Chocolate & Courgette Loaf Cake

by Lou Robbie

Baking with vegetables fills us with joy. Courgette is a great vegetable to bake with and paired with chocolate it works very well. My kids ate big slices and didn’t notice the green vegetable….I said nothing just incase.

We added cane sugar that is a healthier option over refined white sugar, or you could add coconut sugar too if you like. Our courgette season has come to an end but you can still get the best courgettes from our organic grower in Spain.

This is a delicious chocolatey moist cake we hope you try it.

Lou 🙂

Ingredients:

For the cake

  • 170 g self raising flour
  • 120g cane sugar – sugar or coconut sugar
  • ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 35 g cocoa powder
  • 200 g courgette grated, one large courgette
  • 100 g dark chocolate chopped
  • 3 eggs large
  • 100 ml vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 40 g natural yoghurt

For decoration (optional)

  • 35 g chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

Method:

  • Step 1: Pre-heat the oven to 180C and grease and line a loaf tin. I use a liner.
  • Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the self raising flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cocoa powder and sugar until well combined
  • Step 3: Grate the courgette into the bowl along with the dark chocolate chips, stir everything together
  • Step 4: In another bowl or large jug, whisk together the eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla extract and yoghurt. Pour the egg mixture into the bowl of flour/courgette etc and stir everything together until well combined.
  • Step 5: Pour the mixture into the loaf tin, top with chocolate chips and bake for 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool fully
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool place and eat within 3 days

Creamy Courgette Orzo Pasta- ONE POT

by Lou Robbie

Our beautiful Irish courgettes are in season, they are plentiful, glorious and glossy green! And we will be eating them in every way possible over the next couple of months! This time we are going creamy and cheesy. Just one pot is required to make this comforting bowl of goodness.

We love all sorts of pasta in our house and orzo is a particular favourite. We always have the “Is it rice?” conversation, I’m guessing most families do! Its always great to add variety to mealtimes and especially if you have curious kids in the house!

Do you fancy making this tasty one pot meal? Let us know in the comments we love to hear from you.

Lou 🙂

Ingredients: makes 2 big portions

  • 1 small leek sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 250g orzo pasta
  • 1 pint veg stock 
  • 1 Irish courgette – 300g approx- coarsely grated
  • 100ml cream
  • Parmesan grated 
  • Salt and pepper to taste 

Method:

  • Step 1: Finely slice the leeks and garlic.
  • Step 2: Warm a pot on a medium heat, add a tablespoon of cooking oil, add with the leeks, garlic, a small pinch of salt and pepper and stir. Cook gently to soften.
  • Step 3: Next pour in the orzo and veg stock and simmer to cook for 10 minutes, stir occasionally to stop the pasta sticking on the bottom of the pot.
  • Step 4: Add the cream to the pot then coarsely grate the courgette, and add this too. Simmer for a further few minutes, then stir in a handful of parmesan cheese.
  • If the sauce looks too thin, turn up the heat for a couple of minutes and let the sauce bubble, but stir it so it doesn’t stick. Add some more salt and pepper if needed.
  • Serve with extra grated parmesan.