A very hearty zucchini bread

Today....... one big lazy snow day! Almost the first of March and I feel like winter has just arrived. I hope it doesn't last long though because I am ready for spring activities! So since I had nothing else to do, I decided to satisfy my hankering for some zucchini bread.

I adapted several recipes and added some of my own flare for what turned out to be a wonderful hearty, slightly sweet zucchini bread. It maybe could be classified as heart healthy too!

Hearty zucchini bread

2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
1tsp vanilla
2 tbs butter melted
2/3 cup applesauce
1/4 cup of yogurt
1 cup oats divided
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
1+tsp cinnamon
1/2tsp ground ginger
1tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp sea salt
2 tbs ground flax
2cups shredded zucchini moisture pressed out
sm. handful of dried cranberries
sm. handful walnuts
sm. handful of chocolate chips

Mix eggs until pale and frothy add brown sugar, applesauce, yogurt, butter, and vanilla mix thoroughly. Add in spices, baking powder, salt and baking soda and mix in. In a food processor take half the oats and pulse until they resemble a coarse crumb.  Add oats and flour and mix until well combined. Fold in flax, cranberries, zucchini, walnuts and chocolate chips until distributed in the batter. Pour into a sprayed loaf pan and bake at 350 for 1 to 1 hour 15 mins until the top is browned and a toothpick comes out clean.

Not so sweet, Sweet potato Chili

Yesterday I woke up and did farm chores in 12 degree weather and flurries of snow. When I came inside I declared it a Chili kind of day!

There is nothing better to warm your soul on a cold day then a nice warm pot of beans, spice and of course veggies!

So I set out to make Sweet potato chili, only when I got out the lonely sweet potato from my pantry I discovered that it was not something I wanted to add to my rich thick hearty chili...... So I adapted and used a winter  delicata squash instead. I really wanted the sweet potato but it was still amazing and satisfying!

Sweet Potato Chili

1/2lb. Chorizo (or something else of your choice)
1cup+ chopped onion
3cloves+ minced garlic
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1 lg celery rib chopped
1 jalapeno pepper chopped (I left the seeds and membrane intact for heat)
1lg can of roasted tomatoes (or in my case I used a quart baggie of my roasted tomato mix that I freeze) Mine didn't have much liquid so if you want a very thick chili you can drain some of the water. or use less liquid.
1 sweet potato peeled and cubed or one small winter squash peeled and cubed
1 bottle of beer or other liquid like broth
1 1/2 - 2 cups of kidney beans (or one lg can drained)
1 1/2 - 2 cups of black beans (or one lg can drained)
1 cup corn
2 tbs Adobo (I almost always have this on hand since when I use a can of Chipotles I always have leftovers I just stick it in the freezer and use as needed.)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Salt and Pepper

In a large pot or dutch oven cook chorizo until browned add onions and garlic and soften add peppers and celery for 2 mins more then put the remainder of the ingredients in the pot bring to a boil and then turn down the stove and simmer for at least 30mins but you can go longer if you would like. Adjust seasonings and enjoy!

Snickerdoodle Bread

I recently came across a recipe on Pinterest for Snickerdoodle bread. I thought, mmmm I love snickerdoodles I have to try this!

I made quite a few changes to the recipe and its still out of this world! I can't stop eating it!

Snickerdoodle bread
adapted from Crumbs and Chaos recipe

1 1/2 sticks butter
1 cup of sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup of oats ground in food processor until fine like flour
1 1/2 cups flour (I used 1 cup white and 1/2 cup wheat)
1 tbs ground flax
1/2 package of cinnamon chips
2 Tbs sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
Beat butter and sugar together, add in eggs mix until combined, add salt, cinnamon, baking powder, vanilla and yogurt mix again then mix in flours and flax once everything has formed a batter fold in cinnamon chips. Stir 2 tbs sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon together. Pour batter into greased pan then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mix and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35-40 mins.

I baked my bread in 4 mini loaf pans, but you could use a big loaf pan, or muffin pans too, but may need to adjust the cooking time. I did a time bake for 30mins on mine so I could go work outside.

Easy Veggie Dinner Saute

Mmmm this years first asparagus, at least for me! I love asparagus, I planted it in the garden the first year we moved in even though I knew my garden wasn't really ready. Well it didn't survive and last year I missed out on it at the nursery so Hopefully I will get it in this year since it takes a couple of years to get going.

For an easy veggie dinner, lunch or side dish - whatever suits you!

Butter
Various chopped or sliced veggies
Salt and Pepper (may use Garlic salt)
1/4 Lemon plus zest
1 TBS butter
Herbs
Parmesan cheese and or feta or goat cheese

Melt butter in a large pan, add onion and any firmer vegetables and saute for about 3-4 mins until veggies start to cook. sprinkle with salt and pepper and herbs (fresh or dried) Add softer veggies such as mushrooms and Asparagus and cook 1-2 mins more grate some lemon zest over the pan and squeeze in the juice sprinkle with cheese and put a lid on for about 3-5 mins. I like my veggies still a little crisp so its up to you how soft you want it.
As for veggies use what ever you like! Tonight I used onion, red pepper and green pepper, broccoli, garlic, asparagus and mushrooms.