Get in my Belly! Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

I ripped this recipe out of our local Seattle Met Magazine (August 2010) because I had bags and bags (and bags) of shredded zucchini in my freezer (thanks to to my cousin Jodie's over-productive garden). I've tried several recipes for Zucchini Bread and this is by far the best. It's moist, dense, and chocolaty. Delish! The recipe is from a local favorite, Essential Baking Company. I use this bakery when I cater (amazing reliable tasty products) and when I just want a treat. Enjoy.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Makes: 1 loaf

INGREDIENTS
Butter and flour for greasing the pan
1 cup sugar
½ cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1½ tsp vanilla
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
¾ tsp baking powder
¾ tsp salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup shredded zucchini
3/4 cut chocolate chips (I like Ghirardelli's Bittersweet Chocolate Chips)

credit: Erik Skaar

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 9-by-5 loaf pan.
In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together the sugar and canola oil on medium speed for about 1 minute. Add the eggs and mix until creamy, another 2 minutes, then stir in the vanilla.

In another bowl, whisk the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon) together. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and mix on low speed until just combined, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula if necessary. Fold in zucchini and then chocolate chips using a spatula or wooden spoon.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake the bread for approximately 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes.

Remove bread from the pan and complete cooling on a wire rack. Slice and enjoy!

The original recipe calls for 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts. For tasty variations on this recipe, in place of zucchini and walnuts use sweet potatoes and hazelnuts; mashed, ripe bananas and chocolate chips; or carrots and pecans. Cardamom can replace cinnamon in any combination.

Rhythm of Secrets NOOK eReader Giveaway!

Patti Lacy is celebrating the release of her latest book with a NOOK Giveaway, blog tour and Book Club Party!

Follow the blog tour and read the reviews!

Patti and her publisher, Kregel Publications, are giving away a NOOK prize package worth over $150 to one lucky winner!!!! 

Enter the Nook eReader Giveaway and you could win:

• A brand new Nook eReader with Wi-Fi
• $25 gift cetificate to Barnes & Noble

To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form/s, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest. Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on February 16th at Patti's Rhythm of Secrets Facebook Party.

Patti will be announcing the winner of The Rhythm of Secrets NOOK giveaway at her Party on Facebook  Februray 16th! 

She’ll be hosting a book club discussion of The Rhythm of Secrets and giving away other fun prizes! (signed copies of her books and gift certificates to Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, & iTunes!). Don’t miss the fun at Patti’s FB Author Page on February 16th at 5pm PST ( 6 pm MST, 7 pm CST, & 8 pm EST)!

The Made To Crave KINDLE Giveaway!

Win a brand new KINDLE from Lysa Terkeurst during the Made To Crave KINDLE Giveaway!

To celebrate the release of Made to Crave and the MTC Small Group DVD Study Set, Lysa is giving away a KINDLE prize package worth over $175.00! To enter just click on one of the icons below! One winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle with Wi-Fi & the New E Ink Pearl Screen
• KINDLE editions of Lysa’s Made to Crave and Becoming More Than A Good Girl

But, wait there is more!

Lysa will be announcing the winner of the Made to Crave KINDLE Giveaway on February 8th during the Made To Crave Party on Facebook!

During the party Lysa will chat with guests, host a trivia contest or two, and give away lots of other fun prizes (copies of Lysa’s other books and Amazon.com, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates) – including a live Author Chat with Lysa for your small group!

Don’t miss the fun! Lysa is looking forward to learning more about you – so be sure to stop by Lysa's Facebook Author Page on February 8th at 5:00 PM PST (6 PM MST, 7 PM CST, & 8 PM EST).

The Search iPad Giveaway

Suzanne Woods Fisher's latest installment of the Lancaster County Secrets, The Search,  is just out and to celebrate Suzanne is hosting The Search iPad Giveaway!

One Grand Prize winner will receive an iPad Prize Package worth over $500 and includes:

• A brand new iPad (16KB with Wi-Fi)
• Signed copies of all three Lancaster Country Secrets books (The Choice, The Waiting, & The Search)

To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form/s, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest. Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on February 3rd at Suzanne's Everything is Coming Up Roses Facebook Party. (Did you know The Search takes place on a rose farm?)

 

Facebook Party:

Join Suzanne for the Everything is Coming Up Roses Facebook Party on February 3rd! She’ll be announcing the winner of the The Search iPad Giveaway, hosting a book club discussion of The Search, giving away copies of all three books and HEAPS of other readerly prizes! Including roses delivered to your door for three months for you AND a friend! Be sure to join us on Thursday, February 3rd at 5:00 PM PST (6:00 MST, 7:00 CST & 8 EST) at Suzanne’s Author Page.