Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

We made a stop at one of our favorite local places to get produce, Farmer John's in Leesburg, VA.  We had a list of things we needed for the week.  Zucchini wasn't on the list but they looked OH SO GOOD!  I picked up a couple and quickly came up with some ideas including this yummy bread.  My kids don't like anything green were extremely happy to eat this even though the flakes of zucchini peeked through the deliciousness.

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 2 teaspoons of Cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon Ginger
• 1 Cup of White Sugar
• 1 Cup of Vegetable Oil
• 1 Cup of Brown Sugar
• 3 Eggs
• 2 teaspoons of Vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 -3 Cups of Grated Zucchini (skin on)
• 1/2  cup of mini chocolate chips

In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger.  In a separate large bowl cream together with electric mixer the sugars, eggs, vanilla, and vegetable oil.  Next, fold in the zucchini and chocolate chips.  Pour batter into two greased loaf pans.  Bake at 325 for 50-60 minutes.
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Clean Banana Bread

I have been using the same banana bread recipe for several years.  It is a family favorite so I was very hesitant to try anything different.  Every time I make it I think about subbing in different ingredients to try to make it healthier.  I had a couple of very ripe bananas, so today is the day!  I could have started simple and just traded out the oil for applesauce, but instead I decided to really overhaul it!  This recipe has no sugar and no oil and uses whole wheat flour instead of all purpose flour.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 (depending on size) Bananas- mashed
• 3/4 Cup Honey
• 2 Eggs
• 2 Cups of Whole Wheat Flour
• 3/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoons Baking Soda
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 Cup of Sugar Free Apple Sauce

Makes one loaf

Preheat the oven to 350.  In a large bowl combine flour, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda.  In a medium bowl beat 2 eggs.  To the eggs add the applesauce and honey.  Stir until combined. Add the mashed bananas and gently stir.   Then pour the batter into a lightly greased loaf pan.  Bake for 55-60 minutes or until you can insert a toothpick in the center and it comes out clean.  Let bread sit in pan for 10 minutes then flip the pan over to remove the bread and let it cool on a wire rack.

Cheesy Caprese Garlic Bread

My stomach is growling as I write this and look at the picture!  I could make a meal out of this alone... maybe I will make it for lunch today.  I served this last night with Creamy Spinach Tortellini, both of these were new creations for me and both will definitely go on my "must make again" list!  We love bread at our house.  It's one of my personal weaknesses and this one is no exception.  The cheesy,garlicy, goodness is DELICIOUS!

Ingredients:

• 1 Small Loaf of French Bread
• About 6 Fresh Basil Leaves cut into small strips
• 3/4 teaspoon Minced Garlic
• 2 Tablespoons of Butter
• 4 Slices of Mozzarella
• 8 Cherry Tomatoes or 1 Roma Tomato (sliced)
• Salt and Pepper
• Balsamic Glaze (to drizzle on top)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cut loaf of bread in half lengthwise and place on baking sheet with the cut side up.  In a small bowl mix minced garlic and melted butter together.  Using a basting brush coat each piece of bread with the garlic butter mixture.  Top each piece of bread with cheese slices and bake for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Remove bread from oven and top with tomatoes and basil.  Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper, drizzle balsamic glaze on top and put back in oven for about one minute.  I do this because I don't want my tomatoes cold.  I think it makes them blend together perfectly!

Banana Blueberry Bread

Banana bread is DEFINITELY a favorite around here.  Sometimes I even throw is chocolate chips.  My go to recipe isn't exactly healthy so I needed to put a little spin on it.  

Bananas are always on my grocery list, sometimes my kiddos eat one every day and sometimes they will go almost a week with out one.  Having very ripe bananas is the perfect excuse to make a yummy loaf of bread!

Ingredients:

• 2 Ripe Bananas (about a cup mashed)
• 3/4 Cup Blueberries
• 1 1/2 Cups Flour
• 1/2 Cup Sugar
• 3 TablespoonsVegetable Oil
• 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
• 3/4 Cup Quick Oats
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.  In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar.  

Take 1 tablespoon of the flour mixture and toss with the blueberries to coat them.

In separate bowl, beat the eggs.  Add in mashed banana and vegetable oil.

Pour into flour mixture and mix until well combined.

Pour half of mixture into greased loaf pan.  Layer on blueberries.  Then pour on remaining batter.

Sprinkle top with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.

Bake for 50 minutes.  Serve warm or cool and store covered

The Bread by Pioneer Woman

This recipe is from the Pioneer Woman's website. The Bread is a staple menu item for her.  The first time I made it I had a VERY hard time committing to using that much butter, but with a little convincing from my Mother-in-Law and Sherrie I gave into the peer pressure.  When my husband and Father-in-law saw this come out of the oven, they asked me why I was serving them burnt toast.  But after they took one bite they were amazed by the flavor.  They could not believe that it was just bread and butter!

Ingredients:

• Loaf of French bread- sliced in half lengthwise 
• 2 sticks of salted butter (I think you can adjust it depending on the size of your loaf of bread, just make sure you use at least twice the amount of butter that you think is appropriate;)

Preheat oven to 350.  Spread one stick of butter on each half loaf of bread.  Next, Place the bread on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.  Last turn on the Broiler and broil bread for additional 3-4 minutes.  It is very important to keep your eye on the bread the whole time (trust me I walked away once and it was not a pretty sight or sound).  Remove the bread from the oven when it has begun to brown and blacken.  Make sure you don't under broil it.  The key to the flavor is to make sure the butter is cooked.  Slice and serve right away

This recipe was featured on our 30 Days of Dinners June Menu, Make sure to check out all of the other great recipes on this month's menu!