Zucchini Bread

3 C flour

1 tsp salt 

1 tsp baking soda 

1 tsp baking powder 

3 tsp cinnamon 

3 eggs, beaten 

3 tsp vanilla 

1 1/2 C brown sugar 

1/2 C white sugar

1/2 C apple sauce 

1/2 C oil (mild olive or canola)

3 1/2 C zucchini, grated (squeezed to remove excess water)

1 C walnuts, chopped 

1 C dark chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. 

Line and butter 2 loaf tins (5" x 9")--I like to use Pyrex. 

In a medium sized bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside. 

In a large bowl, mix the eggs with the vanilla. Add the sugar, apple sauce and oil and mix well. 

Add the sifted flour ingredients to the egg and sugar mixture. Mix well. 

Then stir in the zucchini, walnuts and chocolate chips. 

Distribute the mixture evenly between the two loaf tins and bake for approximately 55-70 mins until a knife comes out clean.

Allow the zucchini bread to cool slightly in the loaf pans before lifting them out to cool properly on wire racks. 

To serve: slice, lightly butter and add a little dollop of whipped cream if desired. 

Enjoy!

Peach Melba

What a wonderful combination of flavors! This is just the dessert for a steamy summer evening. 

Per person:

2 scoops ginger ice cream 

A generous handful of sliced peaches, fresh or thawed if frozen 

2 Tbsp raspberry coulis

1/3-1/2 C whipped cream

Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped walnuts and/or chocolate sprinkles (optional)

Carrot and Pineapple Salad

This is one of those old-fashioned recipes that my grandmother used to make. It's very refreshing and looks gorgeous!

1 package of orange Jello

1 C water

11/2 C carrots, grated

1/2 C pineapple chunks, chopped

1/2 C pineapple juice

Dissolve the orange jello in 1 cup of water making sure that it's completely dissolved. Pour into a mold and put into the freezer for about 15 minutes until it begins to set. 

Stir in the carrots and pineapples into the jello mixture and chill until it's completely set. 

Turn the jello mold out in to a plate to serve. 

Just the perfect summer salad!

Asparagus

Seafood, Normandy, France

Pure heaven!

Oysters, oysters, oysters!

Cancale, Normandy.