RSS
Showing posts with label raisins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label raisins. Show all posts

Zucchini Bread



Riddle:  What do you do when you have zucchini coming out of your ears?  (Not literally of course!)

Answer:  You make zucchini bread!

I am a sucker for all breads myself, but zucchini bread is like the dessert version. I am also a big fan of banana bread.  When I have a lot of zucchini coming out of my garden I tend to make a bunch of bread and muffins with it.  It makes a healthier snack or a yummy breakfast.  This zucchini bread recipe has a lot of healthy ingredients, except for the sugar.  Maybe someday I will figure out a good substitute for that.  I do like to use organic cane sugar though, so I like to tell myself that isn't so bad.  Also this recipe will make 2 loaves (or I believe 6 mini loaves), so you can eat one now and freeze the rest for later!  YAY!

FYI my neighbor gave me a big shopping bag full of crook neck sqash the other day and I ended up using it in place of zucchini.  I made her a loaf as a thank you and she asked if I'd make her 5 more for her to freeze and give out as christmas gifts!  So something to think about if you have a lot of squash in your garden!

Zucchini Bread
Cook time:  1 hour
Makes:  2 loaves

Ingredients
 
3 Tbsp ground flax seed
½ cup plus 1 Tbsp water
1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
¾ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp baking powder
2 cups sugar
1 cup applesauce
2 Tbsp vanilla
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
½ cup raisins (optional)

Directions
Grease and flour 2 loaf pans.
Whisk the flax seed and water together in a small bowl and set aside.
Drain the pineapple.

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Beat the sugar, applesauce, vanilla, and flax mixture until blended and thick.
Stir in pineapple and zucchini.  Stir in dry ingredients.  Stir in nuts and raisins if using.

Pour into loaf pans and cook for 1 hour.  Test with a toothpick to check if it is done cooking.



 

Oatmeal-Raisin Cookie Larabars





I have discovered something I am totally excited about.  Recipes for homemade Larabars.  I don't think I have even tried a Larabar, although I have seen them at the store. I was craving something that felt a little naughty yet healthy.  One of my favorite blogs these days is Chocolate Covered Katie http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/   I love her blog!  She has a fun vegan blog full of recipes that are naughty but much healthier for you.  Anyway, I decided I would look for something on her blog to make yesterday and decided to make her Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Larabars. http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/11/14/oatmeal-raisin-cookie-larabars/  I didn't have raisins however so I decided to use blueberry flavored craisins.  OH MY........ .it was SO delicious, I decided to make up some more batches and play around with the ingredients.  I tried new flavors and made them into double batches.  All of them turned out very yummy!  I tried orange flavor craisins with pecans, and papaya with cashews.  I was having so much fun I decided to try another one of her recipes, Chocolate PB Cookie Laura bars. http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/10/02/chocolate-peanut-butter-no-bake-cookies/  I substituted my blueberry craisins for the raisins again. 

Everything was so good....I am in love.  The coolest thing is - NO ADDED SUGAR!!  When I told my husband, he was shocked.  The raisins (or craisins in my case) sweeten it up.  They taste a little like eating cookie dough.  I am going to be have fun playing around with the recipe more.  I'm thinking coconut would be SO good!

So anyway try these and have fun getting creative with your flavors too.  You might surprise yourself.  Also be sure to check out Chocolate Covered Katie - she especially likes to make things with chocolate.  Can't go wrong there!   Oh, and FYI, my pictures show the four different versions I made, incase you were wondering about the different colors.



Oatmeal-Raisin Cookie Larabars

1/2 cup raisins
6 T quick oats
1/2 cup walnuts
1/8 tsp plus 1/16 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

Pulverize the oats in a food processor, then add all other ingredients and blend very well. Form into balls or bars. (If you want, you can portion the dough into plastic bags before smushing the bars, so your hands don’t get sticky.)

This recipe makes a little over three Larabar-sized bars.  The bars last at least two weeks in the fridge. They can also be frozen.