{A comfort food}

Yesterday feeling the change in the weather I pulled out the giant zucchini's purchased from our last trip to the Farmer's Market and decided to make some Zucchini bread.

As I was grating the beautiful green vegetable a small audience appeared. Curious little eyes watched and wondered what I was doing. Ella growing very hesitant as she saw some sort of vegetable going into her "cake-bread". She expressed that she wasn't sure she would like it because of the vegetable factor (in case you're wondering the bread was a success. I'm so happy both girls share in my love for this yummy bread). In the oven it went, each minute of baking time making the wonderful spicy aroma stronger in the home.

For some reason the scent of baking bread, or a spicy sweet zucchini bread always comforts me. It's the first thing I make when the weather starts to cool with a crisp bite in the air, the leaves began to change and 2 (or more) out of the 7 week days call for rain and 60 degree weather.

So..if you want to kick start Fall make some of this bread. My girls managed to eat almost a whole loaf by themselves yesterday.

We like to eat it plain with a slice of cheddar cheese to nibble on between giant bites of the bread.. This morning I will have it with some hot chocolate...mmmm. My favorite part are the edges which are a little more cooked, making it a yummy chewy texture. Enjoy!

Zucchini Bread
+1 cup sugar
+1 cup brown sugar
+3 eggs, beaten
+1 cup oil
+2 cups zucchini, grated
+3 tablespoons vanilla
+1 teaspoons baking soda
+1 teaspoon baking powder
+1 teaspoon cinnamon

+3 cups flour
*optional - 1/2 cup chopped nuts or milk chocolate chips

Combine the sugars, oil and eggs. Beat well. Add the zucchini (I squeeze mine a bit to get some of the juice out) and the vanilla. sift the dry ingredients and stir into the creamed mixture.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes (I cook mine for about 55 minutes to make sure the middle isn't gooey). Be sure to check with a toothpick before taking out of the oven.

yields: 2 large or 3 smaller loaves.

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PS 43...that would be 43 emails received or comments posted inquiring as to where I found the nesting blocks. I thought rather than email each of you back individually I would just post the link on my blog.+dollhouse blocks
+wooden rainbow blocks (up next on my list of awesome toys to purchase)