Zucchini Bread

I have been making this recipe from my Mom’s recipes since I can remember. As the bread is baking, memories come flooding back from childhood, skating up and down the driveway, picking avocados from our tree. Always have loads of zucchini and tomatoes in the summer. Since we are to have what they say is the last snowfall before spring, I dream of summer. This is as close as I can get to summer with this perfectly moist, delicious Zucchini Bread. Makes two loaves.

INGREDIENTS
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups of sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups grated fresh zucchini (unpeeled)
1 cup Vegetable Oil
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 5 by 9-inch loaf pans.

1. In a large bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Set aside.

2. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, soda, and salt.

3. Add dry ingredients to the egg mixture.

4. Fold in zucchini to batter.

5. Fold in the nuts if using.

6. Divide the batter equally between the loaf pans. Bake for 80 minutes (check for done-ness at 70 minutes) or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire racks to cool thoroughly.

Yield: Makes 2 loaves.