The best zucchini bread recipe
[Imagine here a photo of giant zukes in a laundry basket — the photo simply will not load for me, waah]
Zucchini overload, take it as read! But seriously, this is the recipe I go to for zucchini “bread” (cake really, but no one is complaining) — I don’t use any other. It’s from Auntie Sue.
The big zukes I slice and grill — I probably will post/already have posted on Instagram about that. It’s simple — even the biggest ones that you forgot about under those giant leaves can be sliced, tossed with a little oil, and grilled. There is some in the freezer as we speak for delectable roasted vegetable lasagna in the winter.
And of course save your harvest by grating extra when you make this recipe for bread and putting it in the freezer in 2-cup quantities (I use quart-sized freezer ziplocs), ready to be pulled out for new batches later. No draining, just chucking into this easy recipe that is a one-bowl, no fuss wonder.
I confess, as I see now that I am transcribing rather than glancing at the recipe, that I mindlessly put a bit more than four cups of grated zucchini in this batch without doubling the rest of the ingredients, and used my truly extreme chickens’ eggs, each of which is worth two of the normal large ones you buy, and ended up adding more flour because yes, it all seemed a bit drippy, but it was fine. I suppose these errors are what account for the slightly more open crumb at the top of those slices, but in the end it’s only more tender and moist than in its normal perfection.
No matter what, this recipe is going to yield a universally beloved snacking cake and amply justify having planted all that squash.**
NB: The vanilla and cinnamon are non-negotiable in my opinion – -they are the flavorings that give the bread its irresistible flavor; but the nuts can be omitted.
Auntie Sue’s Zucchini Bread
Makes two loaves (you can also make zucchini muffins of course — just bake for 18 minutes, depending on the muffin cup size, until springy and puffed)
Preheat oven to 350℉.
Spray or grease well two loaf pans of a normal size†
Mix all together in a bowl, giving the first 3 ingredients a stir to blend before adding the oil:
3 large eggs
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup oil (I use peanut oil*)
2 cups grated zucchini
3 tsp. cinnamon
3 cups flour (I used my freshly milled winter white wheat flour and it’s perfect)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup nuts (pecans would be good)
coarse sugar for sprinkling on the batter before baking for that appealing crusty-glazed top
Divide between your two prepared loaf pans.
† I have also made this in two 9″ cake pans, lined with waxed paper, and when cooled, frosted with a rich cream cheese frosting such as you would use for carrot cake. And that is a heavenly way to gussy it up!
Bake for 45 minutes or until a tester comes out clean and the top has puffed up and even cracked a bit.
Turn out onto a cooling rack. Enjoy!
*My plan is to feed the excess produce, even after all the projected storage, to the chickens. With feed at the prices it is now, and rising, I think doing this will also justify having over-planted!
**I really only use animal fats, olive oil, coconut oil, and peanut oil (that I buy in small quantities to avoid having it go rancid) in my cooking. You can read about how bad seed oils are for you. What are your thoughts about this? Something is up with how unhealthy we Americans are in general…
bits & pieces
- I like this decorating blog, though it’s hard to read (she is working on changing her platform and maybe it will be better). Lots of design information, especially about paint. I would add, about blue paint, the topic of this particular post: remember that when you turn the lights on (as you almost always will in the dining room, say), the yellow of the light will render the paint… green. Blue + yellow = green, that’s just how it works. So examine your chip or swatch in the light you will actually be using (and make it incandescent, not LED, light, so that you can be happy and not strangely depressed and discontented with your lot).
- Educating children is a primary goal of marriage (wrapped up in their begetting and inextricable from it). And what is the primary goal of education? Bishop Conley, who studied with my hero John Senior, has a good essay on this topic.
- There should be zero controversy about being informed on a medical decision. No labels should ever be slapped on someone seeking to know more about a treatment, especially an invasive one (for instance, a shot). In fact, it ought to shock and warn us if we are told we should not question such things. This website has a lot of information on vaccines, much of which is taken from the material supplied by the manufacturer. Poke around and see what you think.
from the archives
- Regarding Beauty and Saving the Neighborhood and all, I have been brainstorming how to make a shrine (ie have The Chief make it) and how to get a weatherproof icon for it. A friend sent this promotion from Legacy Icons. “Free icon with purchase of wooden shrine.” I haven’t looked into it yet, but thought I’d link it here so we can figure it out together — the offer is good until the end of July. Looks like you have to get to the checkout to get the free icon…
- From Deirdre: Is it scary to start a St. Gregory Pocket?
You can look up at the menu bar to see our posts about what and where they are! And here’s a good idea to meet up with people: go to the geographical Facebook page for your area and simply ask, “Are there any members here who go to [name your church]/read the blog Like Mother, Like Daughter/are interested in a traditional-minded mothers’ group near [name your town]/are homeschooling using Charlotte Mason principles” and so on. People will reach out to you and you can get the beginnings of your Pocket that way.
And dear reader Katie’s family is military and will be heading for Warner Robins, GA soon. She is interested in meeting like-minded LMLD readers in hopes of starting a Pocket! If you are near there, please contact me! We can get it going.
Notice that I don’t have any St. Greg’s swag, membership, fees, or dues. I’m not monetizing this. It’s simply a template for people to use the internet to form offline, real-life friendships in hopes of building that larger community that will be there for the children when they desperately need peers whose families have standards. It’s for making friends in the community who will be there not only for the bookclub, but for taking care of kids during doctor’s appointments, bringing meals, and getting the husbands together too.
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