Zucchini Bread

For the record, I don't like zucchini bread. I actually don't really like zucchini at all, except for maybe once a year. However, I planted 3 zucchini plants in my garden this year and they grew better than just about everything else. Which means we had A LOT of zucchini. After we got tired of having fried zucchini, my husband convinced me to make some zucchini bread. Even though I dislike zucchini bread, I gave it a go anyway. It was actually pretty good. It still ain't got nothing on banana bread, but if you are a fan of zucchini, you will LOVE this stuff. I blend my zucchini up a food processor because I like the texture better, but I'm sure it will still taste lovely if you grate it instead.

Zucchini Bread

-1 C Butter                
-1 C Brown Sugar     
-1 C White Sugar       
-1 tsp Vanilla            
-1 tsp Salt                            
-1/2 tsp Nutmeg
-1 tsp Cinnamon
-2 eggs
-3 C flour
-1 1/2 tsp baking powder
-1  1/2 tsp baking soda
-1/4 C buttermilk
-2 C zucchini puree (or grated zucchini)
-1 C chocolate chips
-1 C chopped walnuts

-Cream together butter, sugars, vanilla, salt and spices until light and fluffy
-add eggs one at a time, until fully incorporated
-sift together flour, baking powder and baking soda
-starting with the flour mixture, add a little bit and mix just until combined. Add the buttermilk and mix again, just until combined. Add more flour until combined and then alternate adding the zucchini with the flour until it is all combined. DO NOT OVER MIX or your bread will be tough.
-gently fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts.
-spoon into 2 greased bread pans
(this recipe usually makes 2 loafs, AND 10-12 muffins or 24 mini muffins)

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes

(or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean)

Variation: if you want more spice flavor, feel free to add more to taste...or less depending on personal preference.
You can omit the chocolate chips and add 2 C chopped walnuts to the recipe, or omit the nuts and add 2 C of chocolate chips