TRIPLE CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI BREAD

Do you have a lot of zucchini this summer? If so, this is a great way to use it. This treat is super chocolate-y, super moist (in fact it gets even more moist on day two), super easy to make and freezes very well.

(2) one ounce squares of unsweetened chocolate (melted)
3 large eggs
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil (I used canola)
2 cups shredded zucchini (squeezed dry then measured)
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 + 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Things to do first:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°
2. Toss the chocolate chips into the measured flour to get them well coated,that way they won't sink to the bottom of the bread as it cooks.
3. Grease two large (9" x 5") loaf pans. I lined mine with parchment and then greased the parchment (this bread tries to stick to the pan if you go light on this step, but with the parchment paper, the zucchini bread tips right out.

4. Shred the zucchini then squeeze some of the water out of it (with your hands) before you measure it.

Directions:

In large mixing bowl (I used my stand mixer), combine eggs, sugar, oil, grated zucchini, vanilla and melted chocolate. Mix until smooth.

Next, add flour (that you've stirred the chocolate chips into), cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Mix until well combined, smooth and shiny (just takes a 30 seconds or so).

Pour batter into 2 well greased large loaf pans and bake at 350­° for 60 to 70 minutes (my electric oven takes exactly 60 minutes) or until a toothpick inserted into tallest part of the bread comes out clean. Don't over cook.

Cool in pans on a rack for 15 minutes, then remove from pans. Wrap the bread in plastic wrap while they are still hot.  This keeps a lot of the moisture inside of the zucchini bread as it cools.  Don't slice the bread until it cools down completely.

If you are going to freeze them, cool completely, then double wrap them or wrap them in plastic wrap and put in a Ziploc freezer bag.

FUN TIP: If your children are picky eaters, just peel the zucchini before you shred them, that way you won't hear "Mom, what are these green specs?" They won't even know that the zucchini is in there!!

ENJOY !!

VEGGIE CORN BREAD

This super MOIST and tasty (veggie filled) corn bread starts out with two of those little Jiffy corn bread mixes (what could be easier?) and feeds a crowd. It is equally delicious warm or at room temperature, so it is perfect for a pot luck or holiday brunch.

 

(2) boxes Jiffy corn muffin mix

4 eggs (beaten)

1½ sticks butter (melted)

(2) cups broccoli florets (chopped)

1 cup of frozen corn (thawed)
1 medium onion (chopped) saute until tender
1 cup cottage cheese
1/4  teaspoon dry red pepper flakes (or to taste)

Saute broccoli, corn and onion until tender, set aside. In large bowl, beat 4 eggs together and stir in melted butter, cottage cheese and pepper flakes. Add Jiffy mixes and stir until smooth. Gently stir in broccoli, corn and onion. Spread in a greased 9 x 13 baking dish and bake (375°) for 35 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned.

LOTS OF VEGGIES INSIDE

NOTE: Finely diced sweet red pepper is pretty in this cornbread too, but I was out of it.

THE ULTIMATE POPOVER

I have been playing around with popover recipes for a while now, so I thought I would "get serious" and buy a popover pan. The pan makes a huge difference, not so much in the taste, but in appearance and how big the air bubbles are inside of the popover. These popovers could not be easier or cheaper to make, and they are such a treat, hot out of the oven with honey butter or strawberry jam!! If you do not have a popover pan, see note at the end of this post.

This recipe is fool proof as long as you follow it closely. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. I put my popover pan in the oven while it preheats (do not grease before you preheat).

While your oven/pan is preheating, whisk together:
3 eggs
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup of milk (see note)1 tablespoon melted butter

NOTE: If I have whipping cream, I put about ¼ cup of whipping cream in a measuring cup and then fill the rest of the way with 2% milk...if I have no cream on hand, I just use 1 cup of 2% milk).
After the above ingredients are whisked together well, add one cup of all purpose flour (spoon flour into measuring measuring cup and level off with straight edge). Whisk everything together for about 30 seconds or until it looks very smooth & creamy.
Take the popover pan out of the hot oven and spray each cup with vegetable spray. Put a small chunk of chilled butter (roughly ½ teaspoon but the exact size is not crucial) into the bottom of each hot cup. Fill each cup half way full (makes six big popovers).

Bake popovers at 425 for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, turn the oven down to 325 and bake for another 15 minutes. Remove popovers from pan and poke a tiny hole (I use a toothpick) in the bottom of each popover to relieve a little steam (not totally necessary if you are going to eat them right away).

 NOTE: If you do not have a popover pan, you can use 6 ounce (oven safe) custard cups (I used the clear Pyrex ones, for a long time, with great success). I placed them all on a cookie sheet for easier handling. The popovers will not get quite as tall (as they do with a popover pan) but they taste every bit as good.

Someone from outside the USA wrote and asked me what a popover pan was, so here is a photo. As you can see, it is almost like a cupcake pan, but the cups are a lot deeper and spaced far apart so the hot air can circulate around each cup.

PUMPKIN - CRANBERRY BREAD (the best)

If the rating system for this recipe was 1 to 5 stars; I would rate this a 10. It is absolutely delicious and will be perfect for your holiday table!! It is very easy to make (doesn't even take an electric mixer) and yet it is unique enough for gift giving. I hope you try it, it is SO GOOD... extremely moist, total comfort food!!!

 Preheat your oven to 350, and grease and flour two 9" x 5" loaf pans. Set out two large bowls. In the first one mix:

3 cups flour
3 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

In the 2nd bowl, mix:
3 cups sugar
(1) 15 ounce can pumpkin (without spice)
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup orange juice
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
.
Whisk the first bowl (with the flour in it)until the dry ingredients are well mixed. Whisk the 2nd bowl (with the pumpkin in it) until WELL mixed and oil is completely incorporated. Pour the wet into the dry and mix with spoon just until moistened. Stir in cranberries gently.
.
Pour batter into prepared loaf pans. Bake 60 to 65 minutes (my oven took 70 minutes). Cool (in the pans) for about 10 minutes, then turn them out. Wrap the hot bread IMMEDIATELY in plastic wrap, covering tightly. Let the breads cool completely in the wrap.


NOTE: Make sure you use a 15 ounce can of plain packed pumpkin and NOT pumpkin pie filling (big difference).

NOTE: Recipe calls for ½ cup of orange juice, which I didn't have, so I used pineapple juice instead.

NOTE: Wash and sort your cranberries. Try to use the darkest berries. Make sure they are thawed out before mixing into batter.

NOTE: It is OK to put the plastic wrap on the hot bread as soon as it comes out of the pan. This forces the moisture back into the bread as it cools.

NOTE: My oven took 70 minutes to cook these loaves. Use the toothpick test to determine doneness.

THREE MINUTE MICROWAVE CORNBREAD

When I first found this little recipe that promised fresh corn bread in 3 minutes, I thought "no way". Well, I'm here to tell you "yes way"...it is excellent!!

You won't get the brown crunchy part of corn bread that a lot of people love, but, HEY!! THREE MINUTES!! The taste and texture is surprisingly good and when you weigh the benefits of serving hot corn bread in a snap, well...I will definitely be using this recipe often!!

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup white flour
1/2 cup corn meal
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix everything with a whisk and pour into a greased microwave safe baking dish. I used a 6 x 6 x 2 baking dish.

Microwave on high for 3 minutes. If your microwave doesn't have a carousel, then manually rotate the dish half way through the cooking cycle.

 
NOTE: I used a 1000 watt microwave and it took exactly 3 minutes. If your microwave is different than that, you may have to adjust the cooking time.

NOTE: I used cooking spray inside of the baking dish and the cooked corn bread removed very easily.

INSTANT ITALIAN FLAT BREAD

I can't tell you how many times I've been asked for this recipe. They are quick to fix (out of ingredients that are always on hand) and they reheat well.

 

This super-simple recipe starts with a refrigerator biscuit that is rolled out flat and topped with a cheesy-herb mixture and baked. It's a great "go with" for any dinner..
.

10 ounce tube of refrigerator (flaky) biscuits
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (packed fairly tight)
1/4 teaspoon of dry basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon of dry oregano leaves
3 tablespoons of thinly slivered green onion tops1 clove of garlic (minced)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
.

Mix everything together well (except the biscuits) and set aside. Separate refrigerator biscuits and roll each one out into a circle approximately 4” across.

.

Using your fingers, press on the center of the biscuit’s a little more, leaving the outer edge just a little bit thicker than the center (like a pizza). Divide cheese mixture evenly between the biscuits and spread it around (staying back from the edge).

.

Bake on lightly sprayed cookie sheet, at 350° for about 15 minutes or until golden around the edges.
..

NOTE: Change the kind of herbs if there is something you like better.

.

NOTE: I usually cook them for about 14½ minutes then turn the broiler on for about 30 seconds to give them just a little extra color (but watch them carefully). ..
NOTE: Don’t flour your counter before rolling out these biscuits.

.

NOTE: I've always used mayonnaise, I'm sure how Miracle Whip would taste.

.

NOTE: Any style of refrigerator biscuit will work.

CHOCOLATE - BANANA BREAD

Yep, you read it correctly, chocolate banana bread, and it is really good!! The chocolate (cocoa and chocolate chips) lend the predominate flavor, but you can still taste the banana AND the fruit keeps the bread extremely moist.

1  1/4  cups of mashed bananas
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1  1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon  salt
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips (a must)
..
Beat all of the wet ingredients and sugar together until well combined and smooth. Beat in the dry ingredients just until combined then stir in the nuts and chocolate chips.
.
Bake the bread in a greased 8" x 4" loaf pan, in a pre-heated 350F oven for 60 to 70 minutes or until toothpick tests clean (see note below). Cool bread in pan, on rack, for 15 minutes, then remove from pan . Immediately, wrap hot bread with plastic wrap and cool, this will seal in all of the moisture......important step.

If you click on the (above) photo, you can see the melted chocolate chips...a slice of this bread, heated in the microwave for 10 seconds or so, will satisfy any serious choco-holic.

 NOTE: I'm not a big fan of baking all that batter in a single 8" x 4" loaf pan for over an hour. That always seems to produce a lot of hard crusty corners. I much prefer to make two smaller loaves which bake in about 45 minutes. Whatever pan size you use, try the toothpick test for doneness. When you remove the toothpick, you will see some melted chocolate chips on the toothpick, but no gooey batter.
.
NOTE: Yes, that is snow (higher than my kitchen window) in that last photo. Snow also accounts for the ultra-bright window-light in the first photo. We live at the base of a mountain pass and we get a lot of snow...but, hey, it's nearly mid-March, so this is even a lot of snow for us. Tonight it's zero again. I heard on the radio today that the Iditarod dog team racers are experiencing 35 below zero this week!!

BANANA-CHERRY BREAD

I found this recipe on http://www.mixingbowl.com/ and it is a keeper for sure. Super moist banana bread, mixed with maraschino cherries and pecans. Hubby loves this toasted with butter!!

3 large overripe bananas
2 teaspoons lemon juice
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (soft)
¾ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1½ cups self rising flour
4 tablespoons milk
1/3 cup chopped pecans (I used ½ cup)
½ cup chopped maraschino cherries
.
Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease and flour a 9" x 5" loaf pan. Mash bananas and stir in lemon juice. Set aside.

Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until creamy. Beat in banana mixture and vanilla extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each egg. Sift dry ingredients together and add to the banana mixture, alternately with milk. Mix only until incorporated. Fold in nuts and chopped cherries.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake about one hour (my oven took 70 minutes) or until toothpick tests clean. Cool in pan for 15 minutes then turn out onto rack.

THE BEST BANANA-PINEAPPLE BREAD I'VE EVER EATEN!!

I've tried, literally, dozens of banana bread recipes, over the years, and this one is, by far, the BEST I've ever eaten. It is quick and easy (one bowl); it is moist from the 2 cups of mashed bananas and some crushed pineapple, it is sweet from brown sugar and has just a hint of cinnamon and coconut extract. You have to try this one!!

 In a large bowl, whisk together:
3 large eggs
1¼ cup canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon coconut extract (don't leave out)
2 cups of ripe mashed bananas
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple drained
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup white sugar

After it is well mixed, stir in:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans

Mix well with wooden spoon and pour into two greased 8" x 4" x 2" loaf pans. Bake at 350F for 60 minutes or until toothpick tests clean. Cool in pan for 20 minutes before removing to wire rack. Wrap hot banana bread in plastic wrap and let it cool.

 Hubby loves this bread toasted and slathered with butter!!

WHIPPING CREAM BISCUITS

I am fairly successful when it comes to baking with yeast, however, biscuits have been one of my big failures for many years. Every so often, I try various biscuit recipes in hopes of finding a good one. After each attempt, Hubby tells me "I like whomp biscuits" better (it is humiliating!!)

Are you familiar with "whomp biscuits"? They go "whomp" when you hit them on the edge of the counter to pop the tube open. Personally, they aren't my favorite, but Hubby likes them (Pillsbury Grands).

Last week, I made Paula Deen's cream biscuits for breakfast. Because the recipe has only THREE ingredients (self rising flour, sugar and whipping cream), I didn't have very high expectations, but they turned out GREAT!! The biscuits were light, moist, tasty and oh so quick. I used them to make some ham and egg sandwiches and Hubby actually liked them!!

2 cups self rising flour (see note)
1 tablespoon sugar
1½ cups heavy whipping cream


Mix all 3 ingredients together until dough forms a ball. Turn out onto lightly floured counter and knead 5 to 7 times. Pat dough out to ½ inch thickness and cut biscuits with a 3 inch cutter. Place on greased baking sheet (with 1" between biscuits) and bake at 500F for 10 minutes

NOTE: I never have self rising flour, so for EACH CUP of self rising flour, I substitute 1 cup of all purpose flour + 1¼ teaspoon baking powder + 1/8 teaspoon salt.

NOTE: I brushed my biscuits with butter when them came out of the oven.

HOMEMADE FLOUR TORTILLAS

This was my first attempt at homemade flour tortillas and I was "stunned and amazed" at how easy they were!! Since there is just two of us at home these days, I have wasted a ton of money on commercial tortillas that never get used. I buy a package of 12...use three or four and put the rest in the freezer. I don't know how many partial bags of ice crusted tortillas I've thrown away over the years, but not any more!! Fresh tortillas are so much tastier than commercial ones.

While this recipe makes about eight 8" tortillas, it is also a wonderful convenience not to be stuck with "one size fits all" tortillas. For example, you could make half full size tortillas and half "toddler size" tortillas. I think the little ones would get a kick out of that.

This recipe produces a dough that is very easy to work (feels almost like Play Doh) and it fries up in either a dry pan (if you are watching calories) or in vegetable oil if you are looking for a nice and flaky tortilla. Hubby gave the flaky style both thumbs up!!

 4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons cold shortening (or bacon grease)
1½ cups hot water

Put first 4 ingredients in the food processor and pulse until well mixed. Add hot water while machine is running. Turn machine off when dough comes together. Remove dough and knead about half a dozen times or until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Wrap it in plastic wrap and let it sit for about 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, turn dough out onto lightly floured counter and roll into balls about the size of a small golf ball. Roll out tortillas (starting in center and rolling outwards, turning often).
To cook the tortillas, the recipe says to use a cast iron skillet, but I found it hard to regulate the temperature (it got too hot) so I used an electric skillet instead. I'm sure with practice, the cast iron skillet would be the way to go. I fried the ones I wanted to eat in a dry skillet, but to get the big flaky bubbles, fry them in a little vegetable oil. Keep the tortillas warm in a kitchen towel while you cook the others.
NOTE: I made a half recipe for just hubby and myself and it gave me five nice big tortillas. It is such a great dough, I'm sure you could double the ingredients as well if you are cooking for a crowd.

TROPICAL FRUIT QUICK BREAD

This tropical quick bread was still too hot to cut when I photographed it, so I don’t have a photo of the inside of the bread, but trust me, it is excellent. To give you an idea of what it tastes like, it has bananas, pineapple, coconut, walnuts, vanilla & rum extract in it.

1¾ cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup butter flavored Crisco
¼ teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed RIPE bananas
(1) 8 oz. crushed pineapple, well drained
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
2 eggs
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon rum extract
Cream the butter and sugar together, then add everything else and mix until smooth. Place in a greased 8½ x 4½ x 2½ loaf pan (the bigger loaf pan) and bake at 350 for one hour. Remove from pan and cool on rack.

NOTE: Some people in my family complain that coconut shreds get stuck in their teeth, so I run the coconut through the food processor just for a few seconds to make the shred a little finer.
NOTE: It is my cardinal rule that you never eat quick breads like this on the first day. Always wrap them tightly while hot and do not unwrap them until day two. If you do this, the flavors develop AND the bread will be much more moist.