Wyona's Zucchini Cake - "We forgot the Baking Powder and Baking Soda"

No Zucchini in Pilling's Garden

 I asked Wyona the other day to teach me how to make Zucchini Cake (this has always been one of my favorites).  She said "yes" and mentioned that there were only a few Zucchini's in the garden this year.  I could not believe that there was only a few.  During this time of year everyone out here is begging others to use up there Zucchini.  From what I can tell this is the year of the tomato!  I went to Wyona's a few days later for my lesson...

Lots of Tomatoes in Pilling's Garden

Wyona pulled out her book of recipes and started to go through  6 or 7 different recipes.  I grabbed a pen and paper and started to take notes.  Because Wyona (Hona, as Landen likes to call her) did not follow one recipe I took a template and changed it so that I could follow her instructions.

Once all of the ingredients were mixed up and the cake was in the oven it was time for me to go home to put the kids down for a nap. Approximately 30 minutes later Greg showed up with a hot cake for me to try.  I thought it was pretty good but not quite what I remember.  I spoke to Wyona later and she told me that it must have been the substitution of butter for oil.  This made perfect sense to me!

During a conversation the next day Wyona stopped and dropped her mouth in horror as she realized that we had forgotten the baking powder and baking soda.  We laughed really hard!  We learned a good lesson last week.  If you are going to talk about things other than baking when you are baking and if you are going to use multiple recipes you should check your list of ingredients before placing things in the oven.

 The following is my attempt at sharing the recipe with all of you:

Zucchini Cake Before you attempt this recipe you need to ensure that the children in the room are well entertained so they do not bother you during the process.  Cars, cartoons, old fisher price toys etc. are recommended. Ingredients: 4 Eggs (When beating the eggs you need to really beat them!) 2 ¼ Cups Sugar (Wyona recommends that you replace half of the white sugar with brown sugar.  This way you get all the goodies from the brown sugar that you don’t with the white sugar. ) 2 tsp. Vanilla ¾ Cups Softened Butter (Wyona provides three helpful hints when it comes to butter.  Firstly, do not substitute for margarine.  If this is all you have go to the store.  Second, the butter should be softened and not melted.  It will lose flavor if it is melted.  Third, you may substitute the butter with oil.) 3 Cups Flour ½ Cup Unsweetened Cocoa 2 tsp. Baking Powder 1 tsp. Baking Soda ¾ tsp. Salt 1 Cup Buttermilk 3 Cups Coarsely Shredded, Peeled Zucchini 1 tsp. Cinnamon (This is optional but is highly recommended by Wyona) ½ tsp. Nutmeg (This is also optional but highly recommended by Wyona) 1 tsp. Orange Grated Peel (Wyona says this is optional but I don’t think it really is.  It won’t taste like Wyona’s cake without it.) Directions: Beat eggs with electric mixer until really fluffy.  Gradually add sugar and beat until thick and lemon colored.  Beat in vanilla and butter.  Combine all dry ingredients.  Pour half of the flour mixture over egg mixture and beat well.  Add buttermilk and mix well.  Add remaining flour mixture and beat.  Fold in Zucchini.  Pour batter into a greased and floured 9” x 13” cake pan.  Bake at 350 F for 45 minutes or until top springs back when gently pressed.  Do not over bake this cake! v  Wyona will substitute a few things in the recipe depending on what is available in the kitchen.  She says that you can add nuts, chocolate chips, and/or coconut depending on your supply and taste buds. v  Wyona also says “do not forget the baking soda and baking powder.  The cake is not as good if you forget to add these two things because you are busy talking.” Zucchini Cake Icing There are a number of options when it comes to picking a frosting for the top of a Zucchini cake but to make it the way we remember it from Wyona’s kitchen you need to use cream cheese! Ingredients: 1/4 Cup (4 oz) Butter (Remember not margarine!) 1 tsp. Vanilla 8 oz (1 pkg.) Cream Cheese 2 - 3 Cups Icing Sugar Directions: Blend ingredients together well. v  If you would like a thick amount of icing on the cake just make more icing.  v  You can also add more of any of the ingredients listed above depending on your taste.