Recipe: Simple Zucchini Bread

This weekend it was super cold and windy. Sunday the wind was roaring outside when I woke up and all I could think about was warm soup and something  tasty. So, I made my Crockpot Ham and Potato Soup and found an easy recipe for zucchini bread to have for breakfast for the week.

I love zucchini bread but always thought there was so much to it. If this is how easy zucchini bread is, I'll be making it a lot more. I wanted to make some mini muffins but was a little nervous about if it would turn out right, so, if anyone has a good, easy, cheap recipe for zucchini muffins let me know.

The recipe I used came from here and it suggested putting cream cheese on your zucchini bread. I've never heard of that before but I'm pretty sure it's genius. I love cream cheese and I love zucchini bread, so....but anywho...here's the recipe!!

Simple Zucchini Bread

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound zucchini 

2 cups flour 

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1/4 cup plain yogurt (not fat-free)

1 tablespoon sour cream

6 tablespoons butter, melted

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375º and spray a loaf pan with cooking spray. Finely shred the zucchini including the peel and wring out excess liquid in a dishtowel. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and allspice. In a separate small mixing bowl whisk together the sugar, eggs, yogurt, sour cream, and melted butter.

Gently fold in zucchini and yogurt mixture until just combined. Pour into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Should be approximately 40-50 minutes depending on your oven.

Sweet and Sour Chicken...yummm

Since I have been home all summer I have become a little more adventurous with trying out new recipes. During the school year it seems I always resort to the same things over and over again. After my day with the students and my hour drive home, trying something new, which might not work out, is just not in my agenda. We do change it up based on the season, but it gets very boring. So...I thought if I could try it this summer, maybe it would be something I already have on my mind for the school year.

A few days ago I tried Sweet and Sour Chicken from a website I found on Pinterest. At first glance (which is really all I did before deciding to cook it) it seemed so quick. I had all the ingredients, the process didn't seem bad, etc. But I will tell you that after all the prep, this takes an hour to cook.
 With that being said......so worth it! The process of doing everything really was very easy. And the ingredients are all something you most likely have on hand already. (I have seen so many asian recipes that use spices and things that I would have to buy specifically for one dish and that is something I refuse to do. ) Mike loved it!! I can always tell when Mike loves a meal because he wants to take extra to work. :) Even his work friends asked him if he got dinner at the China House. Go me!!

Here it is!! Enjoy!

Sweet and Sour Chicken

INGREDIENTS:
   For chicken:
     3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used 2 huge ones)
     Salt and pepper
     1 cup cornstarch
     2 large eggs, beaten
     1/4 canola oil (I used vegetable oil)

   Sauce:
     3/4 cup granulated sugar
     4 tablespoons ketchup
     1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
     1 tablespoon soy sauce
     1 teaspoon garlic salt (I actually used garlic powder and added a little salt to the sauce)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. While the oil is heating, cut the chicken breasts into one inch pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Place the cornstarch in a gallon-sized ziploc bag. Put the chicken into the bag with the cornstarch and seal, tossing to coat the chicken. Wisk the eggs together in a shallow pie plate. Dip the cornstarch-coated chicken pieces in the egg and then place them carefully in a single layer in the hot skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes and then flip each piece over to cook on the other side until nicely golden but not all the way cooked through. Place in a single layer in a baking dish and repeat with the remaining chicken pieces

Mix the sauce ingredients together in a medium bowl and pour over the chicken in the baking dish. Bake for one hour, turning the chicken once or twice while cooking to coat evenly with the sauce. Serve over steamed rice. (I also steamed some broccoli and served that as well.)

Recipe Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe