Thursday, November 7, 2013

Harvest Time!!!

Here is part of the bounty!!!!





A local farm was on "last sale day" of their produce stand so I drove down the road...

And spent every penny I could scrape up!!!!

We grated the zucchini for zucchini bread:


Beth took this picture and she clearly forgot the rule of making sure I look good!!!! Drat!!!
:)
Mary Ruthy, Joslyn and Xavier were my helpers... note I tried to keep their fingers out of the SHARP BLADE AREA!!!!  But hey, that's why we get ten fingers, right???  (laughing, laughing!!!)

We got enough grated zucchini to make two loaves of bread and 5 bags of zucchini to make bread over the winter.

Then we went to Crew #2:
Oh, wait, that's Beth, isn't she adorable???

Okay, back to Zucchini bread:

I used this recipe from the Betty Crocker cookbook, a wonderful edition that I picked up years ago. When I realized how many good recipes it contained for today's cook (guy or girl!) I went back and got three more copies for my oldest kids.

Ingredients

3
cups shredded zucchini (2 to 3 medium)
1 2/3
cups sugar
2/3
cup vegetable oil
2
teaspoons vanilla
4
eggs
3
cups Gold Medal® all-purpose or whole wheat flour
2
teaspoons baking soda
1
teaspoon salt
1
teaspoon ground cinnamon (I changed this, tripled it to 1 TBSP)
1/2
teaspoon ground cloves (I deleted this)
1/2
teaspoon baking powder
1/2
cup coarsely chopped nuts  (optional)
1/2
cup raisins, if desired   (optional)


(Ruthy changes:  Per my old recipe I used a full tablespoon of cinnamon. I used no cloves. (blch). :)  My kids don't like nuts and raisins so I omitted them. In one loaf I added 2/3 cup of chocolate chips. Mmm....)  :)  Happy dancing with the chocolate chips, oh my stars!!!

Megan, Brody, Elijah and Xavier...


Directions

  • Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms only of 2 (8x4-inch) loaf pans or 1 (9x5-inch) loaf pan with shortening or cooking spray. (Ruthy note: I greased and floured whole pan)

  • In large bowl, stir zucchini, sugar, oil, vanilla and eggs until well mixed. Stir in remaining ingredients except nuts and raisins. Stir in nuts and raisins. Divide batter evenly between 8-inch pans or pour into 9-inch pan.


  • Bake 8-inch loaves 50 to 60 minutes, 9-inch loaf 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on cooling rack 10 minutes.





  • Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on cooling rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.  

SCRAPING THE BOWL!!!!  :)

  • Ruthy note: I did not wait two hours before slicing. What would be the point in that????
We sliced some warm and delicious and spread butter on it and LOVED ON THAT BREAD!!!!

Warm bread from the oven must be eaten. It is a Ruthy Rule!!! But if there is some leftover, then by all means, eat it cold!

My bounty for stopping by DeMeyer's stand was a bushel and a half of butternut squash.... 7 large zucchini.... 2 pecks of green/red/yellow peppers... 2 heads of cauliflower.... And the joy of fun projects with my little peeps, learning how to clean and freeze food for the winter! And then there's this!!!!






28 comments:

  1. AWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

    What do I love more than zucchini bread?? BABIES! And toddlers! and kids!! (And FINGERS. We need our fingers.)

    So beautiful, a house full of precious gifts. I sure hope my kids live close and have lots of their own kids. If not, I may be one of those weird old ladies that stands on her porch with trays of warm cookies, luring children from the bus stop as the multitude of cats wrap around her ankles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love those kind of old folks!!! We could do that together if I wasn't ten years (hahahahahaha!) older than you! :)

      Aren't they the cutest things???? And with all this HELP, it's amazing how quickly I can get things done!

      Delete
  2. Oooooh -- gratuitous baby videos!!!! You're giving Jan and Thatcher and run for their money. :-) Adorable! Has me smiling as do all your wee helpers.

    And thank you, thank you, thank you for this recipe! I used to make zucchini bread but lost the recipe and haven't made it in ages and I'm going grocery shopping this afternoon so I'm going to get the ingredients and try this one out. There's nothing that says fall like a zucchini loaf. Yum. And double yum with the chocolate chip option. Will have to give that a try.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kav-a-licious, I love bread with "stuff". So I'd add the nuts, raisins and the chocolate and be happy.

      My family is much more discerning.

      Brats, the lot of 'em! :)

      Tell me what you think. I had a fave zucchini bread recipe and lost it, too (another reason we love each other) but I think this is exactly the same except for tripling the cinnamon. Which is a huge LOVE FACTOR for me!!!

      Delete
  3. I never realized how many babies go into the making of zucchini bread. It's astronomical. Love, love, love anything zucchini!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I answered Tina once and one of the helpers, well helped. GONE.

    And it was a cute answer, Tina! About germs and baking and what few life-threatening illness can live through 350 degrees. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. And right now my friend Brody is singing the "Gloria" from Mass.

    He's 3 and in the "children's choir" and sings with GUSTO! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. He is ADORABLE! They all are, really, but babies are just extra special.

    Now what do you have against cloves, Ruthy? Next to cinnamon, they're one of my favorite spices. But I'm glad you upped the cinnamon.

    These kids are so lucky that they get to bake with you. Mine always battled in the kitchen, so I tended to adopt the I'd-rather-do-it-myself attitude. Cooking is much more fun with the grands.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Mindy, if they battle they are BANNED!!!! And it's so much fun to not be banned, that they behave. And I let them taste each ingredient (you should see the faces with baking soda and molasses and sour milk....perfect science lesson opportunity!) But I hear you, there are times when it's just easier to have me and the mixer!

      Delete
  7. Give all of those wonderful children a hug from me! They are so precious!

    I'm beginning to think I might end up being one of those old ladies Virginia was talking about. Cats and all. My children are being very patient as they wait to meet their spouses - and I do appreciate that part very much - but I can't wait to see them happily married with families of their own. :) All in God's time!

    And what a bounty! A bushel and a half of butternut squash? All that zucchini? Cauliflower? And the peppers? It fits right in with a Thanksgiving theme for November, doesn't it?

    We've run out of zucchini around here, but I still have some shredded in the freezer from last year. I think it's time to make a batch of zucchini bread!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, make the bread and relax! While writing, of course.

      (snarks are us!!!!)

      I love filling the cupboards and the freezers, when we become those little old ladies I might be a hoarder.... But try to make me NOT be that person, okay????

      Delete
    2. Ruthy, you'd never be a hoarder. You'd collect, and then share and share and share.....

      Delete
    3. Jan, you know me too well!!! :) That's exactly what I do! That just makes me a lovable dork!!!

      Delete
  8. Awwwww ^_^ Hannah loves babies too! I'm of the age that apparently all my friends feel it's necessary to start popping out babies left and right! Then I get to see all the pictures and hold all the babies, etc and so forth. I tell them it makes my womb ache :P LOL who doesn't love babies?

    Aaaaaaanywho, I love me some zucchini bread. The recipe we use is one of those passed down from many, many, many generations ago which I happen to think makes it even cooler :) And chocolate chips??? Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!! Never had any in my bread though (my mom's not a fan). Still sounds de-li-cious!

    Now, I'm going to go bundle up and go for a walk otherwise I'm gonna get into food that I don't want to really do. Visiting the Yankee Belle always makes me so darn hungry....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hannah, my friend!!!!! So happy to see you and just delighted to watch you bubble.... the joy you carry with you now is positively contagious.

      HAPPY DANCING IN NEW YORK!!!! And yeah, I stay away from the treats from now until Thanksgiving, I call it my "pre-emptive strike" because that way I can chill-lax and enjoy food over the Thanksgiving break. Otherwise us short girls are battling the bulge constantly. Skinny enough to be healthy... not sick! I'm so proud of you!

      Delete
    2. You can eat anything you want in moderation :) I think you've got it covered!

      And thank you. Gained a pound this week (since I uhmmmm ate my weight in candy this week, guilty) and I really don't care that much anymore. Not to say the scale isn't important BUT it's certainly not everything! I have lost over 60lbs and I know that even if I have a bad week, I will not gain all of it back. This is not a diet, this is about changing my habits and overall lifestyle to be healthier. I will never deprive myself, not worth it :) But anyway, I rant too much :P

      Ruthy, I made this chicken pot pie soup a couple days ago and it was DELICIOUS!!! Super good. I feel like it's something you'd like. Nice and hearty, lots of veggies, good ol' comfort food and yet.....it's healthy! Love it.

      Munching on carrot sticks because I'm trying to wait for my mom to get home. Teacher-parent conferences season so I try to be nice and have dinner waiting when she finally gets home but dang, I'm hungry!

      Delete
    3. Hannah!!!! Do you want to make it again and come on the cafe and tell us about it??? I love chicken stew/pot pie and I'd love to see how you do it! Be big and brave and bold!!!!

      And I agree with your words: Not a diet, a life-style change for the better. I'd go crazy if I denied myself everything, but the part of me that constantly craves sweets has been tamed somewhat this year. And the fact that I'm on my duff so much while I'm writing means I have to pay attention more than I used to. And you know what?

      I feel good. Inside and out, and that's a wonderful thing at any age. Stinkin' happy for you, kid!

      Delete
    4. Wow! Hannah! SIXTY POUNDS???

      You go, girl!!!

      Delete
    5. WOW! :O What an offer!! Sure, I'd love to come on sometime :) Maybe after Thanksgiving? (Hint: You can make it with turkey too lol) Whenever works for you :)

      That's the key! If you feel good, it's working!! Well generally speaking lol I think you're doing it all right. So go you, Ruthy :D

      Thanks Jan!! Yup, I hit my 60lbs mark a couple weeks ago :) In February I actually made the commitment to make the changes I needed to. I joined Weight Watchers which definitely helps keep me accountable lol I love them! Otherwise it really has *just* been increasing the "good" food, moderating all the sinfully delicious foods :P and exercising regularly which for me is walking basically. It's never an easy thing, but it is the best gift you can ever give yourself - the reinvestment to yourself. Because everyone's worth it. It's taken me a long, long time to figure that last bit out lol but I'm finally there. I'm the same person really! My outside is just starting to look a little bit more like the person I always saw, as well as the insides are looking a little brighter too :)

      Delete
  9. Replies
    1. I have embraced certain ways of frugality!!!! Right down to my now-being-painted-by-me dining room floor!!! Maybe pics next week???? If I can have a three-hour painting block each day!!!

      Delete
  10. So precious! And he looks like Grammy!!! :)

    You know, Ruthy, your'e raising a generation of kids who will love to cook! I think that's wonderful. :)

    And I'm also now craving zucchini bread! Although I have some over-ripe bananas that need to be made into bread first. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, Missy!!! He does look a lot like Beth did when she was a baby... An Irish laddie! I've thrown the bananas into the freezer where they'll keep until I've got time for them. I like the grainy squash texture of zucchini bread and carrot cake better. There's just something absolutely delicious about sweetened veggies made into cake!!!! :)

      Delete
    2. So he does look like you since Beth is your mini-me! :)

      Delete
  11. BTW, I agree on cloves ever since I had an unfortunate episode with a pumpkin pie (way too much got dumped in!). LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My aversion is from that old clove oil they used to use in dental offices. I can't smell cloves without being transported back to that horrible stuff. I use a pinch in pumpkin pie, but that's it. And my mother (this was during her BAD TIME!!!!) would put cloves in her red sauce.

      Oh, it was horrible tasting stuff. (frowny face here!!!)

      Delete
    2. USED to use!? Trust me, they still do. When I had my wisdom teeth out (all four at once - ouch!!) I ended up getting dry socket in one of the bottom spots. Guess what they do? Take a strip of cloth, soak it in clove oil, stuff it (yes, that is the adjective the doctor used blech) in the socket to soothe it. Oh, I felt so sick for the two weeks I had that in there! YUCK!!

      I am with you both on cloves, not. A. Fan!

      Delete