K is for Kahlua: Kahlua Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Bread

"I'm going on a picnic,"and I have the letter "K".  I'm not sure how many years I've been playing the Picnic Game organized by that fabulous blogger Louise at Months of Edible Celebrations! Each letter of the alphabet is taken by a different food blogger who will post what they're bringing to the Perfect Picnic A-Z! Want to find out about the history of the picnic? Be sure and read the story at Months of Edible Celebrations. I'll be posting all the recipes from the different blogs on June 30, so you can have your own Virtual Picnic... or Real Picnic!

So this year I chose the letter "K" because I love Kahlua! This Kahlua Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Bread is great to take on a picnic because it travels well, but a heads-up. Because this recipe includes a hefty amount of Kahlua, you might want to reserve it for adults!

So while I decided to bring something with Kahlua on the 'picnic', I remembered that I should have made some homemade Kahlua.. too late to have it ready for the picnic this year, but if you start now,  you'll have some for your next picnic..to drink or use in baked goods or other drinks and sweets!

Homemade Kahlua

Ingredients
4 cups water
4 cups sugar
2 ounces instant coffee
1 vanilla bean
Fifth of vodka or bourbon

Directions
Bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add the 4 cups sugar and cook until dissolved. Add the instant coffee. Simmer slowly - do not boil!
Add vanilla bean and 1/5 vodka or bourbon.
Bottle and cap. Leave for a month or more!

Kahlua Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Bread
This recipe makes one loaf, but it can easily be doubled. You can also substitute oil for the butter.  I love quick breads. They're fast and easy, and you only use one bowl! And, they're great to take on a picnic. Because this Zucchini Bread with Chocolate Chunks has Kahlua in it, you might want to take it on an 'adult' picnic only.

Ingredients
2 cups flour (all-purpose, but you can use 1 cup whole wheat and 1 cup all purpose)
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup (8 Tbsp) sweet butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup Kahlua
1 cup shredded zucchini
3 ounces good quality dark chocolate, chopped into smallish chunks

Directions
In medium bowl, sift flour with soda and salt. Set aside.
In large bowl of electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then Kahlua. (Don't worry if it seems curdled). Add dry ingredients and mix on low speed until blended. Stir in zucchini and chocolate chunks to distribute evenly.
Pour into greased and floured 8-1/2 × 4 inch loaf pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F, about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until wood pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool in pan 10 minutes.
Turn out onto wire rack and cool completely.

Have fun at the Virtual Picnic! Here are the Letters A-J. Be sure and come back on June 30 for the entire alphabet!

A is for Angel Cake

B is for Basil Leaves in Caramelized Prawns

C is for Chicken Piccata

D to come

E is for Eccles Cakes filles with Leeks, Spinach and Blue Cheese

F is for Fourth of July Picnic S'more Tartlets

G to come

H is for Ham Cheesy Patties

I to come

J to come

The Picnic Game A-Z

This week I'm playing the Picnic Game organized by that fabulous blogger Louise at Months of Edible Celebrations! Each letter of the alphabet is taken by a different food blogger who post what they're bringing to the Perfect Virtual Picnic A-Z! Want to find out about the history of the picnic? Be sure and read the story at Months of Edible Celebrations.

I'm going to a picnic, and I chose the letter "D", so yesterday I posted my Dying for Chocolate Chocolate Cake. No icing! Very portable for the picnic.



So here's the line-up for the Picnic Game. Lots of wonderful recipes and foods to enjoy in 'real' time and at your 'real' picnic.
 
A is for Aloo Gobi 

B is for Blueberry Cucumber Salsa

C is for Crispy Curry Fried Chicken

D is for DyingforChocolate Chocolate Cake
 
E is for Eton Mess

F is for Fish In A Jar

G is for Golden Pillow Hee Ban

H is for Hummingbird Cake

I is for Ice Cream Sandwiches

J is for Jersey Hot Dogs

K is for Kahlua Mocha Ice Cream

L is for Light and Soft Japanese Cheesecake

M-To Come

N is for Nettle Quinoa Tart

O is for Oriental Pasta Salad

P is for Pan de Mango

Q is for Quinoa Pizza Balls

R is for Rainbow Connection Cupcakes

S is for Strawberry- Yogurt Ice Cream

T is for Telosma Cordata Eucheuma Jelly

U is for U-Never Fail Cheesecake

V is for Vanilla & Cream Cheese Pound Cake & Citrus Glaze

W is for Watermelon Sorbet

X is for Xtra good Walnut Apple Cake

Y is for Yakon Kelp Soup

Z is for Zucchine in Padella con Aceto e Peperoncino 

Dying for Chocolate Chocolate Cake: The Picnic Game

I'm going to a picnic, and I have the letter "D". I was going to bring a Devil's Food Cake, but I decided instead to bring my easier to make and easier to eat at a picnic "Dying for Chocolate Chocolate Cake.  No icing!

I'm not sure how many years I've been playing the Picnic Game organized by that fabulous blogger Louise at Months of Edible Celebrations! Each letter of the alphabet is taken by a different blogger who will post what they're bringing to the Perfect Picnic A-Z! Want to find out about the history of the picnic? Be sure and read the story at Months of Edible Celebrations.  I'll be posting all the recipes from the different blogs on June 30, so you can have your own Virtual Picnic... or real! 

So because I'm always Dying for Chocolate, I'm bringing "Dying for Chocolate Chocolate Cake." This recipe is easy to make, and  Dying for Chocolate Chocolate Cake is perfect for a picnic. You can dress it up or dress it down. It packs easily and holds up well in the weather. I could use a cake tin to transport this cake, but I could also carefully wrap it up in this cute "Chocolate" tea towel. Depending on where your picnic or barbecue may be, you can serve the "D" Cake with whipped cream and berries or with ice cream.

DYING FOR CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Ingredients
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
1-1/2 cups water
2 Tbsp Instant Coffee Granules (or ground espresso)
8 ounces dark chocolate, chopped (save two ounces of chocolate chunks)
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup sweet butter, softened
1 tsp Madagascar vanilla
3 large eggs

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease 10-inch Bundt pan.
Combine flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder in small bowl. Bring water and coffee granules to a boil in small saucepan; remove from heat. Add 6 ounces chocolate; stir until smooth.
Beat sugar, butter and vanilla extract in mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs; beat on high for 5 minutes. Beat in flour mixture alternately with chocolate mixture.
Fold in remaining 2 ounces chocolate chunks.
Pour into prepared Bundt pan.
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until long wooden pick inserted in cake comes out clean.
Cool in pan on wire rack for 30 minutes.
Invert onto wire rack to cool completely.

Have fun at the virtual picnic!

Here are the letters up to D!

A-Aloo Gobi (Mae is out of the country but sent the permalink which will go up on the 28th)
http://maefood.blogspot.com/2013/06/aloo-gobi-for-louises-picnic-game.html

C-Crispy Curry Fried Chicken
http://mycookinggallery.blogspot.com/2013/06/crispy-curry-fried-chicken-picnic-game.html