2 1/2 C flour
1/2 C cocoa
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp soda
1 tsp each salt and cinnamon
3/4 C soft butter
2 C sugar 3 eggs
2 tsp each vanilla and grated orange peel
2 C coarsely shredded zucchini
1/2 C milk
1 C chopped walnuts or pecans
Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon; set aside. Beat together butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly. With a spoon, stir in vanilla, orange peel and zucchini. Alternately stir the dry ingredients and milk into the zucchini mixture. Add nuts last.
Pour batter into a greased and floured 10” tube or bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Cool in pan 15 minutes, then turn onto rack to cool thoroughly. Sprinkle powdered sugar or drizzle glaze over cake. Enjoy!
Frank Truttman settled in the Olema Valley with his parents, Joseph and Louisa Truttman, and his older brother, Armin, in 1943. They came to Marin County to form a dairy partnership with Manuel Silva, who was a leading dairyman in the San Joaquin Valley. The partners began operations on a ranch just south of the Olema Cemetery, the Truttmans renting the 1,200-acre property from Valenti Bloom, an early pioneer in the valley. The operation flourished under the Truttmans’ management and became one of the county’s leading dairies. About 15 years after arriving in Olema, Frank met his wife-to-be, Rita Bloom, at a local dance. (Rita was the niece of Valenti Bloom.) Frank and Rita married in June 1958 and built their home on Olema Hill. They raised two children, Debra and Frank, Jr. At age 94, Frank Truttman still resides in the house he and Rita built nearly 60 years ago.
All are welcome to join Frank and others at a coffee hour for goodies such as this zucchini cake, along with conversation and community, following the 9 a.m. Sunday mass at Sacred Heart Parish, in Olema.