Chocolate Zucchini Bread

CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI BREAD

This recipe is from one of my favorite cookbooks, from the Junior League of Yakima, my Home town in Washington State.

What to do with a vegetable that has taken over our gardens, our laundry rooms, the entire months of August and September with there plethora of green goodness?! We have fried it, grilled it, frozen it, sauteed it… slipped it into every dish possible… the best thing to do of course is....

ADD CHOCOLATE!!!

SO, lets begin!

2 1/2 cups flour (half whole wheat is good!)

1/2 cup baking powder

1 tsp each, baking powder, baking soda, salt

2 cups sugar

1 cup canola oil

3 eggs beaten

2 Tbls.vanilla

2 cups finely shredded zucchini

1 cup ( 6oz.) semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Combine the cocoa, baking powder, soda and salt in a bowl. Combine the sugar, oil eggs and vanilla in a mixing bowl and beat until well blended. Add the zucchini and mix well. Add the flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts. Pour into two greased 5x9 inch loaf pans. (YES! it makes TWO loaves one to enjoy and one to freeze or share!)

Bake at 350 for 45 to 50 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove the bread from pans to wire rack to cool.

MY Favorite way to eat this is warm with butter.

YES!! We Americans know how to eat our vegetables!

I think you are going to LOVE it!