chocolate + zucchini

{recipe and picture taken here - i told you, i can't photograph worth a darn these days}

i know i said i wasn't really into baking these days, but when i saw the zucchini smiling at me at the store the other day, i had only one thing on my mind. cort preferred it heated up, but i like it straight out of the fridge - nice, cool, and chocolatey. i doubled the recipe, made two loaves, and gave one away. good thing - the one loaf only lasted a couple of days. this recipe won't disappoint.

chocolate zucchini loaf cake

2/3 c. all-purpose flour

1/3. c. whole wheat flour

1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 1/2 c. shredded raw zucchini

1/4 c. vegetable oil

1/4 c. applesauce

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3/4 c. semi sweet or dark chocolate chips (but i almost always use milk chocolate for everything)

1. preheat oven to 350 and grease a loaf pan. sift together first 7 ingredients. set aside.

2. using a hand mixer, beat the oil, applesauce, sugars, eggs, and vanilla for about 2 min.

3. fold in zucchini, add the flour mixture, beating just until combined. fold in chocolate chips.

4. pour mixture into prepared pan and bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

5. remove from oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool for at least 15 min. then transfer from pan to wire rack and let cool completely. store in fridge when cool.

serve warm with vanilla ice cream. or straight out of the fridge, with fresh strawberries.