Zesty Zucchini

A guest
post by Judy Natelli McLaughlin:

I love zucchini!
It is a fantastic food! When I
visit schools and libraries, I get the kids to shout the word “zucchini” at the
top of their lungs. I have never met a group who didn’t like to
yell! —

Zucchini is also the
inspiration for one of my favorite poems from my book, Poems on Fruits & Ode to Veggies. Here’s
the poem and what follows is the greatest recipe for zucchini bread. I sent
some to school in my teenage daughter’s lunch, and she didn’t get to eat any; her
friends got to it first!

Try the recipe and
let me know what you think. And remember, healthy eating starts
with a poem!

Zucchini

Zucchini is a lovely
word

It rolls right off
your tongue

Zucchini is a
melody

A word that
should be sung

Bellowed LOUD

Or whispered
soft

Say it either
way

It’s almost
operatic

In a veggie sort of
way

Sing out loud and
you’ll agree

There is no squash to
beat it

But after all the
singing

Kindly slice it up
and… EAT IT!

Zany Zucchini Bread

1 %uFFFD C whole wheat flour

%uFFFD t baking soda

%uFFFD t baking powder

1 t cinnamon

%uFFFD t nutmeg

1 egg

1/3 C vegetable oil

1/3 C unsweetened applesauce

2 T fat free sour cream

%uFFFD C light brown sugar

2 t vanilla extract

2 C grated zucchini

1. Heat oven to 325 F. Spray an 8 inch
loaf pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. In large bowl mix together flour, baking
soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg.

3. In separate bowl, whisk together egg, oil,
applesauce, sour cream, sugar and vanilla.

4. Add flour mixture to egg mixture and stir
until well combined.

5. Fold in zucchini then transfer to loaf
pan. Bake until risen, golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the
middle comes out clean, about 60 to 70 minutes.

6. Cool in pan for 30 min. then remove bread
from pan and continue to cool on rack.

Author/illustrator of
the children’s picture book “Poems on Fruits & Odes to Veggies–Where Healthy Eating
Starts With a Poem,” public speaker, health food enthusiast and mom
Judith Natelli McLaughlin is here to help introduce your family to some fruits
and veggies they may not know about, while reintroducing them to some old
favorites, too. Her goal is to educate AND entertain and get you to remember that healthy
eating starts with a poem.

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