If Only They Grew This Beautiful: Dark Chocolate Zucchini Muffins with White Chocolate Ganache

Another zucchini "job well done".

Zucchini is one of the homeliest vegetables of the garden (I think). But they are versatile. One of the most versatile veggies out there.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if zucchini grew as beautiful as this muffin? PPFFSSSTTT....I'd be growing tons of zucchini if they looked and tasted like this.

Don't you just hate it when you make muffins and the batter exceeds the muffin pan by one or two muffins?

Just don't forget: when you have empty muffin cups, make sure you put water in them. Don't bake them empty.

Plus the steam from the water filled cups helps in the baking process.

And they look like this when they are done.

This has got to be one of the best zucchini recipes ever. Especially when dark chocolate is involved.

And the white chocolate ganache.....THE PERFECT TOPPING!

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Dark Chocolate Zucchini Muffins with White Chocolate Ganache

1 1/2 c. flour

1/2 c. Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 TBS instant coffee granules

1/2 c. canola oil

3/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. grated zucchini

1 c. Hershey's Special Dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare muffin tins with paper liners.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in the coffee granules and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat on low, oil, sugar, and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time and mix until combined. Add grated zucchini. Stir to thoroughly incorporate.

Slowly begin to add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. When everything is thoroughly mixed, stir in the dark chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared muffin cups. I filled mine almost to the top.

Bake muffins 20 - 25 minutes, or until wooden pick checks clean.

Completely cool on wire rack.

White Chocolate Ganache

1 c. white chocolate chips

1/2 c. heavy cream

In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chips and cream. Microwave on high in 20 second intervals, stirring after each 20 seconds. Do this until chocolate is soft enough to melt and become creamy with stirring.

After muffins were completely cool, I dipped each top in the ganache, and set them back on wire rack to dry.

"Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression."

Psalm 19:12-13

"Please forgive my hidden faults." Do you ever say that in prayer? I am thinking that God will take a great big sponge and soak up all around inside me to keep my hidden faults away. But He does not do that. His way of dealing with hidden faults is to send someone to point them out, or to bring them out through some circumstance in which we are suddenly confronted, and we find that our hidden faults are ugly. That is how we are cleansed from hidden faults. God opens up our secret places.

God knows we cannot see ourselves, but other people can. Others see our faults very plainly. And we can see other's faults better than they can. Have you ever said, "I don't see how that person can be so blind"? Guaranteed, someone is thinking the same thing about you. If we depend upon ourselves, we are acting presumptuously. I am willing to let a someone, or a circumstance help me deal with my hidden faults. I can only hope that God leads me that way. What about you?