Lemon Zucchini Bread

Thanks Rachel for this delicious recipe...Our family really enjoyed it:)...

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil (I substituted applesauce)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I used unbleached white whole wheat flour)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons lemon zest

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease an 8x4 inch loaf pan.
In a bowl, beat together the zucchini, sugar, egg, and oil. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder; stir in the cinnamon and lemon zest. Stir the flour mixture into the zucchini mixture just until blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from heat, and cool about 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Click here for original recipe.

Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Pecans

I had this salad at a brunch recently and I liked it so much I made it twice in a week!

8 ounces fresh torn spinach or baby spinach
1 1/2 to 2 cups cleaned and sliced strawberries
1/2 cup pecan halves or pieces, lightly toasted
2 to 3 ounces goat cheese or blue cheese, crumbled
.
Dressing
1/4 cup Canola oil or other salad oil (I used olive oil)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/8 teaspoon each onion and garlic powder
dash dry mustard

Toss spinach with sliced strawberries, pecans, and cheese, if using.

Combine dressing ingredients in a jar; shake until well blended. When ready to serve, drizzle dressing over the salad and toss lightly.

Recipe from http://southernfood.about.com/od/spinachsaladrecipes/r/bl60522d.htm

New Favorite Banana Bread, "Flour's Famous Banana Bread"

• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour (I substituted for wheat flour and my husband still loved it)


• 1 teaspoon baking soda


• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar


• 2 eggs


• 1/2 cup oil (tastes just as good with applesauce)


• 3 1/2 bananas, very ripe, mashed


• 2 tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream


• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


• 2/3 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped (if desired)
  

Set oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of a loaf pan with parchment paper.
Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Beat sugar and eggs with a whisk until light and fluffy, about 10 minutes. Drizzle in oil. Add mashed bananas, creme fraiche, and vanilla. Fold in dry ingredients and nuts. Pour into a lined loaf pan and bake for about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

Recipe and Picture found at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_89136,00.html

Yummy Baked Apples

My son Isaiah loves apples. My daughter Autumn will eat them sometimes. I tried this recipe from http://www.spinachandhoney.com/ they loved them and so did I. They made them as a healthy dessert, but I made them as a snack. Here is the recipe from the site I made my own comments in parenthesis.

• 4 Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples (I used golden delicious)


• 2 tablespoons lemon juice, or 1/2 a lemon


• 1 tablespoon of honey


• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, divided


• 1 tablespoon butter

Preheat oven to 275 degrees (I did 350 degrees b/c I'm impatient but they turned out fine and cooked faster). Cut apples into slivers and put in a mixing bowl. Squeeze in the juice from half of a lemon. Pour in honey and almost all the cinnamon, save a little for the top. Mix everything together well. Put the apple mixture into a pie dish. Cut the butter into small cubes and scatter on top. Sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon over the butter and apples. Cover and put in the oven for 50 minutes or until apples are soft. Serve warm or at room temperature. These are sweet enough alone, but a small bit of warm maple syrup for dipping is good too!