Zucchini Bread

This recipe was given to me by my mom. When I was little we grew zucchini's in the garden, and they looked like baseball bats. Here is one way to use alot of zucchini (especially if you make two or three batches).

It is dairy free!

3 cups zucchini (NOT peeled, ends cut off)
1 1/2 cups canola oil
3 cups sugar
3 large eggs
4 t vanilla
4 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1 /2 t. baking powder
4 1/2 t cinnamon
3/4 c nuts (walnuts or pecans) (Optional)

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl. Don't over mix. Bake at 350 for 70 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick.

It can be made into muffins - bake for 20 minutes.

The House

Let me give you some history. . . we have lived in our current house since 1998. It is a small house, and an especially small house for Newton. However, we have an amazing neighborhood, and the kids attend a school with wonderful teachers.

But the house is small.

It is also outdated.

Don't get me wrong, we have done work on the house . . . we have a new chimney, a new boiler, a new roof, 8 new windows, painted. . . . insulation. We have painted the dining room, the living room, and the kids rooms. I have a new fridge and stove, and a relatively new dishwasher (2004).

We have the original bathrooms that came with the house.

We also have the same kitchen. I hate the kitchen. I spend ALOT of time in the kitchen. But I hate it. From one spot in the kitchen, I do my prep. . . . and when I want to turn on the stove, I turn to the right. If I want to go to the fridge, I step back one step. If I want to wash a dish, I step to the left. I hover in one spot in the kitchen.

AND, if anyone wants to be in the kitchen to keep me company, they are in the way. Doesn't matter where they stand. They are in the way.

And whoever designed this kitchen, put the bathroom in the kitchen, and the door to the bathroom in the back corner of the bathroom. Which means if ANYONE needs to use the bathroom, I have to move out of the way, so they can pass by. On top of that, my poor husband's spot at the kitchen table is next to the bathroom door. I don't need to say any more than that.

So just move.

I don't want to give up the neighborhood. We have block parties. . . . the kids play outside with others. At a certain age, the kids go outside by themselves. No one drives THROUGH the neighborhood. It is not connected to anything else.

I don't want to leave the Angier school. . . . . and we can't afford anything else in this district.

So just add on . . . .

Hmmmm, now if we had a HUGE plot, that would be easy. But because our house is "cottage-craftman" style, we can't add a block to the back . . . it would be ugly. We can't add to the right, because we are seven feet from the property line.

Which brings us to a Design Build Company.

One company is very willing to work with us. . . . and help us. The other said, you need to dump $250K into the addition, you still won't be happy, but you can think about it. . . . .

What can we do?

So, now I am pondering. Adam is pondering. We want to live here. . . . Our daughter needs a larger room (which is a closet right now), and I need a new kitchen (the cabinet doors are already helping me, by falling off all the time).

Does anyone have any ideas?

Sisterhood Cookbook

Many of you know that Esther M. and I are co-chairing the Sisterhood cookbook. It has been a labor of love. Of course, if the project was a child, it would be walking and talking by now.

I am really excited to see the final product soon. We have reviewed and reviewed the book. This is after we have tested, tested, tested and retested.

As soon as it is out all of you will know!

Will also let you know so you can BUY your own copy, or two or three!

Cooking Up a Storm

This year, not only am I doing Erev Rosh Hashana, but I am also doing the Second Day! Lots of cooking for me.

Erev will be dinner for 8! Second Day will be dinner for 10!

Menu:
2 Homemade Challahs made by me
Knishes
Hummus
Moroccan Tomato Dip - made by me
Mushroom Soup - made by me
Chicken with Tomatoes - made by me
BBQ Tofu - made by me
Basmati Rice
Carrots with honey
Fruit
Homemade apple crisp
Cookie Plate - zucchini bread, brownies and Mandelbrot

Second Day
2 Homemade Challahs - made by me
Pigs in a Blanket
Hummus
Tomato Dip
Chicken Soup - Mady's recipe made by me - will be in the SISTERHOOD COOKBOOK
Roast Chicken
Cranbery Rice Bake - Made by me - will be in the SISTERHOOD COOKBOOK
Roasted Potatoes
Broccoli
Fruit Honey Cake Made by me
Cookie Plate - zucchini bread, brownies and Mandelbrot

Snacks and Lunches

So this year, I now pack a lunch and a snack for Mark; and a lunch and a snack for Naomi. After years of packing lunches, you would think I have this down. But I don't. Naomi is not a big fan of sandwiches. I mean ALL sandwiches. She doesn't mind the stuffings, but she can leave the bread. And she does.

Mark for the most part of his career has eaten either peanut butter and fluff sandwiches or turkey sandwiches. He isn't that picky.

One sandwich that Naomi will eat (and of course Mark) is pastrami. So, I buy a pound of Kosher Pastrami at the supermarket, which both kids are loving. Of course they are getting protein (and more fat that I want), but they are eating it.

However, I like variety. So today's lunch is roasted chicken on the bone. Because they are going to afterschool, where there is a microwave, I am able to do this. I take the chicken off the bone, cut it up and put it in a microwave safe container. Mark likes to take vegetables with his lunch, so today he has some cucumber slices. Naomi, prefers fruit, so she has a big bunch of juicy red grapes.

Snack has gotten easier. The following items are okay for either kid: yogurt and or granola bars. Each one gets either a fruit or a vegetable with the yogurt or granola bar. But again, I like variety. This weekend I made zucchini muffins. Each one has a zucchini muffin, and loves it. Sometimes there a pretzels. Sometimes Pirates Booty.

Mark and Naomi prefer homemade baked goods, so each one for lunch has a chocolate chip brownie.

I hope when they pack snacks for their children, they put in as much thought and love as I do.

Sweet Pototoes

I totally love sweet potatoes. I love them baked. . . I love sweet potato fries. I love sweet potato mash. I LOVE sweet potatoes. To me the fall is the best time to eat sweet potatoes.

Tonight I sliced sweet potatoes, and the put them on an oiled cookie sheet, and baked them.

YUMMY in MY TUMMY. I LOVE SWEET POTATOES.

Here are some other ways to eat them!

Recipe #1

Recipe #2

Recipe #3

CookBook

Now, I love my hubby. . . I really do. . . . but he hasn't bought me a surprise for awhile now. . . (non birthday, non anniversary, etc) surprise gift in a long time.

He emailed me from work a couple of weeks ago, that one of his coworkers brought in this ice cream as a thank you.


http://www.jenisicecreams.com/

And he ordered me the cookbook.

So, it came, and I gave it a whirl.

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

IS

THE

BEST!

Can't wait to have more. . . . and thank goodness it only makes a quart, because I would be eating it morning, noon and night!

http://www.amazon.com/Jenis-Splendid-Ice-Creams-Home/dp/1579654363

MUST BUY IT if you own an ice cream maker!