Zucchini Pineapple Bread

Making this bread is a great way to use up overgrown zucchini from the garden.
Making this bread is a great way to use up overgrown zucchini from the garden.

My sister has been making zucchini bread for as long as I can remember, and it has always been a favorite quick bread, especially in the summer. The pineapple adds flavor and is a nice alternative to raisins. I like to serve this bread sandwiched together with cream cheese and thinly sliced Granny Smith apples.

Moist Zucchini Pineapple Bread

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup whole-wheat flour

3 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice (optional)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 eggs

1 cup canola oil

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups shredded zucchini (about 2 medium, grated with a box grater)

1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained

1/2 cup toasted walnuts, chopped

Directions:

Adjust the oven rack to a middle position, and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 medium-sized bread tins.

In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the flour, whole-wheat flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs, oil, sugars, lemon juice, zest and vanilla with a wooden spoon until light and fluffy. Stir in the zucchini, and mix well.

Add the flour mixture, and stir to combine. Gently stir in the pineapple and walnuts. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake for 50 minutes to an hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean.

Cool in the pan for 10 minutes; then turn the bread onto wire racks to cool completely.

James Moore has been a cooking enthusiast since childhood and started his blog, Cook Like James, as a way to share favorite recipes, restaurants and cookbooks with friends and family. He also writes articles for One for the Table, Amy Ephron’s online magazine that specializes in food, politics and love at www.oneforthetable.com.

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