What's Zucchini Bread When It's At Home?

WHAT goes on behind other people's kitchen doors IS usually none of my business but, on Valentine’s Day (2016), and with our soon to be Ex-President of the US making an appearance on a US TV Show Ellen (US) when the talk turned to food, I was about to make an exception.

You know how you can always rely on someone in high (or low) places to make a Grand gesture on Valentine’s Day. No? Well February 14th, 2016 and 'someone' was about to step up to the plate and “Oh Me Oh My” (the Lulu classic I put on), it was none other than Mr Obama about to make a Grand ‘OMOM’ gesture.

Whishing his ‘boo’, Michelle, a Happy Velantine’s Day in front of millions, and topping it off by promising to cook her up 'a special Valentine’s meal'..

'Zucchini Bread and a plate of vegetables”.

Well, you could have knocked me down with a spatula....my first thoughts? What's Zucchini Bread when it's at home?

DAYS LATER the Media announced his declaration - ‘Adorable’ … http://fortune.com/2016/02/12/barack-michelle-obama-valentines-day/

As for me, still mystified.

So, I phoned a friend, who's cousin new all about the said veg and it turns out, the Zucchini is none other than what us Brits call courgettes!.

So, a quick trip down to the shops for the courgettes and putting on my Bread Baking hat, with a little help from my old recipe book, (in the family for aeons) to rustle me up Zuccinni Bread before the party starts!

1¾ cup white whole wheat flour

2 Tablespoon of cane sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon sea salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon molasses

Sprinkling of Fresh herbs Basil & Cumin

Tbsp. Fenugreek seeds

1½ cups grated zucchini

6 Tablespoons unsweetened almond milk

Experts reckon that, as well as awareness of some of the perceived health risks of 'other milks', the almond milk trend is driven by consumers' sense of food adventure and willingness to try new things. It also tastes "incredible."

Besides which, Almond Milk is trendy with sales 'soaring ' https://www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out/news/trends-what-is-almond-milk-and-why-are-people-going-nuts-for-it-20140718-3c7cs

But back to making zucchini bread...

In our hi-tech So, we have YOUTUBE tutorials a plenty....that and Pages of help....So from You tube to Instructions....

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease a loaf pan (Ceramic/aluminium or other) and set to one side.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add eggs, vanilla extract, molasses, and grated zucchini and stir until all the ingredients are lightly incorporated. Slowly add in the almond milk, stopping when the batter is reasonably thick. Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the oven at 350°F for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Let cool. And voila!

There may never be a You Tube video of Barak in the kitchen rustling up 'zuccini bread' (too busy by the googling of it - From his Reading list - https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/book-world-barack-obama-reading-list-facebook-president-a8506646.html To his press - https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/news/a9694/what-barack-obama-is-doing-now/ And - his own 'future presidential center' . It's looks like its all go post-Presidency:

Still, like to imagine him in the kitche, grating the zuccinni perhaps lisening to a food song!

Best wishes from Julez

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