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Sunday, July 31, 2016

double chocolate zucchini bread

Our gardens and raised beds are exploding with zucchini!
And what to do?!?
We've grilled, fried, salad-ed, and shredded to freeze.
I've made zucchini bread before but I really wanted to thrill the boys one morning so we all piled on the counter tops and whipped up this delicious bread.
I believe the phrase was, "chocolate, Mommy?!? for breakfast!?!?"
I like to think it was a tad healthier than dessert but we totally ate it for breakfast with melty Nutella on top.
And it was so so good!
Seriously, it was like a brownie for breakfast.
I also shredded (using my trusty food processor) over 20 cups of extra zucchini so you better believe I'll be making more of this delicious bread (and muffins!) to freeze for when the new baby comes!
Enjoy!

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Adapted from somewhere online.
Makes 2 large loaves.
2 cups whole wheat flour (I used graham)
1 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chopped chocolate, your choice
4 large eggs
1/2 cup canola or coconut oil
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups shredded zucchini (if very wet, squeeze gently with paper towels to get most of the moisture out)

Preheat your oven to 350*F and grease two loaf pans. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and powder, salt, and chocolate until combined. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk the rest of the ingredients.
Pour the wet into the dry and lightly whisk until combined.
Fold in zucchini and pour into prepared baking pans.
Bake for 45-55 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Mine only took 45 minutes and I wanted a very moist bread.
Cool on a wire rack completely or serve warm with Nutella :)
Freezes beautifully, when wrapped in plastic wrap and foil, for up to three months.
Also makes delicious muffins but cut the cooking time in half.
Enjoy!









Also on the menu this week, cheddar scallion zucchini bread and zucchini and summer corn quiche! :)



Sunday, July 24, 2016

lately...

we've had a busy month! 
mostly "normal" goings-on but still fun for us to round out this fun summer!
enjoy!

"look mommy! i'm the cat in the hat!"


our boy in gymnastics



25 weeks...baby weighs as much as this freshly harvested acorn squash!


"mommy! we are taking a dirt bath...just like the chickens!"





fancy breakfast for mama :)


mama and jack jack date :)


that moment you realize that you are, in fact, a total boy mom.


i love that he still likes to hold my hand even when we are just walking around the house...


fun, pb&j&banana "hot dog" sammies!


"paw paw brought us a TREE FROG!"

father's day peanut butter chocolate cake!

ah, boys.
girls' night out!

potty training time! rugs up! clothes off!

first day stats.


did you see that picture of the boys crawling on the sofa back?
yes, jack had a fail.

day 2! undies!
(get away from my coffee, child.)

day 2 stats.

day 3!


day 3 stats! success!

fresh squashes for dinner!

freshly picked purple hull peas!

we have since picked about 5 bushels.

my beautiful mama and her first sunflower!

that day's harvest!

oh, daddy.
the pictures he sends me while i'm out for the day.

special jack date!

day trip to jefferson!

our church friends run the little tourist train through the bayou and got us tickets!






petting a baby alligator!


and always, always, ribs at riverport bbq.


fourth of july crafts!

flag pizza!

easy and fun dessert!



cutest birthday servers ever.

and ugliest birthday cake :)

28 weeks! third trimester and home stretch!

up to 40 books! new rainboots were his prize!

half price sonic ice creams after swimming!

how is it possible that i'm already prepping for another 2 year old's curriculum!?!

fresh figs from our tree!

wild pork loin that mike shot and smoked himself, homemade peach chutney on top, polenta all the way from italy!, and (store-bought....shhh) peas :)

we are trying our hand at broiler chickens! 50 plump ones to raise, antibiotic-free!

a variety of crepes for bastille day!

oh, he knows how to please me.

30 weeks!

sweet nappers.

happy birthday, paw paw!

date night with this cutie.

the most awesome monsters ever.

poetry tea time with fresh figs and moon shaped shortbread cookies for the anniversary of landing on the moon!

prettttttty sure you aren't supposed to make bulletproof coffee with ice cream.
even if its homemade ice cream.

my life right now :) :)