roll out into a circle on wax paper. Do not overwork - dough should stay cold, if not chill for up to 2 hours. Transfer to a parchment lined cookie sheet and chill until you are ready to add berries.

Cut the butter in pea sized pieces and mix with the blueberries, sugar and cinnamon. Pour into center of dough leaving about three inches you gently place over the edge of berries. Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes. Let cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Lost Boy

Davyd was to finish his homework before soccer practice. I called his name, but couldn't locate him. I went outside and this is where I found him. Sometimes being a mom is priceless!

Grand Vacations: Vancouver Island

Consider this a postcard. Yes, we had a great time and we wish you were there! Pete, Davyd and I spent last week on Vancouver Island. I have thought about going there since 1978.

We took the Anacortes ferry to Victoria, British Columbia and explored the southeast quarter of the island. Riding ferries always adds a romantic notion, who doesn't love cruising archipelagos?

We were smitten by the small farms around Cowichan Bay and fell in love with the artisan cheeses and breads at Hillary's Cheese Shop. Walking the labyrinth at Demali Lavender Farm was a sensory delight. My favorite B&B was Arbutus Bluff on Gabriola Island (yes, another ferry ride). We were surprised by a pod of Orcha's just a hundred feet in front of us along the beach there. Next, the origin of my curiosity - Strathcona Provincial Park. We took a seven-mile alpine hike to add to the beach walks on the smaller islands. In between, we ate plenty of fish (halibut-yum) and chips with Canadian ale. A day in Victorian and then Seattle paled compared to the quiet island pace, though I did enjoy the Seattle Art Museum.

If your curiosity is roused, you can get reasonably priced direct flights on Canadian Air from Chicago to Victoria. One could easily make a long weekend of it. Next time, I would definitely stay at Arbutus Bluff again, and add a night and Damali and splurge to stay at Brentwood Bay Lodge/Spa. Don't miss the the bread and cheese in Cowichan Bay enroute. I'd be tempted to make it a couple weeks though to explore the whole island.