Zucchini Bread

This is my favorite Zucchini recipe.  I make lots of mini loaves and freeze them for my kids.  It's not the healthiest recipe but it's sure yummy!


Zucchini Bread

• 3 cups of flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup of vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/4 cup of white sugar
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 cups of grated zucchini
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans or coat with cooking spray. Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg and mix thoroughly. Beat together, oil, eggs,white sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in a large bowl until creamy. Add flour mixture to the creamy mixture and mix well. Gently add the zucchini and walnuts until well combined. Pour into greased bread pans and bake for 40-50 minutes or until a knife is inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for a few minutes moving to a rack. Enjoy.

Strawberry Freezer Jam

I found a good deal on Strawberries at our commissary last week and then ended up getting a container of strawberries in our weekly produce box which meant I was being overrun by strawberries.  My boys eat a lot but we  had a lot of fruits and vegetables in our house and I did not want these wonderful treats to go to waste.  I decided to make some freezer jam.  It's so simple and you end up with a delightful, fresh tasting treat.  I had enough strawberries to make this recipe twice.

My boys think the jam is a bit sweet (they said it tastes like strawberry soda).  I guess it would be sweet given it has 4 cups of sugar!  This jam takes about 30 minutes to make and then you let it sit for 24 hours.

Strawberry Freezer Jam

 

4 cups strawberries, washed and cut in half

4 cups sugar

3/4 cup water

1 package (1 3/4 ounces) powdered fruit pectin 

 

• Mash strawberries with potato masher or in food processor until slightly chunky (not pureed) to make 2 cups crushed strawberries. Mix strawberries and sugar in large bowl. Let stand at room temperature 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Mix water and pectin in 1-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Pour hot pectin mixture over strawberry mixture; stir constantly 3 minutes.
• Immediately spoon mixture into freezer containers, leaving 1/2-inch head space. Wipe rims of containers; seal. Let stand at room temperature about 24 hours or until set.
• Store in freezer up to 6 months or in refrigerator up to 3 weeks. Thaw frozen jam and stir before serving.

 

Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

I will have to make this again soon and add a picture but today one of my friends was asking about what to feed 10 teenage boys and after a bit of discussion this popped into my mind and I figured I'd share the recipe here.

I got this recipe from one of the ladies I went to church with in Texas and now it's one of our go to casseroles when I need to take a breakfast dish to an event.  I love that you can prep it ahead of time and bake the morning of.

Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

1 pkg tater tots or frozen hashbrowns.
8 eggs
1 (15 oz) can evaporated milk
1 small package sausage/ham/bacon
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp salt
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped green pepper

Brown sausage (or any other meat you are using), drain and remove grease.  Butter or spray a 9x13 casserole dish.  Set aside.  Place tator tots in large skillet with about 1 Tablespoon of oil.  Heat the tots all the way through and break the apart with a spatula.  (You don't have to heat them up but I like the consistency better when I do).  Distribute the evenly on the bottom of your casserole dish.  Sprinkle meat with onions and peppers  over potatoes.  In a separate bowl, crack the eggs and whisk until blended.  Add the milk, salt, pepper and dry mustard; beat well.  Pour over potatoes.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes until eggs are set.  Leave uncovered for last 10-15 minutes of baking.

*You can add whatever you want, mushrooms would add a nice taste.  Serve with salsa or ketchup.