The Attack of Cucurbita Pepo

Zucchini, derived from the Italian word zucchino, meaning small squash. Did you know Christopher Columbus brought the seeds for these little beauties from Central and South America to the Mediterranean? Jamie Oliver refers to these guys as courgettes. No matter what you want to call them, those of us who are fortunate enough to have a garden know they grow like weeds! I have waited all summer this year, with the rain that lasted throughout our spring, for the harvest of zucchini. They are now so abundant I have to beg friends to take them from me rather than have them spoil. Lonnie has let many zucchini grow to the very large variety, where I have to peel out the seeds and grate the squash rather than cook them in a meal. My kids love this, because where some of them eat zucchini no matter how I cook it, a few of them need it to come in the disguise of zucchini bread or zucchini bars. Anyway, no matter how you look at it, zucchini reminds me of the part of Forest Gump where Forest and Bubba are naming as many shrimp dishes as they can. Names of zucchini recipe can go on and on and on...just like the zucchini! There are so many good bread recipes but this is the one that works for my team.

Zucchini Bread

2 C flour

2 t cinnamon

1/2 t salt

1 1/2 t baking soda

1/2 c canola oil

1 C sugar

1/4 c brown sugar

3 eggs

2 t vanilla

1/2 c sour cream

3 c grated zucchini

optional: 1 c chocolate chips

optional: 1 c raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a bundt pan (I use this because it stays moister longer and my family likes that it looks like a cake!)

Mix oil, sugars, and eggs until fluffy. Add vanilla and sour cream. Mix until well blended. Gently sir in the zucchini. Stir in chips and raisins if you are using them.

Bake 50 to 60 minutes. Test if a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes and then remove from pan on to a colling rack.

With the last cooking of this bread(cake) and a batch of zucchini bars, Jake let me know that he had suggestions for future zucchini moments. He said, "You know, you could leave out the raisins next time. (Guess they must not be one of his favorites!), or you could try peanut butter/chocolate chip combination? I love that my cooking and his eating inspire him to feel creative.