Thursday, February 9, 2012

Red Wine and Zucchini Bread...It's What's For Dinner!


When I was growing up, my Mom made everything from scratch.  Meals were all home cooked and all full of fresh and wonderful ingredients.  What Mom always loved best were the vegetables and I have certainly inherited that.  There are many nights when I eat nothing but veggies for dinner!  Steamed, sauteed, roasted, grilled....it doesn't matter how you fix them, I love them.   Last night I planned a very healthy and yummy dinner of grilled veggies!  I had my zucchini, red bell peppers, onion and portobello mushrooms ready to go.  What a nice, healthy, refreshing dinner.  Ah, the best laid plans....

Yesterday was not the greatest of days.  My morning went well and I was productive with work, but the afternoon turned "blah".  That's the best way to describe it, blah.  Suddenly vegetables for dinner didn't sound so great, really not comfort food at all.  Now, I have all of these veggies and I really should eat vegetables for dinner still so I went through my recipes and came up with something that I think is a perfect alternative: Zucchini Bread!  Um, seriously, zucchini is a vegetable.  This is still a healthy dinner, right?  What's not healthy about zucchini mixed with some eggs, a little flour, a little oil, maybe a smidge of sugar.  I really don't see the problem!  

The only problem I had was this....which wine do you serve with zucchini bread?  Red or white?  Personally, I think red goes with any meal.  Problem solved!

I hope you find this bread to be just as delicious as I did.  You do not have to eat it for dinner, it is fine as breakfast, dessert or even a snack.  Don't feel you are limited to red wine either, feel free to enjoy your bread with a nice white wine, beer or even coffee if you insist.

Cheers!


Zucchini Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 3/4 cups white sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts

Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl, set aside.

Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.


Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com



17 comments:

  1. I love love love zucchini bread! But I have never made it. Thanks for the recipe!

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    1. You are welcome! Good luck with your first time, I hope you enjoy it!

      Becky

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  2. Oh my gosh, this cracked me up! Yes, red wine goes good with anything. Anything. Great pick for dinner. Sounds like a perfect way to turn "blah" into "awesome".

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    1. That's nothing, I recently had red wine and Captain Crunch for dinner! I'm pretty sure this is an improvement!

      Have a great day!

      Becky ;)

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  3. Hey Becky, I just wanted to let you know that I've awarded you a Liebster blog award. Your blog is wonderful :)Visit my latest post for more details! Looking forward to reading more awesome recipes! xx

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    1. Nish-
      You are so very kind! I am happy that you enjoy my blog, I love baking and enjoy sharing with everyone. I checked out your blog as well and it is fabulous. Wonderful recipes and such beautiful photography! I look forward to sharing recipes with each other!

      Becky ;)

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  4. I wanted ot let you know that I left an award for you over on my blog. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Thanks Emily! I'm so happy you enjoy the blog! I have taken a peek at your blog too and I love it! I'm totally craving hot chocolate now this morning!

      Happy Baking!

      Becky

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  5. I love this! Sometimes a great glass of wine and something to munch on is the perfect pair =)

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    1. So true Peggy! Nothing beats a glass of wine! ;)

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  6. I concur with you, Maggie and Peggy. I'm sure the red wine went very well with your zucchini bread, because as each of you said, red wine goes with just about anything! Heck, why just the other night I found myself hungry with little left to eat in the house. So I slathered some Cheese Whiz on a leftover piece of linoleum that I found in the garage. To be honest? It sucked. But then I found an unopened bottle of Cab, and you know what? After two or three glasses, that linoleum started to taste pretty darn good... :-)

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    1. Oh Warren...you never fail to make me laugh!

      BTW- everyone knows you are supposed to drink Malbec with linoleum! ;)

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    2. Love it! :-D Now I'm gonna have to stock up on some Malbec. After all, I've got a lot of leftover linoleum out in the garage, lol. Oh, and btw, what wine would you recommend with old flip flops. I have a few pair I was going to just toss, but hey...waste not, want not...

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  7. I've never had a zucchini baked item, but it always looks so moist and delicious, I really need to try. Great recipe!

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  8. What a scrumptious bread! I bet it is dense and yummy :D
    Perfect for dinner!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  9. I love zucchini bread - the sweetness of a treat with the savoriness of a vegetable all in one. Also, they tend to be very moist and delicious. Your iteration looks scrumptious!

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