I thought I'd re-post one of my favorite zucchini bread recipes. The markets here are flooded with summer squash of all shapes and sizes, and I realize I've been light on the summer squash recipes this year. -h I knew I was onto something delicious as I folded the last few ingredients into my zucchini bread batter this afternoon. Sometimes you just know. The thick and creamy batter was flecked with hundreds of green-lined strands of shredded zucchini nestled alongside the occasional flare of yellow lemon zest. The poppy seeds quickly spread themselves into an impossible network of connect-the dots, and at the same time, one of my favorite curry powders was sending notes of coriander, cumin, and clove up from the mixing bowl to tease my nose. There are many zucchini bread recipes out there, plenty of them tried and true, but this time around I wanted to bring my own take to this seasonal classic.

In many places zucchini season has arrived. It's flooding out of your gardens, gobbling up real estate at farmers markets, and taking center stage at grocery stores. Zucchini bread is one of the most popular vehicles for this prolific summer crop because it is delicious, portable, easy to share, it involves baking, and most importantly - it gets rid of zucchini. You'll no doubt notice that most zucchini bread recipes you come across yield two loaves. Why? Because if you were to only make one, you wouldn't put a respectable dent in the zucchini supply. For example, if I were to cut my zucchini recipe in half, I would only get rid of 1 1/2 cups of grated zucchini - the equivalent of one large zucchini? No good.

What else should you know about today's recipe? I thought about doing a more Thai-inspired version, using coconut oil in place of the butter, beating in a small dollop of Thai-curry paste at the beginning (omitting the curry powder later on), using chopped toasted peanuts, adding some grated coconut, etc. There are infinite versions you can try here using different nut and spice combinations. Or, you can strip out all the noted optional ingredients, and you have yourself more of a classic, traditional zucchini bread. Feel free to throw out your ideas in the comments, I love to hear them.

Continue reading My Special Zucchini Bread Recipe...

There are times when you just want something quick, simple and delicious. If that’s the case, this recipe isn’t going to let you down.  It packs a bit of Mediteranean flair in a slightly Italian-esque package that is just about as satisfying as it gets.  The real plus:  It’s fast, inexpensive and pretty darned good for you in the process!

I came up with this one day after watching Wolfgang Puck on Fine Living Network.  I was joking with my wife about his start in California making gourmet pizzas when I noticed that we still had a package of pizza crusts hanging out.  A quick rummage through the fridge yealded some goat cheese, greek vinnaigrette, spinach, mushrooms and a tiny bit of sour cream left over from some tacos we’d made earlier in the week.  While she went off to the office to do whatever it is that she does in there when I’m not looking, I dove into the kitchen and got my Wolfgang on.  It was time for Californian Pizza!

So, bad Austrian accent and all, I tossed this together.  In all it takes about 20 minutes to prepare, and costs very little to make, which also makes this a perfect candidate for the Frugal Fridays Blog Event. (I’m a day late, but hey, we’re not picky over there yet.)

I don’t have an exact cost on this recipe.  In fact, the components, if purchased just for this dish, are probably more than $10.00.  since only the pizza crusts and the cheese are used completely, the overall figure is undoubtedly less and if I had to make a guess, I’d put this in at about $8.00 in ingredients.

I made three mini-pizzas, but if you’re making this for a family, just go ahead and make it on a full-sized pizza crust.  You’ll be just fine for four people at about two slices each.

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Read the rest of Spinach, Mushroom and Goat Cheese Pizza (336 words)

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Nem is tudom, hogy már hanyadik koktélos bejegyzés ez a blogomon, de ma ismét egy frissítő nyári koktélt teszek közzé. Ditémet úgy tűnik sikerült megfertőznöm a kísérletező kedvvel, csak ő épp a koktélok területén éli ki magát. Valahogy tündéri érzékkel találja el mindig a tökéletes arányokat, s újra és újra meglep délutánonként munkából való hazatérésemkor egy-egy finom, színes és frissítő nedűvel.


Ez a szóban forgó Blue Arrow koktél is egy ilyen délutáni meglepi, ami a nagy melegben kimondottan hűsítő hatással volt ránk. Próbált Ditém más koktélt is blue curacaoval, de valahogy mégis a zöldcitromos (lime) változat volt a nyerő. Ebből egyébként a vodkás változatot is elkészítettük, de valahogy hiányzott úgy belőle a gin fűszeressége, úgyhogy inkább ginnel ajánljuk. (recept)

I always telling my husband we are spending 1/3 of time in the bedroom. We going out to work in the early morning and only back home at the late evening. Don’t you think the times we spend in the bedroom are much more than in the living room, kitchen or bathroom?

Therefore, a comfortable and nice looking bedroom is only what I want for a home. If you want a personalized bedroom, I would like to suggest you a website that offers wide range of personalized bedding such as personalized pillows, blankets and bedding.

Look at below sweet photo pillows! Pillows like this surely will improve the romantic feeling in the bedroom. It is very meaningful to get your wedding photo or even your lovely children photo printed in the custom pillows. Don’t you think so? Hmm..I should upload my family photo and get it printed in pillows and blanket for my daughter. They surely will like it!

I am worrying about SQ and Kiki health. They are fall in sick quite often, I almost have to bring them to visit doctor for every twice a month. I totally have no idea what should I do to get them stronger. Some friends commended that this happen often when the children just started to attend kindergarten. I do believe it is but now is already 7 months of school, she still always fall in sick easily. This has made me very worry, why does she take so long time to get use of Kindergarten life.

I read at a blogger’s blog regarding the colloidal silver. According to what she wrote, the colloidal silver could help to improve immunity system. It is one of the supplements that good to improve health. I wonder is this suitable for children or not. Maybe I should just buy it and let SQ and Kiki have it.

8 carrots, cut into chunks
4 stalks of celery, cut into chunks
6 tomatoes, cut into chunks
1 bunch of fresh spinach
handful of parsley
1/2 medium white onion
1 fresh beet, cut into chunks
2 cloves fresh garlic
Using a juicer or high power blender, add all of the ingredients and blend well.  Stir, chill, and serve.

I have recommended Baby Slings to more than three friends who has baby. I love my baby sling very much. I bought a baby sling since my elder daughter was 2 months old. Previously, I was not sure spent US$50 for a baby sling is worth or not. However, I could tell you now, it definitely a value investment. I am still using it to carry my second daughter until today. It is already 4 years but still look like a new one. I am enjoying carrying daughter in the baby sling as I could actually play with her and talk to her easily. I am glad I found a great baby product.

A very simple dish prepared by my sister. She makes the bean curd by herself, I am trying to learn from her but just do not know how to start it. Maybe I should ask her for a detail recipe so that I could try to make the bean curd when I am free.

I like the cold bean curd that mixed with fried shrimp and salted radish. It just taste so good.

There are so many events to savor this weekend!

Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Indiana, has been voted one of the Top 10 Wackiest Festivals by Virtual Tourist and as one of the Top 10 2008 Summer Travels by Oprah.com. The festival offers loads of entertainment but the main reason to visit is for the food!

The Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California is celebrating 30 years of vampire free entertainment with their aromatic and world-renowned festival.


Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Image# 5628285

My old neighborhood, Ballard, Washington, is hosting their 34th Annual Ballard SeafoodFest this Saturday and Sunday.

Every year we close down the streets and roll out the fun. With entertainment for all ages, beer and wine gardens, a plethora of seafood vendors, arts and crafts and our unique contests, it's a great, old fashioned summer party.

The Sugar Grove Corn Boil in Sugar Grove, Illinois, is celebrating 41 years of entertainment, arts, crafts and fabulous fireworks over three days this weekend.

The 21st Annual Oregon Brewers Festival kicks off today in Portland, Oregon.

Seventy-two craft breweries from 18 different states will each send one product to serve at the event, hailed by many industry experts and beer fans alike as the premier craft beer festival in the nation. A 73rd beer, Collaborator, is a joint project between members of the Oregon Brew Crew homebrewing club and Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. More than 60,000 beer connoisseurs annually travel from around the world to sample the vast number of beer styles, which highlight the influences that different regions have on the brewing process. Four days of live music showcases the best high-energy talent the Northwest has to offer. Food booths sell meals and alternative beverages, while the Crater Lake Soda Garden provides handcrafted sodas free of charge to minors and designated drivers.

A few others to sample;
The 45th Annual Louisiana Watermelon Festival in Farmerville, Louisiana
The Tavistock Food and Drink Festival in Tavistock, Devon, UK
The Cantaloupe Festival in Halifax County, Virginia See full article.

Related Entries:

Garlic and Wine - 25 July 2006

More February Food and Wine Festivals - 09 February 2008

July Festivals - First Weekend - 03 July 2008

Mid July Food and Wine Festivals - 17 July 2008

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