Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I want to go everywhere I haven't been, and back to everywhere I have been.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Savory Zucchini-Parmesan Bread, Eating Lighter, and Being Productive

Savory Zucchini-Parmesan Bread: A great companion to soup or salad, and the best part? It's really easy to make. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Do you eat differently in summer than in winter?

I hardly recognize myself in summer.
Salads, fruit and light meals satisfy,
while in winter, I need buckets filled with comfort food to make me feel full.  

Every year, when Junior Goo Shoes leaves for camp, 
I want to hang up a sign that says
THE KITCHEN IS CLOSED!

But, we've still got to eat.
So, I turn to my file of recipes called
"Things Junior GS Won't Eat"
and I make them all summer while he's away.

A chilled soup and a crusty bread;
a frittata and a salad;
a savory galette; avocado toast

Simple things.


Tonight, I made pasta. 

Rather than serve it with a store-bought bread,
I made a savory zucchini-parmesan bread. 
That was the first of many things I crossed off my to-do list today. 

Savory Zucchini-Parmesan Bread: A great companion to soup or salad, and the best part? It's really easy to make. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I've been in a real slump, every since we came home from Italy.
Living la dolce vita is not easily accomplished here in NJ,

where, in real life, laundry, bills, and errands 
pile up faster than I can eat a gelato on a hot day. 

Nope.
I couldn't get myself to do the simplest tasks.
Only what absolutely needed to get done, got done...

nothing more. 
And at the very last minute, I might add.
All of this is excusable in summer, right? 

Savory Zucchini-Parmesan Bread: A great companion to soup or salad, and the best part? It's really easy to make. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Today, however, for whatever the reason,
 I was able to grab onto the brass ring of productivity.

I exercised.
Emptied the dishwasher.
Filled the bird feeders.
Made an appointment at the dermatologist. 
Answered emails.
Did some work for my fundraising committee. 
Made plans with friends.
Filled out every single form for school :)
Found out our out-of-pocket expense for Junior Goo Shoes' 
impending wisdom teeth extractions.
Checked a college website for fall tour dates. 

Geez, that felt good.

And then I took about 400 pictures of birds.
OK, not so productive, but I couldn't help myself. 

The ultimate act of today's productivity will be to publish this post tonight.
I just have to CONCENTRATE. 
No more bird pictures till this is finished. 
Unless, of course, the hummingbird comes back  :)

Anyhoo, about the bread. 

Savory Zucchini-Parmesan Bread: A great companion to soup or salad, and the best part? It's really easy to make. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I've had this recipe for many years. 
It's from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food.
It's super-easy...like I would make anything but
What I love is that no mixer is needed.
You whisk together wet stuff; mix together dry stuff,

grate some zucchini, and combine it all together.
Hutz, mutz, clutz, it's done.
(I love saying that).

A note - I do think that the quality of the parmesan cheese makes a difference.
But, use whatever you have. 


Savory Zucchini-Parmesan Bread: A great companion to soup or salad, and the best part? It's really easy to make. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Zucchini-Parmesan Bread

1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup milk
2 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled 
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 pound zucchini (about 1 medium), coarsely grated

Preheat oven to 375°F
Spray a 9 X 5 loaf pan with cooking spray, and dust with flour. Tap out excess.
In a small bowl, whisk oil, milk and eggs.
In a large bowl, mix flour, parmesan cheese, baking powder, salt and pepper.
Mix in zucchini; then add egg mixture until just moistened. Batter will be very thick, like biscuit dough.
Transfer batter to prepared pan; press in gently. 
Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 60-75 minutes* (see note below)
(tent with foil if loaf starts to brown too quickly). 
Cool 15 minutes in pan. Turn out loaf onto a rack to cool completely.  

* My loaf was done in 50 minutes, so be aware that oven cooking times vary.

Savory Zucchini-Parmesan Bread: A great companion to soup or salad, and the best part? It's really easy to make. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


What's your favorite light summer meal?

Linking with:
Foodie FriDIY
Let's Get Real 
Home Sweet Home 
Metamorphosis Monday
The Scoop 
Tweak It Tuesday 
Treasure Box Tuesday 
Cooking and Crafting with J & J 
Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party 
Wake Up Wednesday 
Wow Us Wednesday 
What's It Wednesday 
Home and Garden Thursday 
Share Your Style 
Simple and Sweet Friday 

20 comments:

  1. Hi Amy, wow this zucchini bread looks amazing and yummy. Thanks for sharing the recipe and I will have to make some soon! Wishing you a nice weekend.
    Julie xo

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  2. I feel the same way about summer meals. The difference for me is I eat different things, but I still eat a lot of them ;) No one could ever call me a picky eater.

    I had to laugh when I read you cook things Jr, Goo Shoes won't eat when he's away. Good thinkin' Lincoln!

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  3. Oh, gladly I'll try the recipe, zucchini I have a lot of this season. Already I made pate and salad for the winter. I really like it.
    I greet warmly

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  5. I feel the same way about summer foods--I like them light and cold. If I have to cook something, which of course I do, I prefer to do it on the grill. My brother in law taught me a new trick this year. I grill lemon halves the last few minutes while I grill chicken or fish and then serve the grilled lemon along side the dish. It is beautiful on the serving platter and massive amounts of juice comes out with no effort. Plus the warm lemon juice sort of has a slightly caramelized effect ---so good!

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  6. That looks fabulous and may just have to be one of next week's 'to do' list items! Yes, summer brings out the fruit- and vegetarian in us as well; maybe because vine and tree ripened taste so much better than the winter's hot house versions of fruit and veggies.

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  7. You're already looking at colleges for your son? You are really on top of things! that bread looks yummy! I guess I eat more grilled foods in the summer (for obvious reasons). But, we still use our grill in the winter here since we have mild winters compared to some.

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  8. I LOVE savoury breads and this one sounds especially good! Hutz, Mutz, Clutz - that is a great saying! It makes me giggle. Favourite summer foods for me are all kinds of salads, smoothies, and anything bbqed. Oh, and watermelon!

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  9. This bread looks delicious and I'm looking forward to trying it soon. Take care and enjoy the weekend.

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  10. Perfect timing for this recipe! I just picked up three foot and a half each zucchini's (really!)....they were free the day I happened by the road stand. I am tired of my usual zucchini recipes. Thanks!!

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  11. Looks a great recipe idea - how about this one Broccoli Protein Bread have a look and see
    http://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/broccoli-protein-bread-its-amazing.html

    All the best Jan

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  12. I have my own list of "foods my husband can't eat"--he's lactose intolerant, and everyone of the recipes has cheese and whole cream, etc. in them! He needs to leave home more often so I can fix them!

    Amy, you have no idea how productive your day sounds to me. I think I used to have days like that, long ago.

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  13. Hi Amy, thanks for sharing this nice zucchini bread recipe at our Cooking and Crafting with J & J! Hope you have a lovely week and we are so happy to have you join us!
    Julie xo

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  14. Hello, This was a very unusual bread recipe, I tried to pin it but to no avail... I guess I will have to write it out LOL
    Blessings, Roxy

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  15. I like a savory version of this! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

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  16. So...I may have drooled...but not before I pinned it! :)

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  17. Hi Amy - This bread looks wonderful - I have never had a savory zucchini bread. Thanks for sharing with Let's Get Real - this will be my featured post at this week's party.

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  18. Yum! Another way to eat my veggie and in form of a savory bread is the way to go. Going to make this and take it for our upcoming trip. Thanks for sharing! Came by to visit from Julie's Lifestyle: Cooking & Crafting with J&J:) Cheers from Bangkok!

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  19. I absolutely love this! Pinned and tweeted. Thank you so much for bringing such a masterpiece to our party. I hope to see you tonight at 7 pm. We can’t wait to party with you! Lou Lou Girls

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  20. Your photo made me hungry ;) Can't wait to try this!

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