Zucchini Spice Bread

It is that time of year when zucchini rules...so when I was given a gift of zucchini it was time to make zucchini bread.  Why break from summer tradition and quite frankly there is nothing wrong with a good piece of zucchini bread except it usually leads to wanting another piece!

Traditional summer gift...
Thankfully these were the small tender  zucchini not the baseball bat size squash!

Time to make the bread....

Everything in the mixer bowl and ready to cream together...
don't you just love a kitchen aid!

Zucchini grated in the food processor...fast and easy
No scraped knuckles on a box grater!

I like to grate my nutmeg fresh for recipes...

Into the oven

Enough zucchini to make three more loafs.

Out of the oven...delightful!

So that was easy...I gifted these two loaves to a friend who reported back that the bread was "delicioso"!  Sounds like this recipe is a keeper.

Making zucchini bread is a summer staple...why break from tradition...just do it!
Elizabeth


Zucchini Spice Bread
If you plan to bake this bread in a smaller loaf pan, be sure to fill it no more than three-quarters full to prevent the batter from overflowing in the oven

Yield - Serves 12
Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray
1 large zucchini (yield 1-3/4 cups when grated)
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon salt
Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan with cooking spray, and set aside. Grate zucchini on the large holes of a box grater (to yield 1 - 3/4 cups); set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together sugars, oil, vanilla, and eggs.
Into a small bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and salt. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, and stir to combine well. Stir in grated zucchini.
Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes; invert onto a wire rack, then reinvert, top side up. Cool completely before slicing.

(A Martha Stewart recipe)

Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins

This year my blueberry bushes were thick with berries.  Initially I only got a handful then I hit the the two cup mark so now I could make something...YIPEE!!!!!  It had been ages since I made muffins and those here in New England know there is only one recipe to follow - Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins.  Unfortunately the robins and catbirds discovered my bushes and cleaned them out everyday...I never got another berry for the rest of this summer.

Jordan Marsh was a department store that everyone went to...for our family our Easter outfits which included hats, dresses, coats, gloves, shoes and purses often came from Jordan's (for short).  The staff was attentive and we all came out of there looking like Mrs. Astor's pet horse!  

My Jordan Marsh spring assemble...

Well with my first big pick...I dug out the recipe and made a batch of muffins.

Muffin loaded with blueberries.

End results.

I gifted most of the muffins to a friend who shared them as well...rave reviews were passed on back to me.  Really this recipe is fool proof and always makes a great batch of muffins. 

Elizabeth

JORDAN MARSH BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

1/2 cup butter
2 cups unsifted flour
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups large fresh blueberries
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons sugar (for top of muffins)
Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy; add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.

In a second bowl, combine all dry ingredients. (You can use an electric mixer to combine the dry ingredients thoroughly at this point so that you won't need to overmix once the wet and dry ingredients are combined.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter and sugar mixture along with the milk and vanilla.

Optionally, mash 1/2 cup of the blueberries, and stir in by hand (this will turn batter a light shade of blue and add a touch of blueberry flavor, but this step may be skipped, if you wish). Add the remaining whole berries and stir in gently by hand.

Spray a 12 muffin baking pan with Baker's Joy (or other non-stick spray). Fill greased muffin cups.

Sprinkle sugar on top of unbaked muffins (we like to use Turbinado sugar for sprinkling the tops).

Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes. Cool in pan. Run a knife around the edge of each muffin after several minutes to free it from the pan and cool on wire racks. Muffins may be brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with sugar, if desired.

At our test kitchen, we sometimes sprinkle blueberry muffin tops with cinnamon sugar or ground hazelnuts or spread with lemon or vanilla icing and top with thinly sliced almonds.

Tip: If you have trouble with blueberries settling to the bottom try tossing them in flour before adding to the batter. It may just be that your batter is too thin. Another trick is to fill muffin cups 1/4 full with batter which hasn't had blueberries added to it yet; then stir the blueberries in and continue to fill the muffin cups. This way you won't start out with blueberries at the bottom!

Ed's Whimsical Birthday Cake

Some time ago my sister Lisa planned a fantastic birthday party for her husband Ed.  It truly was a party   to remember.  The food was bountiful and delicious, the music she picked out and playlist she created was perfect, decorations were fun and everyone got their own cupcake and Ed got his own cake!  Lisa even had The Providence Dancing Cop for entertainment.  It was a perfect party in every way...she left no stone unturned.  Ed was surprised when he entered the room and the fun and laughs never stopped after that...it was a grand party in every way and Ed deserved every minute of celebration and recognition.

Lisa asked I make the cupcakes and Ed's birthday cake.  Hallelujah as I have been dying to make this cake for someone...actually decorate a cake like this for someone.  It is simple and easy but has such wonderful eye appeal.

I made a yellow cake and frosted it with a plain vanilla buttercream icing.  It is the decorations that put it over the top.  I simply covered the sides with both large and small sprinkles then topped the cake with English Allsorts candies....then finished it off with more sprinkles and edible silver stars.

There you have it a birthday cake that sings at the top of it's lungs "PARTY"!!!!!

It was a great party and I got to make a cake I have been itching to try.  Lucky me!!!!!

Elizabeth

Sachuest Point Walk

When my niece Jesseca lived in Middletown she took me to Sachuest Point and the beaches in that area and I thought I died and went to heaven.  I had heard of these areas but never realized what I had been missing...so so beautiful!  This is another area of my home state that makes being a Rhode Islander so satisfying.  I realize that the politics here are deplorable, the job market is the worst in the country, taxes are high but I still have to say I can't imagine living anywhere else on this earth.  I do on occasion think of going elsewhere but in the end I believe this is where I will always be...

Since my introduction to Sachuest Point which was simply riding in the car and looking out the windows (with my mouth wide open in amazement) I have wanted to walk the trails.  This is where my survival instincts kick in...I have walked many places and seen some delightful scenes but I DO NOT DO IT IF IT MEANS perspiration is involved...I despise hot weather walking....I will do that on the treadmill so I can immediately take a shower.  

So when I heard the hot weather was breaking I figured good time to go over and take in the sights.  I mistakenly believed the weatherman.  It was so HOT!!!!!  I have left out one adjective in the "It was so HOT" sentence that I liberally used to describe the HOT...I tried giving up swearing as one of my New Years resolutions this year but I have failed miserably...to be honest I like to swear...those words role off my tongue like honey...it feels good...to be clear I do use discretion and I do not use vulgarity...hey I do know where to draw the line!  So back to the walk...because I was misled to believe the weather was to be cool...I dressed for coolness...when I stepped out the door it wasn't bad out, a little warmer than expected but I kept going.  When I got to the parking lot and stepped out of the car it was warm and then I saw the first sign I should have taken seriously but ignored...people coming off the trail were wearing tiny little running shorts and tank tops...but I forged ahead.  

The walk was beautiful, the things I saw wonderful, people were friendly, the natural floral was

gor-gor-gorgeous but I was so so hot I was distracted at times.  I can promise you no one and I mean no one has ever been happier after this walk to see the parking lot than me...I could have kissed the ground!  

Will I do it again....absolutely but on a cool autumn day.  Time to stop complaining because I lived to talk about it...and I must remember I have always told the kids in our family...work hard don't complain because no one ever drown in their own sweat.  

Enjoy the pictures of this wonderful place in Rhode Island...plan sometime to enjoy a walk here.  It is free and something offered for anyone to use...you will not be disappointed.

Introduction to the area

Trails

I walked the Ocean View Loop Trail

View of St. George's School 

Second Beach from the trail

One of the shady areas on the trail...
this is an easy walk and everything is cleared
so the trails are readily accessible

This person had a wonderfully clear day for sailing

One of many signs along the trail offering
 information to answer questions you may have.

There is so much to see...
the natural plant stock just adds one more element
to a beautiful walk...

Delightful

Wild berries that the birds devour

There was lots of thistle blooming

Queen Anne's Lace was abundant

Rose hips were thick on bushes

Wild honeysuckle made the air fragrant

White morning glories?

The next three photos were fun to take...I watched as it appeared a sailboat and quahog boat looked to be on a collision course...as they passed each other from my point of view it looked like they touched but the third photo reveals all went well.

The end of the trail...the parking lot in view...
when I crested the small hill I could barely contain my jubilation
I could see my car.
I hit the remote start button to get the air conditioner
going!!!!!




So there you have it...a wonderful part of Rhode Island open for anyone to visit and discover...next time I go walk this trail there will be frost on the pumpkin...till then I will float in the pond and dream.

Elizabeth

Dessert Pizzas for Vacation Bible School

When I heard my three little nieces would be attending Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Wood River Baptist Church I offered to make cookies for one of the weekday snacks.  My sister came back one day and asked if I would make the last day snack and it was to be a "special" snack.  I asked the head count she said 100...WOW...sounded like a lot but I had to be glad that many kids were going to VBS.  Later the count was reduced...but still up there...now I had to figure out what to make.  

I decided on dessert pizzas...basically one huge cookie covered with "toppings" and cut into wedges like a savory pizza.  I decided on a S'more pizza and a Fruit pizza.  Both as easy as "pie"!!!!!

The s'more pizza had a chocolate chip cookie base topped with chocolate chips, broken pieces of graham crackers and mini marshmallows. The fruit pizza has a sugar cookie base then covered with a sweetened cream cheese layer topped with pieces of fruit.  I "cheated" and used prepared cookie dough which made making ten (10) pizzas a much easier task.  In the future I will use a homemade cookie base just to see what the differences are.  

I heard both styles of pizzas got rave reviews and many requests for both recipes....a sure sign these were a hit!

The S'more Pizza

Six s'more pizzas ready to be packed for VBS.

The fruit pizza sugar cookie base covered with the cream cheese mixture.

The finished product...absolutely gorgeous!  I made four of these.

A close up...colorful and tasty...and for those of you who want to live in a delusional world...healthy too!
Just 'cuz it is covered in fruit doesn't make it healthy but who's counting calories on the last day of VBS.

So there you have it...fun to make, pretty to look at, very tasty and kid approved.
Elizabeth

The Surprise Jar

When I heard Caleb and Laura were expecting their first baby (which as of this writing we all know will be a boy) I was thrilled.  My thoughts turned to the past and to the future...memories mixed with dreams...memories of Caleb as a little boy and when I think of Caleb I can not help but think of Seth and vice versa.  These two boys now men are buried deeply within me...I have always wanted so much for them but as time goes on my desires simply turn to wanting them to just be happy...something I always heard "older folks" say and now this old aunt fully understands.  I simply want them to be happy...I know happiness is a choice...we can be happy or not happy...over time I have chosen to be happy and I hope these two fellows learn this lesson as well.  

When they were little boys I did hold one key to their happiness.  It was the surprise jar.  They would come to Rhode Island one weekend a month for years as their Dad was in the Seabee Reserves stationed in Quonset and Newport.  This little jar made of pottery with a cork top was the first thing they looked for when they walked through the door.  They couldn't wait to pop the top and see if there was a surprise in it.  Actually it would be a note that led them on a search of the house till they found their surprise.  I didn't have a note in it every time...then it would not have been a surprise.  The typical note might read take a right at the hallway door, go ten steps, take a right into the bedroom and look under the bed and there is your surprise.  Those two could barely contain themselves as they took off counting and searching.  I would buy things their parents would never let them have...that is one of the main reasons I was put on this earth, to buy them things my sister and brother in law would not buy for them...trolls...outfits for the trolls...loads of candy...store bought Sunbeam white bread...Slim Jims...whipped cream in a can to be eaten right out of the can, squirted into your mouth from the long white nozzle - chemicals and all...and the grand daddy of surprise gifts the JUMBO Super Soaker for the vacation to the pond house.  

It has been a very long time since I have filled that surprise jar as these two boys are now 29 and 30 years old...initially I thought of giving the surprise jar to Caleb when I heard a baby was on the way and then I knew without a doubt it belonged to Seth...

When I told Seth I had a baby gift for him, he was surprised...good, once again I had him in my clutches!  I knew the two brothers would be together at the annual 4th of July party...perfect.  I asked they take the box wrapped like a baby shower gift to a quiet place to be opened...off they went to end of the island.  They both told me half way through the note inside the card they knew what was in the box.  

Because I know them so well...I had a handwritten note inside the jar for one last "surprise"...directions to look to the right, to the left, locate the faux bois planter and find a yellow bag which held their last surprise from me.  Now it was Seth's turn to fill the jar.  I knew they found their last surprise when I saw them coming back each chomping on a super long Slim Jim with a grin on their faces...some things never change.  That makes me happy!

Now

Then
Please note - each one is holding a troll!

The surprise jar

Below is the letter I included in the card to Seth when he opened his "baby gift".

Dear Uncle Seth,

There is a wonderful sound to the addition of Uncle before your name.  This new title comes with many responsibilities...responsibilities to insure that your brother's child has a fantastic life that is filled with good times and fun.  The parenting stuff has already been decided but the uncle stuff is all yours!

Being an aunt and uncle is a strange state of being.  Everyone dotes over the parents which is quite frankly understandable and of course the grandparents are just over the moon and everyone wants a piece of them as well.  But our role is more subdued and quite frankly underestimated as far as I am concerned.  The aunts and uncles must stand off a bit in the distance...but while we watch from afar, no one should ever for a moment think we care less or our love is not up to those in the forefront.  We aunts and uncles come to know our place and live it comfortably and are so thrilled to get those bits and pieces that come our way.  

Seth, you will learn when to insert yourself and when to back off...when those times come to be in the thick of things, ride it for all it is worth and believe me it is worth more than you can ever imagine.  A word of advice...don't let anyone ever diminish your role as an uncle or the depth of your love....don't ever allow anyone to pull that stuff about who loves more...it is impossible to compare depths of love...just take comfort, satisfaction and peace of mind in knowing you love and it is accepted and returned...

Your parents were very generous with Caleb and you...they shared you without fear of losing anything and let's face it I think they got more than they bargained for...my life has been filled with so much and you guys have been their to experience it all...I can't imagine living my life and all it's ups and downs without either of you.  

Now your turn has come raging at you, so buckle up baby grab on and let this new "kid" know how great it is to have an Uncle Seth.  

So this gets to the point of my baby gift to you...what's wrapped in paper and a bow within this box is going to give you so much pleasure, fun and laughs...that kid is going to go nuts every time he or she sees it...you will be in full control when they see it and they get their hands on it.  This item has lots of power, learn to use it wisely...if you can control it's power you are insured a great time no matter what!  You will need to think about what you are going to do with it especially when you know the little one is coming over...you will need to decide if it should be put to full use or back off and let it just sit there and use it the next time...NEVER let it become a routine or an expected treat...it must always be a surprise!!!!!  

This aunt understands the power of the surprise...now it is your turn Uncle Seth to keep 'em guessing and on the edge of "peeing" their pants!!!!!

Love,  Aunt Beth

So now the surprise jar has a new owner...I am so glad it belongs to Seth and he is soon to become an uncle...I am so glad Caleb is soon to become a father...all is right in that part of my world...

I am happy.

Elizabeth