Wednesday, July 15, 2009

zucchini bread

i haven't tasted this yet. it's based on a recipe from a family cookbook, but i've made big changes so there's no telling how it'll turn out. i'll let you know.

2/3 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup crisco (butter would probably work too)
2 eggs
1 cup grated zucchini, peel on
1 tsp baking soda
zest and juice of half a lemon
zest and juice of half an orange
1 1/2 cup flour
1/8 tsp fresh nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ginger
1/2 cup pecans (or walnuts)

preheat oven to 375 degrees. cream together sugars and crisco. add in the eggs and beat well. add in the zests and juices and beat until combined.
whisk together the flour, spices, soda, and salt. add into the wet mixture and mix until just combined. stir in zucchini and nuts and put into a greased loaf pan.
bake for about an hour or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

update: it's delicious! but next time i will bake at 425 degrees. the top got a little too dark before the center was done. other than that, i wouldn't change anything!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

perfect oatmeal raisin cookies

it's been a while since my last post, but i have a good reason!

that's my beautiful baby boy. he was born last friday and is the best thing ever.

two nights ago i got a massive craving for oatmeal raisin cookies, a cookie i've never particularly been crazy about in the past. i guess my tastes are changing now that i'm a mother... :) this is based on the quaker oatmeal "vanishing oatmeal raisin cookie" recipe, but i've changed several things. these are chewy, soft, and rich.

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 heaping tsp salt
1 tbsp cinnamon
3 cups old-fashioned oats
1 heaping cup raisins

preheat oven to 325 degrees and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. cream together the butter and sugars until fluffy. add in both eggs at the same time and beat well. add vanilla. stir together the flour, powder, soda, cinnamon, and salt and add to butter mixture. fold in the oats and raisins. using a cookie scoop (mine holds about 1/4 cup) measure out onto cookie sheets. bake one sheet at a time for about 12 minutes each. makes about 3 1/2 dozen.